Security+ & A+ Certified · Studying Network+
The CompTIA Study Stack I Actually Use
I passed Security+ and A+ with these guides, and I'm working through the Network+ one right now. No single book does it all — and reading alone won't pass you. Here's the exact stack, plus the free resources I paired with it.
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Credentials verifiable on Credly
My verdict, up front
These study guides cover the material cover-to-cover and give you everything you need to know to pass. But if reading is harder for you, they work best as the backbone of your prep — not the whole plan. Pair them with video lessons, take real notes, and grind practice exams. Do that, and this stack is exactly what gets you to your next exam date.
Quick pick: Breaking into IT → A+. Going for the security role → Security+. Filling the networking gap → Network+.
The stack, broken down
Kindle editions, so you can start reading in minutes and study from your phone. Pick the guide for the cert you're sitting next.
CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Study Guide
The cert this entire site is built on.
An all-in-one SY0-701 manual with lab simulators and four full-length practice exams baked in — which matters, because practice questions are where the learning actually sticks.
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CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide (2-Volume Set)
Breaking into IT from scratch? Start here.
Both Core exams in one set — Volume 1 covers Core 1 (220-1201), Volume 2 covers Core 2 (220-1202). The Sybex series is the long-standing standard for foundational IT knowledge.
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CompTIA Network+ Study Guide (Exam N10-009)
The networking layer between A+ and Security+.
Todd Lammle is a respected name in networking instruction, and this is the current N10-009 edition. Network+ fills the gap that makes Security+ concepts click — you can't secure a network you don't understand.
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Want the practice tests bundled in?
Optional step-up kits that pair a cert's study guide with a dedicated practice-test book. Pick one only if you want the biggest possible question bank — the standalone guides above are plenty to pass.
CompTIA Security+ Certification Kit (SY0-701)
Maximum question bank for the security cert.
The Sybex Security+ kit pairs the SY0-701 Study Guide with a dedicated Practice Tests book. Choose this over the standalone Security+ guide above if you want the fullest set of exam-style questions and prefer the Sybex format.
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CompTIA A+ Complete Certification Kit
Want everything for A+ bundled together.
The full A+ Certification Kit pairs the Complete Study Guide with the Complete Practice Tests for both Core exams (220-1201 + 220-1202). Choose this over the standalone A+ guide above if you want exam-style question banks included from day one.
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Books alone won't pass you — here's what I paired with them
No study guide passes the exam for you. The reading covers the material, but the score comes from how you reinforce it. This is the routine I used:
- Professor Messer. Free video lessons I leaned on for the topics that didn't click on the page. The video-plus-book combo covers both learning styles.
- Notes — every session. Writing or typing summaries forces you to process the material instead of just reading past it. This is where it sticks.
- Practice exams. Non-negotiable. Take them until you're consistently passing before you book the real thing.
- Quizlet flashcards. Perfect for rapid-recall study sessions — acronyms, port numbers, the rote stuff you need cold on exam day.
Who this stack is for
A great fit if you…
- Are working toward A+, Security+, or Network+
- Want a credible, exam-aligned reference to anchor your prep
- Will pair reading with practice exams and video
- Like studying from your phone (these are Kindle editions)
Look elsewhere if you…
- Learn only from video — use these as a companion, not your core
- Expect to pass on reading alone, with no practice tests
- Want a single book covering all three certs (no such thing exists — each cert needs its own guide)
Why take the recommendation from me
I'm not a faceless review site ranking books I've never opened. I hold CompTIA A+ and Security+ — you can verify both on my Credly profile — and I'm currently studying for Network+ with the guide listed above. This stack is what I actually study with, not a list I scraped off a bestseller chart.
On editions: I passed A+ on the 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams — that's the set you'll spot in the photo above — and Security+ on SY0-701. The A+ guides I link here are the current 220-1201/1202 release of that same Sybex lineup, refreshed for the latest exam objectives. Same trusted series, current exam.
Analyst note
All four are Kindle editions, so there's no shipping wait — you can be reading on your phone or tablet within minutes of checkout, which makes it realistic to study in the gaps between work and family.
Prices subject to change, check current pricing on Amazon, or the respected brand's website for current pricing.
My honest tip: Don't buy all four at once. Buy the guide for the exam you're sitting next, finish it, pass — then move to the next cert. Momentum beats a stack of unopened books.
#ad — Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commission earned at no extra cost to you. Gleaming Networks is a research-and-recommendations site; I hold CompTIA A+ and Security+ (verify on Credly) and am currently studying for Network+. Prices and availability are subject to change — confirm current pricing on Amazon before purchasing.