How long does it take to prepare for Security+?

Most candidates spend approximately 100 hours preparing for the Security+ exam.

How long is the Security+ exam?

The Security+ exam is 90 minutes long. It includes approximately 90 questions.

How long is the Security+ certification valid?

The Security+ is valid for 3 years. 30 CEUs or exam retake every 3 years

🔒 CybersecurityEntry Level★ Industry StandardHigh Demand

Security+CompTIA Security+

The most popular baseline cybersecurity certification

by CompTIA

Exam details independently verified January 2026

MyCertPath Score

9.2

/10

How we score →

About this certification

CompTIA Security+ is the most widely held baseline security certification, validating core cybersecurity skills including threats, vulnerabilities, cryptography, identity management, and security operations. It's a DoD 8570-approved credential and required by many government and defense contractors.

MyCertPath verdict

The single most cost-effective cybersecurity credential a beginner can hold. If you're trying to break into security, this is almost always the cert that gets your résumé past the filter — DoD 8570 IAT Level II compliance alone makes it required for many federal and contractor roles.

What it actually tests

SY0-701 leans heavily on terminology, acronyms, and pattern-recognition of scenarios. The five domains span threats, architecture, implementation, operations, and governance — but the test is more about choosing the right framework or control under time pressure than deep technical work. Expect a handful of performance-based questions (PBQs) early; many candidates burn time on them and feel the squeeze on the multiple-choice that follows.

Common traps

Things candidates underestimate or get wrong on this exam.

Front-loading the PBQs. Skip and return — they're worth no more per minute than the multiple-choice.
Treating it as a memorization exam. SY0-701 added meaningfully more scenario reasoning than SY0-601.
Studying for SY0-601 — it retired July 2024. Use current-version materials only.
Skipping the governance and risk domain. It's small in real work but heavily tested.

What you'll validate

✓Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities
✓Identity and access management
✓PKI and cryptography
✓Security architecture
✓Incident response
✓Risk management

Pros & Cons

Advantages

+DoD 8570 approved — opens government/military roles
+Vendor-neutral baseline security credential
+Most recognized entry-level security cert
+Strong foundation for CISSP or CEH

Disadvantages

−Entry-level — not sufficient alone for senior roles
−Renewal every 3 years
−Higher cost than CompTIA A+/Network+

Who it's for

Best for

→IT professionals pivoting to security
→Anyone targeting government/DoD security roles
→Network admins adding security credentials

Not ideal for

×Pure penetration testers (use CEH or OSCP)
×Senior security managers (use CISSP or CISM)

Career paths this unlocks

Security AnalystSecurity EngineerSOC AnalystIT Security SpecialistGovernment/DoD IT roles

Study Guide

How to Pass CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 on Your First Try

Security+ is the most widely-held baseline security cert in the world — and the current SY0-701 version is meaningfully harder than SY0-601. This guide covers what changed, how to study efficiently, and the specific traps that fail candidates.

13 min read

Read guide