Network+ tests whether you understand how networks are built and how traffic moves. Security+ tests whether you understand how those networks are attacked, defended, and governed. There's meaningful overlap — Security+ expects you to know networking fundamentals — but the focus shifts from "how does it work" to "how is it exploited and protected."
If you have Network+, you already have the foundation. Ports, protocols, firewalls, and VPNs are review. The new material is threat intelligence, identity and access management, cryptography, cloud security, incident response, and governance frameworks — give these areas the most time.
What the Security+ exam actually tests
SY0-701 has five domains. Note that threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities combined with security architecture make up nearly half the exam — scenario-based thinking in these areas is where most candidates win or lose:
| Domain | Weight | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| General Security Concepts | Security controls, cryptography basics, authentication, PKI, security awareness | |
| Threats, Vulnerabilities & Mitigations | Malware types, social engineering, application attacks, network attacks, threat intelligence, vulnerability scanning | |
| Security Architecture | Cloud security, network segmentation, Zero Trust, virtualisation, resilience, data protection | |
| Security Operations | 28% | Identity and access management, endpoint security, incident response, log monitoring, SIEM, digital forensics |
| Security Program Management & Oversight | Risk management, compliance frameworks, data privacy, audits, third-party risk, security policies |
Security Program Management & Oversight at 20% — risk management, compliance frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, SOC 2), and data privacy laws (GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA) are consistently underestimated by technical candidates who focus almost entirely on attacks and defences. This domain is heavily tested and the content is learnable quickly. Don't skip it.
How long does it take to study for Security+?
The study plan that works
Start with threats and vulnerabilities — this is the largest technical domain and the one where scenario practice pays off most. Learn how each attack works conceptually, not just its name. Then cover cryptography thoroughly: symmetric vs asymmetric, hashing, PKI, and digital signatures appear constantly across multiple domains.
Security architecture covers how secure environments are designed — Zero Trust, network segmentation, cloud security models, and resilience. Identity and access management is one of the most consistently tested areas: MFA, SSO, access control models (DAC/MAC/RBAC/ABAC), and privileged access. Incident response requires knowing the phases in order.
Governance is the domain technical people skip and then fail on. Risk management concepts, compliance frameworks, and data privacy regulations are straightforward to learn but require dedicated time. This material is also some of the fastest to get through — it's mostly conceptual with no calculations or hands-on skills required.
Switch entirely to practice exams. Security+ scenario questions are longer and more complex than A+ or Network+ — slow down and read every word of the scenario before looking at answers. For every wrong answer, understand the reasoning: Security+ questions often eliminate two options immediately but leave two plausible ones, and the distinction matters.
Exam day tips
Treating it like a memorisation exam. Security+ tests application and judgment, not recall. If you can recite definitions but can't work through a scenario to identify the attack type and best mitigation, the exam will expose that gap immediately.
Skipping the governance domain. Risk management, compliance frameworks, and data privacy laws make up 20% of the exam. Candidates with purely technical backgrounds often skip this material entirely and lose an avoidable 10–15 questions.
Not doing enough practice exams. The scenario format is a skill that improves with practice. Reading Chapple & Seidl's study guide is not enough on its own — combine it with Dion Training's practice exams and you will see a significant improvement in your ability to work through scenarios quickly and accurately.
Ready to start studying for Security+?
The Chapple & Seidl Sybex kit, Dion Training practice exams, and Professor Messer's free SY0-701 course.