CompTIA Security+ is widely recognized and requested in cybersecurity job openings. The SY0-701 version of the CompTIA Security+ exam reflects the latest security threats and technologies. It emphasizes hands-on practical skills and prepares cybersecurity professionals to assess security posture, monitor and secure hybrid environments, operate with awareness of regulations and policies, and respond to security events and incidents. The SY0-701 exam is more difficult and covers new domains compared to the previous SY0-601 version. It is recommended to review the exam objectives and switch to the new exam if it aligns with your knowledge and time.

Introduction of the SY0-701 version of the CompTIA Security+ Exam

As cyberattacks continue to grow, more IT job roles are tasked with baseline security readiness and responding to address today’s cyber threats. Updates to CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) reflect those skills and prepare you to be more proactive in preventing the next cyberattack. The Security+ is updated every three years. Each iteration of the exam is labelled according to its series number. For example, previous versions of the exam were labelled as SY0-301, SY0-401, and SY0-501. CompTIA updates the exam to keep the materials current with the latest cyber security trends. The latest update brings the Security+ exam to version SY0-701.

Every three years, CompTIA Security+ gets updated to meet the needs of the industry and ensure that information technology (IT) pros have the skills necessary for today’s cybersecurity jobs. Like its predecessor, SY0-601, CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) still provides the essential baseline knowledge and skills required of cybersecurity professionals.

The new CompTIA Security+ emphasizes hands-on practical skills, ensuring IT pros are prepared to solve a wider variety of cybersecurity issues and to proactively prevent the next cyberattack.

CompTIA Security+ verifies that the candidate has the knowledge and skills required to: – Assess the security posture of an enterprise environment and recommend and implement appropriate security solutions. – Monitor and secure hybrid environments, including cloud, mobile, Internet of Things (IoT) and operational technology (OT). – Operate with an awareness of applicable regulations and policies, including principles of governance, risk and compliance. – Identify, analyze and respond to security events and incidents.

CompTIA Security+ 601 vs. 701

Exam Codes	SY0-601	SY0-701
Launch Date	November 12, 2020	November 7, 2023
Exam Description	The CompTIA Security+ certification exam will verify the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills required to assess the security posture of an enterprise environment and recommend and implement appropriate security solutions; monitor and secure hybrid environments, including cloud, mobile, and IoT; operate with an awareness of applicable laws and policies, including principles of governance, risk, and compliance; identify, analyze, and respond to security events and incidents.	The CompTIA Security+ certification exam will certify the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills required to: • Assess the security posture of an enterprise environment and recommend and implement appropriate security solutions. • Monitor and secure hybrid environments, including cloud, mobile, and Internet of Things (IoT). • Operate with an awareness of applicable regulations and policies, including principles of governance, risk, and compliance. • Identify, analyze, and respond to security events and incidents.
Number of Questions	Maximum of 90 questions	Maximum of 90 questions
Type of Questions	Multiple choice and performance-based	Multiple choice and performance-based
Length of Test	90 minutes	90 minutes
Passing Score	750 (on a scale of 100-900)	750 (on a scale of 100-900)
Recommended Experience	CompTIA Network+ and two years of experience in IT administration with a security focus	CompTIA Network+ and two years of experience working in a security/ systems administrator job role
Languages	English, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Portuguese	English, with Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish to follow
Retirement	July 2024	November 2026
Testing Provider	Pearson VUE Testing Centers Online Testing	Pearson VUE Testing Centers Online Testing
Exam Price	CompTIA Store Price $392 USD Cyberkraft Price $345 USD	CompTIA Store Price $392 USD Cyberkraft Price $345 USD

Let’s take a look at the differences between the 601 and 701 exam domains:

CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Exam Domains	CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Exam Domains
Attacks, Threats and Vulnerabilities (24%)	General Security Concepts (12%)
Architecture and Design (21%)	Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (22%)
Implementation (25%)	Security Architecture (18%)
Operations and Incident Response (16%)	Security Operations (28%)
Governance, Risk and Compliance (14%)	Security Program Management and Oversight (20%)

The focus of the exam is expected to change significantly in the new version. The SY0-601 exam had introduced new exam domains, to include “Operations and Incident Response”. “Implementation” and “Operations and Incident Response”. “Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities” was also expanded to include more attack trends.

The new version of the exam is expected to address more concepts relating to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and blockchain technologies. More importantly, the SY0-701 version is expected to be much more difficult than the 601 version. The number of concepts and their complexity is expected to increase as CompTIA seeks to secure their spot as the dominant certification training body.

Why Should I Get the New CompTIA Security+?

The new CompTIA Security+ certification endorses your cybersecurity skills with a credential that’s respected industry-wide across the globe:

– More job roles use CompTIA Security+ for baseline cybersecurity skills than any other certification in the industry. According to CyberSeek, in 2023, 13% of total cybersecurity job openings request CompTIA Security+ in the job requirements. – CompTIA Security+ is the most widely adopted ISO/ANSI-accredited early career cybersecurity certification on the market with hands-on, performance-based questions on the certification exam. -CompTIA Security+ is one of the most widely held IT certifications worldwide, with 24% of the total employed cybersecurity workforce in the United States being certified in CompTIA Security+.

Should I Take SY0-601 or SY0-701?

If you’ve been studying for the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601), we recommend reviewing the exam objectives to see how much of what you’ve already studied is on the new exam. If it makes sense for your time and level of knowledge, you may want to switch gears and prepare for the new exam (SY0-701). If you’ve already purchased a CompTIA Security+ voucher, you can apply it to any version of the exam. If you choose to take the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601) exam, make sure to do so before it expires.