CTSF study guide
CTSF · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Technology Specialist Foundation (CTSF) is an entry-level credential for people who want to demonstrate broad, practical technology literacy rather than deep specialization in a single vendor's products. It suits career changers moving into IT, help desk and desktop support staff formalizing what they have learned on the job, and students or apprentices preparing for a first technical role. The CTSF study guide has 7 sections and about 1,960 words.
01Technology Fundamentals and Terminology
A support technician's credibility rests on precise vocabulary. Questions in this domain test whether you can map a plain-language complaint to the correct technical term, and whether you can explain that term back to a non-technical user without jargon.
301 words, about 2 min02Hardware, Devices, and Peripherals
This domain covers components inside the chassis, external peripherals, and how they connect. Expect questions on identifying a failing component from symptoms, choosing compatible parts, and safe handling.
288 words, about 1 min03Networking and Connectivity
Networking questions reward a layered mental model. Know the OSI/TCP-IP layers conceptually, the role of IP addresses (IPv4 vs IPv6, public vs private, static vs DHCP), subnet masks , default gateway , DNS , and DHCP .
269 words, about 1 min04Operating Systems, Software, and Applications
This domain tests how operating systems manage hardware, users, files, and applications, and how software is installed, updated, and removed. Expect questions on Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile OS concepts.
269 words, about 1 min05Security, Privacy, and Data Protection
Security questions test whether you can match a threat to a control and a control to a policy. Know the CIA triad (confidentiality, integrity, availability), authentication vs authorization , least privilege , and defense in depth .
270 words, about 1 min06Support Operations, Troubleshooting, and Service Delivery
This domain covers how support is delivered: intake, triage, documentation, escalation, and closure. It rewards process discipline over heroic fixes.
263 words, about 1 min07Professional Practices, Ethics, and Communication
This domain tests conduct: how you handle data, communicate with users, and behave under pressure. Questions often present a tempting shortcut and reward the ethical, documented path.
300 words, about 2 min