IT Certifications Archives - CyberExperts.com

Certification guides

Pick your certification. Then find out if you’re ready.

Plain-English 2026 guides to what each exam covers, what it costs, who it suits and how to study for it. Not sure which cert comes next? Start with the 2026 certification roadmap, organized by career goal.

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2026 exam guides and practice

Security+Guide Practice
CISSPGuide Practice
CISMGuide Practice
CCSPGuide Practice
CEHGuide Practice
CISAGuide Practice
SecurityXGuide Practice
Network+Guide Practice
ISC2 CCGuide Practice
SSCPPractice
ISSEPPractice
PMPPractice
CySA+Guide
PenTest+Guide
OSCPGuide
SC-200Guide
AWS Security SpecialtyGuide
GSECGuide
CompTIA A+Guide
CCNAGuide
Google Cybersecurity CertificateGuide

Best Cybersecurity Certifications in 2026: What Actually Helps Your Career

A practical guide to the cybersecurity certifications that still matter in 2026, who they help, and how to choose credentials…

Which Cybersecurity Cert Next? A 2026 Roadmap by Career Goal

Pick your next cybersecurity cert by goal: beginner, SOC analyst, pentester, cloud or management paths, with experience rules, exam costs and a comparison.

How to Transition to a Cybersecurity Career at Any Age

Switch into cybersecurity at any age in 2026: Security+, CySA+/cloud lanes, CISSP when ready, practical experience paths, and updated cert guidance.

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How I passed the CISSP exam without reading any books

Updated for the 2026 CISSP CAT exam — what still works from my no-book study plan, and what changed....

CySA+ After Security+: How to Pass CS0-004 in 2026

CompTIA CySA+ in 2026: CS0-003 vs CS0-004 before the December 22 cutoff, where the points are, and an eight-week lab-first plan for SOC analysts.

How to Pass Security+ SY0-701 Without Buying Every Book

How to pass CompTIA Security+ SY0-701: who should take it, what the five domains weigh, where people trip, and a 6 to 10 week plan without extra books.

Network+ in 2026: Who Needs It and How to Pass N10-009

Network+ N10-009: who should take it and who should skip to Security+ or CCNA, where candidates lose points, the $399 fee and a 10-week subnetting plan.

PenTest+ in 2026: Where Good Hackers Still Lose Points

CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003: up to 90 questions in 165 minutes, 750 to pass, the $439 fee, how it differs from CEH and OSCP, and a 12-week lab-first plan.

CEH v13 in 2026: Who It’s Really For, and What It Costs

EC-Council CEH v13: 125 questions in 4 hours, the $100 application route vs official training, the real $1,050 self-study cost and an 8-week plan.

ISC2 CC After the Free Exam Ended: Is It Still Worth It?

ISC2 CC after the free program closed: the $199 exam plus $50 yearly fee, the September 2026 outline, and when Security+ is the better first cert.

Is CompTIA A+ Worth It in 2026? Cost, Exams, 10-Week Plan

CompTIA A+ in 2026: two exams, 220-1201 and 220-1202, $274 each, who can skip A+ for a security career, where people lose points and a 10-week plan.

Google Cybersecurity Certificate: Can It Get You Hired?

Google's Cybersecurity Certificate is a set of Coursera courses, not an exam. What it teaches, what it costs, where learners stall and how Security+ helps.

CISM and the Technical-Person Trap: What ISACA Tests

CISM in 2026: 150 questions in 4 hours, 450 to pass, $575/$760 fees, the five-year rule, the November 2026 outline and why engineers pick wrong answers.

CCSP for CISSP Holders: The Cloud Cert Shortcut in 2026

ISC2 CCSP in 2026: 100-150 questions in 3 hours, 700 to pass, $599 exam and $135 AMF, the August 2026 outline with AI/ML topics, and the CISSP shortcut.

SecurityX (CASP+) vs CISSP: Who CAS-005 Is Built For

CompTIA SecurityX CAS-005 (formerly CASP+): up to 90 questions in 165 minutes, pass/fail scoring, the $544 fee, and why experienced engineers still fail.

