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In memory of grandpa Joe, who taught me the fundamentals of IT and so much more.
First and foremost, I need to thank my family. Without their support and patience, I would never be able to work on projects like this.
This edition was more special than most, in that it left me with an unusual sense of pride as well as a realization of how long the road has been. When I wrote my first book, I dedicated it to my still-baking-in-the-oven oldest daughter. Now, she has enough expertise to be my SME and first proofreader for the programming chapter. She can code circles around me, and I’m proud of her (and my other kids too!).
They say it takes a village to produce a book, and it always amazes me at the number of people who are involved. I have been fortunate to work with a great Sybex crew yet again. Gary Schwartz was the development editor. Thanks, Gary, for keeping me on track and answering all of my mundane questions. Kenyon Brown was the acquisitions editor for this book—thank you, Kenyon, for asking me to take on this book.
In addition, Christine O’Connor was an excellent production editor; I appreciate her professionalism and pragmatism. Jon Buhagiar and Chris Crayton were my technical editors—thank you both for all of your ideas; you really made this book better. To Kim Wimpsett, the copy editor, thank you so much for dealing with my consistent grammar mistakes. I may not have the best grammar, but at least I am consistent about it!
Quentin Docter started in the IT industry as a tech support agent for Packard Bell in 1994. Since then he has worked in tech support, network administration, consulting, training, web development, and project management. During his career, he has achieved certifications from CompTIA (including IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+)), Microsoft, Cisco, Novell, and Sun Microsystems. He is the author of several books, including the CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide by Sybex, an imprint of Wiley.
If you’re picking up this book, it means it’s likely that either you’re thinking about getting into the IT industry or you are relatively new to it. Either way, you are probably getting advice from nearly everyone you meet. One of the common refrains you probably hear is “Get certified!” With so many certifications out there, you might wonder where to start—CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) is that place.
Certification is one of the best things you can do for your career if you are working in, or want to break into, the IT profession, because it proves that you know what you’re talking about regarding the subjects in which you’re certified. It also powerfully endorses you as a professional in a way that’s similar to a physician being board certified in a certain area of expertise. It can add to your résumé and make you more attractive to potential employers and more valuable as an employee. In these challenging economic times, keeping ahead of the competition—even standing out among your present colleagues—could make a big difference in whether you gain a promotion or not!
In this book, you’ll find out what the IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam is all about because each chapter covers a part of the exam. I’ve included some great review questions at the end of each chapter to help crystallize the information you learned and solidly prepare you to ace the exam. This book covers more than just the exam, though. I believe in providing my students with a foundation of IT knowledge that will prepare them for real jobs, not just to pass a test. After all, life is not a multiple-choice test with the answers clearly laid out in front of you!
A really cool thing about working in IT is that it’s constantly evolving, so there are always new things to learn and fresh challenges to master. Once you obtain your IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) certification and discover that you’re interested in taking it further by getting into more complex topics (and making more money), the CompTIA A+ certification is definitely your next step.
IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) is a certification developed by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) that exists to provide resources and education for the computer and technology community. This is the same body that developed the A+ exam for PC technicians, Network+ for networking experts, and Security+ for security practitioners.
Way back in 1995, members of the organization got together to develop a new certification that tests skills for IT. To ensure industry-wide support, it was sponsored by many past and present IT industry leaders like these:
The IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam was designed to test the skills of those with little to no experience in the field but who want to show that they have a broad general understanding of core IT topics. It tests areas such as computer hardware, operating systems and applications, basic networking, security, and setting up and maintaining a computer.
Because CompTIA is a well-respected developer of vendor-neutral industry certifications, becoming IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) certified proves that you have a base level of knowledge in the specific areas tested by the IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) objectives.
Four major benefits are associated with becoming IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) certified:
Proof of Professional Achievement Computer professionals are pretty competitive when it comes to collecting more certifications than their peers. And because the IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) certification broadly covers the entire field of computers, it’s a great stepping-stone to prove that you have what it takes to succeed in this industry. Because it’s rare to gain something that’s worth a lot with little effort, I’ll be honest—preparing for the IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam isn’t exactly a lazy day at the beach. But passing the test is worth it because it will get the attention of potential employers.
Opportunity for Advancement We all like to get ahead in our careers—advancement results in more responsibility and prestige, and it usually means a fatter paycheck, greater opportunities, and added options. In the IT sector, a great way to make sure all that good stuff happens is by earning a lot of technology certifications, including IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+).
Fulfillment of Training Requirements IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+), because of its wide-reaching industry support, is recognized as a baseline of computer knowledge. This can potentially fulfill IT-related training requirements set forth by your company.
Customer Confidence As companies discover the CompTIA advantage, they will undoubtedly require qualified staff to achieve these certifications. Many companies outsource their work to consulting firms with experience working with security. Firms that have certified staff have a definite advantage over firms that don’t.
