Security+ Certification Training — The Hands-On Cybersecurity Credential, Taught the Way SY0-701 Tests It
Security+ assumes you can do things, not just define them — up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, performance-based questions first, 750 to pass. 40 hours, live-coached.
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Security+ fails people on the clock and the simulations — not on the theory
Most Security+ failures have the same shape — and none of it is the theory.
The clock
The simulations come first and eat twenty minutes; the other eighty questions get rushed.
The simulations
Security+ puts a rule set in front of you and asks you to fix it. Watching videos does not prepare you for that.
The missing two years
CompTIA suggests Network+ and two years in the job. Most candidates have neither, so prepare differently.
Watching someone configure a firewall is not preparation. Configuring one against a clock, twice, is.
What is the CompTIA Security+ certification?
CompTIA Security+ is the vendor-neutral baseline cybersecurity certification — the one most entry-level security job descriptions name first. The current exam is SY0-701, launched on 7 November 2023. It is hands-on (the exam includes simulations) and approved for U.S. DoD 8140 work roles. There is no formal prerequisite; CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years of experience, and this course is built for people who do not yet have them.
Prepare
40 hours live-coached, weighted to the five domains.
Pass
Score 750 / 900 across multiple-choice and PBQs.
Certified
Valid for three years from your pass date.
Renew
50 CEUs, or pass a higher CompTIA certification.
Official reference: CompTIA Security+ certification page.
Should you wait for the next Security+ exam?
No — take SY0-701 now. CompTIA has published its retirement dates (11 June 2027 English, 13 August 2027 other languages), so it stays the active exam for well over a year. An AI-focused SY0-801 is expected in late 2026, but CompTIA has not confirmed a date — and your Security+ is valid for three years whichever version you sit.
| SY0-701 (active) | SY0-801 (expected) | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active; retirement published by CompTIA | Not formally announced by CompTIA; provider previews point to a late-2026 launch |
| Retirement date | 11 June 2027 (English) · 13 August 2027 (Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai) | Not applicable yet |
| Launched | 7 November 2023 | Expected late 2026 (preview reported around Oct–Nov) |
| Domains | Five, 28 objectives | Five (draft objectives keep the 701 structure) |
| Headline content | Zero trust, hybrid cloud, vendor risk, automation, IR and forensics | Adds AI and LLM security; refreshed cloud patterns (SASE, SD-WAN, containers, CSPM) |
| Your certification | Valid 3 years from pass date | Valid 3 years from pass date — employers do not distinguish versions |
Only plan around SY0-801 if you cannot be exam-ready until well into 2027. When CompTIA announces it, this page will say so.
Why a video course alone does not pass Security+
| What preparation needs | Video course + dumps | Self-paced CertMaster | Cybernous Security+ Toolkit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live coaching | ✗ | ✗ | 40 hours |
| Domain-weighted time | DIY | DIY | 12 · 22 · 18 · 28 · 20 |
| Timed 90-question mocks | Limited | ✓ | Full-length ✓ |
| Ports · protocols · acronyms Confusion Clinic | ✗ | ✗ | Yes |
| 1:1 mentorship | ✗ | ✗ | With your coach |
| Exam booking + CE walkthrough | ✗ | ✗ | Yes |
Question dumps break CompTIA’s candidate agreement and get certifications revoked. We do not use them.
The five Security+ domains — and where the exam actually sits
Security Operations is 28% of SY0-701 — the biggest domain and the most hands-on. Half the exam is operations plus threats; a fifth is governance that technical candidates under-prepare.
Domain 1: General Security Concepts
Control types and categories, CIA, AAA, zero trust, deception technologies, change management, PKI, encryption, hashing, digital signatures.
Coach’s note: Small weight, big leverage — every other domain reuses these words.
Domain 2: Threats, Vulnerabilities and Mitigations
Threat actors, vectors and attack surfaces, vulnerability classes, malware and attacks, segmentation, hardening, patching.
Coach’s note: The exam describes what happened and asks what you do next. Study every attack as symptom → mitigation.
Domain 3: Security Architecture
Cloud, virtualisation, IoT/ICS, infrastructure as code, control placement, data protection, high availability, backups and recovery.
Coach’s note: Where the diagram simulations live — practise placing controls on a network drawing.
Domain 4: Security Operations
Hardening, vulnerability management, monitoring, firewalls, IDS/IPS, DLP, NAC, EDR, IAM, automation, incident response, forensics, logs.
Coach’s note: The biggest, most hands-on domain — and your SOC job description. Over-prepare it.
Domain 5: Security Program Management and Oversight
Governance, risk management and BIA, third-party risk, compliance and privacy, audits and penetration tests, security awareness.
Coach’s note: Technical candidates under-prepare this and lose a fifth of the exam. The best answer manages the risk.
