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With the ever-growing threat of cyberattacks, cybersecurity jobs are booming.  There’s a constant demand for skilled professionals to protect our data. But how do you break into this exciting field? Here’s a roadmap to get you started.

Build your foundation with IT Skills. Cybersecurity is built on a strong understanding of computers and networks. Brush up on programming basics, network administration, and maybe even cloud computing. Whether you take them or not the skills you learn in the A+ and Network+ certifications are a great foundation for beginning techs.

Certifications like CompTIA Security+ are the minimum you need to get started in cybersecurity, and PenTest+ for penetration testers.  These certification validates your knowledge and gives you a leg-up in the job market.

Find your path. Cybersecurity offers a variety of specializations. Here are a few popular choices:

Security Analysts identify and analyze security threats, perfect for those who love puzzles and problem-solving.

Penetration Tester (Ethical Hacker) thinks like an attacker to find vulnerabilities in systems before the bad guys.

Security Engineers design and implement security systems to keep data safe.

Educate yourself. You need credentials on your resume. Although there are lots of jobs, they want qualified candidates. There are several paths depending on your base knowledge, time availability, and available funding.

Intensive programs offer a faster track to learn in-demand skills.

Self-Learning: There are tons of online resources, courses, and tutorials to equip yourself with the knowledge you need.

While not mandatory these days, a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information security, or a related field also provides a strong foundation.

Experience. The conundrum of needing experience to get a job and need a job to get experience.  Here are some ideas.

Look for internship opportunities to gain practical experience and build your resume. Programs that offer hands on and internship opportunities are a good way to get something on your resume.

Entry-level security analyst positions can be a great way to get your foot in the door. They usually have moderate pay, but if you know your skills, you can elevate your position quickly.

Keep learning, ALWAYS. The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving. Stay updated by attending conferences, reading industry publications, and participating in online communities.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have years of experience, Cybersecurity is still a young career. Many employers value transferable skills, a passion for learning, and a willingness to dive into this dynamic field. With dedication and the right approach, you can crack the code and build a rewarding career in cybersecurity.

Talk to you next week,

Mike

We will award $50,000 in tuition scholarships for enrollment in our Certified Defense Security Analyst training program to eligible to help meet the cybersecurity employment demand.

Upcoming Live training courses. Join our SOC team for 12-weeks of hands-on training and experience. Call 703-740-2909

Join me for a live webinar hosted by CyberNow Labs for Hands on Cyber Career Training

Talk to someone who made the change to cybersecurity from an IT career. Meet with my friend Patrick, tell him Mike sent ya!

 US and International Discount Exam Vouchers: Purchase a CompTIA voucher and save on the cost of your exams.

Practice Tests: TotalTester practice tests have hundreds of questions in a pool that allows you to create custom exams by exam domain or by chapter. Take tests in Practice mode with assistance (hints and explanations) or in Final mode (simulate the real exams). Includes complete explanations for each question.

Interactive simulations: TotalSims for A+, Network+, and Security+, hundreds of online simulated labs. Prepare for CompTIA’s performance-based questions and learn more about technical concepts covered on the exams.

Total Seminars e-books are now available: Check out all of our e-book titles. Available 24/7 for immediate access on the Total Seminars Training Hub

Changes are coming in 2024. I know I have talked a little about some of the upcoming updates to CompTIA Certifications, but let’s talk more details.  First and very exciting news is that CompTIA’s Security+ SY0-601 was initially set to retire in July 2024, but CompTIA has delayed the retirement until December 2024.  If you are studying for the SY0-601 exam, keep on it.  This is great news for students, but don’t let it slow your studies, let it reinvigorate your studies.  Refocus and set your schedule to get it completed, so you don’t have to change the objectives you are studying.

I know I said this before, but CompTIA has been making some changes in all their certifications.  What I see is less crossover of skills between their certifications, this makes great sense! With less crossover, each certification can have better focus on the topics, and prevents the certifications from having to much sprawl in topics.

Network+ will be in its ninth rendition releasing in June 20, 2024.  Wow, is all I have to say. While the goal of the Network+ is still focused on core networking skills and securing networks, there are a lot of changes in the Network+. A surprising number of topics have been removed from the exam, some are overdue.  Not only have they eliminated duplicated skills in their certifications, but they are focusing on overall concepts.  Gone is emphasis on technical specifics, don’t get me wrong know your specs, but the emphasis is more on understanding the concepts.

