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CompTIA · Cybersecurity foundation

CompTIA Security+

Threats, access controls, secure infrastructure and the basics of running a security function.

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Understand the subject

Threats, access controls, secure infrastructure and the basics of running a security function.

Apply it to the work

Useful when support or junior security work asks you to explain why a control matters, recognise a suspicious event and escalate it clearly.

Build practical evidence

Get comfortable with IP networking, user permissions and Windows or Linux first. Otherwise you end up memorising controls for systems you do not yet understand.

Level
Beginner+

What you will learn to do

Understand the subject

Threats, access controls, secure infrastructure and the basics of running a security function.

Apply it to the work

Useful when support or junior security work asks you to explain why a control matters, recognise a suspicious event and escalate it clearly.

Build practical evidence

Get comfortable with IP networking, user permissions and Windows or Linux first. Otherwise you end up memorising controls for systems you do not yet understand.

Certification essentials

Requirements, costs and keeping it current.

Check the vendor record and ongoing commitment alongside the career guidance.

Pricing view
Market

Vendor record

Retiring

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.

Current name
CompTIA Security+ V7
Previously
Security+ SY0-601
Exam code
SY0-701
Vendor-stated experience
CompTIA recommends Network+ and about two years in a security or systems administration role.

Source: CompTIA · Read 22 September 2026

Sourced fields only; this does not mean every exam detail has been verified. Pricing and renewal policies have their own sources and check dates. Confirm the currency, tax and final booking total with the vendor.

CompTIA Security+ CompTIA UK store

Role-fit guidance is TechWaymark editorial interpretation. It is separate from the recorded vendor facts and does not measure hiring outcomes.

Costs and renewal

Exam cost
£274
Exam format
Multiple choice + performance-based (90 min) · TechWaymark-held detail; confirm the exam version with the vendor
Keeping it current

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.

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. Check the vendor record before booking.

Current vendor pricing source ↗
Preparation and practical skills
Practitioner take

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. Watch for: treating a knowledge credential as proof of incident-handling experience.

Editorial opinion about role fit. It is not a measured estimate of hiring success; vendor facts and prices are sourced separately.

Recommended prior knowledge

  • CompTIA Network+ or equivalent networking fundamentals
  • 6+ months of general IT experience (helpful, not required)
  • Windows + Linux command line basics

Common misconceptions

  • Security+ alone lands a SOC job, it usually doesn't without labs.
  • It teaches you how to hack, it's foundational vocabulary.

What this cert does NOT guarantee

  • Pentesting roles
  • Salary above entry-level
  • Cloud security positions

Practical skills that matter

  • Log analysis
  • Network fundamentals
  • Windows event triage
  • Basic scripting
  • Incident response basics
Alternatives and related certifications

Where this fits

Prerequisites
  • None required
This cert
CompTIA Security+
Stronger / next

Alternative routes

No single right path. These adjacent options reach similar roles.

  • Help desk → SOC
    Many SOC analysts start in support, learn ticketing & networking on the job, then transition.
  • Network engineer → Security
    Strong networking background often beats a single certification.
  • Self-taught + TryHackMe SOC path
    Document hands-on work publicly to compete with certified candidates.

Adjacent & overlapping

Adjacent
  • CySA+
  • BTL1
  • Network+
  • Microsoft SC-200
Significantly overlapping
  • SSCP
  • GSEC
Career outcomes and limitations

Realistic first roles

SOC Analyst (Tier 1)
Junior Security Analyst
IT Auditor
Security-focused Sysadmin
UK role salary estimate
£28k–£42k
TechWaymark practitioner estimate, not survey data. Varies meaningfully by country and employer tier.

How people actually get here

  • Help desk / IT support
  • Military / signals
  • Network admin
  • Systems administration
Market saturation · Very High

Real-world career variations

Tier 1 SOC
Compliance analyst
Internal IT security
MSSP analyst

Timeline expectations

  1. Months 0–2Foundation reading, concepts, vocabulary.
  2. Months 2–4Hands-on labs, documented home projects.
  3. Months 4–6Practice exams, weak-area drills, exam.
  4. Post-examUse target vacancies to guide applications and projects. There is no guaranteed time to a first role.

Study resources

Study options

Choose the right mix for your goals and experience. Links below go to official and third-party resources.

Guided study

Structured resources from established providers can help build knowledge and skills.

Compare study options →

Third-party providers. Commercial terms, pricing and availability apply.

Practice environments

Explore suitable environments for practical work. Check the tools, features and access you need.

Compare practice resources →

External resources. Check current costs and access requirements.

Resources are selected for relevance. Compare access, syllabus coverage and total cost; a listing does not imply a commercial partnership.

Compare the resources for CompTIA Security+
Exam objectivesProvider source

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Objectives PDF

Reading

Free resource; confirm current access terms
View resource
PracticeProvider source

CompTIA CertMaster Practice for Security+

Quiz

Check the resource provider for current local pricing
View resource
CourseExternal resource

Professor Messer SY0-701

Video

Free resource; confirm current access terms
View resource
CourseExternal resource

Jason Dion. Security+ Complete

Video

Check the resource provider for current local pricing
View resource
BookExternal resource

Mike Chapple. Security+ Study Guide

Reading

Check the resource provider for current local pricing
View resource
LabsExternal resource

TryHackMe. Pre Security Path

Hands-on

Check the resource provider for current local pricing
View resource
PracticeExternal resource

Jason Dion Practice Exams

Quiz

Check the resource provider for current local pricing
View resource

Check the current syllabus, access terms and total cost before choosing. Resource inclusion does not guarantee exam success.

Optional home projects

Build something you can explain.

Ideas to explore after choosing a certification, using your own tools and keeping evidence of your work.

Example project evidence
Project evidence map (example)
Incident triage noteScope and inputs
Control recommendations with reasonsDecisions and reasoning
Evidence record (example)
EvidenceWhat to capture
Incident triage noteShow the inputs, scope and decisions behind this record. An unfamiliar location is not automatically labelled a confirmed compromise.
Control recommendations with reasonsInclude the evidence supporting your conclusion. The response considers account access, user verification and evidence preservation.

Triage a suspicious sign-in and recommend controls

A fictional employee reports an unexpected MFA prompt. A helpdesk ticket, a sign-in record and a device inventory provide incomplete evidence.

Design project Your own tools Evidence guidance
View project guide
Track this certification

What this is based on

Practitioner assessment checked against published external evidence.

Last reviewed: September 2026 · UK market · Confidence: indicative