Security+ exam format, scoring and cost
Exam code
SY0-701 (V7)
Questions
Up to 90 — multiple-choice + performance-based
Duration
90 minutes
Passing score
750 / 900
Delivery
Pearson VUE test centre or OnVUE online
Languages
English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai
Prerequisite
None — Network+ and 2 years recommended
Exam fee
About US$425 U.S. list (regional pricing applies)
Retakes
Full voucher each attempt; no wait before the 2nd, 14 days before the 3rd
Validity
3 years — 50 CEUs + CE fee, or a higher CompTIA cert
Exam fees are paid to CompTIA / Pearson VUE, separate from Cybernous fees — re-verify on the CompTIA store before booking.
Who should take Security+?
IT support, helpdesk or desktop engineers ready to move into security.
Network engineers and system administrators formalising what they already do.
CC holders stepping up to a hands-on, technical credential.
Students and freshers with a networking foundation.
Anyone targeting U.S. defence or contractor roles under DoD 8140.
How the 40 hours are spent
| Block | Hours | Exam weight | What you finish with |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 · General Security Concepts | 4 h | 12% | Control taxonomy on two axes, CIA/AAA/zero trust, change management, PKI and hashing without the maths. |
| D2 · Threats, Vulnerabilities & Mitigations | 7.5 h | 22% | Every attack as symptom → mitigation; threat actors; vulnerability classes; social engineering; malware. |
| D3 · Security Architecture | 6 h | 18% | Placing controls on the diagram; cloud, virtualisation, IoT/ICS, IaC; data protection; resilience and backups. |
| D4 · Security Operations | 9.5 h | 28% | Hardening, vulnerability management, IDS/IPS/DLP/NAC/EDR, IAM, automation, incident response, forensics, logs. |
| D5 · Security Program Management & Oversight | 7 h | 20% | Governance, risk register and BIA, third-party risk, compliance, audits and pen-test rules, awareness. |
| Mocks & exam strategy | 6 h | — | Full-length timed 90-question mocks, review of misses, booking and CE walkthrough. |
Domain 4 gets the most hours (28%, and the simulations); Domain 5 gets more than technical candidates expect.
Everything in the Security+ Success Toolkit
Everything runs inside one LMS — curriculum, smart notes, recordings, practice, mocks and the Confusion Clinic.
40 hours of live coaching with your Security+ coach
The 40-hour structured plan, weighted to the exam
Smart notes for all five domains
A Security+-format practice question bank
Full-length timed 90-question mocks (up to 90 Q / 90 min)
Domain revision days
The Confusion Clinic — ports, protocols and acronyms
1:1 mentorship when a concept will not land
Exam booking and CE walkthrough
A career next-step session (SOC analyst → CySA+ or SSCP → CISSP)
LMS access plus the alumni community
Led by Karthick AR
Lead instructor — Karthick AR
Karthick AR (CEH, CPISI, ISC2 CC) brings 9+ years across SOC analysis, risk and compliance, and security training — including CCSP, CISSP, CISM, CISA and CEH. He teaches every cohort himself and reviews each student’s mocks one by one.
CC, Security+ or SSCP — which one is yours?
Security+ (CompTIA)
More technical, includes simulations, DoD 8140-approved. Where you are now.
Enrol in Security+SSCP (ISC2)
Needs a year of paid experience. The natural next step once you're in a role.
Read on SSCPCC → Security+ → a role → CySA+ or SSCP → CISSP at five years.
After Security+ — your first security role and the ladder
SOC analyst (Tier 1)
Security administrator
Vulnerability analyst
Junior GRC analyst
From there: CySA+ or SSCP, then CISSP once you reach five years. Read the SOC analyst starter guide and the top cybersecurity certifications for 2026.
2,000+ professionals, coached the same way
Security+ is a new programme, so we publish no Security+ pass rate yet — and we won't invent one. It uses the coaching method Manoj Sharma (CISSP, ISC² #557313) built over 29+ years to certify 818+ CISSP professionals at a 98.3% first-attempt pass rate.
Rajesh Kumar
Senior Security Analyst, TCS
“Cybernous training helped me clear CISSP in my first attempt. The hands-on labs and mentoring made all the difference.”
Priya Sharma
CISO, Tech Startup
“The corporate training program transformed our security team. Highly professional and results-driven.”
Ahmed Hassan
Cybersecurity Consultant
“Best investment in my career. The practical approach and exam strategies were invaluable.”
Coached in your timezone, priced for your region
India & APAC
IST / SGT sessions, INR fees.
Gulf
GST sessions across the GCC.
Americas
The DoD 8140 baseline.
Europe
English, Spanish and Portuguese exams.
Upcoming batch dates for every region are on the training calendar.
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Tell us where you are starting from and we will map your 40 hours, your batch dates and the fee for your region — no pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Security careers & certification guides
Other programmes you may be weighing up
Start Your 40-Hour Security+ Certification Training
Five domains, timed 90-question mocks and 1:1 mentoring — built for candidates without the two years of experience CompTIA recommends.