Study areas explained in plain language — no copyrighted exam content

Certification Learning Center

What each certification actually covers, who it's for, and where it leads next. These are our own explanations of each exam's focus areas, not official study guides, exam dumps, or copyrighted materials from the certifying bodies.

CompTIA A+ CompTIA Network+ CompTIA Security+ CompTIA Linux+ CompTIA CySA+ CompTIA PenTest+ Cisco CCNA Cisco CCNP Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer CISSP

Study areas

PC hardware components and troubleshooting
Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile OS basics
Networking fundamentals
Basic security concepts
Operational procedures and documentation

Good for: Anyone starting in help desk or desktop support.

Next step: CompTIA Network+

Study areas

TCP/IP and the OSI model
Routing and switching concepts
Wireless networking
Network troubleshooting methodology
Basic network security

Good for: Help desk technicians moving toward network administration.

Next step: Cisco CCNA

Study areas

Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities
Architecture and design principles
Identity and access management
Risk management basics
Cryptography fundamentals

Good for: Anyone entering cybersecurity from IT support or networking.

Next step: CompTIA CySA+

Study areas

Linux command line proficiency
File systems and permissions
Package and service management
Basic shell scripting
System troubleshooting

Good for: System administrators working in mixed or Linux-heavy environments.

Next step: Cloud provider certifications

Study areas

Threat and vulnerability management
Security monitoring and SIEM usage
Incident response processes
Software and system security

Good for: Security analysts and SOC analysts.

Next step: CompTIA PenTest+ or GIAC certifications

Study areas

Engagement planning and scoping
Information gathering and vulnerability scanning
Attack and exploitation techniques (authorized environments only)
Reporting and communication

Good for: Aspiring penetration testers with foundational security experience.

Next step: OSCP

Study areas

Network fundamentals and architecture
IP connectivity and routing
VLANs and switching
Network security fundamentals
Automation and programmability basics

Good for: Network administrators and engineers.

Next step: Cisco CCNP

Study areas

Advanced routing protocols (OSPF, BGP)
Enterprise network design
Network security and automation
Wireless enterprise networking

Good for: Experienced network engineers moving into architecture roles.

Next step: Cisco CCIE (expert level)

Study areas

Core cloud concepts
Core Azure services
Azure pricing and support
Governance and compliance basics

Good for: Anyone starting a cloud career, regardless of specific role.

Next step: Azure Administrator (AZ-104)

Study areas

Manage Azure identities and governance
Implement and manage storage
Deploy and manage compute resources
Configure and manage virtual networking

Good for: System administrators and cloud engineers working day-to-day in Azure.

Next step: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Study areas

Cloud concepts
AWS core services overview
Security and compliance basics
Billing and pricing models

Good for: Anyone starting with AWS, technical or non-technical.

Next step: AWS Solutions Architect Associate

Study areas

Designing resilient architectures
High-performing architectures
Secure architectures
Cost-optimized architectures

Good for: Cloud engineers designing real AWS infrastructure.

Next step: AWS Solutions Architect Professional

Study areas

Setting up a cloud solution environment
Planning and configuring a solution
Deploying and implementing
Ensuring successful operation

Good for: Cloud engineers working in a GCP environment.

Next step: Google Cloud Professional certifications

Study areas

Security and risk management
Asset and security architecture
Identity and access management
Security operations
Software development security

Good for: Experienced security professionals moving into leadership or architecture roles. Requires several years of verified experience to fully certify.

Next step: CISM or security leadership roles