Linux on AWS: The Operating Systems

The Linux on AWS offering is quite robust. Many of the major distributions can be easily deployed as AMIs (Amazon Machine Images). There are many combinations of operating systems and configurations to choose from. Here we’ll help you sort through the basics.

Before we dive into the different operating systems, it’s useful to understand the concept of a “hardened” image. For many of the operating systems we’ll mention below, you’ll find hardened images available. What this means is the images have been configured to meet a certain set of criteria.

For example, the RogueWave enhanced support for CentOS – CentOS 7 Security Hardened image is a CentOS 7 image configured by Rouge Wave Software to meet Center for Internet Security (CIS) and OpenSCAP standards.

These “out-of-box” hardened images are useful if you’re looking to streamline your workload. However, if you’re looking for something to practice with and configure from scratch, you may want a more bare-bones minimal install.


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Communication Steps of an Incident Response Plan

The incident response plan should include a structure of who needs to know about a possible security breach. The front-line responder needs to know who to tell first and what to do next while the responding manager takes charge of communicating with the rest of the employees and marketing communicates with customers, shareholders and the public, as needed.

Front-line managers might need to know about a current investigation or they might not. Most phishing attempts will force the issue, spamming the same illegitimate email message across the entire domain, which will force the need to send a company-wide email. Front-line managers should be concerned with their team(s) and their customers in the following ways:
Manage Teams: Front-line managers should understand the situation well enough to give their team marching orders. For example, should their team members continue working? Should they disconnect from Wi-Fi? Should they be turning off their machines? The front-line manager should have these answers readily available.
Manage Customers: If the incident was a phishing attempt, the entire address book of the user could have been contacted and contact information may be vulnerable. Front-line managers should have a template email in place to send out in case of security events.

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Perfect Storm for Ransomware

The massive increase in people working from home has opened up a whole new world of ransomware victims for a few different reasons. Work from home employees are often using their own devices, meaning the cybersecurity department has no view into the applications, configurations, data or any other element that might help circumvent an attack.

Even if cybersecurity pros at a given company have practices in place for pushing out patches and upgrades to work-from-home devices, the sheer volume of traffic going through virtual private networks (VPNs) has positioned businesses to prioritize other things over rolling out patches critical to maintaining enterprise-grade security.

And these same users whose computers are not appropriately secured are no longer protected by perimeter security that would knock out obvious ransomware emails or block traffic to sketchy websites. The most successful criminals always go with what’s easiest first, and with a world of panicked people computing from insecure environments, making money via ransomware suddenly got way easier. In other words, more unprotected endpoints means more opportunities.

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Cloud Migration Mistakes for Successful Deployment

Giving in to Over-customization: To maximize efficiency, it is always better to customize the Cloud according to business-specific requirements. An inflexible cloud environment and over-customization to host the migration projects lead to a hazardous situation for the business processes. As the migrating teams form custom security policies, service configurations, and management processes to address a specific domain, the entire organization may not be compatible and heading towards an array of cloud management problems.
Getting the Wrong Idea About the Migration Process: Lack of professional understanding about application mapping, refactoring, re-hosting, cloud provisioning to match the workloads, and other crucial migration processes leads to deployment failure. A professional workforce to assist in the entire migration process ensures error-free deployment.
Ignoring the Compliance & Security Needs: Cloud migration must be in accordance to the compliance regulations defined by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), FIS Management, and other similar acts to avoid any legal issues and to guarantee the safety of your business data and applications. Also, businesses generally have insufficiency planning for security measures by assuming the Cloud to be foolproof. It is easy to forget that data encryption is the responsibility of the businesses migrating to the Cloud.
Choosing the Technology: Choosing the technology stack plays an important role as the right technology contributes to minimizing the avoidable costs and improving the platform efficiency.

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Certified Network Defender

Certified Network Defender (CND) is a vendor-neutral, hands-on, instructor-led comprehensive network security certification program created by EC-Council. This tactical network security training course prepares network administrators to defend their networks from intrusion. Through this course, you’ll gain a hands-on understanding of data transfer, network technologies, and network software needed to secure a network.

