CompTIA Tech+

Computers count in binary, and every product label uses units you need to read correctly. This module makes bits, bytes, hertz and bandwidth routine, so a spec or an error message stops being a puzzle.

• Binary, decimal and hexadecimal
• Converting between number systems by hand
• Bits, bytes and storage units
• Speed units: hertz, bits per second and latency
• Why a drive shows less space than its label

You build A one-page conversion sheet, checked against values you read off a real device.

Good support work is a habit, not a guess. You learn a repeatable troubleshooting process, from identifying the problem to documenting the fix, and practice asking the questions that narrow a fault down quickly.

• Identifying the problem and asking good questions
• Forming a theory and testing it
• Planning a fix and checking for side effects
• Verifying the result with the user
• Writing notes the next person can use

You build A troubleshooting log for one fault, from first report to verified fix.

Identify what is in front of you and how it connects. You compare device types, recognize ports and cables on sight, and understand the main kinds of storage and the trade-offs between them.

• Common device types and what each is for
• Peripherals: input, output and both
• Ports and connectors you will meet
• Hard drives, solid-state drives and removable media
• Choosing storage for speed, size and cost

You build A connection map for a workstation, naming every port, cable and device.

Nearly everything is connected. You learn what a network is, how devices find each other, and how Wi-Fi differs from a cable, then set up and read the basic settings of a small home or office network.

• Wired and wireless networks compared
• IP addresses, routers and switches
• How names become addresses: DNS and DHCP
• Wi-Fi standards, bands and range
• Reading basic network settings on a device

You build A plan for a small office network, with a labelled diagram and its Wi-Fi settings.

Much of what people call a computer is now a service in someone else’s data center. You learn what virtualization does, how cloud models differ, and how to decide which kind of service fits a need.

• What a virtual machine is and why it helps
• Public, private and hybrid cloud
• Software, platform and infrastructure as a service
• Storage and backup in the cloud
• Sharing responsibility with a provider

You build A short recommendation that matches three business needs to cloud service types.

Software sits between you and the hardware. You compare operating systems, file systems and application types, learn what a browser does for you, and see where AI tools appear inside everyday applications.

• What an operating system manages
• Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile compared
• Files, folders, extensions and permissions
• Productivity, collaboration and business applications
• Browser features, extensions and safe settings
• Recognizing AI features inside applications

You build A comparison of two operating systems for one user’s needs, with reasons.

You will not become a developer here, but you will read code and plan a program. This module covers language types, data types and the building blocks every language shares, and ends with logic you write yourself.

• Compiled, interpreted, markup and query languages
• Variables, constants and data types
• Conditions and loops
• Functions and where they help
• Pseudocode and flowcharts
• Planning a program before writing it

You build A flowchart and pseudocode for a small program, such as a unit converter.

Data has value only when it is stored and found again. You learn what makes data useful to a business, how databases organize it, and the methods used to protect it from loss.

• Why data matters to an organization
• Structured and unstructured data
• Tables, records, fields and keys
• Relational and non-relational databases
• Reading a simple query
• Backup methods and where to store copies

You build A small table design for a real list, with a backup plan for it.

Security starts with a few ideas that explain most advice. You learn confidentiality, integrity and availability, how people prove who they are, and the common threats that target ordinary users and devices.

• Confidentiality, integrity and availability
• Authentication, authorization and accounting
• Malware and how it spreads
• Phishing and other tricks played on people
• Physical security and safe working habits

You build A short risk checklist for one workplace, ordered by what would hurt most.

Put the principles into practice on real devices. You set strong, usable passwords, turn on multi-factor sign-in, apply updates and understand what encryption protects and what it does not.

• Strong passwords and password managers
• Multi-factor authentication
• Updates, patches and why they matter
• Encryption of files, disks and connections
• Securing a phone and a home router
• Safe browsing and sharing

You build A hardening checklist applied to your own laptop and phone, with before and after notes.

Everything meets in one scenario. You specify the equipment, networking, software, data handling and security for a five-person office, and explain each choice in terms the owner can follow.

• Listing the needs of the office
• Choosing devices, network and software
• Planning data storage and backup
• Setting security rules people will follow
• Presenting the plan to a non-technical owner

You build A complete setup plan for a small office, with equipment list, network diagram and security rules.