CompTIA · Entry · Up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, mixing multiple choice with performance-based questions in simulated environments. Scored 100–900 with 750 to pass. Available at Pearson VUE centres or online-proctored. Domains: general security concepts, threats and mitigations, security architecture, security operations, and security program management.

CompTIA Security+ — CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)

Security+ is CompTIA’s vendor-neutral baseline security certification. It covers threats, cryptography, identity, architecture, operations and governance at a working-knowledge level. It is the most widely accepted entry credential worldwide, is approved for US Department of Defense workforce requirements, and is the default first certification for SOC, IT support and defensive security roles.

Last updated: 6 August 2026

The facts

Vendor	CompTIA
Level	Entry
Format	Up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, mixing multiple choice with performance-based questions in simulated environments. Scored 100–900 with 750 to pass. Available at Pearson VUE centres or online-proctored. Domains: general security concepts, threats and mitigations, security architecture, security operations, and security program management.
Cost	Low-to-mid band; a voucher costs a fraction of CEH or OSCP. CompTIA sells bundles with practice tests and CertMaster study material, and offers academic and India-region pricing that can lower it further. Renewal adds a small annual continuing-education fee. Confirm current voucher and bundle pricing on CompTIA’s site.
Validity / renewal	Three years. Renew with 50 continuing education units, or automatically by passing a higher CompTIA exam such as CySA+, PenTest+ or SecurityX. A modest annual CE fee applies during the cycle.
Prerequisites	None enforced. CompTIA recommends Network+ and around two years of IT administration experience with a security focus, but nobody checks and plenty of career changers pass it as their first certification with a few months of structured study.

Vendors revise prices, formats and eligibility. Always confirm on the vendor's own site before you pay — including against this page.

Is it worth it?

Security+ proves you understand defensive security vocabulary and can reason about controls, which is exactly what a junior SOC or IT security role needs. For Indian candidates targeting multinationals, GCCs, managed security providers or any US-linked contract, it is often a hard requirement because of the DoD approval. It is also the cheapest respectable line item you can put on a fresher CV.

The downside

It is broad and shallow, and entirely conceptual — nothing in it proves you can operate a tool. It will not get you a penetration testing job, and in some purely domestic Indian job markets recruiters recognise CEH more readily than Security+. The three-year renewal and CE fees are a permanent small tax on holding it.

Compared to

Versus	Verdict
CEH	For a beginner with limited money, Security+ is usually better value: cheaper, vendor-neutral, defensively useful and globally accepted. CEH wins only where a specific Indian job posting, PSU tender or government empanelment names it. Many people eventually get both.
Google Cybersecurity Certificate	The Google certificate teaches; Security+ certifies. Google’s programme is cheaper and friendlier for absolute beginners and explicitly prepares you for Security+. The sensible sequence for a fresher is Google certificate first, Security+ second.
CySA+	CySA+ is the next rung: same vendor, same format, aimed at analysts who already know the basics and now need detection, threat intelligence and incident response. Do Security+ first unless you already work in a SOC.

Where we fit

Our foundation modules — networking, operating systems, threats, cryptography basics, security operations — overlap heavily with the Security+ syllabus, so students often use our course as groundwork before booking it. But we teach a CEH-aligned curriculum, not an official CompTIA course. We are not a CompTIA partner, we do not issue Security+, and we do not sell Pearson VUE vouchers. You book directly with CompTIA or Pearson VUE.

We issue no vendor certification and resell no exam vouchers. Buy from the vendor.

CompTIA Security+ — FAQs

Is CompTIA Security+ worth it in India?

▾

Yes for defensive and SOC career paths, especially at multinationals, global capability centres and managed security providers, where it is frequently listed as a minimum. It is less recognised at small domestic firms that ask for CEH by name. As a first certification it offers strong value for money.

How hard is the SY0-701 exam?

▾

Moderate for someone with IT background — most people pass with six to ten weeks of focused study. The performance-based questions at the start catch people out; the usual advice is to flag them, finish the multiple-choice questions first, and return with the remaining time.

Do I need Network+ before Security+?

▾

No, it is a recommendation, not a requirement. But you do need to understand IP addressing, ports, protocols, routing and switching, because Security+ assumes them throughout. If networking is weak, fix that first or the security concepts will not stick.

Security+ ke baad kaunsa certificate lena chahiye?

▾

Depend karta hai raaste par. Blue team ya SOC mein jaana hai to CySA+ agla step hai. Offensive side pasand hai to pehle eJPT jaise sasta hands-on cert karke dekhiye ki maza aata hai ya nahi, uske baad hi OSCP jaise mehnge exam ka sochiye.

Not sure if CompTIA Security+ is the right next step?

Free call. If the honest answer is a cheaper certification, or six more months of lab work before you pay anyone, that is what you will hear.

Call +91 75175 72000