If you would enjoy taking a hands-on role in the defense and security of your network, this program could be perfect for you. CEH is the natural next step after attaining this certification, and if you’re interested in having a good depth of technical knowledge when it comes to network defense, you may want to sign up for our Information Security Analyst

Certifications: CND
Base Training Period: 5 days
Skill Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites: CompTIA Security+
Ideal for: If you’ve completed Security+ and want to keep building your resume and knowledge base, Certified Network Defender can be completed in one week and is a HUGE step up from Security+.
Roles you’ll be qualified for: Network Administrator, Network Security Administrator, Network Security Engineer, Network Defense Technician, and Security Analyst

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What Makes a Good CompTIA Ambassador?

Ambassadors typically sign on to promote a brand because they love it. The CompTIA Rewards program is no different. For example, Jain has earned Cisco IT Essentials and CompTIA A+ certifications and plans to pursue CompTIA Network+ next.

She values her CompTIA certifications because they have provided a means to gain in-depth knowledge while adding credibility to her portfolio.

“My CompTIA certifications demonstrate that I am agile as a newcomer to the industry with no formal IT education,” Jain said. “It’s a brand stamp that got me noticed and has validated my skills to hiring managers.”

There isn’t one – really. Jain said CompTIA Rewards is a win-win for everyone involved. You, the ambassador, get rewarded for sharing, and the people you share with gain access to a plethora of resources to help them skill up and train for a better job.

And while the rewards themselves are a huge benefit, Jain said there’s more to her story.

“This has given me the confidence to be entrepreneurial without any monetary investment. I’ve earned $650 in gift cards so far, and I’ve been able to gift some of them to my family and friends,” she said.

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IT Team Prepared for CompTIA A+ 220-1001

In today’s world, organizations must ensure the security of their systems. With the digitalization of the processes, organizations are more prone to cyber attacks. Organizations need to protect their valuable assets from the rising number of threats. No wonder, businesses need IT professionals with expertise in networking and security.

In this blog, we will discuss why CompTIA A+ certification is necessary for your IT professionals to help your organization function seamlessly.

Do you want to expedite your IT skills with CompTIA A+ and Network+ certification? Then watching this recorded CompTIA webinar will certainly help you out!

Preparing for the exam indeed is very important to earn the CompTIA Security+ Certification, but at the same time, your attitude on the exam day also contributes to your success.

Reaching well before time for the exam is a healthy habit.
Keep your self calm and composed. You know you are prepared well.
Time management is important. Dummy practice papers must be clocked to get in the habit to complete the exam well within the time limit.
If stuck at some question, do not waste your time. Trying solving it at the end.

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renew your CompTIA A+ certification

The IT industry is in a constant state of evolution. Each day brings with it a new security patch, operating system upgrade or revolutionary technology. As an IT professional you need to show your skills and knowledge match the current industry developments. Launched in 2011, CompTIA's Continuing Education (CE) program was created to do just that, ensuring your certifications are kept up to date.
If you have achieved the CompTIA A+ certification post January 1, 2011, you have a globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accredited certification. As part of the accreditation requirements, this certification expires every three years.

How to renew you CompTIA A+ certification
You can renew your expiring A+ certification using the CE program in the following way:

Pass the most current version of the two CompTIA A+ exams:
Essentials (Exam 220-801)
Practical Application (Exam 220-802)
Complete CompTIA CE activities, which will allow you to keep your certification current without retesting
Achieve a higher-level CompTIA certification like the Network+, or a higher level industry certification

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The Differences Between 501 and 601

SY0-601 contains less exam domains then SY0-501. Instead of six domains, there are now 5 domain areas that include Implementation and Operations and Incident Response. There is now more exam weight in the Architecture and Design domain as well as in the Attacks, Threats and Vulnerabilities domain. The complete list of domain changes is outlined below:
Security + SY0-501 Exam Domains Security + SY0-601 Exam Domains
Threats, Attacks and Vulnerabilities: 21% Attacks, Threats and Vulnerabilities: 24%
Technologies and Tools: 22% Architecture and Design: 21%
Architecture and Design: 15% Implementation: 25%
Identity and Access Management: 16% Operations and Incident Response: 16%
Risk Management: 14% Governance, Risk and Compliance: 14%
Cryptography and PKI: 12%
Security+ Domain Comparison

(Lane, 2020).

There are less exam objectives on the SY0-601 as well. The 501 has 37 exam objectives while the 601 will only include 35.

