Looking to take Security+ Soon

in Security+
Like I'm sure a lot of people are, I'm scrambling to get my Security+ by the end of this year before the exam starts expiring. I meant to take this exam a long time ago but kept putting it off and here we are. I have a Sybex SY0-101 book which I'm currently reading but I understand that the exam is now SY0-201.
My question is, how much has the material changed with the new exam and do you think I can get away with studying the SY0-101 book and doing some practice tests?
Also, is the Security+ book everyone is raving out?
Amazon.com: CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-201 Study Guide (9781439236369): Darril Gibson: Books
I will consider purchasing it if it is as great as everyone says and helps you pass.
My question is, how much has the material changed with the new exam and do you think I can get away with studying the SY0-101 book and doing some practice tests?
Also, is the Security+ book everyone is raving out?
Amazon.com: CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-201 Study Guide (9781439236369): Darril Gibson: Books
I will consider purchasing it if it is as great as everyone says and helps you pass.

Comments
There is a reason why people are touting this book. Seriously, just buy it, read and study it, perform all the end-of-chapter exams. If you get below 80% (and most people don't), just go back to that chapter. But this book by itself will help you pass the exam. You need at max two weeks with it...tops!
agreed. i haven't taken it yet just because i've been focusing on my cisco track, but yes, darill's book is all you need to pass.
Speaking of Darril's book...I should have it in my hands by tomorrow. Can't wait!!!:D
a tip for you read the crypto chapter twice
also on the comptia web site they offer a 30 question pre-test for free
WGU MS IT Management: done ... double woot :cheers:
The Kindle version was awesome and I did read the crypto chapter a number of times. ALSO, if you do use Transcenders, TAKE ADVANTAGE of the Flash card feature and focus it just on cryptography. Once I got crypto down, everything fell into place. Seriously, I personally can't tout this book enough, because I know like many folks, I was very skeptical about how this one book could help in this specific exam. After I went through it personally, I understood why.
So to new people (I will never refer to you as a "noob or newbie....lol"), trust and believe this is really the only guide you need. Buy it, read it, study it (and do the end of chapter practice exams! 85% or better is great!), schedule exam, pass exam.
The only thing I'm not going to promise is what score you get. I've seen stuff from 760-880 (and maybe a couple of 900s). I will promise that if you do what I stated in that last sentence in the second paragraph, you will pass. It's that simple.
Granted I knew a lot of the information already, the exam isn't easy. I'm afraid of people getting overconfident about it. It's not an easy exam.
B.S. Information System Security
This exam I agree isn't going to be easy if you dont read through a book. Ive read through Darrils book and then did the 78 questions at the front and still got 15 wrong so I have to keep studying it. There is a lot of info to remember and I really had very little security experience. I didn't bother doing the questions in the front because I knew I didn't know any of it when I started. Now I'm starting to get there. Still a little ways to go. I want to just go take it now but I believe I will just keep going over the info and take it in about 3 weeks from now.
Depends on your experience. I used Transcender and Trainsignal along with Darrils book, but I know I could have done it with just the books. I only watched like 3 videos and listened to 5 or 6 more while running/biking. I ran through a couple Transcender's, but quickly discredited them due to them not being very close to the actual exam.
Use something else if you can, but Darril's book alone should be more than enough to pass.
There was one encryption algorithm that was mentioned in the Transcenders that wasn't covered in either the Sybex OR Darril's book. (The Sybex guide I had access to via Books 24x7). I did Wiki SkipJack and now know what it is, but was a bit annoyed that it was even mentioned.
The Transcender exam was more of a crutch than anything else. Darril's book by itself I am confident I could have used by itself to pass, but wanted to overprepare more than anything else. I would never have thought it before I actually sat for the exam though. There really was no way to validate that prior to sitting...not without cheating anyway.
Wish you well on your test and look forward to you telling us that you passed!
Good luck DoubleD...
I know you will do well...