The document outlines the artifacts, timeline, methodology, and outcomes of Jose Rodriguez-Torres' preparation for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam. Key artifacts included completing courses on Udemy and practice exams, creating Anki flashcards, watching YouTube study groups, practicing skills on TryHackMe, using a study guide book, building an e-portfolio blog, and doing hands-on labs with Security Onion. Challenges included managing time and confidence leading up to the exam. Ultimately, Jose passed the Security+ exam with a score of 808 out of 900 and gained confidence to pursue further certifications.

1. Security+
Exam Prep
Jose Rodriguez-torres

2. Table of Contents
Resources used/created to
complete the project.
Artifacts
Planned to accomplish
The storyline of what was the
tasks to complete by the end.
Challenges
What transpired during the
semester and issues.
Outcome
What was complete based off
of the prep this semester.
01
02
03
04

3. Artifacts
01

4. Timeline
Timeline was created to efficiently prepare for the security+ to
pass it first-time.
I created the timeline in line with the documentation to be on a
weekly basis.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GrA2t2XVzauYTXLtU
Wx7Q8GHaeI1qoOZytQx_sjVtDo/edit?usp=share_link

5. Goal/Methodology
My goal/methodology was to prep and Learn the 6 Domains of
the security+
Through this journey I created artifacts through the use of:
ANKI- Flashcards UDEMY - Security+ Course
YOUTUBE - Study group CompTia Cert Guide
JASON DION - Practice Exam TRYHACKME - SOC PATH
WordPress - E-Portfolio Security Onion - PCAP Lab

6. CompTIA Security+ Course (Jason Dion)
Completed the course from Jason Dion
on UDEMY.
● 21.5 hours of Content.
● Broke down each domain into 31
sections.
● Included a practice Exam to work
on Domain specific weaknesses.
I completed the course on March 26h,
2023
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1THDPN
uAE2-
Ro_Nvi79P3t1_guU7BwAzd/view?usp=sha
re_link

8. CompTIA Security+ Practice Exams
(Jason Dion)
The six practice tests allowed me to
review domains which i was weak in.
● I scored an average of 79%
between all the exams
● After each exam I reviewed the
sections I incorrectly answered
● Polished and gave me confidence in
taking the certification exam.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1
5HA4QD6Z-
m9eyreWFW4vtfmjylhfOgDV?usp=share_l
ink

9. ANKI FLASHCARDS
This artifact was excellent to keep me
polished on key terms and verbiage
● I created a Total of 1,088 flashcards
● Over the course of 3 months I
reviewed 2,642 flashcards
● Average for days studied: 110
reviews/day
● Average for period: 29/reviews/day

10. Youtube Study-Groups (Prof Messer)
The study groups offered from Prof
Messer was immensely helpful to give me
a perspective on exam questions.
● Hour long session of breaking down
6 questions based on Objectives.
● Monthly study group with unique
questions.
● Over 40 hours of replayable
content.
This allowed to be flexible with key words
and work on scenario based questions at
work.

11. TRYHACKME - SOC level 1
CTF style rooms designed to learn how to
be a triage specialist. Uses real world
traffic analysis tools.
● 56 hours of content
● Goes over tools such as Splunk,
Snort, and wireshark.
Gave me a good overview on what
learning the SOC analyst position is
expected to do. I took a lot from the
pyramid of Pain.
https://tryhackme.com/path/outline/so
clevel1

12. CompTIA Security+ Certification Guide
Complete detailed coverage of security
fundamentals converd in the exam.
Perfect reference guide and
implementation guide.
● About 400 pages of content with
chapter reviews in each chapter.
● Hands-on mini projects to gain a
deeper understanding of concepts.
● Included 2 mock exams to recreate
the actual exam
This was perfect way to polish up my
study prep and overall security
fundamentals. Allowed me to take notes
based off of the chapter reviews.

13. E-Portfolio/Blog
This artifact was created to be able to
express and show my skills and journey
through out my career.
● Enables me to show future
employers my work and experience.
● Gives me a reference guide for
myself to document what I’m
working on
● Allows me to express myself
I really enjoyed the experience of
creating my own space to present any
future work from classes or projects.

14. Security Onion - PCAP LAB
Using Security onion PCAP analysis gave
me some practice on learning how to
read logs and alerts to be able to triage.
● Used malware-traffic-analysis.net
● Learned how to pull SHA/MD5
hashes to investigate malware.
● How to look for malicious IPs, Ports,
and Affected Users.
This is an amazing start to start building
off from. Possibly branching out from
only using the one tool from security
onion. Soon, implementing it into a
proxmox environment.

15. Planned to
accomplish
02

16. Planned to accomplish
Complete Udemy Course Complete all practice
exams over 70%
Create a E-portfolio to
display skills
Pass the Security+ with a
score above 750
3/26 4/03 4/30 5/01

17. Challenges
03

18. Challenges
Time Management
I had trouble managing
time and consistency.
Confidence
Leading up to the exam I
felt overwhelmed.
Unrealistic goals
I created Goals not
understanding my limits.

19. Challenges

20. Outcome
04

21. Outcomes
E-portfolio
Security+ certified Confidence
Display future
skills and be
presentable for
future employers
Passed with a
808/900 score
Gives me the
confidence needed
to pursue the
CySA+

22. CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo,
including icons by Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik and
illustrations by Stories
Thanks!
Do you have any questions?
Please keep this slide for attribution