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TLS Certificates Using ACM

When it comes to provisioning certificates, you have two options.
The first option, Import Certificate, obtains the domain(s) from the certificate. This certificate is usually your own, meaning you already gave it a domain name.
The second option, Request Certificate, obtains a public certificate from Amazon. In this case, you provide a fully qualified domain name of the website you want to protect. If you want to provide a wildcard certificate that will cover multiple pages within the same domain, use an asterisk instead of ‘www’ in the site’s full domain name.

For our example, we will be requesting, provisioning, and deploying certificates for a site called samplesite.com. Since we want to secure both the top-level domain and higher-level subdomains it contains.

Once you have provided the domain names, click on Review and Request. This sends you to a confirmation page displaying the names of sites you want to secure. If any of these does not match your intentions, click on the previous button. If your review seems perfect, you can click on Confirm and Request.

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The Link between DevOps and Chatbots

One of the foremost aspects to consider in evaluating the role of chatbots in DevOps refers to the faster response of feedback and delivery systems related to the product or service. DevOps is largely adopted by companies for these functionalities that can simplify complex workflows alongside enhancing the productivity of engineering as well as operations teams.

DevOps provides a considerable reduction in turnaround time for receiving feedback, resolving the issue, and delivery of solutions to the market. So, basically, DevOps aims to reduce repetitions with the assurance of improved accuracy in the repetitive process. Therefore, chatbots can definitely find unique applications as a formidable support mechanism for DevOps.

Chatbots have slowly gained recognition in the world of DevOps automation as they allow consistent updates of all processes in DevOps workflow, such as orchestration. Chatbots have the capability of serving as a competitive communication platform in collaboration with DevOps automation to provide a substantial boost for communication, collaboration, and transparency for engineering and operation teams. Therefore chatbot use cases are more likely to gain attention and possibly achieve mainstream application in DevOps strategies.

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Prerequisites for the CompTIA Security+ Certification

The next significant highlight in a CompTIA Security+ preparation guide refers to prerequisites for the exam. The prerequisites help you check whether you are ready for the certification exam or not. CompTIA recommends candidates to qualify the CompTIA Network+ certification is a recommended prerequisite for the CompTIA Security+ certification.

In addition, candidates are recommended to have at least two years of hands-on IT administration experience with specific emphasis on security. Furthermore, CompTIA Security+ certification aspirants are also recommended to have prior technical experience in information security. Most important of all, candidates aspiring for CompTIA Security+ certification preparation are recommended to have wide-ranging expertise and knowledge regarding security concerns and implementation of security infrastructure.

The next critical aspect of any successful candidate’s CompTIA Security+ certification refers to the coverage of all concepts. Candidates often think of skipping the domains with lower weightage and focus on the major domains. However, that is not a suitable proposition for a candidate who wants to qualify in the first attempt itself. Prepare for all the exam topics thoroughly and keep all the unnecessary assumptions regarding questions in the CompTIA Security+ certification exam.

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All about CompTIA Security+

CompTIA Security+ is the prime security certification IT professionals must earn. It builds the core knowledge needed for any cybersecurity role. Further, it offers a springboard to intermediate-level cybersecurity careers. Not to mention, once qualified candidates will be able to do the following tasks.
First thing first, the candidate will be able to detect several types of compromise and experience penetration testing and vulnerability scanning concepts
Secondly, he/she will be able to install, configure, and deploy network components while evaluating and troubleshooting problems to support associations security
Subsequently, implementing secure network architecture notions and systems scheme
Further, the candidate will also be able to install and configure identity and access services, as well as administration controls
Moreover, they’ll be able to implement and review risk management best practices and the business impact
Lastly, the candidate can also easily install and configure wireless security settings and execute public key infrastructure

Besides this, the CompTIA Security+ exam is designed in such a way that it focuses on today’s best applications for risk management and risk mitigation. Consequently, stressing more on the practical and hands-on ability to both recognise and address security threats, attacks and vulnerabilities.

