For what has been a complete year, I’ve been busy in my new role as Deputy Sector Navigator (Information and Communication Technology / Digital Media) for the Greater Sacramento Region. Activities for the past year included:

• Championing middle school and high school students in participating in the CyberPatriot cyber security competition.
• Working with colleges in the Region relating to their submission of applications for the Center of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance / Cyber Security, a Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency designation.
• Marketing the Business Information Worker pathway and Chancellor’s approved certificate.
• Revamping ICT curriculum to achieve course alignment with other colleges in the Region.
• Developing a winning grant proposal for the development of a NetLabs+ Regional Hub that will provide students in the Region with the ability to complete hands-on labs in a virtual environment that is accessible from any Internet accessible location on a 24/7 basis.

So, I decided at this one year anniversary that I’d take the new SY0-401 Security+ exam. Frankly I relied on my current level of knowledge, not studying to pass the exam. It consisted of 70 questions, the first 6 characterized as simulations. I am still not happy with the simulations, and figured I had sufficient points to pass even if I failed to complete the simulations successfully. Fortunately I achieved the objective of passing, with a somewhat marginal score of 793/900. You need 750 to pass so I guess I did OK.