Home - Operating Systems

CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-201 Study Guide

Price: $9.99

& 2-Day * Free Nationwide Shipping! (* details)

Availability: Usually ship in 24 hours if sold by Amazon.com

Tags: comptia security certified ahead sy0-201 study guide

Product Details

Binding:	Kindle Edition
EAN:
Label:
Feature:
Publisher:
Studio:

Editorial Reviews

CompTIA Security+ SY0-201: Get Certified, Get Ahead by Darril Gibson presents a comprehensive and all-inclusive approach for studying, preparing, and mastering the core competencies needed to pass the CompTIA Security+ SY0-201 exam. Learn from an expert in the field with over twenty years’ experience in the IT arena. Over the years, author Darril Gibson has helped hundreds of students get certified, and has included in this text the time-tested information used in his successful classes. This manual covers one hundred percent of all exam objectives and includes real world examples of security principles in action. Also included are over 375 practice test questions with in-depth explanations. Written with clarity and efficiency, CompTIA Security+ SY0-201: Get Certified, Get Ahead is a one-stop shop for any IT professional interested in advancing in the IT field and a must read for anyone striving to master the basics of IT systems security.

Customer Reviews

perfect! i love this book. i had the original microsoft security+ book for class, and this book covered WAY more than what that book did, and alot less pages. i'm going to take my security+ certification exam on the 18th of December. i'm feeling very confident, as this book says it covers 100% of the exam. i'm just hoping there's no scenarios on the test =p, just questions about what i learned in the book, lol.

EDIT: Passed my exam with a 865/900 with this book! About 2-3 tricky questions throughout the entire test but it was ALL familiar. There was absolutely NOTHING unfamiliar on this test that the book didn't cover! Thank you :)

The best thing I like about this book is that it talks to you instead of technically instructing you and it makes for a comfortable read while riding the bus or in bed. Another good feature is the text size is exceptionally larger than Sybex books, which again makes it easier to read. You will pass with book read it cover to cover and once over any areas you dont understand and take all the practice questions(seriously like the real exam).

This book is excellent for both real world techniques for employing best practices for security as well as for passing the CompTia SYO-201 Security + Exam. It gets to the main points very quickly and actually is a very easy read...despite the fairly complex subject matter. The author doesn't preach to the choir, nor does he talk down to his audience...but it's almost as if he is engaging the reader in a discussion about various security related topics. The book is very well laid out and has lots of important points pulled out and highlighted in 'Remember' bubbles. Add to the excellent content a liberal sprinkling of Practice Exam questions thoughout the book and you have the perfect blend of study guide and reference book!

This is THE BOOK for nailing the Security + exam!

I just passed the exam with an 868/900 (96%) and I used this book almost solely. I will throw in the disclaimer that I'm a CCNA, MCSA, and VCP (VMWare Certified Professional) with 15 years experience and the real-world experience was actually tested pretty effectively at times. I feel bad for young bucks that have lived in the world of prolific anti-virus software on workstations, servers, and email relays.

I downloaded the Security+ 2008 Exam Objectives directly from the CompTia website and double checked that this book hit on every topic and ever acronym. I'd recommend hitting this same list before, after, and during to make sure you didn't skim or miss anything. If you're very solid on the content in this book and everything on the objective list then you should call yourself "ready for this exam".

I also bought the Sybex CompTIA Security+ Study Guide for the CD with electronic flashcards and a practive exam but the Sybex book and Sybex CD were 70% garbage. I did refer to Sybex in a few cases to get details on IPSec and some encryption algorithms but Wikipedia would have done just the same thing.

Where the book lacked: beware the epic fail on their port/protocol definitions of L2TP and PPTP which is flat-out embarrassing (see errata sheet on website), their mistakenly listing WEP as Wireless Equivalent Privacy in the index which is silly (it is Wired), missing details about the Blowfish algorithm (oddly not on the Exam Objectives list but brought up twice on my exam), the book's website is ugly and worthless aside from the Errata sheet (I had really hoped for new information or sample quesitons), and finally the synonymns of the authenitcation methods aren't all covered (they were mostly common sense on the exam, but not in all cases). That list actually looks more brutal typed out than it should.

