Certification Guide
CompTIA Security+
by CompTIA · Exam code: SY0-701
CompTIA Security+ is the most widely held cybersecurity certification in the world. It validates baseline security skills and is approved by the US Department of Defense (DoD 8570). It's the entry ticket to most cybersecurity careers.
Cost
$425
Difficulty
Advanced
Prep Time
6-8 weeks
Passing Score
750 / 900
Valid For
3 years (renewable via CE credits)
Salary Impact
+21%
Is it worth it?
Average salary without
$95,000
Average salary with cert
$115,000
Yes, it's the single best cybersecurity entry point. A 21% salary boost ($20K+/year) is excellent, and it's required for DoD jobs. The $425 exam fee is steep for entry-level, but the career unlock is massive — cybersecurity has a 0% unemployment rate.
Study Plan
A week-by-week breakdown to pass on your first attempt.
Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities — malware types, social engineering, application attacks, IoT threats
Architecture and design — zero trust, cloud security, secure network design, embedded systems
Implementation and operations — identity management, cryptography, PKI, incident response, forensics
Governance, risk, compliance, practice exams, performance-based question drills
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