CompTIA Security+ is a great certification and a popular entry point into cyber security. It shows employers that you’ve mastered the fundamental skills to perform essential cyber security functions and pursue a relevant career, such as a systems administrator or security consultant. Security+ demonstrates you know what it takes to be a good cyber security professional.
In this article, we’ll give you an overview answering the question, “What is CompTIA Security+?” By getting Security+ certified, you demonstrate your cyber security proficiency because the exam questions focus on the day-to-day real-world application of IT security knowledge.
Without further ado, let’s get a bird’s eye view of what CompTIA Security+ is.
What Is CompTIA Security+?
Let’s talk about CompTIA and the focus of this important cyber security certification.
Who Is CompTIA?
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is an internationally-recognized organization for certifying, educating, and connecting people in IT. It helps people to navigate tech careers and organizations to train and hire IT professionals.
Primary Focus
CompTIA Security+ is an entry-level cyber security certification that emphasizes up-to-date best practices in risk management, threat mitigation, and incident response. It’s widely recognized as the baseline security certification for launching a career in cyber security.
The certification covers core security concepts across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, ensuring learners understand how to secure modern infrastructure. It includes topics like cloud security fundamentals, threat detection and response, zero trust architecture, and identity and access management.
Security+ is also vendor-neutral, meaning its concepts apply broadly across technologies and platforms. It’s approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD 8570/8140), making it a respected credential in both the public and private sectors.
Experience Level
According to CompTIA, the target audience of the Security+ certification is IT professionals who have two years of experience in IT administration with a cyber security focus or equivalent training and are starting or furthering a career in cyber security.
Although Security+ has no hard-and-fast prerequisites, CompTIA recommends that candidates have “CompTIA Network+ and two years of experience in IT administration with a security focus.”
It’s a best practice to have gained networking knowledge, like that of Network+ or CCNA, before tackling Security+. Courses such as our suggestions in the conclusion can make up for the two years of work experience.
Who Is Security+ For?
The target audience of the Security+ certification is anyone with some foundation in networking who aspires to move into some aspect of cyber security.
As shown in this roadmap, Security+ sits in the middle of the cyber security roadmap, between foundational IT skills and advanced specialization, and acts as a critical launch point into real-world security roles.
Stages 1 and 2 focus on technical foundations and enterprise networking, like the topics found in the CompTIA A+ and Network+ exams.
CompTIA Security+ is ideal for individuals who already have a basic understanding of IT systems and networking and are ready to begin learning cyber security. It’s particularly suited for:
- Career switchers transitioning from general IT or tech support into security roles
- Early-career professionals aiming to specialize in threat detection, compliance, or security operations
- IT staff who support systems and networks and want to level up into security-focused positions
The certification prepares you for real-world, entry-level security roles such as:
- Information Security Analyst
- Technical Operations Level 1
- Systems Administrator
- Network Administrator
- MSP Personnel (e.g., IT Security Technician, Junior Systems Admin, Remote Help Desk Agent)
- Junior SOC Analyst
Security+ is a strong fit for anyone who understands how systems run and wants to build the knowledge to protect them across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
Why Should I Pursue CompTIA Security+?
Being Security+ certified means you grasp the latest skills and concepts that act as the foundation of a career in cyber security.
Security+ is a vendor-neutral certification, increasing your options as a cyber security professional as you’re not limited to particular systems, platforms, or hardware manufacturers. Your Security+ certification makes you a top candidate for employers and HR managers to see you as valuable to their organization.
“CompTIA Security+ certification is a global certification exam that validates the baseline skills you need to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career.” - CompTIA
How Much Can You Earn With Security+?
Security+ opens doors to much higher pay: according to PayScale, CompTIA Security+ holders earn an average of $88k annually, while ZipRecruiter lists the average closer to $71k. However, experience and additional certifications play a role in this.
As cyber security increasingly becomes important in various establishments, from businesses to public amenities such as schools and hospitals, you can only expect the demand for cyber security jobs to grow.
At the time of writing, there are over 19,000 job listings on Indeed across the U.S. that mention or require CompTIA Security+, a clear sign of its continued relevance in the cyber security job market.
Roles associated with Security+ span a wide range of entry-level and early-career positions, with competitive salaries to match. For example:
- Information Security Analysts earn between $50K–$85K
- Technical Operations Level 1 positions offer $55K–$60K
- Systems Administrators can make anywhere from $55K to $90K, depending on experience
- Network Administrators have the potential to command salaries between $55K - 120K
- IT Security Technicians earn around $60K–$85K
- Junior SOC Analysts often see salaries in the $55K–$75K range
These roles represent just a portion of the job opportunities available to professionals with Security+, making it a smart and strategic credential for breaking into cyber security.
Being a popular requirement for cyber security professionals, Security+ gives you an advantage in job interviews, increasing the odds of landing your first cyber security position and aiding your negotiations for salary, benefits, and increased responsibility. Once you’ve got your foot in the door, it’s easier to follow your passions and specialize in various areas of cyber security.
What Does CompTIA Security+ Exam Cover?
You’ll need to answer at most 90 questions in this 90-minute examination and complete a survey after it ends. The passing score is 750 on a scale of 100–900.