The good: the book hit 98% of the questions on the exam, was clear and easy to understand, has terrific font size and spacing for readability, the author has a good non-condescending tone and excellent real world examples (this book reads the way that a good classroom instructor sounds), the acronym list at the end of the book is almost a perfect match to those listed on the exam objective doc on the CompTia website, the practice questions are decent match to the real exam.

For n00bies you should have excellent problem-solving skills, a ridiculously good grasp on security topics (many university courses would meet this criteria), and many hours on exam engines in addition to this book. Seasoned vets should have a big leg up and for sure don't need to drop the insane coin that all these "online training" places want (CompTia being one of them) and they'll be fine with this book.

You won't go wrong with this book if you just read the errata sheet and drill yourself forwards and backwards on it then sprinkle in a little real-world experience and a practice deciphering the hidden meaning in exam questions. I'd recommend it above any other Security+ material out there.

English is not my first language, with that being said. Time for the review!!! I was actually awaiting after the exam to provide my review so here I go.

If you are looking for a non-boring book and one that give you all the knowledge in non-too technological terms in order for you to understand the material, this is the book for you. I watched all the reviews here prior to buy this book here and since all of them was 5 starts I decided to give it a try.

With Spanish being my first language I was afraid to get lost in a lot of difficult terminologies and stuff like that. Let me tell you something. This Book is magical. Even with only a year with Help Desk IT experience I was able to master all the subjects with this book. Sometime if I don't understand one word, I used to go to "Google Translate" and keep going. This is the best book I come across ever, its really fun to read and the real world scenarios are really helpful to better understand security. The Book is really easy to read (big letters), and it has a lot of practice question after each chapter.

After reading this book for a month, I fell really confident about taking the test. I went last Saturday November 11,2010. And passed the exam at the firs try with a score of 802/900!!! THE BOOK COVERED 100% OF THE EXAM.

I really recommend this book to all the rookies out there like me that are looking forward to pass the Security+ at the first Try. The ratings are 5 starts for a reason.

I'm glad I bought this book. If I could give it 10 starts I would.

Three of us in the office have used this publication to pass the Security+ test on the first try. So far with scores of 880. Great book with large print (for us old guys) and no fluff, just the facts.

The author has a great writing style, keeping the readers engaged all throughout. I have not seen many technical-books do this. Read this cover-to-cover and you are all set.

The book is great! It helped me tremendously in preparing for the exam. I read it cover to cover twice. While studying the material, I backed it up with the study questions at the end of each chapter. It's extremely important to understand why the answers are correct, and why the wrong answers are incorrect. Thankfully Darril has included extensive explanations for every practice question in the book. This really drives the points home!

It completely covered the material on the real exam. I sat for the exam and felt extremely comfortable. It made the exam feel easy. Now I'm confident that I know the information for the real world!

The exam is not as bad as everyone says it is. I was fairly new to the information until this year and managed to score a 900/900.

Perhaps that's just a testament to how good the book is; it has a perfect rating for a reason.

I started to get seriously interested in tackling the Security+ exam when I saw how much coverage of security there was on the Network+ exam. It seemed a shame not to capitalize on the overlap of material so I committed to more or less preparing for both tests together. After trying several other Security+ books I had second thoughts as the subject matter can ramp up quickly in difficulty. Then I found this book at Amazon and saw that everyone rated it 5 stars with glowing reviews. I got it, and as they say the rest is history!

Darril Gibson has taken this complex subject and presented it in a user-friendly, easy to understand way that actually makes it interesting and fun to learn. Mr. Gibson, I hope you are reading these reviews because I want to personally congratulate and thank you for your work. You have a unique talent for teaching - I can not remember ever having read another text book that was so easy to follow and yet so thorough and complete on its topic that it literally is a one stop solution for the test.

