Why It Is Important To Learn The Concept Of CompTIA Security+ Certification

With the CompTIA Security+ certification, you can take your knowledge of network security to the next level and perform any number of security functions. The CompTIA Security+ certifications are offered by a professional organization that is comprised of a diverse group of IT experts who evaluate security related issues. In this manner, there is an educational requirement for those who wish to seek CompTIA Security+ certification, as they need to pass a challenging test in order to pass the certification exam.

CompTIA Security+ refers to two different types of exams, which range from easy to extremely difficult to pass. As with all IT certifications, the CompTIA Security+ exams are designed to test a variety of skills and knowledge to help make the passing of the exam as possible. With the rising threats to computer security, the passing of the CompTIA Security+ exam is even more important. This can help guarantee the security of any network, even for organizations that do not possess an extensive amount of money or personnel dedicated to IT security.

CompTIA Security+ offers three different levels of passing, each of which is more difficult than the previous one. While passing the CompTIA Security+ exam, you will need to be able to work in both areas of networks, and networks outside of them. Therefore, this makes the CompTIA Security+ exam the most demanding in the field of IT certifications.

The first type of CompTIA Security+ exam is the Network Internship Security Plus exam. This is based upon a project which has to be successfully completed in the practice lab environment, and the student must then successfully complete the labs. Once the student has successfully completed the labs, they must then submit an essay and a final exam, which are based upon the same topic as the practice labs, but with more advanced exams.

The second type of CompTIA Security+ exam is theNetwork Security Plus exam. This exam requires the student to complete the labs, with an emphasis on the lab which focuses on the real world situations in which a network is needed to be protected. With this kind of exam, the student needs to understand how to perform a variety of functions in both private and public networks. They also need to be familiar with a variety of technologies, including the ability to utilize firewalls and network monitoring software, as well as the knowledge of how to protect the system against attacks through various methods, including intrusion detection and response, firewalls, and the use of software viruses to secure the network.

The third type of CompTIA Security+ exam is the Network Security Plus exam. This exam focuses on a range of skills, which include working with security software that helps to maintain a complete picture of the system, as well as understanding how to implement security processes into the operation of a network. Students need to be able to demonstrate their understanding of firewalls, as well as provide insight into the various forms of attacks on computer networks, and how to block them.

Achieving success in the CompTIA Security+ exams requires an individual to understand both theory and practice. The exams are highly technical and require a student to understand both the theory behind the security, as well as the practical applications of the same. These exams also demand the students to do a great deal of reading in order to grasp the concepts.

CompTIA Security+ is just one of the many IT certifications available in the market today. This certification provides students with a significant amount of knowledge in computer security and also allows students to become better equipped to work in both the public and private sectors. For these reasons, it is important for students to understand how important the CompTIA Security+ certification are, before attempting to pass the exams.

Analysis of the global risks and threats to today’s businesses

Introduction
The present business world has many underlying risks and threats that require practical risk management strategies to handle. Businesses have a major role in ensuring that their operations are not under threat from the increasing risks. The hackers, cyber criminals, and other fraudsters are persistently looking for ways of stealing the corporate data for ulterior motives. Corporate organizations have the different genre of information including personal data for their clients and customers, their health care data, financial records, and other sensitive information. As such, the increased data breaches, cyber security risks, and vulnerability make business have determination in developing countermeasures to protect their valuable assets. The business has an objective of minimizing the impact of both the known and the unknown threats. The paper provides an analysis of the risks and threats faced by businesses today and also the effective strategies for handling them.

Common Risks and Threats
A Risk is a likelihood of an attack being successful due to exposure to a given threat. Risk analysis focuses on determining the most important potential security breaches and addressing them. Risk analysis for business helps to establish the appropriate security budgeting to address the issues.

Threats are the source and means of attack. An assessment of the threats helps to determine the best approaches to securing a system from attack. The major focus of threat analysis is to assess the attacker’s resources. It is different to risk assessment in which it focuses on analyzing the potential of an organization’s resources falling prey to attacks.

The span of the period between 2013 and 2014 saw a rise in data breaches targeting global companies. IT security is no longer a mere concern but a global news story. There are numerous data leaks, corporate espionage, and cyber crimes that negatively impact the face of IT security in the organizations. The cyber risks are evolving rapidly and in many areas. The targets of the cyber-criminals continue to increase with the latest being governments and big companies. The main focus of targeting the governments is to undermine the national security and infrastructure. Many businesses have challenges in maintaining their reputation online following the many data breaches. The impact of risks and threats facing organizations and governments lies in the economy in which there is a likelihood of digital disintegration. Cyberspace has immense potential if well utilized, but the strengthening of the attacks will undermine the underlying potential.

Most of the risks and threats target the security of the information stored in the databases. It calls for new regulatory requirements in changing how to handle the security functions. The confidentiality, integrity, and reliability of data are an important aspect that every business should uphold. The exposure of data and sensitive information to fraudsters renders the organization vulnerable to data breaches. It is necessary to comply with the emerging regulations on data privacy and other controls that ensure that organizations maintain data security. Threats are difficult to control, but businesses can minimize their impact by working on particular effective strategies. On the contrary, businesses can manage the risks to reduce their vulnerability and the overall impact (Viney, 2011).

The common high-risk security threats to businesses are network norms that attack through phishing emails and some downloads. The business can be liable to data sniffing from its network if it’s open. The internet hackers and other cyber criminals attack the networks that lack proper security measures (Jahankhani, Fernando & Nkhoma, 2009).

