Yes! Newly minted Associate of (ISC)2!!!

in SSCP
Huzzah good folk of Tech Exams Nation!
I know it's been a while since I've been on here, but there is a certain exam with 5 letters that I passed a week ago.
Note: I am only an Associate of (ISC)2, but I will share relevant pointers to help me succeed.
Number of times taken: 2
Books/resources used:
Sybex 7th edition (good but can get too deep at times)
Sybex Practice tests (IMO these go way into the weeds)
Syngress 11th Hour (a must - boils down 8 domains in 250 pages)
CCCure (yes they are a bit on the more technical side, but some of the questions are abstract. And there are abstract questions on the exam)
Cybrary videos with Kelly Handerhan - THESE ARE A MUST!!!
I made my own flashcards and OSI spreadsheet that had what each layer did and what attacks were on each layer.
And yes, I did go to a bootcamp. If your company is willing to send you - go! But make sure your instructor is definitely (ISC)2 endorsed.
Take your time with the questions! The first time I did it was done in about 2 and 1/2 hours. The next time, I slowed down and re-read each question. Trust me, I thought I failed a second time, but when I found out I passed, I was shocked (and excited!!!!).
Thanks to everyone on here that gave me advice.
Now onto GSEC!
VV5
I know it's been a while since I've been on here, but there is a certain exam with 5 letters that I passed a week ago.
Note: I am only an Associate of (ISC)2, but I will share relevant pointers to help me succeed.
Number of times taken: 2
Books/resources used:
Sybex 7th edition (good but can get too deep at times)
Sybex Practice tests (IMO these go way into the weeds)
Syngress 11th Hour (a must - boils down 8 domains in 250 pages)
CCCure (yes they are a bit on the more technical side, but some of the questions are abstract. And there are abstract questions on the exam)
Cybrary videos with Kelly Handerhan - THESE ARE A MUST!!!
I made my own flashcards and OSI spreadsheet that had what each layer did and what attacks were on each layer.
And yes, I did go to a bootcamp. If your company is willing to send you - go! But make sure your instructor is definitely (ISC)2 endorsed.
Take your time with the questions! The first time I did it was done in about 2 and 1/2 hours. The next time, I slowed down and re-read each question. Trust me, I thought I failed a second time, but when I found out I passed, I was shocked (and excited!!!!).
Thanks to everyone on here that gave me advice.
Now onto GSEC!
VV5
B.S. Electrical Engineering, M.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD Electrical and Computer Engineering
J.D. Candidate (2L)
In the books: CompTIA Network+, Security+, CEH, Associate of (ISC)^2, GIAC: GSEC, GAWN, GCIH, GPEN, GCFA
ProBoard: FF I & II; HAZMAT: Awareness, Operations, and Technician; Fire Instructor I; NREMT: EMT-B. Next up: Fire Officer I
Currently Working on: PE-Electrical and Electronics, Patent and State Bars, and Juris Doctor (law degree)
Next: GCIA/GCWN and/or GCUX/PMP/GSE
Next after next: Med school!!!!! Lol
J.D. Candidate (2L)
In the books: CompTIA Network+, Security+, CEH, Associate of (ISC)^2, GIAC: GSEC, GAWN, GCIH, GPEN, GCFA
ProBoard: FF I & II; HAZMAT: Awareness, Operations, and Technician; Fire Instructor I; NREMT: EMT-B. Next up: Fire Officer I
Currently Working on: PE-Electrical and Electronics, Patent and State Bars, and Juris Doctor (law degree)
Next: GCIA/GCWN and/or GCUX/PMP/GSE
Next after next: Med school!!!!! Lol
Comments
I studied off and on until I received the "all clear" - so the first attempt I'd say it was about a month. Then the second attempt what I did was take another bootcamp and scheduled it a month out from the last day, that way it was still fresh.
So ideally 1-2 months. I think the big thing was practice questions and writing my own cards. Writing helps me remember.
J.D. Candidate (2L)
In the books: CompTIA Network+, Security+, CEH, Associate of (ISC)^2, GIAC: GSEC, GAWN, GCIH, GPEN, GCFA
ProBoard: FF I & II; HAZMAT: Awareness, Operations, and Technician; Fire Instructor I; NREMT: EMT-B. Next up: Fire Officer I
Currently Working on: PE-Electrical and Electronics, Patent and State Bars, and Juris Doctor (law degree)
Next: GCIA/GCWN and/or GCUX/PMP/GSE
Next after next: Med school!!!!! Lol
I completely see what you mean about Sybex being really indepth. If I was going to advise someone just starting out (depending on their background), I would say, skim read Sybex, and then use the Conrad book or something more compact to focus in on the bigger areas.
I'm really not a fan of the Sybex questions either, surprised so many people like them. As stated, Sybex goes into the most unusual, off-the-beaten-track part of a subject, and then tests you on it.
I also like the Kelly Handerhan videos. I listen to the MP3 versions every day for abuot 90 minutes to and from work. Going over each chapter 2-3 times as well as reading about it that evening has helped loads. It was worth it just for her explanation of Kerberos alone!
Well done again!
2017: OSCP - COMPLETED
2018: CISSP - COMPLETED
2019: GIAC GNFA - Advanced Network Forensics & Threat Hunting - COMPLETED
GIAC GREM - Reverse Engineering of Malware - COMPLETED
2021: CCSP
2022: OSWE (hopefully)
J.D. Candidate (2L)
In the books: CompTIA Network+, Security+, CEH, Associate of (ISC)^2, GIAC: GSEC, GAWN, GCIH, GPEN, GCFA
ProBoard: FF I & II; HAZMAT: Awareness, Operations, and Technician; Fire Instructor I; NREMT: EMT-B. Next up: Fire Officer I
Currently Working on: PE-Electrical and Electronics, Patent and State Bars, and Juris Doctor (law degree)
Next: GCIA/GCWN and/or GCUX/PMP/GSE
Next after next: Med school!!!!! Lol
But be careful - her slides on Cybrary don't really match up 1 to 1 to the videos. I think some were left over from the 10 domain CBK.
Also, during my studies I know that there tends to be some conflicts of information from multiple resources, e.g. Kelly would say one thing, and my ISC2 would say something different. My advice (common sense) stick to what the official ISC2 word is.
J.D. Candidate (2L)
In the books: CompTIA Network+, Security+, CEH, Associate of (ISC)^2, GIAC: GSEC, GAWN, GCIH, GPEN, GCFA
ProBoard: FF I & II; HAZMAT: Awareness, Operations, and Technician; Fire Instructor I; NREMT: EMT-B. Next up: Fire Officer I
Currently Working on: PE-Electrical and Electronics, Patent and State Bars, and Juris Doctor (law degree)
Next: GCIA/GCWN and/or GCUX/PMP/GSE
Next after next: Med school!!!!! Lol
Absolutely! For the sake of the test, go with ISC2. And then in the real world, go with best practices. Sometimes they are not the same (ISC2 v. real world).