SY0-801 changes: what Security+ V8 means if you are studying now

SY0-801 changes: what is new in Security+ V8

The biggest of the SY0-801 changes is not the format but the balance of the content. CompTIA's Security+ V8 page gives a launch date of on or around November 17, 2026, ten days from the day we checked. The current exam, SY0-701 (V7), launched on November 7, 2023 and now has a fixed end date.

Here is what CompTIA's official pages confirm, as of November 7, 2026:

• Same format. SY0-801 has a maximum of 90 questions, multiple-choice and performance-based, in 90 minutes. The passing score is still 750 on a scale of 100-900.
• Same five domains, new weights. General Security Concepts and Threats grow, Security Program Management and Oversight shrinks. One domain is renamed: "Threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations" becomes "Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks".
• AI is now in scope. The V8 objectives include a dedicated objective on the security risks associated with artificial intelligence, covering risks to models, prompts, privacy and data exposure. AI also appears in threat indicators and in AI-assisted workflows within security automation and orchestration.
• English only at launch. The V8 page lists English as the only language so far.
• Expected lifespan. CompTIA estimates SY0-801 will retire about three years after launch.

Other areas that CompTIA highlights in the V8 objectives include Zero Trust, cloud and hybrid environments, operational technology, and resilience and recovery.

SY0-701 vs SY0-801: the domain weights side by side

The table further down shows every domain. The headline shifts are:

• Security Program Management and Oversight drops from 20% to 14%. Governance, risk and compliance still matter, but they take up a smaller share of the exam.
• General Security Concepts rises from 12% to 16%. That means more questions on the foundations, so do not skim this domain because it looks basic.
• Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks rises from 22% to 24%, and now includes AI-related risks.
• Security Architecture moves from 18% to 19%, and Security Operations from 28% to 27%. Operations is still the largest domain on both versions.

In practice, roughly half of either exam is security operations plus threats. If you have studied SY0-701 well, most of your knowledge carries over. The real gaps are the AI objectives and the different emphasis, so a SY0-701 candidate who switches would need to read the new objectives line by line rather than start again.

Key dates for Security+ candidates

CompTIA says "on or around" for the V8 launch, so if you want to sit SY0-801 in its first week, check that the exam is bookable at Pearson VUE before you plan your schedule around it.

What it means for you

Both versions lead to the same CompTIA Security+ certification, valid for three years. Employers and frameworks that ask for Security+ do not ask for a specific exam code. So the choice comes down to timing, language and study materials.

• You are already studying for SY0-701 and can test in the next few months: stay on SY0-701. You have until June 11, 2027 in English. Switching now costs you study time for very little gain.
• You need the exam in Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish or Thai: SY0-701 is your option for now. It stays available in those languages until August 13, 2027, and CompTIA lists SY0-801 in English only.
• You are starting from zero in November 2026 or later: we recommend SY0-801. It will be current for longer, and new books, courses and labs will follow its objectives.
• You expect to test after June 11, 2027 in English: SY0-801 is the only option.
• You rely heavily on third-party study materials: SY0-701 materials are mature because the exam has been out since 2023. SY0-801 materials will take some time to appear. Whatever you use, check it against the official V8 objectives.

One practical warning: do not mix versions. Download the official exam objectives for the version you will sit, and use that document as your checklist. A SY0-701 book is a reasonable base for SY0-801 general concepts and operations, but it will not cover the new AI objectives.

Price and renewal: what stays the same

CompTIA's certification pages do not show a voucher price. CompTIA partner Total Seminars reports a US list price of US$439 per attempt since mid-2026, and we have not found an official SY0-801 price, so we assume it matches. Check the CompTIA store for your country before you buy. Our Security+ exam cost page breaks down the full budget.

Renewal rules do not change with the new exam. Security+ is valid for three years, and you renew through CompTIA's Continuing Education program: 50 CEUs and the CE fee in each cycle, or another qualifying activity such as passing the latest version of the exam. See our Security+ renewal guide for the options.

How to prepare for either version

The study method is the same for both exams:

1. Pick your version using the dates above, and download its official objectives.
2. Map what you already know against every objective and mark the gaps.
3. Study the biggest domains first: Security Operations and Threats.
4. Practise hands-on tasks such as reading logs, choosing firewall rules and picking a response step, because performance-based questions test them.
5. Take timed sets of up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, and review every wrong answer against the objectives.

Our free Security+ practice test covers the shared core of both versions. For the full process, from booking to exam day, read how to get Security+. If you are planning the next step after Security+, CompTIA also updated CySA+ this year: see our post on CySA+ V4 (CS0-004).