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Earn a Non CompTIA Industry Certification

You can take a number of exams that qualify for CEUs. The links below will take you to a list of Certifications that will earn CEUs for your specific CompTIA Cert. Keep in mind this list is constantly updated by CompTIA so be sure to check back periodically.
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Cloud+
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst CySA
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner CASP
2. Training and Higher Education

You can earn CEUs by completing various training and educational activities. See the chart below for the maximum number of CEUs you can earn for each activity. For full details on restrictions and guidelines for training and education visit the CompTIA site. Unless otherwise, stated at least 50% of the training must relate to one or more of the exam objectives for the cert you're renewing.
Complete a Training Course

CompTIA has preapproved some of the most popular training courses. Other training must follow the 50% rule as stated above. Click any of the links to the right to see pre-approved courses. For each course you will be required to submit:
Detailed description/outline of the training content
Completion certificate containing your name, course name, training provider, date, # of hours

If you are a DOD civilian, government contractor or Government employee, CompTIA has pre-approved several DOD courses.
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Cloud+
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst CySA
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner CASP.

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CompTIA Certification Can Be Transformative

In 1995, I was in my second year of teaching High School English to a group of “alternative” kids at an “alternative” high school. “Alternative” was a nice way of saying “troubled” as these were the kids who had been previously tossed out of their original high schools and were now on a perilous path, which in many cases, led to the street and in some cases to jail.
I loved my job—and more importantly, I loved helping the kids whose only semblance of family was found at our school, but at the end of my second year, I found out that the school district budget had been cut and all non-tenured teachers would be RIF’d. “RIF” was not an acronym I was familiar with, and someone had to tell me what it meant “Reduction in Force.” And so, I would have to start looking at other school districts for work.

At that point, I had to make a really tough decision: either continue in education or jump ship and start fresh in the booming Information Technology industry. After doing some research—and some soul-searching—it was obvious that IT is where I wanted to be. Windows 95 had just been introduced, and the PC-boom was about to explode. I had a natural love of technology, and I was fascinated to find out where a career in IT might take me.

It turned out my first stop was to get trained. Today at New Horizons, we train thousands of students every year that find themselves in a situation very similar to the one I was in over 18 years ago. That’s not surprising—people change careers or start new ones all of the time. What is surprising though is that the first step that many of our students take is the same one that I took in 1996—earning a CompTIA certification.

First established in 1982 as the Association of Better Computer Dealers, CompTIA has provided career-changers and career-enhancers an avenue to learn the fundamental skills necessary to be successful in the IT industry.

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What Is a Multi-Vendor Environment?

A multi-vendor environment refers to a computer network that supports tools from more than one manufacturer, vendor or provider. This is often considered to be a hybrid approach where companies add applications and platforms to their environment to solve for particular business problems.

For example, a company may choose a cloud service to gather data from many different origins. A computer networking professional would then be asked to make sure that the cloud implementation is using networking resources properly because the cloud service and the networking resources come from different vendors.

Another example could include upgrading computer networking components. If a network switch is not adequate and needs an upgrade, networking professionals will be asked to provide information about where the bottleneck is and how to optimize routing and switching. If the vendor of the existing equipment does not offer the right solution, the networking pro may choose something from a different vendor.

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Certified Network Defender

Certifications: CNDBase Training Period: 5 days
Skill Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites: CompTIA Security+
Ideal for: If you’ve completed Security+ and want to keep building your resume and knowledge base, Certified Network Defender can be completed in one week and is a HUGE step up from Security+.
Roles you’ll be qualified for: Network Administrator, Network Security Administrator, Network Security Engineer, Network Defense Technician, and Security Analyst

Certified Network Defender (CND) is a vendor-neutral, hands-on, instructor-led comprehensive network security certification program created by EC-Council. This tactical network security training course prepares network administrators to defend their networks from intrusion. Through this course, you’ll gain a hands-on understanding of data transfer, network technologies, and network software needed to secure a network.

If you would enjoy taking a hands-on role in the defense and security of your network, this program could be perfect for you. CEH is the natural next step after attaining this certification, and if you’re interested in having a good depth of technical knowledge when it comes to network defense, you may want to sign up for our Information Security Analyst

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CompTIA Certifications

While starting a career in IT, a relevant certification can help you develop domain-specific problem-solving skills along with the ability to think critically. In a contemporary and dynamic landscape, those qualities will give you an upper hand over others competing for the same job roles.

