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

The main trade-off

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

CompTIARetirement announced

CompTIA Security+ V7

SY0-701

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

Helps with HR filtering and baseline SOC interviews; rarely unlocks engineering roles on its own.

Consider it if: You need a vendor-neutral baseline; An employer or contract has named it in writing
Skip or defer if: You already have a SOC role; You want hands-on offensive depth

Experience: CompTIA recommends Network+ and about two years in a security or systems administration role.
Exam cost: Indicative exam cost: £330

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: Not yet verified — check the vendor's renewal policy
Study planning: 2–4 months — editorial estimate, dependent on experience and weekly hours.

Indicative exam outlay held by TechWaymark. Vendor pricing changes without notice, so confirm before booking.

Vendor source · record checked 2026-09-17

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

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CompTIAAvailable

CompTIA CySA+ V4

CS0-004

Blue-team extension of Security+. Useful for SOC promotion talks, weaker as a first cert.

Consider it if: You already work in a SOC; You want a structured blue-team signal
Skip or defer if: You haven't touched a SIEM yet, get reps first

Experience: CompTIA suggests about four years in a SOC analyst or vulnerability analyst role, with Network+ or Security+ level knowledge behind it.
Exam cost: Indicative exam cost: £240

Exam details and sources

V4 (CS0-004) launched on 23 June 2026. The V3 exam (CS0-003) retires in English on 22 December 2026, with the Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish versions following on 23 March 2027. Book V4 unless you are already deep into V3 material.

Format: Exam format not yet verified — check the vendor's exam page
Renewal: Renewable every three years.
Study planning: 2–4 months — editorial estimate, dependent on experience and weekly hours.

Indicative exam outlay held by TechWaymark. Vendor pricing changes without notice, so confirm before booking.

Vendor 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 UK hiring survey. No overall score or winner is calculated. Missing assessments remain unknown.

Certification editorial assessments
Criterion	CompTIA Security+	CySA+
Recognition Editorial name recognition, not measured shortlisting probability.	very high	high
Practical depth Practical learning depth, not a percentage of lab questions.	low	moderate
Renewal burden Ongoing effort; lower means less maintenance.	Not assessed	moderate

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