The domains are similar from N10-008 to N10-009,in naming as well as their weightings. Disaster recovery concepts continue to be a important, but they have also added an emphasis on implementation of disaster recovery. The biggest change in the domain weighting is in the Network Security domain.  The domain has a 5% higher weighting in N10-009 with an emphasis on understanding attack types and effects rather than comparisons, a direct correlation to our current network needs.

Don’t miss study tips in my study blog.

Mike

30% off Discount Code for Eclipse Day!

Use discount code ECLIPSE to finish your certification journey with 30% off our A+, Network+, and Security+ TotalSims and Total Tester Bundle through April 10th.

For 10 weeks, we will award $50,000 in tuition scholarships for enrollment in our Certified Defense Security Analyst training program to eligible to help meet the cybersecurity employment demand.

Upcoming Live training courses. Join our SOC team for 12-weeks of hands-on training and experience. Call 703-740-2909

Talk to someone who made the change to cybersecurity from an IT career. Meet with my friend Patrick and tell him Mike sent ya!

Join me for a live webinar hosted by CyberNow Labs for Hands on Cyber Career Training

 US and International Discount Exam Vouchers: Purchase a CompTIA voucher and save on the cost of your exams.

Practice Tests: TotalTester practice tests have hundreds of questions in a pool that allows you to create custom exams by exam domain or by chapter. Take tests in Practice mode with assistance (hints and explanations) or in Final mode (simulate the real exams). Includes complete explanations for each question.

Interactive simulations: TotalSims for A+, Network+, and Security+, hundreds of online simulated labs. Prepare for CompTIA’s performance-based questions and learn more about technical concepts covered on the exams.

Total Seminars e-books are now availab

Now I know I have said this before, but it is true.  Studying for certification exams requires a systematic approach to cover the exam objectives to gain a solid understanding of the concepts and skills tested.  Don’t study practice test questions, study the concepts.

Prepare to pass your certification exams with good study materials.  If you understand the concepts in the objectives, you can answer any question on an exam. Everyone has a different way of learning, it is hard to say what the is the best product for an individual to learn, you have assess that for yourself.  Determine what you need to seat the concepts in your mind!

For those who learn well by reading, look to exam guides. You can find a complete understanding  to prepare for a certification, like in my All in One books, that will cover your from the basics to passing the exam.  If you are an existing tech, looking to pass the exam, I like to call you “swiss cheese” knowledge techs.  You know what you work with well, but need to fill in the “holes” to pass your exams, and are looking for the exam facts.  Review the objectives and focus your studies on the topics you don’t know well.

Get your hands dirty, practice, practice, practice.  Whether it is working with setting up the hardware or configuring the software, get some time working on your skills.  Use online interactive simulations to help you apply technical concepts and practice answering CompTIA’s performance-based questions. Hands on labs help you apply the concepts and give you confidence in your knowledge.

Certification exams are expensive, prepare to pass the first time by using practice exams. Practice exams are a great way for you to know when you are ready to take the actual exams.  You can use them at the end of your studies to see if you are ready to take the exams.  If you are using it as a final check, don’t just trust that one pass is good enough, be certain to take several exams and ensure your scores are consistent.  If you choose to use practice questions as an integral part of their study, be certain to use a larger pool of questions.  More questions help ensure that you are learning the concepts, and not just memorizing the answers to the questions in the database.

For students who learn better in more of a classroom based learning with an instructor explaining topics, utilize computer based learning video series.  With videos, the instructor explains the concepts.  This makes it easier for some to learn with an instructor explaining the objectives and how they are applied in the certification.

For us older techs, don’t be afraid to admit you don’t remember how to study! These are big decisions especially because so much is riding on you passing the exam.  If you are in an IT career, want to go further but find it hard to study, you may need to step up to instructor led training. Instructor led can cost more than self study, but it also motivates to get it done. Getting the certification will get you into the position faster, and for some the instructor led cost is worth it.

No matter how you study, when you are ready don’t pay full price.  Save on the cost of certification exams with Discount Exam Vouchers.

Mike

Don’t miss study tips in my study blog.

For 10 weeks, we will award $50,000 in tuition scholarships for enrollment in our Certified Defense Security Analyst training program to eligible to help meet the cybersecurity employment demand.

Upcoming Live training courses. Join our SOC team for 12-weeks of hands-on training and experience. Call 703-740-2909

Talk to someone who made the change to cybersecurity from an IT career. Meet with my friend Patrick and tell him Mike sent ya!

Join me for a live webinar hosted by CyberNow Labs for Hands on Cyber Career Training

 US and International Discount Exam Vouchers: Purchase a CompTIA voucher and save on the cost of your exams.

