What is it?
CompTIA Security+ is a global certification that validates the baseline skills you need to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career. According to CompTIA, the Security+ Certification is the first security certification IT professionals should earn. It establishes the core knowledge required of any cybersecurity role and provides a springboard to intermediate-level cybersecurity jobs.
Is a Security+ Certification Right For You?
A Security+ Certification is an ideal certification for anyone either currently employed or seeking employment in one of the following positions:
- IT Helpdesk
- Systems Administrator
- Network Administrator
- Security Administrator
- Junior IT Auditor/Penetration Tester
- Security Specialist
- Security Consultant
- Security Engineer
Prerequisites to Security+
There are no prerequisites to preparing for the Security+ certification. They have found that candidates who also have the CompTIA Network+ Certification and 2 years of relevant work experience prior to testing for the Security+ Certification perform the best on the exam, but it is not a prerequisite.
How to Earn (& Keep) Your Security+ Certification
To earn your Security+ Certification, you’ll need to prepare:
- Decide which exam to take. The Security+ exam is updated every few years to stay current. A general “rule” is to take the older exam, as most study material will be based on that. As of November 2023, you have 2 exam options:
- SY0-601, released November 2020 (*will be retired July 2024)
- SY0-701, released November 7, 2023
- Study, study, study! You can choose to focus your studies via instructor-led courses, or self-paced education, and download practice questions and objectives directly from CompTIA to prepare!
- Register for the exam via Pearson VUE. They offer both in-person and online testing. You will need to purchase a Security+ exam voucher if one was not provided in a course. The exam voucher costs $392.00.
- Attend & pass the exam. Be sure to review the CompTIA Candidate Agreement and the rules depending on your testing type and location. You must receive a score of 750 or higher on the exam to pass.
- Earn Continuous Education Units (CEUs) to renew your certification. After you pass the exam, your certification is good for 3 years. After that, you are expected to earn 50 CEUs every three years to keep your certification.
Instructor-Led vs Self-Paced Education
You should expect to spend at least 40+ hours learning, studying, and preparing for the Security+ Certification exam, whether that is in an accelerated course, self-paced courses, or hybrid. Below are a few options we found:
The Exam
Register for the Security+ Certification exam through Pearson VUE, it can be taken in-person or virtually. The exam consists of:
- Maximum of 90 questions, with multiple choice & performance-based questions.
- Maximum of 90-minutes allotted to complete the exam.
- To pass the exam, you must score a 750 or higher (on a scale of 100-900).
Exam Objectives
SY0-601 Objectives
- Attacks, Threats & Vulnerabilities
- Architecture & Design
- Implementation
- Operations & Incident Response
- Governance, Risk & Compliance
SY0-701 Objectives
- General Security Concepts
- Threats, Vulnerabilities & Mitigations
- Security Architecture
- Security Operations
- Security Program Management & Oversight
How Nyla Supports You
All Full-Time Nyla employees have a Professional Development benefit that renews on their Nyla-Versary! This benefit can be used for reimbursement of tuition, exam fees, course materials (& more!) up to $5,000 AND/OR up to 40 hours (paid!) to spend in class, studying, or taking exams!
How to Use Your Benefits
You must get approval from your Nyla supervisor before using the Professional Development benefit.
- Schedule a meeting with your supervisor to discuss your plans.
- Submit for approval via BambooHR > Training > Professional Development (bottom of page).
- Complete the Training Request Template and upload into BambooHR > Files > Employee Uploads (folder).
- Once approved, get started!
After you have completed your training, submit your receipts to Concur to be reimbursed. For guidance on how to submit for reimbursement, refer to the files in BambooHR > Files > Professional Development/Training > Professional Development Reimbursement.
If you use some of your 40 paid hours to study, charge the time in BambooHR using the following guidance:
- Contract employees: Charge the time under OH – Training.
- Operations staff: Charge the time under G&A – Training.
For a full breakdown of the Professional Development benefit, please refer to the Nyla Training Policy 2022 file in BambooHR > Files > Professional Development/Training > Nyla Training Policy 2022.
