[3/3] The 4-Week Security+ Strategy: What to Do Every Single Day

Stop wasting money on expensive cybersecurity courses that don’t get you results. Here’s the exact strategy I used to pass cybersecurity exams, broken down into a simple 4-week plan you can follow!

It’s finally here, the final piece of this series, showing people how anyone can pass the Security+ exam in 4 weeks.

In the previous articles, we have covered what the exam looks like. Its structure, domains, and the distribution of points between them.

I also provided you with study resources that are laser-focused on things you need to answer the questions correctly.

[1/3] How to Pass Security+ in 4 Weeks - Introduction

[2/3] Security+ Domains Explained: What to Study (and What to Ignore)

And after covering all of that, you miss only one last thing to successfully pass the Security+ exam.

A strategy. Today, we will take all the knowledge and create a plan that will get you where you want to be.

This article gives you that system.

A clear plan for what to do every week and every single day.

So you can stop guessing and start executing.

The 4-Week Strategy (Simple, Not Easy)

Your entire preparation has 3 phases. And what I like about it is that it works for almost any exam you will ever take.

Phase 1: Build Understanding (Week 1)

Goals:

• Understand the concept of the exam

• List topics for each domain

• Understand the fundamentals

What you do:

• Read the introduction where I describe the exam - Exam structure

• Open an Excel or take a piece of paper and list all the main topics for each domain. I made that easy for you: Security+ Domains

• Go through the core concepts - Luckily for you, I covered the Top 10 most important concepts in my FREE guide - Top 10 Cybersecurity fundamentals

Okay, now you should have a complete overview of what you need to learn. That’s a great start.

Start with the topics I listed and make sure to write down all terms that you are not familiar with.

Outcome of this phase:

• A complete list of all topics you need to understand for the exam

• List of terms you need to be familiar with

• A mindmap describing how the terms connect together

Are you preparing for CompTIA Security+?

Comment “Security+” and I’ll send you a FREE guide describing the TOP 10 most important topics for the exam!

Phase 2: Connect the Dots And Test Yourself Soon (Week 2–3)

Most people wait for practice tests until the very last moment.

They are afraid of failing.

Here is the thing: You are allowed to fail in the preparation phase. That’s what forces you to learn.

So, the second you read through the fundamentals, it’s time to start testing yourself.

And, very importantly, add the topics from the practice test to your list. That’s absolutely crucial.

At the end of week 2, you should be stressed about how big your list got and that you are running out of time.

If that’s what you are feeling now, you’re on the right track! Don’t stop!

And if you feel overwhelmed, I’d recommend using an approach that helped me many times in my life and by which I was able to pass the CISSP exam while working full-time.

Get Control Over Your Results: How to Study Efficiently While Being Busy

Divide and Conquer

When your list gets overwhelming, don’t try to fix everything at once.

Break it down:

• Pick one domain

• Focus only on that

• Close the gaps

• Move to the next

Make sure to check the topics in your list and track your progress. That will keep you motivated. Once you check all the topics from one domain, take the practice test again. It will feel good that you know the answers!

Want to go beyond passing Security+?

I created a 90-day roadmap to land your first cybersecurity job.

Phase 3: Think Like the Exam (Week 4)

Until now, I strongly encouraged you to deep dive into the topics. Truly understand what’s going on behind the scenes.

But this is the time to get practical.

You’ve spent 3 weeks reading materials, watching tutorials, and connecting the dots. You’ve got plenty of diagrams, notes, and maybe ANKI cards.

That will all serve you well in your career.

But now, you need results. Which means, stop caring about how things work and start giving answers that the exam expects.

Every exam have different way the questions are phrased, meant, and created.

You are at a huge disadvantage. The people who created the exam are the ones who set the rules.

You need to adapt. And the best way to do that is to practice the question as much as possible.

So here is the recipe for this phase:

• Full practice exams daily

• Timed conditions

• Focus on weak areas only

• Light review

How to Know You’re Ready

Simple:

• You consistently score 80%+ on practice exams

• You understand why the answers are correct

• You recognize patterns in the practice questions quickly

At that point, it’s time to take the exam.

Don’t wait for confidence.

Confidence comes after you pass.

Conclusion

This is how I passed even the most difficult cybersecurity exams there are.

Having a good strategy is more important than having years of experience. I know many people who have been in the field longer than I have and still failed.

Stop waiting to be ready. Don’t listen to people telling you don’t have a chance.

You don’t need more time. You don’t need more resources.

You need:

• Focus

• Consistency

• Study materials

• And a system

And I just gave you resources and a system. Now it’s time for you to add focus and consistency to the equation.

Follow this for 4 weeks, and you will pass.

Here is one more offer. If you get stuck on any topic, you can contact me at erich.winkler@decodedsecurity.com or comment under this post, and I will guide you.

Thanks for reading Decoded Security!

- Erich

Let’s Connect

If you want to collaborate, discuss, or just geek out over networking and cybersecurity, reach out:

Email: erich.winkler@decodedsecurity.com
LinkedIn: Erich Winkler
Gumroad community: Decoded Security
Start Here: Decoded Security Roadmap

Enjoyed this article? Like it or drop a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions!

Let’s learn and grow together!