CompTIA · Professional Certification · Foundational
CompTIA Security+
Crydd Score 88
Demand High
Career Value High
Recognition High
Security+ at a glance
- Provider
- CompTIA
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- Security
- Level
- Foundational
- Cost
- $404
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time to earn
- 1–3 months
- Validity
- 3 years (renewable via continuing education)
- Format
- Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, including performance-based items
- Prerequisites
- None required; CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years of IT experience
What is Security+?
The most widely held entry certification in cybersecurity, covering threats, architecture, operations, and governance. It's vendor-neutral and satisfies baseline requirements for many government and defense-adjacent roles.
Skills it covers
- Threats and vulnerabilities
- Security operations
- Identity and access
- Governance and compliance
Is Security+ worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 88Choose it if
You're entering cybersecurity from IT or from scratch — it's the de facto ticket into SOC analyst and junior security roles, and a compliance requirement for many public-sector jobs.
Consider alternatives if
You already have several years of security experience — CISSP or a specialized certification will move your career further than a foundational credential.
Why we say so
Near-universal recognition in security hiring plus regulatory demand gives it exceptional value for early-career professionals.
Market demand
Security hiring has outpaced the general tech market for years, and Security+ remains the most commonly requested baseline credential in those listings.
Where Security+ takes you
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Network Engineer
- Systems Administrator
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to Security+, so you know why it’s here.
