CompTIA Security+ is a globally recognized certification that verifies essential skills required for core security functions and serves as a stepping stone to a career in IT security. Here’s a summary of key information about CompTIA Security+:
Overview:
- CompTIA Security+ is a standard for IT security careers.
- It provides a foundational skill set for a cybersecurity career.
- It is widely recognized in the industry for baseline cybersecurity skills.
Key Highlights:
- Security+ certification is popular for assessing on-the-job skills with performance-based questions.
- It covers the latest trends and advancements in cybersecurity, including automation, zero trust, risk analysis, and more.
- The new SY0-701 exam, launching in November 2023, focuses on current threats and cybersecurity skills.
- It validates skills in assessing an enterprise’s security posture, securing hybrid environments (e.g., cloud, mobile, IoT), understanding laws and policies, and responding to security incidents.
- CompTIA Security+ complies with ISO 17024 standards and is approved by the U.S. DoD for directive 8140/8570.01-M requirements.
Skills Covered:
- General Security Concepts
- Threats, Vulnerabilities & Mitigations
- Security Architecture
- Security Operations
- Security Program Management & Oversight
Jobs and Roles:
- Security Architect
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Tier II IT Support Technician
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- IT Support Manager
Exam Details (SY0-701):
- Launch Date: November 7, 2023
- Exam Description: Assesses knowledge and skills related to assessing security postures, securing hybrid environments, understanding laws and policies, and responding to security events.
- Number of Questions: Up to 90
- Question Types: Multiple choice and performance-based
- Test Duration: 90 minutes
- Passing Score: 750 (on a scale of 100-900)
- Recommended Experience: CompTIA Network+ and two years of IT administration experience with a security focus
- Languages: English, with additional languages to follow
- Retirement: To be determined (usually three years after launch)
- Testing Provider: Pearson VUE
- Price: $392 USD (pricing may vary)
CompTIA Security+ is a valuable certification for individuals aspiring to enter the cybersecurity field and those seeking to validate their foundational security skills.
Difficulty: 1 out of 5.
Security+ is not really a certification for cybersecurity experts.
It's a great cert for familiarizing non-cybersecurity workers or non-technical cybersecurity GRC folks with security. You'll learn basic definitions, typical concepts, and generally the routine of what is involved in cybersecurity. You're not going to come out as an expert or qualified for a high level role. You'll know the difference between a virus and a worm (but not what a polymorphic malware engine or how bootkits maintain persistence after reformatting). It's good, safe knowledge that will make a system administrator more conscious of the world around them and how criminals may attack.
If you want to work in cybersecurity, this should be a very easy certification. I personally knocked it out in about 2 weeks.
I do recommend doing Network+ first since S+ generally assumes you already know networking. You probably shouldn't be messing with security things if you don't already know networking, after all.
