Short answer
- What it is: CompTIA’s vendor-neutral entry-level cybersecurity certification. The current exam is SY0-701 (V7), launched November 7, 2023 (CompTIA).
- New version: SY0-801 (V8) is expected to launch on November 17, 2026 (CompTIA). The English SY0-701 exam stays available until June 11, 2027 (CompTIA), so in English both versions run side by side for almost seven months.
- Exam: up to 90 questions (multiple choice and performance-based), 90 minutes, passing score 750 on a 100 to 900 scale, in both versions.
- Prerequisites: none required. For V8, CompTIA recommends two years as a security administrator; for V7, Network+ and two years as a security or systems administrator.
- Cost: $439 for a V7 voucher (CompTIA). CompTIA hasn’t published a V8 price yet. Full cost breakdown.
- Valid for three years, renewable with 50 CEUs and a $150 fee per cycle (CompTIA).
Security+ is CompTIA’s entry-level cybersecurity certification, and CompTIA maps it to US Department of Defense (DoD 8140) work roles. This guide covers what the exam tests, what changes with SY0-801, who it suits, how renewal works and how it compares with the next steps. Every fact links to the issuer. We checked them on September 23, 2026.
What the exam covers
CompTIA splits both versions into five domains. The weights shift with V8:
| Domain | SY0-701 (V7) | SY0-801 (V8) |
|---|---|---|
| General Security Concepts | 12% | 16% |
| Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (V8: and Attacks) | 22% | 24% |
| Security Architecture | 18% | 19% |
| Security Operations | 28% | 27% |
| Security Program Management and Oversight | 20% | 14% |
Sources: SY0-701 exam objectives, PDF, Security+ V8.
Security operations is the largest block in both versions. V8 takes weight from program management and oversight (20% to 14%) and adds an objective on the security risks of artificial intelligence, covering AI systems, models, prompts, privacy and data exposure (CompTIA). Some questions are performance-based, meaning you work through a simulated task rather than pick an answer.
Exam facts
| SY0-701 (V7) | SY0-801 (V8) | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | November 7, 2023 | November 17, 2026 |
| Retirement | English: June 11, 2027; Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai: August 13, 2027 | estimated three years after launch |
| Questions | maximum of 90, multiple choice and performance-based | maximum of 90, multiple choice and performance-based |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 750 on a scale of 100 to 900 | 750 on a scale of 100 to 900 |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai | English |
| Recommended experience | Network+ and two years as a security or systems administrator | two years of hands-on experience as a security administrator |
| Voucher (US) | $439 | not published yet |
Sources: CompTIA Security+ V7, CompTIA Security+ V8.
SY0-701 or SY0-801: which version to take
Both versions lead to the same certification. CompTIA says it stays valid for at least three years “regardless of which version of the exam you take” (CompTIA blog). The choice is about timing, study material and language:
- Stay with SY0-701 if you’re already preparing for it. The English exam runs until June 11, 2027. CompTIA advises leaving a buffer, because if you fail an old exam shortly before it retires, “your only recourse will be to take the new exam” (same source).
- Consider SY0-801 if you start studying around its launch. V7 material is only useful until mid-2027, and V8 covers newer topics such as AI risks (CompTIA).
- Testing in Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish or Thai? V8 launches in English only. The V7 exam in those languages runs until August 13, 2027 (CompTIA).
Two voucher rules matter for the choice:
- A plain voucher works for either version. CompTIA’s help center says exam vouchers are “not tied to a particular version” (CompTIA help). Buying one now doesn’t lock you into V7.
- Retake Assurance is tied to the version. The V7 product covers a retake of “your Security+ (V7) exam” (CompTIA), and CompTIA’s voucher terms say special retake vouchers “cannot be redeemed for other versions of the same exam” (voucher terms). Our reading: with V7 Retake Assurance, plan both attempts before June 11, 2027. Details in our Security+ cost guide.
Who Security+ is for
CompTIA aligns Security+ with DoD 8140 work roles including “cyber defense analyst, incident responder, vulnerability analyst, security control assessor, system administrator, network specialist” and several more (CompTIA).
It fits you if you:
- are moving into security from IT support, networking or systems administration,
- need a baseline credential for a government or contractor role,
- want a vendor-neutral foundation before cloud- or vendor-specific security certifications.
It’s less useful if you already hold a senior certification like the CISSP, or if your target employer asks for a specific vendor’s certification instead.
How long Security+ lasts and how to renew
Security+ is valid for three years from the day you pass (CompTIA CE FAQ). To renew, you have four options:
- Continuing education: 50 CEUs within the three years plus a $150 fee per cycle (CEUs, CE fees).
- A higher CompTIA certification: passing CySA+, for example, renews Security+ as well (CompTIA).
- A newer Security+ exam: passing a later version than the one you were certified on renews Security+ without a CE fee (CompTIA). Once SY0-801 is out, that route opens for SY0-701 holders.
- CertMaster CE: CompTIA’s online renewal course, $209 (CompTIA). It’s currently open only to people who earned Security+ by passing SY0-601 or earlier (CompTIA). If you pass SY0-701 or SY0-801, you’d need a later course release, which CompTIA hasn’t announced.
Costs of each route are compared in our Security+ cost guide.
Is Security+ worth it?
At $439 (CompTIA) with no annual fee it’s one of the cheaper certifications to hold for three years (see the Certification Cost Index). Its value depends on the jobs you target: it’s an entry-level credential, and senior roles usually ask for experience and more advanced certifications.
A reasonable rule: if job postings you’re targeting list Security+ or DoD 8140 compliance, get it. If they list a cloud provider’s security certification or the CISSP, check whether Security+ still adds anything for you.
What comes after Security+
| Next step | Focus | Exam (US) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CySA+ | Security analyst, detection and response | $439 | Renewing it also renews Security+ |
| CISSP | Broad security, management | $749 | Needs five years of experience |
| CCSP | Cloud security | $599 | Needs five years of IT experience, or an active CISSP |
| CISM | Security management | $575 / $760 | Needs five years of security management experience |
Sources: CompTIA CySA+, ISC2 exam pricing, CISSP experience, CCSP experience, ISACA CISM fees, CISM experience. Our guides: CISSP cost, CCSP, CISM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CompTIA Security+ certification?
An entry-level, vendor-neutral cybersecurity certification from CompTIA. The current exam is SY0-701; its successor SY0-801 is expected to launch on November 17, 2026.
How long is the Security+ exam?
90 minutes, with up to 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions. SY0-801 keeps both limits.
What score do you need to pass Security+?
750 on a scale of 100 to 900, in both versions.
Does Security+ expire?
Yes. It’s valid for three years and can be renewed with continuing education, a higher CompTIA certification, or by passing a newer version of the exam. CertMaster CE is currently open only to people certified on SY0-601 or earlier.
When does SY0-701 retire?
The English version retires on June 11, 2027; the Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai versions on August 13, 2027. Its successor, SY0-801 (V8), is expected to launch on November 17, 2026, so in English you can choose between the two until June 11, 2027.
What is SY0-801?
The exam code of Security+ V8, expected to launch on November 17, 2026: up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 750, English only at launch. CompTIA hasn’t published a V8 voucher price yet.
Do I need Network+ before Security+?
No. For V7, CompTIA recommends it along with two years of relevant experience, but neither is required.
How we checked these facts. Every fact comes from the issuers’ own pages (CompTIA, ISC2, ISACA) and CompTIA’s official exam objectives, linked where it appears, checked on September 23, 2026. Certificate Quest is not affiliated with CompTIA and earns nothing from links on this page.