What’s Next for Me and Why?
After passing my CompTIA A+ Exam two years ago, the MD-102 last year, and recently passing the AZ-900 Exam back in January, my next Certification I’m pursuing is the CompTIA Network+. The CompTIA Network+ certificate will provide me with a foundational understanding of Networking in IT. Why am I pursing this certification? The major reason why is that Networking is integral to all the processes of the IT industry.
Each time I’ve worked on a ticket, and it just doesn’t seem like it makes sense for the solution, it falls down to Networking or a port configuration, or a protocol not being implemented correctly. It all comes down to Networking. I believe it is the most essential set of skills to learn in order to pursue a career in tech seriously. I won’t do it alone. The last few exams I’ve taken have challenged my typical means of preparing for tests. I’ll be preparing for this exam in a different approach.
Resources to Succeed
Preparing for the exam will be no easy task. I will be utilizing many resources to get me skilled up for this exam. I will also provide links below to the resources. The best part is only one of them is a paid resource.
Udemy
For those unfamiliar with the platform, Udemy is a paid service that allows you to study up on skills used in the business world. One of the largest spaces is in the IT sector. Specifically, I will be reviewing the material presented by Dion Tech. He does a great job of breaking down the exam objectives in bite sized chunks that are easy to digest, and I would recommend his material for this exam. Another tip for using Udemy, don’t pay full price for the courses. Take a little bit of time, they have frequent sales on their content. The course creators may even have discounts on their websites or will let you know when a sale is happening on Udemy.
Professor Messer
It goes without saying, but if you are preparing for any CompTIA exam, Professor Messer is the GOAT of Exam prep material. His course provides a through, and comprehensive overview of the material required to learn in these exams. Some of his videos are very long, but what’s important to know is that his slide deck goes over every detail about that particular exam topic. In addition, they are also structured in the same layout as the exam course prep material provided by CompTIA. So, if you are using those materials, then you will have essentially an audiobook for the topics in hand. They have been a great listen on the car ride into work. The full play list is now also available on his YouTube channel, and he also hosts frequent live streams for the exam as well.
Network Chuck
While Network Chuck does not feature a Network+ Video series, he does offer a CCNA Playlist to which the core concepts of that exam also apply to the Network+ Exam. His series focuses on understanding how the Cisco environment plays into Networking which is what the CCNA prepares you for. His home labs are also exciting, and provides excellent ideas on how to be creative when developing your skills in IT. He also breaks down these concepts in a way that is digestible and entertaining to watch.
Cisco Packet Tracer
Now even though I just went over that I am pursuing the Net+ and not the CCNA, why would I utilize another Cisco tool? Cisco Packet Tracer, found here, is an INCREDIBLIY POWERFUL TOOL. You’ll be able to spin up and experiment on virtual labs instantly. Configure tons of different network environments and see how the data is flowing across the network. It cannot be overstated how important this tool is to help in learning for this exam. Not to mention, if you find that you really enjoy working with Cisco equipment, you can continue to practice with this tool as you pursue the CCNA, CCNP, etc.
Physical Equipment
That being said, I won’t be virtually configuring networks, I’ll be doing it in the real world with my own lab equipment. Now I am fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to purchase equipment from Ubiquiti including a UniFi Dream Machine Pro and the U6 Pro Wireless Access Point, but you can also look into older equipment on E-Bay or Amazon to get started, for a relatively low cost. Other items I’d recommend for preparing for this course is to look at spinning up Virtual Machines of some of the software-based Networking Operating systems, pfSense, and OpnSense being popular choices for Firewall technology to get you started.
Do you have any other resources or recommendations to help you prepare for the Network+ Exam? Let me know down below!
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