As this book goes to press, Pearson VUE is the sole IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam provider. The following is the necessary contact information and exam-specific details for registering. Exam pricing might vary by country or by CompTIA membership.
| Vendor | Website | Phone Number |
| Pearson VUE | www.pearsonvue.com/comptia | U.S. and Canada: 877-551-PLUS (7587) |
When you schedule the exam, you’ll receive instructions regarding appointment and cancellation procedures, ID requirements, and information about the testing center location. In addition, you’ll receive a registration and payment confirmation letter. Exams can be scheduled up to six weeks out or as late as the next day (or, in some cases, even the same day).
After you’ve successfully passed your IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam, CompTIA will award you a certification. Within four to six weeks of passing the exam, you’ll receive your official CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) certificate and ID card. (If you don’t receive these within eight weeks of taking the test, contact CompTIA directly using the information found in your registration packet.)
Here are some general tips for taking your exam successfully:
You—if want to pass the IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam and pass it confidently! This book is chock-full of the exact information you need and directly maps to IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam objectives (listed later in this Introduction), so if you use it to study for the exam, your odds of passing shoot way up.
In addition to including every bit of knowledge you need to learn to pass the exam, I’ve included some really great tips and solid wisdom to equip you even further to work successfully in the real IT world.
This book covers everything you need to know to pass the CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam. But in addition to studying the book, it’s a good idea to practice on actual computers if you can.
Here’s a list of the 11 chapters in this book:
Chapter 1, “Core Hardware Components” This chapter introduces you to the core insides of a computer, specifically motherboards, processors, memory, storage, expansion slots, power, and cooling systems.
Chapter 2, “Peripherals and Connectors” While core hardware is important, users can truly customize their computer experience by adding peripheral hardware. To connect all of those toys to your system, you need to know which connectors to use, and this chapter teaches you all of that.
Chapter 3, “Computing Devices and the Internet of Things” Now that you’ve learned about all of the individual hardware components, how do they all work together? This chapter discusses features of servers, workstations, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and gaming consoles. It also introduces the Internet of Things (IoT), which can turn practically anything into a device.
Chapter 4, “Operating Systems” Without an operating system, computer hardware makes a pretty good doorstop. The operating system is the most critical piece of software on a computer, because it coordinates the efforts of the hardware and provides an interface for the user to interact with the machine.
Chapter 5, “Software Applications” This chapter covers a variety of common application types that reside on computers, such as productivity software, collaboration software, business software, anti-malware utilities, and web browsers. It also teaches you about application design concepts, software management, and the proper ways to install, uninstall, and manage applications.
Chapter 6, “Software Development” Have you ever wondered how applications get created? This chapter will teach you the characteristics of several classes of programming languages. You will also see examples of code, programming logic, and organizational methods.
Chapter 7, “Database Fundamentals” Databases are a key part of computing systems today. Data is the new currency, and therefore databases are like a bank vault. This chapter walks you through database concepts and structures, and it shows you some methods to interact with databases.
Chapter 8, “Networking Concepts and Technologies” Who doesn’t want to get on the Internet? Wireless networks are popular today as a method to get Internet connectivity. You’ll learn about key networking technologies and how to configure a wireless router in this chapter.
Chapter 9, “Security Concepts and Threats” The downside to computers is that it seems like hackers are everywhere. This chapter will introduce you to common threats posed by would-be attackers so you know how to avoid them. It also introduces a security framework and access control concepts.
Chapter 10, “Security Best Practices” This chapter builds on Chapter 9 by showing you how to set up your system to protect it against attacks. You will learn about hardening devices, managing users, and using data encryption.
Chapter 11, “Business Continuity and Computer Support” Inevitably, computers will run into problems—it’s the nature of electronic components. This chapter will show you how to troubleshoot any issues that pop up. Warning: After reading this chapter, all of your family members will call on you for technical support (if they don’t already)! This chapter also shows you how to plan for eventual computer problems so that you don’t totally lose your data.
I’ve included the following study tools throughout the book:
Assessment Test At the end of this Introduction is an Assessment Test that you can use to check your readiness for the exam. Take this test before you start reading the book; it will help you determine the areas where you might need to brush up. The answers to the Assessment Test questions appear on separate pages after the last question of the test. Each answer includes an explanation and a note telling you the chapter in which the material appears.
Objective Map and Opening List of Objectives Just before the Assessment Test, you’ll find a detailed exam objective map, showing you where each of the CompTIA exam objectives is covered in this book. In addition, each chapter opens with a list of the exam objectives it covers. Use these to see exactly where each of the exam topics is covered.
Exam Essentials Each chapter, just after the summary, includes a number of exam essentials. These are the key topics that you should take from the chapter in terms of areas to focus on when preparing for the exam.
Lab Exercises Each chapter includes a hands-on lab to give you more experience. These exercises map to the exam objectives. Some ask specific questions, and you can find the answers to those questions in Appendix A.
