Has anyone done 70-299 and CompTIA Security+?

[kmcferrin]

And if so, how do they compare?

The reason I ask is that I have set a ridiculously tight schedule for my certification tests. In the past month I've done the CompTIA A+/Net+/Server+/Security+, MS 70-270 and 70-290, and I am taking the 70-291 tomorrow (Wednesday). I also have the 70-299 scheduled for Friday but was thinking about re-scheduling since I only have two evenings to review it.

But then I started looking at the TestOut material and it looks like about 90% of it is material that was covered in Security+, and to a lesser extent 70-290, and 70-291. The exam is only scheduled for 2 hours, including survey time, so it doesn't seem like it should be anywhere near as bad as 70-290 or 70-291. Now I'm thinking that I should be able to put up a passing score on 70-299 with 8-10 hours of review.

What do you guys think? Am I crazy? I'm starting a new contract Monday and it would be great it I could say that I'm have an MCSA:Security cert instead of just MCSA.

 

[MITPRO]

Let me say this..In the time that you are obtaining your certs as apposed to your experience that backs the certification, does not seem demanding.

If you must know the 70-298 and the 70-299 really test your understanding of security design and implementation, by giving you page long Case Studies and then answering questions based off what is in the case study. You can use a small portion of your understanding with Sec+ to understand the terminology being used, but when you are implementing, CA's, PKI, Secure Policies, CRL's to name a few with microsoft...you should know how and when to do these things.

I do not want to make you out to be a paper cert, but if you get hired with no experience, be prepared for some intense work. Most times, the stucture is already in place. You will need to know where to look, and why it's happening.

So as far as the Security exams go, they can be passed. They are easy to me, but much different than the real deal.

Do not pray to have an easier life, pray to be a stronger man!!!

Comptia A+, N+, Security+, MCSA: 2003

 

[kmcferrin]

I do not want to make you out to be a paper cert, but if you get hired with no experience, be prepared for some intense work. Most times, the stucture is already in place. You will need to know where to look, and why it's happening.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I have been working in IT for the past 10 years, some of it as a Systems/Network engineer, some of it as a consultant. I've done design, implementation, and support for companies ranging from 100 user environments up through multinationals and Fortune 50 companies. So I probably have more experience to back up my certs than many other certified people do. That's half the reason why I have been able to pass 8 tests in one month.

I had never pursued certifications in the past, but the consulting company that I currently work for started pushing for me to get certified back in December because it makes me more marketable. So I got a copy of the TestOut material and have been trying to knock out 1-2 exams a week since then.

I was originally going to do the 70-291 last week and the 70-299 this week, but I had to postpone the 70-291 due to a death in the family. I did the 70-291 today and passed with no problem, but now I'm trying to decide if I should postpone the 70-299 or not. When I looked at the material it looks like most of it I have already covered to some extent in the Security+, 70-290, and 70-291 exams.

I didn't realize that 70-299 was a case study type of exam. I thought that it was usually the "Designing..." exams that were case studies, and that the rest were just normal Q&A with simulations.

 

[MITPRO]

Thanks for clearing that up..and i do apologize. Our role and background of experience is the same. You may have done more consulting work than i have, but i have worked for fortune 100 and 500 companies, before thinking about cerification exams. The only reason, i even began to get my certs, was triggered by a Royal Carribean job i could not get, only becasue i did not have a Net+. I was shocked! I mean, i have BS in Information systems and a Master's in Network Security..and over 10 Years experinces in network and systems engineering. Well i decided to, what i call, bullet proof my career.

I just began to cert in fall of 2006 and of course every company sees you more than ever, but i feel i am beyond this whole microsoft error. I am thinking more along the lines of Groupware and operations management, and heavily into Security. I am currently studying for my CEH and will continue through computer Forensics and CISSP, Will obtain cisco certs? Yes, only becasue i have experince with routing and switching and i would really like to understand the whole security part of it.

I will stuill keep current on the microsoft certs, becasue it has only become easier to understand.

70-298 and 70-299 are Case Study. Think about it, 70-293 was planning and designing...I had no case study questions. THey were long as hell, but of course i never read details. I read what is important and junk the rest.

