CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) is a vendor-neutral certification that validates the baseline knowledge expected of a working security practitioner: core security concepts, the current threat landscape, secure architecture, day-to-day security operations, and how a security program is governed.
Exam format at a glance
| Format | Up to 90 questions (multiple choice and performance-based) in 90 minutes. Delivered at a Pearson VUE test centre or online with a proctor. |
| Cost | Approximately 400 USD for a single exam voucher, before regional pricing and taxes. |
| Scoring | Scored on a 100–900 scale; 750 is the passing mark. CompTIA does not publish the exact question-to-scale conversion. |
| Validity | Valid for 3 years; renewed through CompTIA's continuing-education programme or by passing a higher-level exam. |
Who this exam is for
- People moving into a first security role — SOC analyst, junior security engineer, IT staff picking up security responsibilities
- Sysadmins and help-desk staff who need a recognised credential to move across into the security team
- Anyone whose employer or a contract (including many public-sector roles) requires a baseline security certification
How to actually study for it
- Weight your time by the objectives: Security Operations is 28% of the exam and Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations is 22% — half the exam between them.
- Be able to classify any control two ways: by type (technical, managerial, operational, physical) and by function (preventive, detective, corrective, deterrent, compensating).
- Know the attack vocabulary cold — phishing variants, on-path, injection, privilege escalation, the password-attack family — and one solid mitigation for each.
- Practise the performance-based style: given a scenario, pick the right control or the right first response. Use the free diagnostic to find your weakest domain first.
Where to go next
Start with the free 10-question diagnostic to see where you actually stand, read 15 sample questions with answers, or go straight to the one-page SY0-701 cheat sheet. The full SY0-701 practice exam covers every domain at the real exam's weighting, with every answer explained.