11/19/2008 -- Details about the new A+ exams for 2009 are starting to become available. The 2009 version of the A+ Essentials and IT Technician exams are far along in their development, while the remaining two exams (both electives) have considerable catching up to do. Here are the 2006 domains for each exam weighting:
- Personal Computer Components: 21 percent (weighting on Essentials)/18 percent (weighting on IT Technician)
- Laptop and portable devices: 11 percent/9 percent
- Operating systems: 21 percent/20 percent
- Printers and scanners: 9 percent/14 percent
- Networks: 12 percent/11 percent
- Security: 11 percent/8 percent
- Safety and environment: 10 percent/5 percent
- Communication and professionalism: 5 percent/15 percent
A quick glance will tell you that the domains between these two exams mirrored each other and the IT Technician was a natural choice for an elective. In the next revision, however, not all of the domains will appear on each exam, as the following list for the 2009 editions shows:
- Hardware: 27 percent (weighting on Essentials)/37 percent (weighting on IT Technician)
- Troubleshooting, repair and maintenance: 20 percent/NA
- Operating systems and software: 20 percent/36 percent
- Networking: 15 percent/15 percent
- Security: 8 percent/12 percent
- Operating procedures: 10 percen/NA
Operating systems will include Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional, XP Home, XP Media Center, Windows Vista Home, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. Though the title of the domain includes "and software," the only tools and utilities currently listed that you need to know are those that are part of the operating system.
Book of the Week: 'CCNA Security Exam Cram'
A funny thing happened on the way to exam 640-553: The Exam Cram grew to be almost as large as any other certification guide written for it. Not only does the CCNA Security Exam Cram from Eric Stewart come in at 535 pages, but it also includes a CD that features a MeasureUp test engine and an electronic copy of the book.
With security continuing to be the rage du jour, it's a safe bet that this certification will continue to grow in popularity. By keeping the series format -- heavy on numbering, tables, bullets, etc. -- this truly is one book that contains everything you need to know to pass the certification test and that you can study from very easily. The content is divided into 10 chapters and four parts: "Security Architecture," "Perimeter Security," "Augmenting Depth of Defense" and "Security Inside the Perimeter." Following that are two practice exams that gauge whether you're ready to spend $250. All in all, this book offers one of the best value propositions in a certification book that I've seen in quite a while.
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