Security+ Certification

The Security+ certification from CompTIA is a foundation-level security certification suitable for those wishing to start out on an I.T. security career path. The Security+ exam is vendor-neutral which means general security concepts will be tested, rather than vendor-specific topics. Domains tested by the exam include general security concepts including communication, infrastructure and operational security, as well as the basics of cryptology. The certification is a popular stepping stone to more advanced security certifications, and at the time of writing there were over 32,000 Security+ certified individuals worldwide.




Although there are no mandatory prerequisites for taking the exam, it is suggested by CompTIA that before candidates attempt the Security+ certification they have at least two years of on-the-job networking experience with preferably some exposure to security. Again, that is a suggestion only, therefore anyone may take the exam when they feel they are ready.

To gain the Security+ certification a candidate needs to pass just one exam:



The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions with a total of 90 minutes allowed. To pass, a candidate must score at least 764 points on a scale of 100-900. All CompTIA exams can be taken at any Pearson VUE or Prometric testing facilities and you can find your nearest testing station by clicking on the CompTIA home page link below.

Upon successfully passing the exam, the candidate is awarded the Security+ certification and that credential can itself be used as credit toward more advanced certifications from companies such as IBM, Symantec and Microsoft.

If a candidate fails the exam on the first attempt, he or she may retake the exam at any time, meaning that there is no waiting period required between the first and second attempts at passing the exam. If, however, a candidate fails for a second time, he or she must wait at least 30 calendar days before attempting the exam again.

Like many of the CompTIA certification tracks, the sheer breadth of topics covered can be quite daunting so make sure you download the latest exam objectives from the CompTIA website (requires registration). The exam will reflect the topics listed in the objectives, so pay close attention to the topics listed and make sure that you check for updated objectives closer to the time you write the exam.



Below, and on the following pages, you'll find links to some of the best free Security+ resources on the net, including free practice questions and study guides. Be sure to check for yourself the answers given to any free practice questions, and make sure you come back here from time to time to see what's new.