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Security+ Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram SYO-101)

Security+ Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram SYO-101)

List Price: $29.99
Your Price: $20.39
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Contains the two components of adequate exam preparation
Review: Adequate preparation for difficult exams always includes challenging trials. Reading the appropriate material is always important, but that is only one part of what should be a two-part strategy. The other part is to practice answering a series of questions that are similar in type, numbers and format to what you will find on the real thing. This book contains both parts, but it is the second that makes it worthwhile.
It opens with a brief description of the format of the exam, a topic checklist, where it can be taken, the cost and exam day events. Material that you need to know, but of little use once the seal is popped. The next section is composed of ten chapters that are a synopsis of the most significant facts. They start with a listing of the key terms that you need to learn and the concepts that are key to the chapter. This is followed by a short description of the terms and concepts. In no way should this be considered a way to learn about computer security, as it is by design only a quick review of the material. Each chapter then ends with a short series of practice questions.
The last four chapters are two practice tests of 125 questions each, with the solutions including explanations. I found these tests very challenging and ended up cussing myself a few times when I did not read the problem carefully enough. While frustrating, it does remind you that not reading the question carefully enough will generally end up causing you to miss a few questions that you should get right.
These sample exams are the best way to make your final preparations for the test. They give you a realistic appraisal of how well you know the material as well as how mentally prepared you are for the rigors of reading, thinking and responding. It is foolish to attempt the exam without trying sample tests first.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great book for a moderate exam!!
Review: First of all, this exam is NOT that difficult -- it amazes me that other books are filled with so much fluff and garbage just to fill the pages. This book is perfect for the exam. All the objectives are covered adequatley and LOTS of exam questions are provided, which are very similiar to the real thing. It took me (working full time) 2 weeks to get through the book and took the exam and passed with a high score.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Read this book before you sit the exam
Review: Good summary of many of the Security + objectives. The prep exams are great however I would note that it is worth looking at as many of the other prep exams as you can as they all seem to be coming at the material from different angles.

I also used the Security+ Certification All-In-One Exam Guide which gave more detail on most of topics and a set of Transcender prep exams to pass.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very good book based on others I have read
Review: I am in the process of reading this book, as well as a couple of others that I have been using such as:
Security+ Study Guide by Michael A. Pastore,
Security+ Study Guide and DVD Training System by Robert J. and

Shimonski, Norris L. Johnson, Debra Littlejohn Shinder
Michael Cross, Tony Piltzecker, Security+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide by Gregory White.

The last one seems really complete and much detail (especially on Cryptography). Seems to be the best if you want to understand the subject and not just pass a test.

Now, for this book - I have a real problem with some of the reviewers. The ones that complain because they say it is not detailed enough, obviously haven't read the 1st couple of pages of the book. The author specifically says that this is for people who already know the subject and that this is just a review of the subject for the test. The ones that are upset that they didn't pass the test after reading this book, obviously missed the boat.

I myself have been reading this book 1st (as I have some experience in field so understand most of what it says) and then go to one or more of the other books to get other views on different topics. I myself want to understand the subject - not just pass a test.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Passed, no thanks to this book
Review: I have been working in the IT field for several years now and took this exam as part of an employer incentive.

I am generaly leary of exam cram books, but got this one cheap (and it was an impulse buy). Beyond any other flaw that this book has, the thing that will kill you on the exam if you use this as your sole study source is lack of depth. There is virtually no mention of TCP/UDP port numbers (to build ACL's, harden servers), but the exam seemed to cover them heavily.

Many questions (10%+) on the exam were from topics not even grazed by this book (which is all I expect from an exam cram). I got lucky in that they were on topics I happened to have knowledge in. This book is junk. Don't buy it at any price.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Adequate Review -- Worth The Bucks
Review: I have never used the Exam Cram series books as a single source to prepare for any certification exam. I believe that their intent is to provide a good final review of the subject matter in preparation for an exam -- sort of like the old Cliff Notes that we used to buy in college. Coupled with the PrepLogic exam on the CD (you would do well to purchase the complete set of questions), it is an adequate preparation tool.

The only criticism that I can offer is that the material in the book (as well as the PrepLogic practice exams) tends to err on the easy side. I found myself scoring consistently in the low 90's on the first take of each practice exam, whereas I passed the actual test with a score of 828.

The Security+ exam is not an overly difficult test, but it is not a pushover either. If you use this book as it was intended to be used, it will probably help you. If you use it as your sole source of study, you will probably be disappointed with the outcome.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great book, BUT...
Review: I looked at four books for the Security+ test and this was definitely the best. This book covered all the topics in a detailed manner but the problem for me was the Security+ test itself.

This test was just HORRIBLE! Poorly written, constantly trying to trip you up, very vague and unclear.

Also I scored consistently between 98-100 on the Preplogic tests but on the actual test I didnt do nearly as well. I passed the test but it was tough. The good news is a lot of the material covered for Security+ is common to the CISSP which I also passed so you can think of Security+ as a prep for CISSP. Also don't forget that passing on this test is something like 85% while other certs are in the 70% range so its tough. Also beware of the practice questions. Just because you consistently score 100% on the practice questions doesnt mean you are going to do that well on the real test. At some point when you are answering the same 300 questions in the case of Preplogic over and over again you will start to memorize the questions and answers. Thats why you start score high. So unless they ask those exact question on the test that isnt going to do you a lot of good.

So I would recommend this book but beware of the test itself.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good exam preparation
Review: I read several books on the Security+ content, and none of them completely cover the test. This book fills in the blanks, but don't depend on it as your primary study source, just for preparation for the exam. Don't take the test without reading this book and taking all the practice exams!

This test is a bugger. The most common mistake people make is they don't take it seriously enough. This is not an easy test, and you will need to be prepared. This is a very poorly written test with vague and misleading questions, questions with no right answer, and questions that have nothing to do with the content. You have been warned.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not even close for the tough Security+ Cert
Review: I studied Ed Tittels A+ Exam books years ago. They were great. This one is lacking detail for the tough Security+ Exam. I give three stars for the basic coverage. Advanced topics, that are on the exam are missing here.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I failed bigtime with this book!!
Review: I thought this would be a good Security+ study book. I was wrong. I am going try something other than a dictionary of security terms. I do not recommend this book.
-A tech with a lot of experience....


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