Net+ or Security+ first?

Hello all, I'm new to the board and going about my quest to get a certification for myself. I'm hoping to get some information between which cert I should go for first, Security+ or Net+. I haven't taken a single Comptia exam. Dabbled a bit with A+ while in highschool but just focused on repairing PCS and fixing up home networks from Highschool up to College. In College I was pretty much a tier 1 support breakit/fix it kind of person with some limited use of active directory. I now have my bachelors in Information Systems and fell in love with my security focused classes. So now i'm incredibly fixed on becoming an information security analyst (working in a SOX) and one day becoming a security engineer.

Problem with my location is that there aren't many entry level security jobs where I live, so in order to be more competitive I need to pick up a cert and find other jobs that can get me a bit more experience. Right now I work for a large corporate help desk which I will use as a source to fund my certifications. I have foundation concepts of security already due to studying it some in school but im wondering if I should take the Network+ Certification first to ready me for the Security+ or if taking Security+ would be good enough.

I get cheap vouchers for being an alum but im hoping to do mostly self stufy (unless you guys have some recommendations.) I'm looking at Mike Meyers all in one books and using Messers videos...hopefully that will be enough but I'm open to suggestions. I just don't want to do class training (too expensive). Do you all have any suggestions on this matter? Eventually I definitely will have Network+ and Security+ it's just a matter of which one I get first, and which one will help me land that entry level security job so I can build up my experience.

Out of curiosity, how long did everyone take to study for their exams?

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trueshrewkmc

Sec+ renews Net+, so it is senior/trumps it. Studying for Net+ will not, by itself, help Sec+. Check out the Darril Gibson books at Amazon. His Sec+ book for 301 was awesome and his sim prep questions (through his web site) were good too.

If security is what you like, then pursue that and not A+.

636-555-3226

I prefer Network+ then Security+.

Networking knowledge helps inform security practices. A good foundation in 101-networking goes a long way with security since most infosec is based on what's going on over the wires.

Security doesn't inform networking as much going the opposite way.

I'd say do both, but do Network+ first

alfred06

like they said Net+ first then Sec+. Studying Sec+ should take you a good Month,3-4hrs a day should be solid. this will be your foundation if you plan on diving deeper in Security so don't rush it. good luck.

AndersonSmith

I have A+, Net+, and Security+ and I obtained them in that order. I found that studying for the Net+ helped a little with the Security+ but I wouldn't say it's completely necessary. However, as others have pointed out, Security+ will renew Net+ so it also makes sense to start with Net+ for that reason alone. Plus, if you're wanting to go into a security related field anyway, having extra networking knowledge will help you out in the long run.

soccarplayer29

I agree with what the others posters have stated: Net+ then Sec+

Also, FYI: SOX=Sarbanes Oxley Act (a government regulation related to the assurance of information security controls as they relate to organization's financial reporting) vs. SOC=Security Operations Center

Trucido

I haven't taken any tests yet, but I plan on starting from the ground up, which would be A+ then N+ then S+. Even though I don't need the A+ (plan on going for CCENT/CCNA) I feel like it helps to know the hardware knowledge.

All in all its personal preference. Do you like redundancy? Do you like learning? Do you want to be a jack of all trades? Then start from the ground up.

Moldygr33nb3an

I did Security + first, but I failed it the first attempt. It made Network + easier. No sure if it would have been easier the other way around, but from what I am reading, it appears so.

ThePawofRizzo

Net+ then Sec+. Honestly, I don't think it's a bad idea either, as others have suggested, to do A+, N+, and Sec+. Then, many more certs after that. Security is a wide field, and the more you know the better, more versatile tech you will be. After Sec+ don't stop. Go for CEH, CASP, etc., and if you get into IT Security and can meet the CISSP criteria, go for it. And don't think all your certs need to be specific to Security. Even basics like CWTS can give you some deeper knowledge of wireless, Server+ for server hardware, etc.

If you have some PC Support experience and your degree, obviously the A+ and N+ would be faster to knock out. I would think a few hours reading and studying most days, and you could knock out a test a month or every 6 weeks, give or take.

JTN

I got my Net+ two weeks ago and currently studying for my Sec+. So far it appears that many of the concepts from the Net+ are in the Sec+, well at least in the beginning, and studying is going very well. I would defiantly recommend doing the Net+ first.

Floridaboss

What about sec* combined with CCNA instead of net+. Would that be better?

siderealprex

if you are new to networking.. CCNA will overwhelm you. I'd say study for Net+, whether you take the test or not is upto you, then take the sec+. Then you can get CCNA/CCENT/CCNA sec after

BuzzSaw

I'm going to second what others have said. Net+ the Sec+

You might find they both come to you easier than you'd think. Plus, there are TONS of great threads for both of those on here. Coupled with the fact that those are so popular that study resources ABOUND everywhere, I really think you could knock them both out quickly if you really try.

You will be so much better prepared for other studies going this route.

AverageJoe

So I'll contrast what most are recommending because you said this: "I have foundation concepts of security already due to studying it some in school"...

Since you already have some security knowledge, I recommend you look at the objectives and types of questions for Sec+, and compare them to A+ and Net+. If you're already more comfortable with the Sec+ info, study that first. You can always go back and get the others later if you want.

As a matter of fact, I did it completely backwards. I did CISSP then Sec+ then Net+ then A+. I was working in cybersecurity so that info was more familiar to me, and A+ was the hardest for me (it had been many years since I had a help desk or technician level position).

For me, I had people working for me who had to have A+ so I wanted to see how hard it was to get (not crazy hard, but I did have to put in some study time). I found Sec+ easiest of all of them.

Just my 2 cents.
Joe

Floridaboss

AverageJoe wrote: »

So I'll contrast what most are recommending because you said this: "I have foundation concepts of security already due to studying it some in school"...

Since you already have some security knowledge, I recommend you look at the objectives and types of questions for Sec+, and compare them to A+ and Net+. If you're already more comfortable with the Sec+ info, study that first. You can always go back and get the others later if you want.

As a matter of fact, I did it completely backwards. I did CISSP then Sec+ then Net+ then A+. I was working in cybersecurity so that info was more familiar to me, and A+ was the hardest for me (it had been many years since I had a help desk or technician level position).

For me, I had people working for me who had to have A+ so I wanted to see how hard it was to get (not crazy hard, but I did have to put in some study time). I found Sec+ easiest of all of them.

Just my 2 cents.
Joe

How did you get your CISSP first? First time I've heard of that and I always thought about making that great leap but I have no experience and would be an "associate" only.

AverageJoe

I got CISSP first, but I did have a lot of experience before getting the cert.

Yes, you're right that if you pass the exam prior to having the experience you become an associate. Then when you have the experience you become a full-fledged CISSP.