Security+ Certification Training Kit

Rating:
Summary: Very useful for Security+
Review: Data and network security is the fastest growing segment of the IT industry. On almost every major job search engine there are literally hundreds of opening in the security field. Security+ is the first step to obtaining one of those jobs and this book can help.

The authors have done a decent job of covering each and every objective and domain. The book takes a more hands-on approach rather than just a manual to read and memorize. If you're like me then the more you can do the better you'll retain the information.

One thing I like about this book is that it doesn't move from one objective to the next, what the authors do in covering the objectives but in a cohesive manner, which in some case requires the splitting of objective on several chapters. In fact there is a domain breakdown in the front of the book.

The book has over 35 lessons and over 25 exercises, all are self paced so you learn at your speed. One thing I did notice is that you do need to understand networking and TCP/IP in order to comprehend some of the material.

There is a cd included which has a testing tool which has about 200 questions, I am always for more, but this should provide a good foundation. There are also a few chapters of the Security Resource Kit and I really think they should have included the entire text.

While this book does tend to lean a little to the Microsoft side of things you should be able to work with enough to have a decent shot at the exam. You might also find it useful in the pursuit of Microsoft's 70-214 exam as well. Microsoft is also planning to add Security+ to the MCSA elective list and this is another incentive for passing the exam.

Finally there are an abundance of links included inthis book which allows you to further reseach the topics without hav ing to spend an enormous amount of time searching on your own. Overall fairly well done.

Rating:
Summary: Fair Book but get other sources as well
Review: I have used Microsoft Press books to get through my entire MCSE certification. I bought this book and used it along with Transcender and that was not enough to pass the exam. This book did not stress enough a lot of the key areas that were covered on the exam (especailly in the area of cryptography).

Rating:
Summary: Fair Book but get other sources as well
Review: I have used Microsoft Press books to get through my entire MCSE certification. I bought this book and used it along with Transcender and that was not enough to pass the exam. This book did not stress enough a lot of the key areas that were covered on the exam (especailly in the area of cryptography).

Rating:
Summary: Stay away from this
Review: I read 5-6 books and passed this exam in my first go. MS PRESS is definitely the worst among all. Some chapters does explain stuff quite well but in general it covers only 50% of what's suppose to be in exam. So if you read only this there's no way u can pass unless you already know other stuff not covered.

Rating:
Summary: Good info, but not enough to pass the test.
Review: I recently took the Security+ exam and used this book as my only Study Guide. I have years of experience in IT, but I failed the test on my first attempt. This book does present some good information - but there were areas covered in the test that this book doesn't touch. Don't depend on it as your only information source to pass the test - it's not enough.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent training manual...but practice exam falls short
Review: I used 3 books to study for this exam, and this was by far the most comprehensive (without covering details that are not on the test) and the one that succeeded in explaining objectives in real-world scenerios that could easily be understood and applied. However, the practice exam on the CD-ROM does not accurately reflect the types of questions that are presented to the test taker when sitting for the actual Security+ exam. I would recommend buying Mike Meyer's Security+ Passport as kind of an introduction or a way to ease yourself into this book, and also utilize the practice tests that come on the Meyer's CD-ROM instead of the one included with this Microsoft Kit. For those of you who would like to build on the material presented in this publication, I would suggest "Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals." This is a great reference that goes more in depth in most areas and also maps directly to the exam. GOOD LUCK

Rating:
Summary: Newbie?
Review: If you have never had security experience or feel a little weak on the topic, this book is for you. It is an actual training kit within the book. You will not just step through the CompTIA objectives. On page xxi you will find a breakdown of the objectives and what chapter you will find the material in. This plus the table of contents makes this book a great last minute read before the test. I just got the book and in 2 days have finished a read through. Very comprehensive including Appendix B which tells you which ports to know before the test. You can also use the CD to load the book in ebook. E-book allows total searching of the text. Also 50 question tests are very good and length is not a killer to just sit down and do spur of the moment.
Lastly, use the web links in this book. They will provide you with a great amount of data without having to use search engines.

Rating:
Summary: Clear, but limited basic overview.
Review: The Microsoft Press Security+ Certification Training Kit is a study guide for the CompTIA Security+ exam. This book is a better aid for security novices than other Security+ certification books like the one from Syngress (ISBN: 1-931836-72-8).

The Security+ Certification Training Kit is well-organized and has a clear writing style. It provides a basic initiation to the versatile world of information security without too much fluff.
However, it stops at the basic fundamentals and does not cover the whole examination scope. It's a fact that several topics in this book require a more profound explanation and are sometimes too much Microsoft minded.

The book contains good references to essential security sites and names fundamental security related tools and utilities. Using these links and tools, it is recommended that the student conducts his or her own experiments with these tools as the exercises offered in the book are quite weak.

The CD that accompanies the book contains the e-book, some chapters from the Microsoft Security Resource Kit, NIST, CC, a couple of RFCs and a Security+ practice exam (note: don't rely on this practice exam alone).

Review by: Stijn Huyghe ([e-mail]).

Publisher: Microsoft Press, Microsoft Corporation, 2003.
ISBN: 0-7356-1822-4
Pages: 700
Cover: Hardcover.
General rating: 2.5/5.

Rating:
Summary: Clear, but limited basic overview.
Review: The Microsoft Press Security+ Certification Training Kit is a study guide for the CompTIA Security+ exam. This book is a better aid for security novices than other Security+ certification books like the one from Syngress (ISBN: 1-931836-72-8).

The Security+ Certification Training Kit is well-organized and has a clear writing style. It provides a basic initiation to the versatile world of information security without too much fluff.
However, it stops at the basic fundamentals and does not cover the whole examination scope. It's a fact that several topics in this book require a more profound explanation and are sometimes too much Microsoft minded.

The book contains good references to essential security sites and names fundamental security related tools and utilities. Using these links and tools, it is recommended that the student conducts his or her own experiments with these tools as the exercises offered in the book are quite weak.

The CD that accompanies the book contains the e-book, some chapters from the Microsoft Security Resource Kit, NIST, CC, a couple of RFCs and a Security+ practice exam (note: don't rely on this practice exam alone).

Review by: Stijn Huyghe ([e-mail]).

Publisher: Microsoft Press, Microsoft Corporation, 2003.
ISBN: 0-7356-1822-4
Pages: 700
Cover: Hardcover.
General rating: 2.5/5.

Rating:
Summary: Wealth of Security Information
Review: This book covers all aspects of security and the blueprint that CompTIA has posted on their website. If you are in need of a study or referecne guide this is the book for you!! Good luck to all the people who are striving to attain the CompTIA Security+ Certification.