CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) is the cybersecurity certification that hiring managers recognize. It opens doors that A+ and Network+ don't — penetration testing firms, government agencies, and enterprise security teams all list it as a baseline requirement. If you've passed Network+ or have networking experience, Security+ is the natural next step. This page covers the study materials worth your time.
Quick Comparison
| Resource | Best For | Format | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapple & Seidl Sybex Kit | Comprehensive | Book + practice tests | ~$50–60 | ⭐ Top Pick |
| Dion Training Practice Exams | Exam Ready | Online practice tests | ~$30–40 | Best for test prep |
| Professor Messer | Budget | Free video course | Free | Best free option |
CompTIA Security+ Certification Kit: Exam SY0-701
by Mike Chapple & David Seidl · Sybex Study Guide Series, 7th Edition · Covers current SY0-701 exam
Mike Chapple and David Seidl are two of the most trusted names in Security+ prep — Chapple holds numerous security certifications and has been writing CompTIA study guides for over a decade. This Sybex kit is the 7th edition, fully updated for the current SY0-701 exam objectives. It's a complete package: the study guide itself plus practice test access, making it the closest thing to a one-stop resource for the exam.
- Covers all SY0-701 exam domains — threats, vulnerabilities, cryptography, identity management, architecture, and operations
- Written by Mike Chapple & David Seidl — two of the most respected Security+ authors
- 7th edition fully updated for the current SY0-701 exam objectives
- Part of the trusted Sybex Certification Kit series — includes study guide and practice tests
- Covers performance-based questions (PBQs) — the scenario-based questions that trip up many test-takers
- Clear explanations of complex topics like PKI, cryptographic algorithms, and zero trust architecture
- Highly trusted authors with deep Security+ experience
- Complete kit — study guide plus practice test access
- Thorough coverage of all SY0-701 domains
- Strong on performance-based questions
- Dense material — Security+ covers a lot of ground
- Best paired with additional practice exams for full readiness
Dion Training Security+ Practice Exams
by Jason Dion · The most exam-realistic practice tests available for Security+
Security+ is harder than most people expect — not because the concepts are impossibly complex, but because the exam tests applied judgment rather than raw memorization. A question won't just ask what a firewall is; it'll describe a scenario and ask which control is most appropriate. Dion Training's practice exams are built around exactly this kind of scenario-based question, and they're consistently cited by Security+ passers as the closest to the real exam in both wording and difficulty.
- Scenario-based questions mirror the real SY0-701 exam format closely
- Covers all Security+ domains — threats, architecture, implementation, operations, governance
- Includes performance-based question (PBQ) practice — the most challenging question type on the exam
- Detailed explanations for every answer, including why distractors are wrong
- Performance tracking helps identify which domains need more attention
Flag and skip performance-based questions (PBQs) on your first pass — they appear at the start of the exam and can eat time. Answer all the multiple choice questions first, then return to PBQs with your remaining time. This alone improves scores for many candidates.
Professor Messer Free Security+ Course
by Professor Messer · Complete free video course covering all SY0-701 objectives
Professor Messer's Security+ course is one of the most widely used free resources for any CompTIA certification. His SY0-701 videos cover the full exam objectives in a structured, clear format. For Security+, the video format is especially useful — seeing concepts like PKI chains, network diagrams, and attack methodologies explained visually makes them easier to retain than reading alone. If you're on a tight budget or want to preview the material before committing to a paid resource, start here.
- 100% free — no credit card or subscription required
- Covers all SY0-701 objectives in structured, clearly explained videos
- Updated for the current Security+ exam version
- Visual format is particularly well-suited to security concepts like cryptography and network architecture
- Study notes available separately if you prefer printable summaries
Jason Dion Security+ Course on Udemy
by Jason Dion · Comprehensive SY0-701 video course with practice questions · Udemy
Jason Dion's Udemy Security+ course is one of the highest-rated CompTIA courses on the platform, with hundreds of thousands of students enrolled. It covers all SY0-701 domains through clear video instruction, and Udemy's frequent sales bring the price down to $15–20 — making it one of the best value paid options available. A strong choice if you prefer structured video learning over reading a textbook, or want to supplement the Chapple & Seidl book with on-demand video explanations.
