"Take at least 2–3 months."

I gave myself 7 days.

And I passed.

This isn't a "genius story." It's a focus story.

Why I Did This:

I'm building my path toward SOC and cybersecurity. After Network+, I knew I needed structured fundamentals, not random YouTube knowledge.

Instead of stretching preparation for months, I decided:

No distractions. No overthinking. Just one week of focused execution.

My Background:

I wasn't completely new to tech. I had:

  • 7.8/10 proficiency in Networking Fundamentals. (IP Configuration, hands-on knowledge on IDS/IPS, Firewall Configuration, Regex etc)
  • Some hands-on from labs. (TryHackme Top 1% with more than 150 rooms solved and documented, solved more than 200 CTF problems in PicoCTF, took part in CTFs held in College and Secured a position under Top 10)
  • Interest in cybersecurity (Splunk SIEM (SPL, Log Correlation, Alert Engineering), IDS/IPS, Threat Detection & Log Analysis, Wireshark, Tshark, Linux Hardening (UFW, SSH), AWS EC2 Monitoring, Python & Bash Automation, Regex, SQL, KQL, JSON Parsing)

If you're starting from zero, you might need more than 7 days. But if you already know basics, one week is possible.

Understanding the Network+ Exam Structure

The Network+ exam (N10–009) tests:

  1. Networking Fundamentals
  2. Network Implementations
  3. Network Operations
  4. Network Security
  5. Network Troubleshooting

The key insight:

This is not a memorization exam. It tests applied understanding.

My 7-Day Technical Study Plan

I studied 6–8 focused hours daily.

No passive watching. Active recall + problem solving.

Day 1 — Core Networking Models & Protocols

Focused deeply on:

  • OSI vs TCP/IP model mapping
  • Encapsulation process
  • ARP process
  • TCP vs UDP behavior
  • Common port numbers

I didn't just memorize ports, I asked:

  • Why does DNS use UDP mostly?
  • Why is TCP required for HTTP/HTTPS?

Understanding protocol behavior helped in scenario questions.

Day 2 — IP Addressing & Subnetting

I practiced:

  • Binary conversion
  • CIDR notation
  • Calculating number of hosts
  • Subnet mask identification
  • Classful vs classless networking
  • Private vs public ranges
  • APIPA addressing

I memorized:

  • /24, /25, /26, /27 breakdowns
  • 2^n logic for host counts

Subnetting must be automatic. No calculator. No hesitation.

Day 3 — Switching & Routing Concepts

I focused on:

  • VLAN tagging
  • Trunk vs Access ports
  • STP basics
  • Router vs Layer 3 switch
  • Default gateway role
  • Static vs dynamic routing
  • Routing protocols (RIP, OSPF basics)

Understanding traffic flow is critical for PBQs.

Day 4 — Wireless & Network Infrastructure

Topics covered:

  • 802.11 standards (a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
  • 2.4GHz vs 5GHz differences
  • WPA2 vs WPA3
  • Infrastructure vs Ad-hoc mode
  • PoE standards
  • Cable types (Cat5e, Cat6, Fiber types)

Expect questions mixing wireless security with troubleshooting.

Day 5 — Network Security (High-Scoring Domain)

As someone aiming for cybersecurity, this part was strong for me.

Covered:

  • Firewalls (stateless vs stateful)
  • IDS vs IPS
  • ACL logic
  • VPN types (Site-to-Site vs Remote Access)
  • Basic concepts of Zero Trust
  • Segmentation
  • DMZ architecture

This domain overlaps with Security+, so understanding helps long term.

Day 6 — Troubleshooting Methodology + PBQ Practice

Very important.

I memorized CompTIA's troubleshooting steps:

  1. Identify the problem
  2. Establish theory
  3. Test theory
  4. Establish plan
  5. Implement solution
  6. Verify functionality
  7. Document findings

PBQs require logical sequencing.

You must think like:

  • Where is the failure happening? Layer 1? 2? 3?
  • Is it DNS?
  • Is it routing?
  • Is it ACL blocking?

Many issues in scenario questions are DNS or misconfigured subnet masks.

Day 7 — Practice Exams + Weak Area Revision

I did multiple timed practice tests.

Key strategy:

  • Review every incorrect answer.
  • Understand why other options are wrong.

Repeated mistakes = gold.

How I Approached Performance-Based Questions (PBQs)

PBQs test:

  • Configuring IP addresses
  • Matching ports to services
  • Identifying misconfigured networks
  • Drag-and-drop troubleshooting

Strategy:

  • Skip initially.
  • Finish MCQs.
  • Return with remaining time.
  • Eliminate logically.

Don't panic if the interface looks complex. The logic is usually simple.

What I Ignored (On Purpose)

I didn't over-focus on:

  • Extremely deep routing protocol details
  • Obscure legacy technologies
  • Memorizing every single acronym blindly

Network+ tests breadth with moderate depth, not CCNA-level depth.

Most Tested High-Yield Topics (In My Experience)

  • Subnetting
  • DNS troubleshooting
  • Port numbers
  • Wireless security
  • VLAN concepts
  • Firewall logic
  • Troubleshooting methodology

If these are strong, passing becomes realistic.

Time Management Strategy During Exam

  • 90 minutes total
  • Skip PBQs initially
  • Flag long scenario questions
  • Never spend more than 1.5 minutes on one MCQ

Time pressure is real.

Was 7 Days Enough?

Yes, because:

  • I studied actively.
  • I avoided distractions.
  • I treated it like a sprint, not a casual prep.

If you're completely new to networking, 7 days may not be enough.

But if you already have fundamentals and can study intensely, it's possible.

Final Advice for Future SOC / Cybersecurity Aspirants

Network+ builds:

  • Traffic flow understanding
  • Protocol behavior awareness
  • Infrastructure-level thinking

Without networking fundamentals, cybersecurity becomes guesswork.

If you're serious about blue team or SOC roles, don't just pass Network+.

Understand it.