Practice Tests: TotalTester practice tests have hundreds of questions in a pool that allows you to create custom exams by exam domain or by chapter. Take tests in Practice mode with assistance (hints and explanations) or in Final mode (simulate the real exams). Includes complete explanations for each question.

Interactive simulations: TotalSims for A+, Network+, and Security+, hundreds of online simulated labs. Prepare for CompTIA’s performance-based questions and learn more about technical concepts covered on the exams.

Total Seminars e-books are now available: Check out all of our e-book titles. Available 24/7 for immediate access on the Total Seminars Training Hub

Some of you may have heard about my March initiative to get students rolling toward a Security+ Certification.  I mean it, we need cybersecurity techs and it starts with CompTIA Security+ Certification.  So much so that I gave away over 1,200 free Security+ video series to get people motivated to get into this career.

In my nearly 30 years training millions of techs, I really believe we changed for the better the IT industry hiring practices.  Particularly the qualification requirements at the technical level. As a self-studied man that didn’t take the traditional college route, I’ve had great satisfaction watching companies realize the value of certifications and hands on training better job qualifiers for techs. I have been saying this for over thirty years!

In today’s interconnected world, cybersecurity threats have become more sophisticated and pervasive than ever before. The demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals, especially those with experience in security operations centers (SOC), is rapidly increasing. Organizations of all sizes and industries require dedicated teams to monitor, detect, and respond to security incidents. This high demand ensures a multitude of job opportunities and career growth prospects.

SOCs are a great place to start your cybersecurity career. Proper SOC training equips professionals with the necessary skills to understand threat landscapes, work with incident response and mitigation, and analyze threat intelligence analysis.

The bottom line is if you have enthusiasm for the field, and embrace continuous learning, you can become a cybersecurity professional who makes a difference.

I love talking to folks to hear how they are making this career change. I’ve got to say, my pals at CyberNow Labs are doing something unique to help people of any background make this pivot.

Mike

Upcoming Live training courses. Join our SOC team for 12-weeks of hands-on training and experience. Call 703-740-2909

Talk to someone who made the change to cybersecurity from an IT career. Meet with my friend Patrick and tell him Mike sent ya!

Join me for a live webinar hosted by CyberNow Labs for Hands on Cyber Career Training

Total Seminars has resources to help you self-study for your CompTIA Certifications

US and International Discount Exam Vouchers:  Lowest Prices!! Purchase a CompTIA voucher and save on the cost of your exams.

Total Seminars e-books are now available: Check out all of our e-book titles. Available 24/7 for immediate access on the Total Seminars Training Hub.

Practice Tests: TotalTester practice tests have hundreds of questions in a pool that allows you to create custom exams by exam domain or by chapter. Take tests in Practice mode with assistance (hints and explanations) or in Final mode to see if you are ready for the real exams. Includes complete explanations for each question.

Interactive simulations: TotalSims for A+ and Network+ have hundreds of online simulated labs. Prepare for CompTIA’s performance-based questions and learn more about technical concepts covered on the exams.

As we come to the end of the first quarter in 2024, the tech job market may appear concerning.  The latest layoffs at high profile tech companies and the US economy have given the industry a shake.  Contrary to these facts, data seems to show that there are still tech jobs open and low tech unemployment rates.  Today I want to look at the current market and why you should be comfortable moving into a career in IT.

Salaries for tech, both entry level and advanced levels

The IT industry continues to have the most competitive salaries in the job market.  The skilled tech job market demand continues to remain high.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual wage for a entry level IT position, such as computer user support specialists was $57,890 in May 2022 with a growth outlook of five percent from 2022 to 2032.  Advance level positions are easily in six figures

Remote work in the industry

Remote work, once a perk, is a mainstay in the tech industry. It allows for flexibility in work as well as enhance work-life balance.  It also allows tech worker to collaborate with team members from around the world. With a globally connected workforce, tech professionals can collaborate with clients and colleagues from around the world. Tech workers can engage with industry leaders, attend virtual conferences, and engage in online communities in a global network.

Learning opportunities

Tech careers allow workers to learn and develop skills.  Since it is a priority in the IT business, tech companies actively invest in the professional growth of their employees, offering training programs, workshops, and opportunities to attend conferences. In 2024, tech jobs can also offer workers access to a learning environment where staying on the edge of learning is encouraged and essential.

Innovation and overcoming challenges

Tech careers can lead to positions that contribute to groundbreaking innovations. Artificial intelligence, cyber currency, and other emerging fields allow workers to be at the forefront of technology.  Tech jobs allow you to be a part of a community that drives progress and creates solutions to some of the most difficult challenges.