The large font, the "Remember" boxes, the chapter reviews, and the truly representative practice questions all combine to make this a noteworthy experience. The depth and breadth of material coverage is perfect - be assured if it's in the book you need to know it, and if it's not you don't. This book is so focused that you can't use the same approach many people use on text books - skimming and highlighting. There is no fat to trim and you really need to know all that is presented. But if you take the time to fully digest it carefully and have a good memory you will pass Security+ "just studying out of the book". I did!

Note: I've had NO PRIOR NETWORK/SECURITY experience. This book was a Godsend! I only had a weekend to study when I found out about this book. Bought it in Kindle format and read it on my PC with the free application from Amazon. This book is so easy to read, not boring, and the practice tests and answers (with explanations) helped to sink in the concepts even more. Plus, in Kindle form it was way easier to look up something I'd see in practice questions (from other sources) that I didn't remember the definition of, and bookmark those areas to review later. I read the whole book over the weekend, took the test on Monday and scored 828! Best $10 ever spent!

I used this book as my main source of preparation for the Security+ exam. It covers everything you need to know to pass the exam with flying colors; moreover, it does so in an easy-to-read format. If you use this book to study diligently for the exam, it would be difficult not to pass. I just took the exam this morning and passed with a score of 848/900.

This book was my only source of preparation for the exam. I had access to other materials and planned to use them as a supplement, but after reading the book and working through all of the practice questions, I didn't feel the other materials were necessary and did not use them. The topics were layed-out well, and covered what was necessary for the exam. The book was written to help people pass the exam by giving rich overviews of the topics, not to give in-depth details about what's happening under the hood. If your job responsibilities fall within any specific areas of this book, then you should be getting the detailed concepts through personal work experience. I have 10 years experience in data networking, and was already familiar with some of the subjects. If you have no IT job experience or skills, then you may need to research some of the topics elsewhere to gain a little more understanding of how and why something works as stated. But the average person who already works with data networks, IT security, MS servers, or MS workstation support should have no problems with the exam if using only the book.

I was pleased with the presentation of the materials. For the price of the book, which includes plenty of practice test questions with great explanations, you will not find a better value for your money. There are some small things I could recommend changing, but nothing major. The book delivers on its promise 'Get Certified', and that's all that matters.

I passed the exam on my first attempt, and with a very high score. I hold other certifications and have taken eight other exams for those certs over the past 10 years. Of all those exams, I scored highest on this one, and it was because of this book. For any future cert exams, Darril will be the author of choice when looking for study materials.

One other thing...some reviews have mentioned using pass4sure and similiar materials for studying. That isn't studying, that is using someone else's braindump to get the test questions and answers. You aren't helping yourself or your career potential by memorizing questions and answers. You are cheating yourself. You are also cheating others, because the vendors are making test questions harder and more tricky to answer because that is how they can weed-out a lot of the braindump testers. Braindumps are the main reason the exam questions have become much more difficult across all vendors' certification exams. The certifications are useless if you cannot do your job because you cheated.

I honestly have to say that I have enjoyed this book and I don't even like reading pc books. Most of them will bore you to tears. Got it on the kindle and it's worth it im telling you. I found the Rayburn box pretty funny because I was right about to go and look that up. You will know what I mean when you read chapter 9. I was able to follow along pretty easily and retain what i had learned. Granted before this i went through both of Train Signals DVDs on this subject. Those were ok and in-depth but what I like about this are the test questions after every chapter. Simple and easy to read. What I did was read 1 chapter, take the practice test. Read the second chapter take the test for chapter 1 and 2. Read the third then take all 3 and so on. When you do the stuff over and over it helps.

I am going to take my test next week on the 27th so wish me luck. Im nervously confident! If I had to have an additional resource for the security test it would be this.

[EDIT]
Passed my test today (Dec 27)! There were some things mentioned on the test like cloud computing but for all I know those could have been beta questions.

What the book IS
This is the book you want if you are preparing for Security +, period. If you go to any reputable certification discussion board you will see everyone recommending it. If you want to pass with flying colors, buy it now.

What the book is NOT
Being focused on the exam, it is not the most detailed resource if you want to know everything about all the technologies and concepts covered by the exam. Other books such as the Sybex one go to more detail (that are useless for the test).