Of relevance here, is CompTIA - a world-renowned, non-profit trade association headquartered in Chicago that offers valuable industry-recognized certifications. This is a comprehensive guide about the various IT certifications CompTIA offers and how you can leverage them to forge your career ahead.

Currently, CompTIA IT certifications fall under four categories grouped by skillset ranging from entry-level to an expert:
Core
Infrastructure
Cybersecurity
Additional professional

Each of these levels has different certifications as envisioned in the CompTIA Certification Roadmap. CompTIA believes that IT professionals develop their skills in three categories starting from Core to Infrastructure and then to Cybersecurity.

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Total Monetary Investment For CISSP

If the individual has met the requirements of work experience, then he/she is then ready to take the exam. The CISSP exam is perhaps one of the most exhaustive of all certification exams out there with an overall exam duration of 6 hours. Candidates have to attempt 250 MCQs.

The passing criteria is also very strict and highly standardized with only those candidates scoring above 700 being considered as passed in the exam. This scale runs from 100-1000, so a professional has to be highly prepared if it wants to increase its chances of passing the exam.

Most individuals require preparation assistance like CISSP certification training through online courses available out there. Enrolling in such courses helps individuals to cover the course materials in a more streamlined manner and increase their chances of passing the exam.

The cost of CISSP certification varies from location to location as individuals take this exam across the globe, but the prices in the US are currently $699. If you are unable to appear in the exam, you will have to pay $100 in order to file for cancellation.

The certification’s validity is time-bound and an individual has to re-certify after every three years. However, if the individual has been paying the $35 annual maintenance fee as well as gaining 40 CPE credit hours each year, the re-certification won’t involve appearing in the exam once again.

But if the individual doesn’t meet these requirements, it will have to definitely re-appear in the exam as per the course contents of that time.

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AWS Practitioner Fits into the cloud Certification

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Training is introduced in 2017 and is that the gateway certification to higher-level and specialty certifications. There are not any prerequisites for the fabric that prepares you for the exam. If you aren’t currently working during a cloud-based environment, you’ll see the total AWS certification program within the AWS Certification Guide.
Why Earn the Cloud Practitioner?

Earning this certification is that the best thanks to validate a high-level understanding of AWS. Whether you’re a cloud expert or transitioning from on-premise solutions, this certification gives you a firm base to make your cloud computing knowledge and prepare you to delve into more technical aspects of AWS. For IT professionals, the three main benefits of earning AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification, which make you convinced to get it for sure:
Validate or obtain understanding of cloud computing
Fast track to a higher paying job
Save money without sacrificing value

Validate or obtain understanding of cloud computing.

Earning this certification validates your familiarity of the AWS platform. An AWS Cloud Practitioner certification verifies that you just have achieved the following:
Understanding of AWS cloud concepts and services
Knowledge of the AWS cloud architectural principles
Familiarity of shared security concepts
Appreciation of the essential documentation, like requirements, white papers and alter management
Get expertise in billing, pricing models and account management
Become familiar with deployment and operations within the AWS Cloud
Fast track to a much better paying job

However, preparing for and taking the Practitioner exam need six months of working within the AWS cloud environment. It’s an excellent thanks to means your career with an immediately relevant credential.

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CompTIA Security+ Certification is vendor-neutral

The CompTIA Security+ Certification is vendor-neutral, which means you are not required to focus on security and technology of a specific vendor; instead, you can focus on the general aspect of cybersecurity. The broad knowledge and skills gained by completing the program make network administrators and security consultants with this certification more in demand in the marketplace, giving you options when looking for opportunities.
7. Perfect for Government Work

The CompTIA Security+ Certification training is the ideal starting point for anyone seeking a networking or cybersecurity position within a government agency. The certification also meets the standards of DOD 8570, which is a compliance standard used for citing various requirements relevant to contractors and government employees at different work levels throughout the information technology field. In fact, the CompTIA Security+ Certification meets the required DOD 8570 compliance standards for both Management Level-1 and Technical Level-2 positions.
8. Forces You to Stay Current

The CompTIA Security + Certification is one IT certification that gives you the advantage of offering for continuous updates and enhancement of your skills in the field of cybersecurity. This is because anyone with the CompTIA Security + Certification must renew their credentials every three years. The process, which offers multiple methods of renewal, provides a regular opportunity (and requirement) to maintain and enhance your professional level and knowledge base.

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