Chapter Review Questions To test your knowledge as you progress through the book, there are 20 review questions at the end of each chapter. As you finish each chapter, answer the review questions and then check your answers—the correct answers and explanations are in Appendix B. You can go back to reread the section that deals with each question you got wrong in order to ensure that you answer correctly the next time you’re tested on the material.
The interactive online learning environment that accompanies CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) Study Guide: Exam FC0-U61, Second Edition, provides a test bank with study tools to help you prepare for the certification exam and increase your chances of passing it the first time! The test bank includes the following:
Sample Tests All of the questions in this book are provided online, including the Assessment Test, which you’ll find at the end of this Introduction, and the Chapter Tests, which include the review questions at the end of each chapter. In addition, there are two Practice Exams. Use these questions to test your knowledge of the study guide material. The online test bank runs on multiple devices.
Flashcards Questions are provided in digital flashcard format (a question followed by a single correct answer). You can use the flashcards to reinforce your learning and provide last-minute test prep before the exam.
Other Study Tools A glossary of key terms from this book and their definitions is available as a fully searchable PDF.
If you want a solid foundation for the serious effort of preparing for the IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam, then look no further because I’ve spent countless hours putting together this book with the sole intention of helping you to pass it!
This book is loaded with valuable information, and you will get the most out of your study time if you understand how I put the book together. Here’s a list that describes how to approach studying:
Learning every bit of the material in this book is going to require you to apply yourself with a good measure of discipline. So, try to set aside the same time period every day to study, and select a comfortable and quiet place to do so. If you work hard, you will be surprised at how quickly you learn this material.
If you follow the steps listed here and study with the Review Questions, Practice Exams, electronic flashcards, and all of the written labs, you would almost have to try to fail the CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam. However, studying for the IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) exam is like training for a marathon—if you don’t go for a good run every day, you’re not likely to finish very well.
Speaking of objectives, you’re probably pretty curious about them, right? CompTIA asked groups of IT professionals to fill out a survey rating the skills they felt were important in their jobs, and the results were grouped into objectives for the exam and divided into six domains.
This table gives you the extent by percentage in which each domain is represented on the actual examination.
| Domain | % of Examination |
| 1.0 IT Concepts and Terminology | 17% |
| 2.0 Infrastructure | 22% |
| 3.0 Applications and Software | 18% |
| 4.0 Software Development | 12% |
| 5.0 Database Fundamentals | 11% |
| 6.0 Security | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
| Objective | Chapter |
| 1.0 IT Concepts and Terminology | |
| 1.1 Compare and contrast notational systems. | 6 |
| 1.2 Compare and contrast fundamental data types and their characteristics. | 6 |
| 1.3 Illustrate the basics of computing and processing. | 1 |
| 1.4 Explain the value of data and information. | 9 |
| 1.5 Compare and contrast common units of measure. | 1, 2 |
| 1.6 Explain the troubleshooting methodology. | 11 |
| 2.0 Infrastructure | |
| 2.1 Classify common types of input/output device interfaces. | 2 |
| 2.2 Given a scenario, set up and install common peripheral devices to a laptop/PC. | 2 |
| 2.3 Explain the purpose of common internal computing components. | 1 |
| 2.4 Compare and contrast common Internet service types. | 8 |
| 2.5 Compare and contrast storage types. | 1, 8 |
| 2.6 Compare and contrast common computing devices and their purposes. | 3 |
| 2.7 Explain basic networking concepts. | 8 |
| 2.8 Given a scenario, install, configure and secure a basic wireless network. | 8 |
| 3.0 Applications and Software | |
| 3.1 Manage applications and software. | 4 |
| 3.2 Compare and contrast components of an operating system. | 4 |
| 3.3 Explain the purpose and proper use of software. | 5 |
| 3.4 Explain methods of application architecture and delivery models. | 5 |
| 3.5 Given a scenario, configure and use web browsers. | 5 |
| 3.6 Compare and contrast general application concepts and uses. | 5 |
| 4.0 Software Development Concepts | |
| 4.1 Compare and contrast programming language categories. | 6 |
| 4.2 Given a scenario, use programming organizational techniques and interpret logic. | 6 |
| 4.3 Explain the purpose and use of programming concepts. | 6 |
| 5.0 Database Fundamentals | |
| 5.1 Explain database concepts and the purpose of a database. | 7 |
| 5.2 Compare and contrast various database structures. | 7 |
| 5.3 Summarize methods used to interface with databases. | 7 |
| 6.0 Security | |
| 6.1 Summarize confidentiality, integrity, and availability concepts. | 9 |
| 6.2 Explain methods to secure devices and best practices. | 10 |
| 6.3 Summarize behavioral security concepts. | 10 |
| 6.4 Compare and contrast authentication, authorization, accounting, and non-repudiation concepts. | 9 |
| 6.5 Explain password best practices. | 10 |
| 6.6 Explain common uses of encryption. | 10 |
| 6.7 Explain business continuity concepts. | 11 |