How to Pass OSCP: Why Active Directory Decides Your Score

OffSec OSCP: the 24-hour proctored exam, 70 of 100 points to pass, why the AD set decides it, the $1,749 bundle, OSCP+ renewal and a 16-week plan.

AWS Security Specialty in 2026: Why IAM Decides SCS-C03

AWS Certified Security – Specialty is now SCS-C03: 65 questions in 170 minutes, 750 to pass, US$300, what moved from SCS-C02 and a 10-week study plan.

SC-200 in 2026: Learn KQL First, Then Book the Exam

Microsoft SC-200 in 2026: 100 minutes, 700 to pass, $165 with free yearly renewal, the October 21 update, why KQL comes first and an 8-week study plan.

CISA in 2026: Why the Exam Wants the Auditor’s Answer

ISACA CISA in 2026: 150 questions in 4 hours, 450 to pass, $575/$760 fees, the five-year experience rule, CPE changes from January 2027 and a 12-week plan.

Who Should Pay for GSEC? A 2026 Guide to the GIAC Exam

GIAC GSEC in 2026: 106 questions in 4 hours, 72% to pass, CyberLive labs, $999 per attempt, SEC401 at $8,780, and a 10-week self-study plan.

How to Pass the CCNA: 200-301 v1.1 or v2.0 in 2026?

How to pass the CCNA 200-301: v1.1 vs v2.0 (switching February 3, 2027), 120 minutes, pass/fail scoring, where candidates get stuck and a 12-week lab plan.

Failed the CISSP? Why It Happens and How to Pass on Your Next Try

Failed the CISSP? Read your domain proficiency report, find the real cause and use ISC2's 30-day wait wisely. Retake rules, costs and an 8-week plan.

CASP (Now SecurityX) vs. CISSP – My Experience

Editor’s note (September 2026): CompTIA renamed CASP+ to CompTIA SecurityX when it launched the CAS-005 exam on December 17, 2024,…

PMP vs CISSP

How does the PMP exam compare to the CISSP exam? When someone asked me that question, I thought it was…

CISSP Adaptive Exam (CAT): What to Expect in 2026

How the CISSP adaptive exam works in 2026: 100 to 150 questions in 3 hours, why it stops early, how pass or fail is decided, domain weights and exam-day tips.

IAT vs IAM Certifications: IAT Level I–III and the DoD 8140 Transition

IAT certification and IAM levels explained: the last DoD 8570 IAT Level II and III cert chart, and how DoD 8140 work roles and proficiency levels replace them.

Revolutionizing IT: CompTIA A+ Boosts Skills with AI and Cybersecurity

Revolutionizing IT: CompTIA A+ Boosts Skills with AI and Cybersecurity Summary The CompTIA A+ certification receives a significant update to…

What is the best IT certification to have?

A picture is worth a thousand words. There are a ton of IT certifications but the monster of all certifications…

7 Easy Steps – How to Become a Cybersecurity Specialist

The easy steps that you should take now: how to become a cybersecurity specialist and be successful in the growing cybersecurity industry.

Security+ vs CySA+ (2026): Which CompTIA Cert to Take

Security+ vs CySA+ in 2026: SY0-701 vs CS0-004 compared, difficulty, $439 exam cost, renewal, DoD 8140 work roles, jobs and which to take first.

DoD 8140 Approved Certifications (2026): Roles and Levels

DoD 8140 approved certifications for 2026: how DCWF work roles and levels replaced 8570 IAT/IAM, which certs qualify where in Matrix V2.1, and contractor rules.

Unlocking the IT Security Certificate: A Guide for Tech Enthusiasts

Possessing an IT Security Certificate is no longer an add-on but a defining leverage point in your career trajectory. This…

Mastering Network Programmability: Exploring the World of Cisco 300-435 Certification

Introduction to Cisco 300-435 Certification The Cisco 300-435 certification is a pivotal milestone in modern networking, offering professionals a unique…