Security+ Certification: A guide to CompTIA's Security Training

CompTIA is a non-profit trade association that comprises 2000+ organizations and 3000+ business partners. However, the organization focuses on educating and certifying all IT professionals. On the other hand, CompTIA figures prominently in philanthropy and public policy advocacy.

The CompTIA security plus certification training validates that you possess the requisite skills to build an IT security career. Professionals can earn this renowned entry-level certification and advance toward a rewarding career. In this article, we will provide you with valuable insights into CompTIA's Security Training and a few more things. Please go through the entire article to learn more. Let’s dive in.

What is Security+ Exactly?

Security+ is nothing but an entry-level cyber security credential. It is offered by the non-profit trade association CompTIA.

It is usually the first information security certification earned by an IT professional. This certification enables you to elevate the core skills required for a cybersecurity professional. With this certification, you can increase your chances of finding better job opportunities as a competitive candidate.

Domains Covered by Security+ Certification

The CompTIA Security+ certification ranks as an immensely renowned certification for cybersecurity professionals. Primarily, it focuses on practical and hands-on security skills across five major domains.

Once you prepare for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam, you will gain an enormous base of practical knowledge and skills. Therefore, you will have the potential to handle all real-world security situations seamlessly.

Here is a comprehensive listing of all the domains covered by Security+ Certification:

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• Design and Architecture

This domain exactly focuses on cloud, enterprise, and hybrid environments.

• Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities

It consists of social engineering attacks and newer denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. It also includes all the vulnerabilities found in embedded devices and the internet of things.

• Operations and Incident Response

This domain typically tests your knowledge of incident response procedures. They include security controls, threat detection, digital forensics, and risk mitigation.

• Implementation

It mainly covers cryptography, identity, and access management, public key infrastructure, and end-to-end security.

• Governance, Risk, and Compliance

This domain covers risk and compliance regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, NIST, SOC, FISMA, CCPA, and PCI-DSS.

Prerequisites of Security+ Certification

You should note that no such formal prerequisites exist to opt for the Security+ Certification. However, CompTIA recommends that enthusiasts have at least two years of experience in IT administration focused on security. It is also a great idea to possess an up-to-date CompTIA Network+ certification first.

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Is CompTIA Security+ Certification worthwhile?

The CompTIA Security+ certification is widely accepted as a vendor-neutral certification within the IT industry. It teaches all the requisite skills that a professional requires to land a high-paying job as a cybersecurity professional.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics categorizes all the job roles covered by CompTIA Security+ Certification. They are broadly distinguished under network and computer systems administrators. And the number of credible jobs under this category is likely to grow by more than 6% by 2026.

Passing the Security+ Certification exam with flying colors involves investing time and money. And the return on your investment will completely depend on your career goals.

Obtaining a CompTIA Security+ Certification is a remarkable step towards building a career in cybersecurity. While you prepare for the exam, you also get the opportunity to develop your cybersecurity skills. Thus, you will have greater confidence in handling all real-world security threats.

If you are looking forward to pursuing the CompTIA Security+ Certification training program, you should go for it. This will help you take a step ahead toward a rewarding career.

Jobs that ask for Security+ Certification

Many jobs in the information security field use the knowledge and skills tested by Security+. Here, we have listed some of the most commendable job titles that prefer this certification:

• Systems Administrator - Average Annual Pay - $81,628
• SOC Analyst - Average Annual Pay - $99,815
• Database Administrator - Average Annual Pay - $84,213
• Vulnerability Analyst - Average Annual Pay - $102,504
• Information Security Analyst - Average Annual Pay - $89,669
• Cybersecurity Consultant - Average Annual Pay - $106,523
• Cyber Threat Hunter - Average Annual Pay - $89,361
• Information Systems Architect - Average Annual Pay - $146,149

Tips to prepare for the CompTIA Security+ Certification exam

There are numerous ways to prepare yourself for the CompTIA Security+ Certification exam. But how you prepare depends on your current knowledge, previous experiences, and learning style.

Here are some tips for making your preparations easier.

• Enroll in Exam Prep courses

Several institutions and educational organizations provide exam preparation courses for the CompTIA Security+ Certification. So, enrolling in a preparation course will provide a clear learning structure. Besides, it will help you cover all the requisite topics within the stipulated time.

• Research books, blogs, and websites

You will find plenty of online resources if you prefer creating self-made notes. You will have them all, starting from books, website articles, blogs, podcasts, etc. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to formulate your notes and prepare yourself for the examination.

• Practice tests for CompTIA Security+ Certification

Opting for a practice test will help you identify all the topics you need to study. This technique for preparing yourself will probably have an added benefit for calming your nerves on the test day. CompTIA, the non-profit trade association, provides a free practice test for the Security+ Certification.

To conclude

Earning a Security+ Certification is undoubtedly a significant accomplishment. It will pave the way for you toward a long career in the field of cybersecurity.

While you advance your career prospects in this field, you can also consider pursuing other certifications. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to qualify for better career opportunities.

If you need more time to prepare yourself, you can reschedule your exam up to 24 hours before your appointment.