Comments
I knew nothing about the author or this book until early November 2010. I learned about the re-certification requirements coming up for 2011 and rushed to find the best resource out there to quickly prepare for the test. Everything pointed to this book. Boy was everyone right. If I had to describe the best qualities of the book I would list its conciseness and flow. I picked up the book a few days before Thanksgiving and couldn't put it down. I read it over the holiday weekend and reviewed for another week before taking the test.

There are a few errors here and there but they do not detract any value from the book. Make sure you look up the errata sheet online.

Almost forgot, I passed the test with 890/900 :-)

This book is phenomenal. It hits every point needed to pass the exam. Don't misunderstand what I mean by that, this book will not help you master security. It was written with the sole purpose of giving the reader the fundamental understanding needed to pass the SY0-201 Exam CompTIA's Security+ 2009 edition. This is an entry level certification (albeit a higher level entry level certification, but entry level none the less), and reader's should not expect a ton of in depth, or upper level language. It is intended to be basic and understandable by even someone that holds ZERO certifications.

If you want Security+, use this book as the tool it is, and you will pass.

I was very impressed with this book. I read the reviews of the book and felt like I had to use it to study for the Security+ exam. The book didn't disappoint. It is well written and the author does a great job explaining complex technical subjects in plain English. I read a chapter a day. Each chapter takes an hour or two to get through. I prepared for the exam by taking the pre and post test three or four times each, reviewed the material for a week or so and lastly I went back through the questions at the end of the chapter. The study guide material at the end of the chapters was really good as well. Total study time was three weeks and then I took the exam. This was the only book that I read to prepare for the test but I do have hands on experience at work. I felt that I was well prepared to take the test.

I sat down for the test and it was much more difficult than I expected. I only felt 100% confident on about half the answers I provided. I didn't think I would pass the exam but when it was over I scored an 869/900. I was pretty shocked. The questions in the exam must have been written years ago or they were written by non technical staff. Lot's of questions that had two or three possible answers but you have to pick the one that is barely better than the others. Also had a good handful of questions that were not in the book. Very tricky!

Anyways, I passed and I thought the book was great. Just wish the exam was updated a bit. Too many tricky questions.

This book is very easy to read. I was able to read the book from cover to cover in a few sessions. Security + Certified

Thank you Mr. Gibson for your book. It was my only study source and I passed with it. The Test is very hard and worderd in the infamous Comptia fashion. It covers alot of topics but Comptia still thru some curve balls on the test. Put my name on the wall for passing the Comptia Security+. Thanks to all the other reviews on here for convincing me to purchase this book and trust that you can pass it with just it alone. Glad I dont have to take it again!!!! I am now A+, Network+ and Security+ certified for life!!

I got Sec+ certified using this book after i heard about it in some online forums. Many people in my office including me went to a Sec+ class for a week and studied what they gave us, but after watching most ppl fail from using certexam and practice test guides i decided to buy this book. I passed w 820/900 reading a chapter a night and would highly recommend this book to anyone who has at least a little background in computers/security. The book breaks down the chapters and highlights the information you need to know for the exam, there are also loads of practice test in this book which i poured over... this book is deffinatly worth it

I found this book to be an easy read and I don't like to read long drawn-out text books (does anyone?). It help this reviewer understand the concepts and importance of Security+. Most importantly, it helped this reviewer pass the certification exam.

If you're going to read one book to study for the Security+ exam, this is it. I started reading this book on November 7th, 2010. I read this book twice and a Sybex book to fill in any gaps, and frankly, I don't think I needed the Sybex book. This book more than adequately covered everything that was on the exam. After reading through once, I wrote the practice exam at the back and scored 90/100. I read through the book again and wrote the practice exam a second time and scored 99/100. For the real exam, I scored 874/900.

My co-workers studied for this test using other books and resources, and warned me about how dry/boring studying for this exam was for them.
I was not looking forward to studying for this exam, until I started reading this book. It was a very interesting and easy read!
Darril also uses solid real world examples and explains material and a clear, and concise way.

