It takes a lot to obtain a laudable place in the industry. But, acquiring a professional certification is one ingenious move that any IT practitioner can make to trim down the hassles and accomplish profitable results. CompTIA Network+ is one such certification for individuals willing to reach new heights in the networking field. The holders of this accreditation are placed far above the non-certified peers and are welcomed by a number of organizations with open arms.

Network+ is an intermediate-level certification imparting job-based expertise on knowledge arenas like crucial cloud computing practices, hardware & virtualization techniques, best network security practices, core networking concepts, and the like.

Ideal Candidates and Basic Prerequisites

Think of CompTIA Network+ if job roles like junior network administrator, network analyst, network field engineer, system engineer, and network field technician are in your mind. The entire certification journey has been designed to impart the best-of-breed subject matter understanding that is needed in the real world for performing well in all these pivotal job positions.

While CompTIA Network+ holds all the power to take the crawling career of an IT beginner at a whole new level, it is not for everyone. It is going to help only those who have already earned the CompTIA A+ certificate before Network+. Besides, this conjectural expertise should be complemented with 9-12 months of hands-on experience in the networking realm. These pre-requisites are asked to make sure that the aspirants are able to grasp the material that CompTIA Network+ delivers.

Exam Overview

Maturing as a CompTIA Network+ certified professional is possible only if a candidate appears for the CompTIA N10-007 exam and earns passing grades in it. This is a proctored exam governed by Pearson VUE that features 90 questions and is 90-minute long. These questions will be based on multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based format.

The applicants need to score 720 or above grades to come up with flying colors in the test. This score remains valid for three years and one has to meet the re-certification requirements to enjoy further benefits. The exam registration is possible on the official Pearson VUE website, and paying $338 as an exam fee is an essential part of the registration process. Finally, note that N10-007 can be taken in English, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese languages.

Reliable Self-Study Resources

Though there are tons of career benefits of possessing CompTIA Network+, the road that leads an IT specialist over here is filled with many stumbling blocks. To overcome these hurdles, one needs to take the help of some tried and tested self-study resources. Amazon is the most reliable platform to obtain such materials that are potent enough to ensure the candidates will weave success in the exam. These are some of the most helpful options to consider:

• Mike Meyers CompTIA Network+ Guide

  Penned down by Mike Meyers, this is the best pick for multiple reasons. The comprehensive coverage of performance-based questions, viable tips, practice questions at the end of the chapters, and real-time illustrations are some of the key features of this book. There is a bonus as well. Learners will have one hour of video training from the author at the end of the book. It also features 20+ lab simulations that allow readers to have the needed confidence to attempt the performance-based questions.

• Networking Essentials

  There is hardly any other book that can beat this one. This is because the authors, Jeffrey Beasley and Piyasat Nilkaew, have written it from the realistic viewpoint of a working network administrator. This guide gives candidates an opportunity to earn hands-on experience related to networking routers and switch commands, configuring the crucial interfaces, and networking protocols. Your love for this book will grow even more when you figure out that there are real-world examples and practical exercises at the end of each chapter.

• Network Programmability and Automation

  This book is penned down by three experts: Jason Edelman, Scott S. Lowe, and Matt Oswalt and features the key concepts of network automation and programmability. Role of application programming interfaces, technologies required for Continuous Integration, and tasks involved in configuring, managing, and operating network equipment are some of the topics covered in this material.

• Networking for Beginners

  Those who are new to the world of networking and fear losing the battle can take the help of this book to grasp the foundational understanding of the subject matter. It gives a clear overview of the concepts like cyber-attacks, their types, and suggested remedial solutions. Due to its step-by-step approach, it makes the reader an actual problem-solver. Dylan Mach is the author of this book and deserves a pat on the back for explaining the concepts in an easy-to-understand language.

• Network Operations Center — A Complete Guide

  This book is amazing as it comes with a very powerful self-assessment tool. Using it, one can assess the current preparation level in real-time. Gerardus Blokdyk is the author of this guide and has explained all the key concepts one has to know such as evidence-based best practice strategies and recent advancements in Network Operations Center. It is a powerful self-learning tool because it also includes updated case-based questions. And since this edition was released in 2021, you’ll have access to the most updated information.

• CompTIA Network+ Study Guide

  This is the best-selling book from Todd Lammle. He is a networking guru and has wide industry exposure. He has summed up his expertise in this book in a very impressive manner. This study guide features in-depth coverage of exam domains, practical examples, quick review questions, and flashcards kind of resources.

  Using these learning tools, it is easy to reinforce your studies and have a better hold over subject knowledge.

The Final Say

A mere mention of CompTIA Network+ in the resume will increase its worth by manifolds. The way it hones a professional’s personality is commendable. Thousands of networking enthusiasts have witnessed an immediate surge in earning potential, market value, and inherited skills with the help of the Network+ certification. You could enjoy all these perks, provided you take some tried and tested self-study resources like books on board. With their help, it’s easier to make it through the certification journey.