Reconnaissance and Enumeration for CompTIA Pentest+
Reconnaissance and enumeration are the foundation of every successful penetration test—miss this phase and you’ll miss critical vulnerabilities. This Pluralsight course walks you through the exact techniques CompTIA Pentest+ examiners expect, from passive information gathering to aggressive network scanning, so you can identify attack surfaces before competitors do.
AIU.ac Verdict: Essential for anyone pursuing Pentest+ certification or stepping into a junior penetration testing role. You’ll gain hands-on lab experience with real-world tools and methodologies. Note: this is a focused module (73 minutes), not a complete Pentest+ exam prep—pair it with broader certification study materials.
What This Course Covers
This course covers the reconnaissance phase in depth: passive information gathering (OSINT, DNS enumeration, public records), active scanning techniques (network mapping, port scanning, service enumeration), and vulnerability assessment workflows. You’ll work through practical scenarios using industry-standard tools, learning how to document findings and avoid detection during the information-gathering phase.
The enumeration section dives into identifying live hosts, mapping network topology, discovering open ports and services, and extracting system information. Ricardo Reimao’s instruction focuses on the CompTIA Pentest+ exam objectives while building real penetration testing muscle memory—you’ll understand not just what to scan, but why each technique matters and when to deploy it.
Who Is This Course For?
Ideal for:
- CompTIA Pentest+ exam candidates: Directly aligns with exam objectives for reconnaissance and enumeration domains; ideal pre-exam reinforcement.
- Junior penetration testers and security analysts: Bridges theory and practice with hands-on labs; accelerates competency in the foundational phase of pentesting.
- IT professionals transitioning into offensive security: Assumes networking fundamentals; teaches the mindset and tools needed to shift from defensive to offensive reconnaissance.
May not suit:
- Complete security beginners: Requires solid understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, and basic networking; not a ground-zero introduction to cybersecurity.
- Learners seeking full Pentest+ certification prep: This is one focused module; you’ll need additional courses covering exploitation, reporting, and other exam domains.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Reconnaissance and Enumeration for CompTIA Pentest+ take?
1 hour 13 minutes of video instruction. Plan 2–3 hours total if you pause for hands-on lab work and note-taking.
Do I need prior penetration testing experience?
No, but you should be comfortable with networking concepts (IP addresses, ports, protocols) and basic Linux/Windows command line. If you’re new to networking, take a foundational course first.
Will this prepare me for the CompTIA Pentest+ exam?
This covers the reconnaissance and enumeration objectives thoroughly, but Pentest+ has five domains. Use this as part of a broader study plan that includes exploitation, post-exploitation, reporting, and compliance topics.
What tools are covered in the labs?
Pluralsight’s hands-on sandboxes include industry-standard tools like Nmap, Nessus, Shodan, and DNS enumeration utilities. You’ll gain practical experience without needing your own lab setup.
Course by Ricardo Reimao on Pluralsight. Duration: 1h 13m. Last verified by AIU.ac: March 2026.
