Security+ SY0-201 Video Mentor

Author: Shon Harris
Pages: 96
Publisher: Pearson
ISBN: 0789740249

Introduction

When I glance at my bookshelf, I see many certification titles racking up an imposing number of pages, and I keep wondering why there’s so little interactive material available from the same publishers. One company that stands out is Pearson, an innovator when it comes to interactive learning. They were pushing the envelope long ago when this was considered a bold move. Now, they have a fresh line of DVDs dedicated to certification.

About the author

Shon Harris is the president and owner of Logical Security, a security consultant, a former engineer in the Air Force’s Information Warfare unit, an instructor, and an author. She has authored two best-selling CISSP books and is the author of many articles and periodicals.

Inside the DVD

The DVD comes with an application that you can run directly from the disk and is very easy to navigate. All the controls you need are always at your disposal and you’ll be able to enjoy the features if you’re running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux.

Most users of this learning DVD will probably leave the booklet that comes in paper format along with the DVD unopened, since a digital version is not only included in the DVD, but cleverly integrated into the interface used to display the videos.

Here’s a view of the table of contents with everything just a mouse click away:

A part of the lectures are illustrated with slides, the kind you might see at security events. Others incorporate actual video that shows techniques in action:

The topics presented in the book cover everything you need in order to prepare for the CompTIA Security+ exam. You’ll learn about cryptography concepts, protocol and statistical analyzers, PKI, TCP/IP, IPsec, network vulnerabilities, and much more.

Basically, the only downside I can think of is the awkward packaging format. It could be much smaller and way easier to handle. If you want to have it on your bookshelf and keep getting the DVD out of the case, the packaging will eventually get on your nerves. Regardless, remember what they say – don’t judge a book by its cover, or in this case, the packaging.

Final thoughts

Although the primary aim of this interactive DVD is to help you pass the Security+ SY0-201 exam, Pearson delivers a very compelling guide that will be perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about information security.

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