What is CompTIA Security(Plus)+? Comprehensive Guide

Are you an Ethical Hacker or Web Tester on the quest for mastery in Cyber Security? If you’re charting your course in this domain or aiming to refine your security posture, understanding What is CompTIA Security+ is pivotal. This certification is a cornerstone for penetration testing. With CompTIA Security+, the challenge isn’t just passing the exam; it’s about truly grasping the breadth of knowledge required to protect systems against the ever-evolving threats.

This blog will guide you through What is CompTIA Security+. Whether you’re a novice or a veteran in the field, this blog will aid you in deciphering the complexities of Cyber Security, ensuring you’re equipped with the necessary skills to fortify your and your organisation’s digital defences.

Table of Contents

1) Introduction to CompTIA Security+ 

2) Benefits of CompTIA Security+ 

3) Who can take up CompTIA Security+ Certification exam?

4) CompTIA Security+ examination details

5) How can you prepare for the CompTIA Security+ examination?

6) Job prospects with CompTIA Security+ Certification

7) Conclusion

Introduction to CompTIA Security+

The first question that arises, is: What is CompTIA Security+ Certification? It is the golden standard of IT Certifications that provides the skills required to perform basic security operations. This includes learning about identifying, analysing, and responding to potential threats, enterprise networks, procedures involving the Cloud, and more.  

Although CompTIA Security+ is suggested to be the first security-related certification to earn as an aspiring IT professional, there are other CompTIA Certifications which are provided by CompTIA. However, this Certification is a testament to your advanced understanding of various concepts on the IT security front:

a) Identifying, assessing, and responding to security risks

b) Network implementation

c) Access and identity management

d) Security tools
  

Benefits of CompTIA Security+ 

In today's Cybersecurity domain, the CompTIA Security+ Certification is the first certificate you must earn. Multiple job opportunities related to Cybersecurity can be explored if you have this Certification . Apart from improved employment choices, there are numerous advantages of acquiring this Certification. The following are some of its benefits:

Globally recognised

Security+ Certification is a much-respected Certification in the field of Cybersecurity. Besides, this is an international Certificate that may lead to respectful job offers. New Entry-level professionals and students who want advancement for better job positions can get immense benefit from this certificate.

Minimal experience

One of the most important benefits of gaining this Certification is that the prerequisites are quite minimal. Compared to other certifications, CompTIA Security+ requires virtually no experience from the candidate. The reason most consider following this route is that it has an entry point that offers entry-level jobs, and to acquire the Certificate, there is no compulsion.

For this job role, it is desired that the person should have work experience with security-related jobs in the IT industry for a period of two years or should hold a CompTIA Network+ Certification. Some of the job roles which may enable the candidate to have the desired preferable work experience before going for this Certification: 

a) Network Engineer 

b) Telecommunications Technician

c) Junior Network Administrator

d) System Administrator

e) Cable Technician

Obtaining government jobs

The CompTIA Security+ Certification not only offers high-paying jobs in the IT sector, but at the same time, provides employment chances with the government. The Certificate is acceptable by the Department of Defence (DoD) 8570, which is needed for management level one and technical level two positions. Besides this Certification, six other CompTIA Certifications have been approved for 8140 compliances because most DoD organisations must be in 8140 compliances.

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Who can take up CompTIA Security+ Certification exam?

If you are looking to build a promising career in the IT industry and want to implement IT security controls in top organisations, you can acquire this Certification. Moreover, if you are looking to become an IT security professional, this Certification will be a perfect stepping stone for you. Even if you belong from non-IT background, this Certification, will allow you to implement computer security in your organisation.

But candidates must have CompTIA Network+ Certification and two years of experience in IT administration with a proved role as a Security or Systems Administrator. Only then, they are eligible to appear for the Security+ Certification exam.

CompTIA Security+ examination details

Before pursuing the CompTIA Security+ Certification exam, you must know certain details. This includes the exam cost, topics expected in the exam, etc. Here is a list of all you need to know about the examination:

Examination topics

This examination is designed to test not only the candidate's knowledge of several subject matters but also practically their skills in regard to security. This is through Multiple-choice Questions (MCQs) and Performance-Based Questions (PBQs). The following topics are covered in this exam:

a) Implementations: Identity and access management, cryptography, and end-to-end security, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) are all types of solutions in this domain.

b) Operation and Incident Response: This is required in assessing your knowledge of procedures in responding to incidents, which also includes how to identify threats, security controls, risk reduction, and Digital Forensics.

c) Governance, risk, and compliance: The domain carries topics on major risk and compliance regulations. Hence, you will find it key to know the following when relating to these regulations: HIPAA, GDPR, SOC, NIST, CCPA, FISMA, PCI-DSS.

d) Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities: This includes everything from social engineering attacks to newer denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and vulnerabilities found in the Internet of Things (IoT) and other numerous embedded devices.

e) Architecture and design: This area majorly focuses on enterprise, Cloud, and other hybrid environments.

Examination cost

Candidates are required to pay certain fee in order to obtain the Certification and appear for the exam. The CompTIA Security+ examination cost differs with location. Let’s look at the examination cost of  this Certification in the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), and India: 
 

The examination cost in the UK is £233, $392 in the USA, and ₹34,999 in India. The examination is conducted for 90 minutes, in which candidates are expected to answer 90 questions in total. The passing grade is expected set to be 750 out of 900. 

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How can you prepare for the CompTIA Security+ examination?

Even though CompTIA Security+ examination may be challenging, you can follow these steps to efficiently prepare for your exams. These steps are as follows:

Exam prep courses

To help you prepare for exams there are several coaching institutions, several online courses and other accredited organisation who can help you to prepare for the examination. The tutors can provide with different tips and tricks, study materials and most importantly updated information of CompTIA Security+ so that you remain updated on the latest syllabus.

CompTIA Security+ practice tests

It is always ideal that you take as many practice tests as possible before appearing for the real examination. Practising with mock test papers can help you to improve your speed and give you an idea about the type of questions that can come in the real exam.

CompTIA also offers a free practice test for the Security+, which can also help you to crack the exam. These mock tests help you to understand the areas you need to improve and pay more attention before appearing for the real exam, so that you can avoid the same mistakes.

Books, blogs, and websites

Before you attempt the exam, there are several online resources that you can utilise, which are readily available on the internet. There are several blogs, websites and books which can help you learn the required topics covered under the examination. You can watch YouTube videos, get verified study books and make flashcards to remember the important topics. Moreover, quizzing yourself for the exam can help you increase your retention power.

Extra tips

Here are some extra tips that can help you prepare for the exam:

a) Printout a study checklist so that you do not miss out on any topic.

b) Use flashcards to remember the important details of the exam.

c) When you are sitting for the examination, read all the multiple-choice questions before you mark your answer.

d) Questions that have "best," "most," and "least" usually are very confusing to many candidates. Be extra keen when you try those questions.

e) Practice as many mock questions before your actual examination.

f) As in this examination, there is no negative marking for any wrong answer, try answering all the questions. If unsure of an answer, try marking the answer that you think is the nearest to the actual answer.

g) This examination affords the candidate an opportunity to schedule their test for any time up to 24 hours before the appointment hour, hence one is free in regard to this time. 

h) Join a number of study groups over social media so that in a question before exams, you at least have a community to help you.

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Conclusion

We hope this blog has helped you learn more about the CompTIA Security+ Certification, its benefits, examination details, and more. So, if you are an aspiring job professional in the IT field, it’s the right time to acquire this Certification and build a promising IT career for yourself.

Wish to pursue jobs in the Cybersecurity domain? Sign up for our CompTIA Certification to reach your goals faster!