A few questions are repeated to me so I thought I’d create a short FAQ to answer them.
Can you still take the SY0-201 version?
Yes. You can still take the SY0-201 version until December 31, 2011. The CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-201 Study Guide is still helping many people take and pass this exam.
Do employers care which version you take?
No. Employers want to know that you are certified. I don’t know of any employer that cares which version you have (SY0-201 or SY0-301).
Is the SY0-301 version harder than the SY0-201 version?
This is a tough question to answer. It’s different. It includes concepts that are newer because security topics continue to evolve. Since writing the first SY0-201 book, I’ve written several other security books, and contributed to a couple more. I tech edited a CISSP book, and I am in the final phase of a SSCP book based on the new objectives for the SSCP exam. Because of this, I’ve already been exposed to many of these topics so I was able to easily pass the exam when I took it (though I did miss a question).
When will the SY0-301 version of the Get Certified Get Ahead Security+ Study Guide be available?
I expect it to be available for purchase by mid-November. I will mention when it is available through a few different sources such as twitter, and this blog, and if you’ve in Virginia Beach, you may hear me shouting it from the roof tops.
Here are some links to more resources to help you pass the Security+ exam the first time you take it.