Businesses face increased risks to data security due to the proliferation of their networks by widespread use of mobile devices in handling business operations. At present, many organizations have the BYOD policy. The policy allows the staff to carry their devices to work and access the company data on them. As such, the security of the data remains at stake since the company cannot control the device. Many fraudsters and hackers understand the potential that the devices have in cyberspace and thus device dubious ways of attacking them. The risks and threats that face businesses require practical risk management strategies to handle (Axelrod, Bayuk & Schutzer, 2009).

Strategies to deal with the evolving business threats
The presence of disgruntled employees in the IT department is likely to cause internal attacks to the data and the system. Most of the rogue employees can have access to the network, data centers, and the administrator accounts and cause serious damage. The mitigation to the issue is identifying all the liable accounts and credentials that are under threat and terminate them. Internal attacks from employees are the major threats that affect organizations since the employees have access to sensitive details about the organization. Thus, the termination of their privileged credentials of the internal staff helps to prevent attacks (Cole & Ring, 2006).

Data thefts is a high vulnerability issue when employees use their mobile devices to share data, access the company information, and fail to change their passwords. Many companies that allow BYOD face the risk of exposure on the corporate network if a malware application or software installs on the devices. The solution to the problem has policies that address the BYOD issue. The BYOD policy allows the employees to acquire knowledge on the proper management of their devices and also the company expectations (Partow-Navid & Slusky, 2008). The policy also allows monitoring of the emails and documents downloaded to the company through the devices. The monitoring measures in place provide the companies with visibility in mobile related data loss risks (Axelrod, Bayuk & Schutzer, 2009).

The other strategy is patching applications. Most of the applications used on the core operating system have unique patching methods and requirements. It is essential to have them on a single process. Many cyber intrusions occur through applications. However, many organizations do not patch the common applications in use rendering them liable to attack (Viney, 2011). The scenario increases the attack surface of the system and other systems sharing the network due to un-patching the applications. The malicious network attackers often take advantage of the vulnerabilities in the applications for them to gain easy access to the network. The organizations should use updated software that has increased protection against the malicious attacks.

Another strategy involves securing a network and accounts with strong and encrypted passwords that are difficult to encode by an attacker. The method ensures that any malicious activities on a network do not lead to a successful attack. The passwords should also have a review and update within scheduled periods. Encryption is a safe way of minimizing the effects of a risk and threat since the hackers do not have access to the vital data and information.

Conclusion
Businesses are under threat and also face many risks in conducting their operations effectively. They face threats in data security that renders them vulnerable to attack by fraudsters, hackers, and cybercriminals. The hackers and cyber criminals devise different methods of ensuring that they have access to the vital corporate information. However, a business with proper strategies in handling the risks and threats reduces the underlying negative impacts. The effective and practical strategies discussed include encryption, use of patch management on the applications, and avoiding internal attacks by rogue employees

A Neighborhood Is Not Safe

Introduction
The term neighborhood has numerous meanings and uses according to different people, environment, and context (Kawachi et al. 2003). For instance, neighborhood may refer to a small group of houses in the immediate vicinity of one’s home or a larger area covered by a number of houses of similar structure and market values. A deeper look at the contextual meaning of the neighborhood shows that it relates both to social (people-oriented) and geographic. In other words, the term neighborhood refers to the people who live near each other and occupy a section of an area in town or city (Kawachi et al. 2003). According to former studies and research about, it’s of strong evidence that many of these neighborhoods are not safe to live. That insecurity entails the hygiene, security and immorality conducted within their bounds. One would notice that a bigger hand of danger of these places rests on them. Inhabitants of the neighborhoods are themselves sources of risk. This paper looks deeper into safety breaches of neighborhoods.

Background information

Cases of community violence have been the talk of the day in many neighborhoods. That renders many families to experience regular chronic worries and stress. Most of the crimes involve immoral acts such as burglary sexual harassment, bullet shots, as well as to social disorder issues like the trafficking and sale of graffiti, development of teen gangs and drugs abuse. Such activities are said to be so epic and have developed to be daily routines in several neighborhoods (Bursik, 2007).

The unsafe nature of neighborhoods

It is of great concern that children begin to witness events of a crime while very. They get to view acts of violence such as the use of guns such as robbery at home. Some got to see murder through stubbing. These actions teach them no morals, but only brutality. A good number of them could turn into bullies (Bursik, 2007). Furthermore, some neighborhoods are much squeezed. Amenities such as playgrounds or community centers are not available. The shortages deny children the opportunities to be proactive and hamper their opportunity to get engaged in the broader community. Poor conditions such as dilapidated housing and litter at door-steps always cause series of impacts that may be harmful to health of residents and their overall well-being. Playgrounds for children are mostly unavailable. However, in places where they exist, they sometimes turn out to become a dangerous spots and hideouts for bad planners (Rubinowitz, 2009).

Not all neighborhoods are unsafe. Some residents have been able to make collaborative measures towards making their communities healthy places to live. One method they have found to be effective is through neighborhood watch programs. Diligently, neighbors have effectively succeeded to prevent violence and crime within their vicinity.

Conclusion
It’s evident that the unsafe nature of a neighborhood cannot only be seen in the angle of crime, but also on the basis of hygiene. In most cases, crime activities involve theft and fights. Lack of space, dirty, littered areas are other issues related to neighborhoods. There are too many instances of violence and ever-present threats, gun sounds, and drug dealings. Residents of such zones are always in worry about what is coming next (Rubinowitz, 2009). Some families spend nights worrying about themselves. All these collectively prove that indeed there exist security issues in these areas. Though unsafe, they form home to many people who have little or no alternative places of abode. All they can do to survive is awaiting the next episode. Many of these neighborhoods are thus unfit to the morality and value incorporation to young growing children, particularly boys.