CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102)

Strengthen security by layering lighting, cameras, bollards, and two-door access control vestibules, then protect server closets with locks, climate control, fire suppression, and biometrics.

Explore how logical user security uses software-based passwords, MFA, and certificates, and implement password policies, ACLs, and domain-based management to protect data and access.

Explore how logical security extends beyond user protection to certificate-based authentication, https, mac filtering, port security, antivirus, and centralized management with Active Directory and mobile device management.

Secure wireless SOHO networks by updating firmware, changing defaults, masking SSIDs, and enforcing encryption with WPA2 or WPA3, plus enterprise options like 802.1X with radius or tacacs+ and MAC filtering.

Explore the different malware types, from viruses and worms to adware, spyware, scareware, rootkits, botnets, keyloggers, ransomware, and trojans, and learn how unauthorized code harms systems.

Explore social engineering techniques and exploits used to steal credentials, including phishing, vishing, shoulder surfing, impersonation, insider threats, and common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting.

Explore Windows permissions and NTFS basics by managing users and groups with Active Directory, assign explicit and inherited permissions, and compare NTFS versus sharing permissions to determine effective access.

Explore built-in Microsoft Windows security features, including NTFS permissions and file attributes, and encryption options such as EFS and BitLocker, with BitLocker requiring a TPM on Windows 11.

Explore workstation security best practices, from BIOS/firmware passwords and TPM-driven drive encryption to domain and local account management, password policies, screen lock, and Windows firewall profiles.

Explore mobile device security solutions, including authentication methods, biometrics, encryption, backups, locator services, trusted sources, and mobile device management for BYOD and corporate devices.

Learn to secure web browsers by installing and configuring Chrome and Edge, setting default browsers, and enabling privacy features such as clearing history and cache, tracking protection, and trusted extensions.

Explore common Windows OS issues, from frequent shutdowns and blue screens to sluggish performance, with practical steps using device manager, event viewer, sfc, recovery, startup, and services tools.

Explore Windows OS issues, including system instability, no operating system found, time drift, and roaming profile loading, and learn recovery steps like startup repair, system restore, and system image recovery.

Identify and remediate common PC security issues using CIA triad concepts, network diagnostics, and Windows settings. Explore antivirus alerts, exclusions, backups, event viewer, and update maintenance.

Learn best practices for removing malware: identify symptoms, quarantine infected machines, disable system restore, remediate with updated antivirus definitions, schedule scans, and educate users on safe browsing.

Learn mobile OS and application issues on Android and iOS. Resolve fails to launch, permission problems, updates, and connectivity with steps like clear cache, force stop, reinstall, and factory reset.

Examine mobile security concerns, from trusted app sources and permissions to scareware and data leakage, and how encryption, lock screens, and rooting affect devices.

Explore organizational documentation for IT professionals, covering ticketing systems, asset management, and databases. Learn to document problem descriptions, escalation paths, network diagrams, and policies like acceptable use and splash screens.

Discover why change management matters in IT, and how to formalize changes with a change request, impact analysis, sandbox testing, and a rollback plan in production environments.

Master workstation backups by applying full, incremental, differential, and synthetic types, testing restores regularly, and using grandfather-father-son rotation with on-site and off-site 3-2-1 strategies.

Learn equipment and personal safety procedures for IT work, including electrostatic discharge prevention with ESD wrist straps and mats, grounding, anti-static bags and vacuums, and safe power-down and lifting practices.

Review environmental variables that affect IT environments and follow safety data sheets (SDS) for proper disposal of batteries and toner, while erasing residual data.

Explore licensing concepts, from proprietary and open source models to DRM, and examine privacy controls for customer and employee data under GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI standards.

Learn how incident response policies and six-step procedures guide preparation, identification, containment, data preservation, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned to protect policy compliance and operations.

Learn to communicate professionally in IT by presenting a professional appearance, using clear language, practicing active listening, respecting cultures, managing time, and safeguarding customer data.

Discover basic scripting techniques to automate repetitive IT tasks, reduce administrative burden, and ensure consistency across Windows, macOS, and Linux using batch, PowerShell, shell, and Python scripts.

Explore remote access technologies, from VPN-based connections with PPTP and L2TP/IPsec to VNC, remote desktop, and SSH, plus screen sharing and management tools.