The tech industry is not running out of jobs. It is ever changing, evolving, and growing in ways that offer a wealth of opportunities to techs.  Its growth rate is higher than the average occupation. If you love technology and innovation, the tech industry has much to offer.

Talk to you next week,

Mike

Total Seminars has resources to help you self-study for your CompTIA Certifications

Total Seminars e-books are now available: Check out all of our e-book titles. Available 24/7 for immediate access on the Total Seminars Training Hub.

Practice Tests: TotalTester practice tests have hundreds of questions in a pool that allows you to create custom exams by exam domain or by chapter. Take tests in Practice mode with assistance (hints and explanations) or in Final mode to see if you are ready for the real exams. Includes complete explanations for each question.

Interactive simulations: TotalSims for A+ and Network+ have hundreds of online simulated labs. Prepare for CompTIA’s performance-based questions and learn more about technical concepts covered on the exams.

US and International Discount Exam Vouchers: Purchase a CompTIA voucher and save on the cost of your exams.

Upcoming Live training courses. Join our SOC team for 12-weeks of hands-on training and experience. Call 703-740-2909

Talk to someone who made the change to cybersecurity from an IT career. Meet with my friend Patrick and tell him Mike sent ya!

Are you considering pursuing CompTIA certifications in 2024? Here’s a heads-up to help you plan your studies and certifications wisely, especially with CompTIA’s price increase effective February 1, 2024.  CompTIA increased the costs of all their certification exams, but you can beat the price hike by planning your studies and when you take your certification exam.

CompTIA member companies like Total Seminars are able to purchase vouchers for the CompTIA exams and resell them to students at a discount compared to the full price you would pay when you register with VUE or buy at the CompTIA web store.

Here’s a summary of the retail pricing (US and Canada):

Exam                     Old Retail Price       New Retail Price       TS Discount Vouchers (Only through March 15th)

A+ (each)                            $246                          $253                           $220.99
Network+                            $358                           $369                          $321.99
Security+                             $392                           $404                          $351.99
CySA+                                  $392                           $404                          $351.99
PenTest+                             $381                            $404                          $351.99
ITF+                                    $134                            $134                          $119.99
Cloud+                                 $358                           $369                           $321.99
Linux+                                 $358                           $369                           $321.99

How It Works: Your Roadmap to Savings

1. Visit Total Seminars’ Website: Before you register for your CompTIA exam, take a detour to the Total Seminars website. There, you can purchase a voucher at 2023 prices through March 15th.
2. Order Processing: Once you’ve made your purchase, we’ll process your order promptly. Expect an email to land in your inbox, containing your voucher number.
3. Seal the Deal with VUE: Head over to the VUE website to register for your CompTIA exam. At the payment stage, you’ll have a choice: credit card or voucher. Opt for the latter and input the voucher number from your Total Seminars email.
4. Savings that Last: The beauty of Total Seminars discount vouchers? They’re valid for up to 11 months. Check your email for the exact expiry date and make sure to register for your exam online with VUE before that deadline.

By taking advantage of Total Seminars’ Discount Vouchers, you not only beat the impending price hike but also ensure that your certification journey is a budget-friendly one.

Talk to you next week,

Mike

Click here for Mike’s FREE Security+ video offer!

Total Seminars has resources to help you self-study for your CompTIA Certifications

Total Seminars e-books are now available: Check out all of our e-book titles. Available 24/7 for immediate access on the Total Seminars Training Hub.

Practice Tests: TotalTester practice tests have hundreds of questions in a pool that allows you to create custom exams by exam domain or by chapter. Take tests in Practice mode with assistance (hints and explanations) or in Final mode to see if you are ready for the real exams. Includes complete explanations for each question.

Interactive simulations: TotalSims for A+ and Network+ have hundreds of online simulated labs. Prepare for CompTIA’s performance-based questions and learn more about technical concepts covered on the exams.

US and International Discount Exam Vouchers: Purchase a CompTIA voucher and save on the cost of your exams.

Upcoming Live training courses. Join our SOC team for 12-weeks of hands-on training and experience. Call 703-740-2909

Talk to someone who made the change to cybersecurity from an IT career. Meet with my friend Patrick and tell him Mike sent ya!

So last week I talked about finding the tasks you enjoy and careers that use those skills. Once you find careers you want, you need to find what kinds of companies hire in the careers and where jobs are located. Some careers may require relocation or a lifestyle change. There are tons of job sites that can help you research, like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. Find networking groups where you can meet people in these careers and learn the local market from them.

While you are doing your research, remember to look at the job postings. Make notes on what skills and certifications employers list. Knowing what skills employers list will help you determine what skills or certs you should work toward and highlight on your resume.