- Covers all five SY0-701 exam domains in structured video format
- Frequently on sale for $15–20 via Udemy's regular promotions
- Includes practice questions and quizzes throughout
- Lifetime access — revisit any section as many times as you need
- Works well paired with Dion's dedicated practice exam set for full coverage
Which Should You Use?
The Winning Combination
For most Security+ candidates, the fastest path to passing looks like this:
Aim for consistent 80%+ on practice tests before booking. Security+ rewards methodical preparation — the scenario-based questions require understanding, not just memorization.
Free Networking Foundation Guides
Security+ assumes solid networking knowledge. These free guides cover the concepts that underpin much of the security content on the exam:
What the CompTIA Security+ Exam Actually Tests
Security+ SY0-701 is a single exam — 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score of 750 out of 900. It covers five domains: General Security Concepts (12%), Threats, Vulnerabilities & Mitigations (22%), Security Architecture (18%), Security Operations (28%), and Security Program Management & Oversight (20%). The Security Operations domain at 28% is the largest, which means incident response, identity and access management, endpoint security, and monitoring collectively represent more than a quarter of the exam.
SY0-701 (current, released late 2023) made substantial changes from SY0-601. The number of domains was reduced from six to five, cloud security and zero trust architecture received significantly expanded coverage, and automation and scripting concepts were added. Candidates using SY0-601 materials should supplement with current cloud and zero trust content before sitting SY0-701.
Security+ is the most scenario-heavy of the three CompTIA certifications. The exam is not primarily a test of whether you can define terms — it's a test of whether you can make the right security decision in a described situation. Performance-based questions include log file analysis (identify the attack from a SIEM output), network diagram analysis (identify the security flaw in a described topology), and incident response ordering (sequence the correct PICERL steps for a given scenario).
How Long Does It Take to Study for Security+?
Most candidates need 8 to 12 weeks. Candidates with Network+ and some IT experience can often pass in 6 to 8 weeks. The breadth of Security+ is substantial — five domains across cryptography, threat analysis, cloud architecture, incident response, and governance — and the scenario-based question format requires more than passive reading to prepare for.
A common pattern among candidates who fail on the first attempt is underestimating Domain 5 (Security Program Management & Oversight). Governance, risk, and compliance feels less exciting than threat hunting and cryptography, but at 20% of the exam, it represents roughly 18 questions. Risk assessment types (qualitative vs quantitative), frameworks (NIST CSF, ISO 27001), regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS), and data classification concepts are all tested here and regularly appear in scenario questions.
Target 80%+ on full practice exams consistently before booking. Security+ practice questions are significantly harder to find in high-quality form than A+ or Network+, which is one reason Dion Training is so consistently recommended for Security+ — the question quality and exam alignment are better than most alternatives.
Security+ Study Strategy — What Actually Works
Learn incident response deeply — it's 28% of the exam. The PICERL phases (Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, Lessons Learned) must be memorised in order. More importantly, you need to know which action belongs in which phase. A scenario asks whether you should notify legal counsel before or after containment — these sequencing questions are among the most commonly missed on Security+. The answer matters: preserve evidence before eradicating, notify legal before public disclosure, document throughout.
Build a mental model of cryptography, not a list of definitions. Symmetric encryption (AES, 3DES) is fast and good for large data but requires secure key exchange. Asymmetric encryption (RSA, ECC) is slower but solves the key exchange problem. TLS uses asymmetric encryption for the handshake (to securely exchange a symmetric key) then switches to symmetric for the actual data transfer. Hashing (SHA-256, MD5) is one-way and used for integrity verification. If you understand these relationships, most cryptography questions become straightforward.
Know attack types cold — scenario questions describe them without naming them. Security+ regularly gives you a description ("an attacker intercepts traffic between two parties and relays it while secretly reading and modifying it") and asks you to identify the attack type (man-in-the-middle). You need to be able to read a scenario and recognise the attack from its description, not from its name. This requires studying each attack from the attacker's perspective: what do they do, how does it work, what evidence does it leave, and how is it detected and prevented.