I used this book as my only study guide and passed with flying colours. I have no previous Security experience, however I do have my CompTIA Network+ which CompTIA recommends having before taking this exam.

Couldn't have done it without this book! If you are on the fence about purchasing this book, just get it. It is well worth the money!

Anyone from Keesler AFB will tell you that security + is the harbinger of bad news. Someone always fails. I had 8 school days and 2 weekends to know the material. I have no on the job networking experience whatsoever. Despite this I passed with a 875 out of 900. I read the entire book, took all the practice questions, and learned from my mistakes. The only 2 sources I used to supplement this text was lecture and game simulations in the format of "Who wants to be a millionaire?" Students in Keesler should ask about the millionaire game for it WILL help. For those outside of the U.S. Air Force, reading this book alone should be enough for you to pass. Just watch out for KEY words on the test, have a good breakfast, and use the restroom prior to testing. Remember, 750 is about 84% so if you barely pass that is still by a good percentage. For all those in 336 trs who are stressing and losing sleep over this test, reading this book and understanding it will put you at ease.

by an A1C from the 336 trs but first a proud 332 trs mad dog.

graduated Nov. 2 2010

p.s. I moon walked on the wolf with my boots. awwwww . . .

I used this book and the Sybex CompTIA Security+ Deluxe Study Guide. I am a career changer and have zero experience in the IT field; however, I've been working on a Master's in Information Assurance for 1 year. I started studying one month prior to the exam by reading the Sybex guide cover to cover and answering all the practice questions (which I scored miserably on). Then a few days prior to test day, I skimmed this book. I wish I had focused my studying on this book and either skipped the Sybex book or just skimmed it. The material is well organized and presented in a way that just makes more sense and helped me remember some of the things that require rote memorization. Both are fine books, but I credit this book (and my formal education) for a passing score.

Darril Gibson has truly authored a great book on IT Security! I myself am a poor reader but was interested enough to finish reading the book in three days. I previously failed the Security+ exam in 2005 after completing a graduate school course in IT Audit & Security but now feel much more confident about my chances and plan to take the exam next week...
Thank you Darril for authoring this book!
UPDATE: Passed! Thank you again, Darril, for authoring this great book!

I ordered this book for the Army course that I'm currently in. It helped me more than the books provided by the course. I didn't even have to use the course books because this book covers what is needed for the CompTIA Security+ exam. I passed the Army course and scored 800 on the the CompTIA exam. All in 9 days (that's all the time we get to learn Security+ in this course).

The book is very comprehensive and easy to read. There are a lot of "remember" blocks and easy to understand examples to help you with the more difficult subjects. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to earn a Security+ certification. If you have more than 9 days to learn the material, then you should be more than prepared to take the exam.

This book covers the Security+ topics in detail. It gives you the background information so you understand the answers to the cert questions. Very readable and well written. Nothing bad to say about it.

Want to pass the latest Security + exam? Then read this book. Want to have a wonderful reference book to keep for pertinent case studies and "real-life" use? Then read and keep this book. Mr. Gibson uses tried and true methods to get the information out there and uses appropriate repetition methods to help reinforce the key points necessary for passing the exam and to actually learn the material to apply to non-exam situations. Mr. Gibson also has authored some 2008 Server books and SQL that I'm looking forward to using for my next round of certifications...Having successfully used his study material and teaching methods for my Security + exam, I look forward to duplicating my success by reading his entire line of materials.

This book is a definite asset to someone seeking certification. Due to Mr. Gibson's extensive training background, he's able to touch on all the prime areas of security that doesn't leave a student "wanting" for a more in-depth description of the subject matter. As does most books, Mr Gibson made a point to have "Remember Tips" to emphasize that particular subject as being an absolute "must know" for the test. Therefore, there shouldn't be any suprises when a high value question is presented on the exam; chances are Mr. Gibson put the word out via the "Remember" format to let you know ahead of time.

All in all, this book is without a doubt "definitive reading" and something I would recommend for security+ certification.

