Skip to main content
TechWaymark
Market

Certification intelligence

Compare certifications.

Purpose, experience, cost and ongoing commitment, read side by side before you choose what to study.

Comparing 2 of 4

Two usually gives the clearest comparison. Your choices are saved in this page’s address.

Your comparison

Start with role fit and entry expectations. There is no universal winning certification.

At a glanceRead across each question

CompTIA

CompTIA Security+ V7

Retirement announced · SY0-701

Cisco

CCNA

Available · 200-301

Role fit

Use Security+ to organise foundational security study. Pair it with an investigation or hardening exercise you can explain, and check whether a target vacancy requires this exact credential.

Use CCNA study to practise configuration and troubleshooting, not just terminology. Compare the target network stack and the vacancy requirements before choosing it over a broader foundation route.

Entry expectationsDistinguish recommended preparation from mandatory certification requirements.

CompTIA recommends Network+ and about two years in a security or systems administration role.

Cisco lists no prerequisites for the associate level.

Exam costAllow separately for learning resources, labs, tax and any retake.

£274

US$300 published exam fee

Ongoing commitmentRenewal cycles, required learning and fees. CPE, CPD and CEU are provider-specific continuing education credits.

Renew every 3 years with 50 continuing education units (CEUs) and the CE programme fee, or an eligible exam or CertMaster CE course.

Renewal sources & exceptions

The CEU route costs US$150 in CE fees per 3-year cycle, not an annual fee. Passing the latest exam or an eligible higher CompTIA certification can renew without a separate CE fee; exam or course costs still apply. Check which lower certifications are covered.

Renewal policy checked 2026-09-28. Check the linked provider policy for current fees and eligibility.

Renew within 3 years through eligible exams or 30 Continuing Education credits. Budget for the selected exams or training; some eligible learning may be free.

Renewal sources & exceptions

Complete the requirements before expiry; an expired credential requires the full certification exam process again.

Renewal policy checked 2026-09-28. Check the linked provider policy for current fees and eligibility.

Study planningEditorial estimates, dependent on experience and weekly hours.

2–4 months

4–8 months

You do not need both by default. Add a second credential only when it covers a distinct responsibility or requirement. The exam fee is not the full cost of becoming ready.

Suitability guidance, exam facts and sources
CompTIARetirement announced

CompTIA Security+ V7

SY0-701

Check the exam end date against your planned study and booking date.

Consider it if
Use Security+ to organise foundational security study. Pair it with an investigation or hardening exercise you can explain, and check whether a target vacancy requires this exact credential.
Skip or defer if
Treating a knowledge credential as proof of incident-handling experience.
Experience
CompTIA recommends Network+ and about two years in a security or systems administration role.
Exam cost
£274
Exam details and sources

V7 (SY0-701) launched on 7 November 2023 and retires in English on 11 June 2027, with Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai following on 13 August 2027. CompTIA has not published a successor version on this page, so sit SY0-701 and check for a V8 announcement before booking late in the window.

Format
Multiple choice + performance-based (90 min) · TechWaymark-held detail; confirm the exam version with the vendor
Renewal

Renew every 3 years with 50 continuing education units (CEUs) and the CE programme fee, or an eligible exam or CertMaster CE course.

Renewal sources & exceptions

The CEU route costs US$150 in CE fees per 3-year cycle, not an annual fee. Passing the latest exam or an eligible higher CompTIA certification can renew without a separate CE fee; exam or course costs still apply. Check which lower certifications are covered.

Renewal policy checked 2026-09-28. Check the linked provider policy for current fees and eligibility.

Study planning
2–4 months. Editorial estimate, dependent on experience and weekly hours.

UK storefront exam voucher only, quoted in GBP. Confirm VAT and the final booking total; training, retake assurance and renewal fees are separate. Vendor price checked 2026-09-24.

Current vendor pricing sourceVendor source · record checked 2026-09-22

The record date applies to recorded vendor facts, not every price or editorial judgement.

