I jumped headfirst into Security+ with no professional experience, no A+, no Network+. Just pure grind and a plan. Here's the guide I wish I had when I started.
Step 1 — Lock In
First, accept that there's a lot to learn. Security+ is broad and dense, but instead of panicking, make peace with the volume. It's not impossible, it just needs structure.
The first few days weren't about studying at all, they were about building the consistency and environment to keep me driving toward the goal:
- Three hours minimum of Security+ a day, no excuses.
- The "teach-a-teddy" method — explaining topics out loud to a pillow. If you can't explain TLS vs SSL to a stuffed toy, you don't really know it. A whiteboard works too.
- A slightly unconventional move: keeping the CompTIA Security+ certificate as my iPad wallpaper, so every screen unlock was a reminder of why I was grinding.
Step 2 — Book the Exam
You'll never feel "ready." There's always one more topic, one more practice test, one more day you think you need. The game-changer was booking the exam right at the start of prep — six weeks out, marked on the calendar. It stopped being a vague goal floating in the air and became a deadline with a countdown.
Booking early meant less procrastination, sharper study sessions, and enough respect for the exam fee not to want to waste it. And if life gets in the way, it can always be rescheduled.
Step 3 — Resources
- Andrew Ramadyal's Security+ course on Udemy — structured, easy to follow, and affordable. A solid foundation without being overwhelming.
- Professor Messer's YouTube playlist — free, and great for that "straight from the textbook" clarity.
- YouTube deep dives for tricky topics like PKI or the endless list of protocols — sometimes a five-minute animation explains what a whole textbook chapter can't.
- ChatGPT — a tutor that explains things simply, gives examples, and doesn't judge the "dumb" questions.
The key is not overwhelming yourself with too many resources. Stick to a few that click with your learning style, and go deep instead of wide.
Step 4 — Master the Acronyms, Master the Exam
One of the most overlooked prep steps: learn every acronym listed at the end of the official exam objectives. It's not about rote memorization — treat it as a knowledge-gap checker. Any acronym you don't fully understand is your cue to go back and review that topic. CompTIA loves using acronyms without spelling them out, and they expect you to know them.
Step 5 — Mock Tests
Mock exams are the other big key. Some people say take as many as possible — great in theory, but on a time crunch, four or five is plenty:
- Jason Dion's Practice Tests on Udemy — a set of five, honestly the only mock resource most people need.
- Cyber James on YouTube — practice exam walkthroughs that go through every question and option in detail.
Exam Day — Trust Your Prep
By exam day, the hardest work is already done. Don't cram last minute, it'll just stress you out. Get a full night's sleep — genuinely underrated. And trust your prep: after weeks of studying, you know more than you think. The exam isn't about perfection, it's about showing you can apply concepts to real-world scenarios.