If you’re hoping to transition to an entirely different field that requires an entirely different skillset, you may need to enroll in training courses or a school to get yourself up to speed on the technical skills related to your field of choice. Internships or volunteering are great ways to get experience on your resume. Employers will notice these on your resume.

Now, I’m not going to lie, changing careers in your 20s is a lot different than in your 40s or 50s. Keep your age and lifestyle in mind as you plan to launch your new career. Remember if you have senior job experience, you’ll want to make sure potential employers know about it – if you have the right skills at your disposal, you might not be vying for entry-level positions.

Set and reach goals to make the change, this does not happen overnight. Commit to take a course or obtain industry certifications that will help you get in the career you want. Set dates for these goals. Remember success results when preparation meets opportunity – the more prepared you are and the more you stay on the right track with your goals, the more likely you are to succeed.

Don’t forget we still have a small inventory of CompTIA vouchers at 2023 prices, they won’t last much longer! Get CompTIA certified in 2024 at 2023 prices.

Talk to you next week,

Mike

Starting next Saturday (March 9th), join our SOC team for 12-weeks of hands-on training and experience. Call 703-740-2909

Talk to someone who made the change to cybersecurity from an IT career. Meet with my friend Patrick and tell him Mike sent ya!

People always ask me; how do I change my career. Here are a few things you can start with today to work on finding a viable new career. A career that aligns with your interests and skillsr. Here are several things to start your change to a satisfied career.

What do you want out of a career? (And be honest!)

Ask you self what are you missing in your current job that makes you unhappy?
Are you looking for a better work life balance?
Do you want more challenging work?
Maybe you just want to get paid more?

When changing careers, you must list what you want (and don’t want) form a future career. Ask yourself these questions to help figure out what you want to do:

What would you do that would make you look forward to your work day?
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
What do you need from a career to help you reach your goals?
How much money do you need to make to live comfortably?
What does your dream life look like?
What jobs tasks are deal breakers for you?

You don’t jump into a relationship; you should not jump into a career change without thinking it through. It’s also smart to consider any facets of a job that might be deal breakers. Anyone can work a job to make a living, but when you take the time to make a change, make it something you will enjoy.

Once you find the job tasks you think you will enjoy, begin to look at careers that use those skills. Be certain to research the type of work and salary in the careers to be certain it will meet your expectations. You want to be able to love your work but support your lifestyle.

Next week I will talk more about getting where you need to be to make your plan. If you are interested in changing to cybersecurity, call my friend Patrick. Don’t forget we still have a small inventory of CompTIA vouchers at 2023 prices, they won’t last!

Mike

Security+ On Us, Extended through February!

Next course starts soon. Call 703-740-2909

Talk to someone who made the change to cybersecurity from an IT career.

Meet with my friend Patrick and tell him Mike sent ya!

Don’t be left out in the dark about CompTIA 2024 certification changes. CompTIA is making several updates this year in their certification pathways.  If you are studying for a CompTIA certification this year, be certain to know if your studies are affected.

CompTIA has been making some great changes in their certifications.  Their latest changes have been significant changes, in a good way!  The recent updates in the Security+ certification were not only toward new technologies, but they have restructured the certification to be more relevant to security job roles.  CompTIA is addressing cybersecurity trends and techniques that are needed to ensure performance on the job.

But even more changes are coming.  CompTIA has been working on adding certification programs for certifications to focus on different areas of IT. We all know the Plus (+) series, but CompTIA is working on new certification series that will focus on the universal need for digital fluency across the IT professions.  They have added CompTIA Essentials Series, CompTIA a+ Series Series (referred to as little a+), CompTIA Pro Series, and CompTIA Xpert Series.  (The CASP+ certification will be rebranded as SecurityX and become a part of Xpert series.)

The 2024 changes that I want to focus highlight are some of oldies but goodies that we have been working with for years. First and foremost, look for Network+ N10-008 to change this year, it was last released in September 2021.  If you are studying now, get a move on it!  Although not released yet, if the changes to Security+ and their new certification series are an indication, we will see some big changes in its structure.

Another big change will be the long-awaited update to IT Fundamentals!  They will be rebranding the certification name to Tech+ and making some well awaited updates.  Also coming in 2024 will be updates to the Cloud+ and PenTest+ certifications.

Keep watching my blog, we will talk more details of the changes.

Talk to you next week,

Mike

Security+ On Us, Extended through February!

Next course starts February 24th. Call 703-740-2909

Talk to someone who made the change to cybersecurity from an IT career.

Meet with my friend Patrick and tell him Mike sent ya!