Read guidance and practical tasks →
CiscoAvailable

CCNA

200-301

Consider it if
Use CCNA study to practise configuration and troubleshooting, not just terminology. Compare the target network stack and the vacancy requirements before choosing it over a broader foundation route.
Skip or defer if
Assuming one networking credential is a universal shortlist requirement.
Experience
Cisco lists no prerequisites for the associate level.
Exam cost
US$300 published exam fee
Exam details and sources

One exam, 200-301 Administering Cisco Solutions, with no prerequisites. Cisco states the exam is valid for three years and can be used toward recertification.

Format
100–120 questions including simulations · TechWaymark-held detail; confirm the exam version with the vendor
Renewal

Renew within 3 years through eligible exams or 30 Continuing Education credits. Budget for the selected exams or training; some eligible learning may be free.

Renewal sources & exceptions

Complete the requirements before expiry; an expired credential requires the full certification exam process again.

Renewal policy checked 2026-09-28. Check the linked provider policy for current fees and eligibility.

Study planning
4–8 months. Editorial estimate, dependent on experience and weekly hours.

Cisco’s exam-specific page and certification FAQ list US$300 before tax. A certification landing page also showed US$400; use the exam booking total before purchase. This quote is exam-only, not a training bundle. Vendor price checked 2026-09-24.

Current vendor pricing sourceVendor source · record checked 2026-09-17

The record date applies to recorded vendor facts, not every price or editorial judgement.

Read guidance and practical tasks →
Editorial assessment: three distinct criteria

These qualitative judgements are not a hiring survey. Role relevance describes where each credential fits. Employer examples and vendor requirements are linked on the individual certification pages. No overall winner is calculated.

Certification editorial assessments
CriterionCompTIA Security+Cisco CCNA
Role relevance

The responsibilities this credential is designed to support.

Security foundations and security-adjacent workNetwork administration and Cisco-oriented networking
Practical depth

Practical learning depth, not a percentage of lab questions.

lowhigh
Renewal burden

Ongoing effort; lower means less maintenance.

moderatemoderate

Before you start

How to read this comparison

Each row answers one question across every certification, so the differences stand out at a glance. Vendor facts and editorial judgement are always labelled separately, and no overall winner is calculated.

Read the full methodology

Vendor facts first

Exam codes, published fees, format and renewal rules come from the vendor. Each record carries the date it was checked, and pricing links to its source.

Judgement, kept separate

Role fit, entry expectations and study planning are editorial. They sit beside the facts and are labelled as estimates, never mixed into them.

No overall winner

The board reads across each row. Which trade-off matters depends on the role you are heading for, so no total is calculated and no credential is crowned.

Frequently compared

Popular matchups

The pairings people ask about most. Add either to the board above, or open the dedicated comparison for the fuller read.

CompTIA Security+CySA+

Entry security baseline vs the analyst step-up. Security+ first, CySA+ once you're working tickets.

Open the dedicated comparison →

OSCPCPTS

The two practical offensive benchmarks. OSCP still wins on recognition; CPTS is closer to modern engagement reality.

Open the dedicated comparison →

CISSPCISM

Compare broad security practice and architecture with security programme management. Let the responsibilities you want to develop decide; both credentials have experience requirements beyond passing an exam.

Open the dedicated comparison →

CompTIA Security+ISC2 SSCP

Compare a broad security foundation with an operational security credential. Check each provider's experience requirements, syllabus and renewal obligations; passing an exam and qualifying for the full credential are different questions.

Open the dedicated comparison →

Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500) (retired)Microsoft SC-100

An Azure security engineering exam and a security architecture credential serve different responsibilities. AZ-500 is retained for historical context; check its retirement notice and current alternative before planning new study.

Open the dedicated comparison →

Cisco CCNANetwork+

Entry networking, vendor-specific vs vendor-neutral. CCNA carries more hiring weight; Network+ is easier on-ramp.

Open the dedicated comparison →

Certified Kubernetes AdministratorCKAD

Same Kubernetes family. Admin vs developer. Pick by which side of the cluster you operate.

Open the dedicated comparison →

RHCSALFCS

Linux sysadmin, Red Hat vs distro-neutral. RHCSA dominates enterprise hiring; LFCS is the open alternative.

Open the dedicated comparison →