CompTIA A+ Core 2 (Preparation for Exam 220-1002)

After completing the CompTIA A+ Core 2 (Preparation for Exam 220-1002) course, students will be able to:

• Support operating systems.
• Install, configure, and maintain operating systems.
• Maintain and troubleshoot Microsoft Windows.
• Configure and troubleshoot network connections.
• Manage users, workstations, and shared resources.
• Implement physical security.
• Secure workstations and data.
• Troubleshoot workstation security issues.
• Support and troubleshoot mobile devices.
• Implement operational procedures.

This course is designed for individuals who have basic computer user skills and who are interested in obtaining a job as an entry-level IT technician. This course is also designed for students who are seeking the CompTIA A+ certification and who want to prepare for the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1002 Certification Exam.
 

To ensure their success in this course, students should have experience with basic computer user skills, be able to complete tasks in a Microsoft® Windows® environment, be able to search for, browse, and access information on the Internet, and have basic knowledge of computing concepts. Note: The prerequisites for this course might differ significantly from the prerequisites for the CompTIA certification exams. Course-specific Technical Requirements Hardware: For this course, students will need one HOST and one WORKBENCH computer. Each HOST computer will run Windows® 10, Hyper-V®, and multiple virtual machines and will need the following minimum hardware configurations:
• 2 GHz multicore x64 CPU with virtualization support
• 8 to 16 GB RAM (More RAM provides better VM performance.)
• 200 GB free disk space (An SSD will provide much better performance than an HDD.)
• DVD-ROM drive
• Ethernet network cards supported by the Windows® host OS (Windows® 10)
• Internet access (Contact your local network administrator.)
• Some activities require web access for the HOST. VMs should not be connected to the Internet or to the physical classroom network.
• Keyboard and mouse (or other pointing device)
• 1,024 x 768 resolution monitor recommended
Each WORKBENCH computer should be capable of running Windows® 10 (1803 build). Software: For each HOST computer, students will need product ISOs and (where applicable) product keys/ licenses for the following software:
• Windows® 10 x64 Pro/Enterprise Branch 1803 or later with Hyper-V® installed
• Windows® 8.1 Pro/Enterprise x64 Edition
• Windows® 7 Professional/Enterprise x64 Edition SP1 (Build 7601)
• Windows® Server 2016 Standard Edition CentOS 7 x64 (A prebuilt VM is provided. You will only need to provide an ISO if you want to demonstrate or run an attended installation of Linux.)
If you do not have the specific builds available, future versions of Windows® 10 or Server 2016 should not substantially affect the activity steps. However, security and virus definition updates could cause some of the tools used in the activities to fail; if this is the case, disable Windows® Defender. Windows® 7 must have SP1 installed. For each WORKBENCH computer, you will need:
• Product ISOs and (where applicable) product keys/licenses for Windows® 10 x64 Pro/Enterprise Branch 1803
• CPU-Z (www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html)

Lesson 1: Supporting Operating Systems

• Topic A: Identify Common Operating Systems
• Topic B: Use Windows Features and Tools
• Topic C: Manage Files in Windows
• Topic D: Manage Disks in Windows
• Topic E: Manage Devices in Windows

Lesson 2: Installing, Configuring, and Maintaining Operating Systems

• Topic A: Configure and Use Linux
• Topic B: Configure and Use macOS
• Topic C: Install and Upgrade Operating Systems
• Topic D: Maintain OSs

Lesson 3: Maintaining and Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows

• Topic A: Install and Manage Windows Applications
• Topic B: Manage Windows Performance
• Topic C: Troubleshoot Windows

Lesson 4: Configuring and Troubleshooting Networks

• Topic A: Configure Network Connection Settings
• Topic B: Install and Configure SOHO Networks
• Topic C: Configure SOHO Network Security
• Topic D: Configure Remote Access
• Topic E: Troubleshoot Network Connections

Lesson 5: Managing Users, Workstations, and Shared Resources

• Topic A: Manage Users
• Topic B: Configure Shared Resources
• Topic C: Configure Active Directory Accounts and Policies

Lesson 6: Security Concepts

• Topic A: Logical Security Concepts
• Topic B: Threats and Vulnerabilities
• Topic C: Physical Security Measures

Lesson 7: Securing Workstations and Data

• Topic A: Implement Security Best Practices
• Topic B: Implement Data Protection Policies
• Topic C: Protect Data During Incident Response

Lesson 8: Troubleshooting Workstation Security Issues

• Topic A: Detect, Remove, and Prevent Malware
• Topic B: Troubleshoot Common Workstation Security Issues

Lesson 9: Supporting and Troubleshooting Mobile Devices

• Topic A: Secure Mobile Devices
• Topic B: Troubleshoot Mobile Device Issues

Lesson 10: Implementing Operational Procedures

• Topic A: Use Appropriate Safety Procedures
• Topic B: Environmental Impacts and Controls
• Topic C: Create and Maintain Documentation
• Topic D: Use Basic Change Management Best Practices
• Topic E: Implement Disaster Prevention and Recovery Methods
• Topic F: Basic Scripting Concepts
• Topic G: Professionalism and Communication

Appendix A: Mapping Course Content to CompTIA® A+® Core 2 (Exam 220-1002)