Jon K. Johnson
CCNA, Security+, Network+, Server+

I have to say that this book helped me succeed with passing the Security + exam. I found reviews for this book on the forum for Tech Exams.net . The original books I had for Security + did not give me a foundation to build my knowledge for this certification. Once I started reading this book from the Kindle App, I was thoroughly impressed. I actually scored higher on the test than I expected. Thanks for writing this book!

Darril Gibson's book covers nearly everything you need to know about the Security+ exam. The lays out the concepts in a simple, easy to read format that also serves as a great reference after the exam. Using primarily this book as my study material for the Security+, I was able to complete the exam in approximately 45 minutes and score an 842/900 (about a 94%). It is important to review areas that are incorrect in the practice questions as the format will be relatively similar to those found on the actual exam.

Additional resources can be found at TechExams.net that show how many other people have used this book to successfully complete the Security+ Certification.

For those that are working on their CISSP, this book serves as a good entry level into a number of the topics covered by the CISSP exam.

This book is a great study tool for passing the SY0-201 exam. I would recommend it in a heartbeat. The book was very easy to understand and the format and layout of topics made it easier to follow.

This book is *outstanding*. I didn't use it my only source for the exam but it was my main one. It didn't inspire confidence immediately because the type was large and the writing style seemed potentially too simple. But really it was just well written, focused and clear without all the extraneous stuff that the other books I was reading had. I really can't say enough good things about this book. I certainly wouldn't have passed without.

This is the book you need to pass Security+. Very easy to read. If you read this book 1 time through, take the practice quizzes and practice tests, you will pass the cert!

I just want to say that I totally agree with all of the 5 star reviews. I received this book on December 16th and finish the entire book on December 23rd. I took the sy0-201 CompTIA Security+ exam today at 8am and passed the exam above the passing score of 750 by using this book and another resource with sample questions. I wouldn't recommend doing this since I only studied for a few months. If I had additional time and resources, I would have created some labs to practice some of the examples in the book.

This book is an excellent reference and I will definitely suggest this book to anyone that wants to take the exam or just wants to learn about computer security.

I got this book to be the supplemental study aid in preparing for the exam. After finishing the other book, I didn't feel prepared. I probably should have just read this one, and not spent the time with the other one. Passed the exam with 859/900. I feel that was mostly due to this book. I think I could have passed without reading the book but would have had lower score.

While I was reading Security+ Get Certified Get Ahead, a lot of the topics reminded me of almost all the best practices I learned for system and network administration. In fact I've loaned my copy to a junior admin at work to learn more about best practices and the why to the "how an environment should be."

The book was an easy read, read it in 4 days, which included answering all the questions. The other book, I won't name, took me from mid October to mid December.

Having just passed the SY0-201 on my first attempt, I am very happy to agree with my fellow reviewers: anyone with CompTIA's recommended experience WILL earn their Security+ by studying this book. Further, Mr. Gibson's work is an excellent primer on network security in its own right, worthy as a starting point for more advanced certifications. I found his chapter on cryptography particularly helpful and his presentation of this challenging material vastly superior to that found in competing titles. Also, I appreciate that the author has made errata freely available on his web site, fixing the very few errors in the text.

A note for Kindle users: I purchased this book before I had a Kindle, and ultimately bought it again for more portable last-minute study. As no software is bundled with the book, I see no reason to favor the dead tree edition over the electronic version.

Had some issues getting this book locally, so I ordered if from Amazon. Took the full 5 days, but it came just in time. Read it cover to back in about 2 weeks, while taking notes and flashcards. Skimmed it a second time testing again on the review questions, and both exams in the book. Scored 80% on the final exam days before taking the real exam. I scored well in the 90% and was extremely happy with how well I did. Keep in mind this book will not make you an expert in Computer Security, but it may set a solid foundation one can build from. I gave this Book 5 Stars mostly because I don't have a heavy back ground in Computer Security, and this book was a big reason I passed as well as I did. Not to mention I took the Network+ a month earlier and did worst then I did on the Security+. So if you want to pass the Security+ exam this is the book you will want to read. Also don't forget to check out Darril Gibson's supplemental Video's on Youtube. They where really helpful in understanding SSL, and Digital Certificates for me. I find it hard to believe anyone would give this book less then 4 stars. Yes it has it's rough points, but nothing game breaking. If I can pass the Security + with just reading this book, well I don't know if anyone else could go wrong?