The latest CompTIA Security+ exam code is SY0-701. The Security+ exam domains are:
General Security Concepts
This domain covers the core ideas behind cyber security. You’ll learn about key principles like confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA Triad), types of controls (physical, administrative, technical), and basic security terminology.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations
Here you’ll dive into the types of threats organizations face, like malware, phishing, and insider threats, and how attackers exploit vulnerabilities. You’ll also study mitigation strategies, such as patching, segmentation, and user awareness.
Security Architecture
This domain focuses on how to design secure systems and networks. You’ll cover authentication, access control, cloud security, and network segmentation.
Security Operations
This is all about what happens after systems are running. You'll learn how to monitor environments, detect incidents, respond to breaches, and perform basic forensic tasks. It also includes tools like SIEMs and endpoint protection.
Security Program Management and Oversight
This domain shifts from hands-on skills to the business and policy side of cyber security. You'll explore compliance requirements, risk management, frameworks, and how to build a security program that aligns with business goals.
New topics within these core knowledge domains include supply chain management and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The CompTIA Security+ exam includes two types of questions:
- Multiple-choice questions, which may admit single or multiple answers, and
- Performance-based questions (PBQs) which test your ability to solve problems in a simulated environment; these make CompTIA Security+ such a valuable certification, demonstrating one’s excellence in practical cyber security skills. Anywhere from two to six PBQs appear at the start of the Security+ exam.
What Skills Will I Learn?
While the Security+ exam domains provide the knowledge framework, truly preparing for the exam and a job in cyber security means getting hands-on with the tools, techniques, and workflows security professionals use every day.
As you work through the content and labs, you’ll build real, resume-worthy skills that hiring managers look for in entry-level roles, such as:
- Using intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) tools
- Analyzing suspicious network traffic and identifying malicious behavior
- Configuring firewalls, endpoint protection, and basic network defenses
- Implementing access controls and managing identity and authentication systems
- Responding to security incidents and following documented response procedures
- Evaluating risks and applying mitigation strategies in real-world scenarios
- Understanding how to secure hybrid environments, including cloud infrastructure
- Applying encryption and secure communication protocols to protect data
Throughout your preparation, you should apply theory to practice, not just read about security, but actually do it. That hands-on experience translates directly into job readiness, whether you're aiming for a SOC analyst role, a help desk position with a security focus, or junior analyst work.
How Do I Become CompTIA Security+ Certified?
Let’s examine the typical path to writing the exam, how to register, and what to do after you pass.
The Typical Path to Security+
While Security+ is technically entry-level, most learners follow a recommended progression to ensure they have the right foundation:
- Start with CompTIA A+: Covers essential IT skills like hardware, software, and troubleshooting.
- Next, complete CompTIA Network+: Focuses on networking concepts, protocols, and infrastructure.
- Then move on to CompTIA Security+: Builds on that foundation with cyber security principles, tools, and practices.
This path helps you build technical depth gradually and prepares you for real-world security roles.
Registering for the Exam
Pearson VUE administers this examination in two ways: in the comfort of your home using Pearson VUE’s online testing service or in person at a testing center.
If taken from home, a proctor monitors you through a webcam and microphone. A closed-circuit television with an on-site proctor will watch you in the on-site exam, which can be preferable for various reasons. The Security+ exam is closed-book.
To register for CompTIA Security+, you can purchase an exam voucher via the CompTIA website. If you’re in a pinch, CompTIA offers voucher discounts.
When you register for the exam at Pearson VUE, you may pay by credit card or voucher. Select “voucher” and type in the voucher number you purchased. The listed price of this exam is $425 USD. You can get up to a 30% discount when purchasing a voucher through StationX.
Pearson VUE will provide you with available exam time slots. Feel free to reschedule your exam within 24 hours of your original time slot if you need more time; you won’t be charged anything for rescheduling.
After You Pass
Once you’ve passed your Security+ exam, congratulations! However, the certification is only valid for three years. Your next step is to keep up with the changing trends in the IT industry to remain an in-demand cyber security expert. You have two ways to renew your certification:
- With multiple activities: Collect at least 50 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through CompTIA-approved activities, including gaining more advanced certifications, work experience, publishing, and participating in industry events. To renew Security+, you should upload sufficient proof of participation to your certification account and pay a renewal fee.
- With a single activity: Some certifications will completely renew Security+, including more advanced CompTIA certifications such as CySA+, PenTest+, and SecurityX. You can also complete CompTIA’s online, self-paced continuing education course CertMaster CE; as of writing, this method only applies to A+, Network+, and Security+.
Conclusion: What Is CompTIA Security+?
We hope you become well-prepared for this important entry-level certification after reading this article on what CompTIA Security+ is.
And for just $19, you can get lifetime access to the CompTIA Security+ Course & SY0-701 Practice Test Bundle, an affordable way to build your skills and prepare for certification with confidence.
If you're pursuing a career in IT support or security, Security+ is the perfect place to start. When you're ready to take the exam, don’t forget you can purchase your Security+ exam voucher from us and save up to 30% off the standard price.
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