Don't neglect GRC (Governance, Risk, Compliance). Domain 5 is 20% of the exam and is the domain candidates most commonly under-prepare. Risk calculation (SLE × ARO = ALE), risk types (inherent, residual, risk appetite), compliance frameworks (NIST CSF, ISO 27001, SOC 2), regulatory requirements (GDPR 72-hour breach notification, HIPAA 60-day notification), data roles (data owner, data custodian, data processor) — these are all tested in scenario format and require more than superficial familiarity.
Practise reading long scenario questions efficiently. Security+ questions are longer and more complex than A+ or Network+. The actual question being asked is often in the last sentence; the preceding text provides context. Under time pressure, candidates who haven't practised reading scenarios efficiently often spend too long parsing questions and run out of time. Train yourself to skim the context, find what's being asked, then apply your knowledge.
The Most Tested Security+ Topics
Incident response (Domain 4 — 28%). PICERL phases and what happens in each, incident response playbooks for specific scenarios (ransomware: isolate first, do not pay until options are exhausted; data breach: notify legal and CISO before public disclosure), order of volatility (RAM → running processes → network connections → filesystem → disk → remote logs → archive media), digital forensics chain of custody.
Cryptography and PKI (Domain 1 — 12%). Algorithm types and use cases, key lengths (AES-128/256, RSA-2048+, SHA-256), digital certificates and the PKI trust chain, certificate revocation (CRL vs OCSP), TLS handshake process, and the difference between encryption at rest, in transit, and in use. The exam asks about which algorithm to use in a given situation, not how to implement it.
Threats and social engineering (Domain 2 — 22%). All malware types and their characteristics, phishing variants (spear phishing targeting specific individuals, whaling targeting executives, vishing via voice, smishing via SMS), business email compromise (BEC), supply chain attacks, and living-off-the-land techniques (using legitimate system tools for malicious purposes to evade detection).
Cloud and network security architecture (Domain 3 — 18%). Zero trust principles (never trust, always verify, least privilege, microsegmentation), cloud security tools (CASB for SaaS visibility, CSPM for configuration monitoring, SASE for remote workforce), shared responsibility model in IaaS/PaaS/SaaS, secure network design (DMZ, screened subnet, jump server, bastion host).
Common Reasons Candidates Fail Security+
Treating it like a memorisation exam. Security+ is the exam where this mistake hurts candidates most. Reading through a study guide and feeling like you "know" the material does not prepare you for scenario questions where you have to select the right action among four plausible-sounding options. Active learning — practice questions, scenario drills, attempting to explain concepts in your own words — is essential.
Underestimating Domain 5 (GRC). Risk management, compliance frameworks, and data governance feel dry compared to threat analysis and cryptography, so candidates often spend less time on them. At 20% of the exam this is a significant mistake. GRC scenarios appear in every Security+ exam and require the same level of familiarity as the more "technical" domains.
Getting stuck on PBQs. Security+ PBQs require applied knowledge and take more time than multiple-choice questions. Many candidates spend too long on PBQs at the start and then feel rushed through the multiple-choice section. A useful strategy: spend a maximum of five minutes per PBQ, make your best attempt, flag it, and return if time permits after completing the multiple-choice questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I take Network+ before Security+?
CompTIA recommends Network+ or equivalent experience, and for good reason — approximately 30% of Security+ content is networking-based. Firewall types, VPNs, network segmentation, wireless attacks, and network security controls all assume you understand how networks work. Candidates without Network+ background typically need more time to study Security+ and find the networking-heavy sections in Domain 3 and 4 harder than they expected.
How much does Security+ cost?
The exam voucher is $392 USD (as of 2025). Security+ is a single exam. It's the most expensive of the three CompTIA core certifications, which makes getting your preparation right before sitting especially important.
Is Security+ recognized by employers?
Yes — Security+ is one of the most widely recognized cybersecurity certifications globally. It satisfies the US Department of Defense Directive 8140 requirements for IAT Level II, meaning it's required for many federal government and defence contractor roles. In the private sector, Security+ is the baseline credential for most entry to mid-level cybersecurity analyst and security operations roles.
What jobs can I get with Security+?
Security analyst, SOC analyst (tier 1 and 2), information security specialist, cybersecurity analyst, and junior penetration tester are the most common entry-level roles. Salaries for Security+-certified professionals average $65,000–$90,000 USD for entry-level positions, with significant variation by location, employer type (government vs private), and whether the role is in a high-cost-of-living market.