I work for a government contractor and our company (IT software development firm) recently mandated that all employees achieve Security Plus certification to comply with recent DoD guidance. As a little background, I'm a project manager and I do not have a highly technical background so much of the information (e.g. crypto, networks) covered in this test was unfamiliar.

I found the information in this book was presented in a way that was very easy to follow and comprehend. The author uses solid examples and word pictures to help reinforce recall. He also provides enough redundancy of important information to help reinforce the things that are important. I actually found myself enjoying learning the materials even though it's "in the weeds" for my job function.

I scheduled the test two weeks out, got this book 10 days before test time, and went through about a chapter a night taking notes along the way. I finished up the crypto chapter the night before the test and reviewed the practice exam the morning of the test. I did take a few practice exams through pass4sure.com but looking back I don't think they were very useful.

I thought the test was challenging but I did pass the first try and there were only one or two questions with information that I didn't think I saw covered in the book. Solid resource for getting through Security + and I would definitely recommend to non-technical folks.

This is a review for the CompTIA Security+ Get Certified Get Ahead Study Guide.
I am a trainer/course developer for a technical school and am in charge of developing our new Security+ course to begin in 2011. I reviewed this and several other books (along with other study materials) to use in the course.

This is a very good book, and reads easily & quickly, though it perhaps could be more professional at times. I like the structure of the book for the most part. It gets right to the point, and covers only what is needed for the real exam. The questions are very good. The book is cheaper than other security books, in part because there is no disc, and it is soft-cover. But this is probably also because it is published by Booksurge (an Amazon company I believe). Historically, Booksurge books I have received have been sub-par at best (Booksurge basically allows authors to self-publish I think). But this book is good, other Booksurge authors should study it carefully.

But... I decided not to use this book for the course I am developing. I would give the book 4.5 stars if possible. Here is why:
1. There is no disc. No extras to speak of. Especially, no test software to get the reader ready for the feel of the real test. While readers of this book have probably taken a CompTIA exam already, it's always good to have that real-feel practice exam on the computer. But, there is a practice exam in the text at the end of the book.
Also, no PDF version of the book (obviously), but the Kindle version of this book is ultra-cheap.
2. The acronym list is nice, but I need a real glossary in a textbook.
3. The book gets right to the facts, but doesn't have very much hands-on. Now, this is good for the individual reader (for now) because it cuts out the fluff (if you are simply trying to pass the exam and nothing else). However, for students in a classroom, you really need to drive points home with real-world scenarios. Not only so they can understand the concepts better, but also so that they can show some potential in the job market. Plus, the Security+ objectives are apparently being updated and will be released in the final quarter of 2011. Supposedly, CompTIA is updating the exam with new technologies, more case scenarios, and troubleshooting questions, giving it more of a real-world feel. So all those outdated and cryptic questions (if you took the exam you would know what i am talking about) are supposedly going to be eliminated, and the exam will become more like the A+/Net+ (which are still outdated mind you). I don't know how well this will be implemented next year, but I can't take the chance. I need a book with more hands-on that will take these upcoming changes into account, one that can offer students more real-world scnearios.

Because of these things I decided to use two other books for the course.

I always recommend a second (and perhaps even a third) test preparation source. It's always good to get two viewpoints when studying for any exam.

I first heard of this book on one of the certification forums I check out daily. I kept reading bout how great it is... come to find out, it is better than great. This book is so easy to read and the material just sticks. The writing is nice and big so don't let the size of the book fool you. I'm happy to say this book helped me pass the Security+ Exam the first time. The book has many quiz questions you can take at the end of each chapter and each answer is explained in the answers section which helps your brain absorb all this good info. I can't say enough good things about this book. I'm starting my next set of studies for another certification and I wish those boring books were as good as this one. Buy it, you won't regret it.