Anyway, Whenever you are ready for the exam. Take it. Security + once again helps with terminology and understanding, but not how microsoft applies it to the infrastructure.

Do not pray to have an easier life, pray to be a stronger man!!!

Comptia A+, N+, Security+, MCSA: 2003

 

[MITPRO]

My correcrtion, 70-293 was not designing...the 70-297 is, which i never took that test to fill my requirment.

Do not pray to have an easier life, pray to be a stronger man!!!

Comptia A+, N+, Security+, MCSA: 2003

 

[kmcferrin]

The only reason, i even began to get my certs, was triggered by a Royal Carribean job i could not get, only becasue i did not have a Net+. I was shocked! I mean, i have BS in Information systems and a Master's in Network Security..and over 10 Years experinces in network and systems engineering. Well i decided to, what i call, bullet proof my career.

I understand the whole "certifications that get you past the HR screeners" concept, but if you had all of those other qualifications and were disqualified for not having what is essentially an entry-level/remedial certification, you probably didn't want to work there.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCP, MCSA 2003

 

[MITPRO]

You have a point! It does not matter now anyway. I still managed to become an IT manager with 5 employees under me.

Did i use testout? Yes! in fact i had the company purchase it for me and i let my techs use it so that we can have a strong I.T. Organization in my company. They are all certified, or let me say at least MCP and Comptia Certified, but sometimes you have to stay current with the basics.

I not the big I.T. Snobb as manager like some that you may meet in the industry. It seems every IT Tech is a no it all, but i have learned to humble myself and learn from others even when you do know, then you can become the best and really call yourself professional. There so many ways to accomplish a certain task, but it does not mean your way is the best way....you understand where i am coming from? Anyway, thanks for the responses, and if you have any questions about any exams..wel you know how to find me.

Do not pray to have an easier life, pray to be a stronger man!!!

Comptia A+, N+, Security+, MCSA: 2003

 

[kmcferrin]

I decided to postpone the 299 for a week. My wife is started to get resentful because I spend most of my free time studying, so it looks like I'm going to just do one a week for awhile.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCP, MCSA 2003

 

[MITPRO]

Keep Your home happy! Do what you need to, and test when you have time.

Do not pray to have an easier life, pray to be a stronger man!!!

Comptia A+, N+, Security+, MCSA: 2003

 

[kmcferrin]

Well, I finally got around to doing the 70-299 and passed. It was definitely the hardest of the MS exams that I've done so far (270, 290, 291, 299). Now it's on to 293 and 294.

If you're taking the 299 keep in mind that this exam is only 30 questions. That means that you can't afford to miss many of them. This was not a 'case study' type of exam, it was all Q&A. I don't know if it was just me, but I had no simulations at all. There were A LOT of IPSec questions on my exam, as well as Certificate/PKI questions. One other thing to study are the mundane details. I had quite a few questions about what specific obscure file or AD object permissions meant. I also had several that required you to know what the various services were used for.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCP, MCSA:Security 2003

 

[JonesNW]

Quick question for everyone, when you set up an IAS server to administer radius clients is the IAS server itself a radius client that reports to itself?

I always figured the IAS server was just an administration point, is it a case of when its placed in a site that requires remote access it too needs to be configured to receive requests and forward them to the IAS service on the same server?

Thanks,

A+,N+,S+,Security +,MCP,MCSA
70-270-passed
70-290-passed
70-291-passed
70-293-passed
70-294-passed
70-297-pending
70-298-pending
70-299-pending

 

[kmcferrin]

IAS is a separate component from RRAS. You can put IAS on its own server and then make your RRAS boxes/WAPs clients to the IAS box. You can also put IAS on a RRAS box and have the RRAS component authenticate to the IAS component on the same box. Either way you will have to manually configure the RADIUS connections from both ends (client and server sides).

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCP, MCSA:Security 2003

 

[kmcferrin]

Though I probably should also mention that on the MS exams you will rarely, if ever, see a server that is assigned multiple roles like that. They usually try to keep everything separate.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCP, MCSA:Security 2003