I passed with an 845 out of a possible 900. I read the book cover to cover, answered the review questions at the end of each chapter, then passed the practice test at the end of the book. I answered the review questions again a week before the test to see which areas where I was weak. I highly recommend this book!

I just purchased this book about a week ago, and have already finished it. I say this as a testament to how well written this book is. I have traditionally done better when utilizing CBT typing media to study. I do well with lecture and video in my learning style. That is why I was so surprised that I was able to follow the material in the book with full comprehension. It helps that I have been working in the field for approximately 5 years, but never knew a lot of the "details" behind the actions I performed on a regular basis. The practice question are very useful. When I first got the book, I took the "Assessment Exam" and scored 76/100. After reading the book just once, I scored a 92/100 on the practice exam at the end. I plan on retaking both tests, as well as answering the questions at the end of each chapter at least once more before taking the real exam next week. I have to say, though, I really believe I am already prepared to pass the exam right now.

I am a newbie in regard to Security +. I took a Security + prep class and used Darril's book to prepare for the exam. Darril recommended taking the exam 45 days after starting the book. I am happy to say that for me today is day 43! I just got back from the testing center about 20 minutes ago and scored an 812/900.

I really liked this book a lot. Darril explained everything in an easy to understand format. I also loved the big font. I went through the all of the questions (380 total) twice before taking the exam.

(One of my happiest moments after finishing the book (the first time) was going from a 59% on my Assessment exam to scoring a 92% on my Practice exam!

Thank you Darril for a fabulous, very enjoyable, well-written book! :-)

This is by far the easiest reading exam prep book I have ever read. It does not go so deep into the subject matter, like some other books, that you need to have electrical engineering degree to comprehend. Darril has written this book to those of us who do have some experience in the IT field and covers the exam objectives effectively and everything you'll need to pass the Security + exam is in this book. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good exam prep study guide.

I recently passed the Security+ exam with a score of 836. I read this book cover to cover 2 or 3 times. The book is an easy read and the author explains everything very well and doesn't give you extra, unnecessary info. Since most of the material was completely new to me, I also read through the All-in-One exam guide as well. This book does an outstanding job explaining all concepts that the exam covers. I am confident that I could have passed without referring to Greg White's book and using this book as my sole study source.

This has to be hands down the best Security+ book around. It was recommended to me by some of my peers and with only this book and four weeks of studying I passed the exam with a score of 845/900. I mean I really did not put much effort into studying. I gave this book a twice over and scheduled the test.

If you are taking the SY0-201 exam to get certified before the 2011 change I suggest picking up this book and passing that test.

Outstanding book! Without any experience and with limited knowledge in the security realm, I was able to pass the exam with the information provided in this book. The author explains the concepts very well and puts emphasis on those topics that will definitely pop up on the exam.

I recently got a job with about 15 others on the stipulation that we would all be Security+ qualified within 3 months. We were handed a free book to study, but like my other colleagues, I went and bought my own anyway. And I'm glad I did.

I passed with flying colors (836/900) using only this book. Some of my coworkers failed their first attempt using only the book they were given and some practice questions that were supposed to be taken directly from the test. I went on to lend the book to about 5 others after a few had failed their first attempt. So far, not one person who has loosely skimmed over the book has failed. This is hands down the best and only book you need if you want that Security+ certification.

The only reason I'm even writing a review is to keep the stars up on this product.. just in case someone would be fool-headed enough to give it a 4-star rating for some reason down the road.

I thought this book was an excellent source of material. The author explains each domain and objective clearly and to the point. This book is well written and easy to read. There were a few errors in the book, however Darril address them immediately. All in all, I will recommend this book to anyone who is pursuing a Security+ certification or just want to increase their knowledge on Security topics. I really would like to Thank Darril for all his hard work and for writing a terrific book.

Share your thoughts with other customers
Create your own review

Home - Operating Systems

CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-201 Study Guide

Product Details

Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Search

Categories