Prep
Network+ vs Security+ in one minute
The Network+ vs Security+ question usually comes down to order, not choice. CompTIA designed them as consecutive steps: A+, then Network+, then Security+. CompTIA recommends Network+ as preparation for Security+, but neither exam has a formal prerequisite, so you can take them in any order or skip Network+ entirely.
The short version: Network+ is about building, running and troubleshooting networks. Security+ is about protecting systems, detecting attacks and managing security risk. Security+ assumes you already understand networking, which is why many people take Network+ first.
| Network+ (N10-009) | Security+ (SY0-701 / SY0-801) | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions and time | Up to 90 in 90 minutes | Up to 90 in 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 720 (100-900) | 750 (100-900) |
| US price | US$399 (secondary source) | US$439 (secondary source) |
| Prerequisites | None (A+ recommended) | None (Network+ recommended) |
| Renewal | 3 years, 30 CEUs + US$150 | 3 years, 50 CEUs + US$150 |
| Renews the other? | No | Yes, Security+ renews Network+ |
Side-by-side comparison
| Network+ (N10-009) | Security+ (SY0-701 / SY0-801) | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Networking concepts, implementation, operations, security, troubleshooting | Threats, security architecture, security operations, governance |
| Questions | Up to 90 | Up to 90 |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 720 (100-900) | 750 (100-900) |
| Question types | Multiple choice and performance-based | Multiple choice and performance-based |
| Recommended experience | A+ and 9-12 months as a junior network administrator or support technician | Network+ and two years in a security or systems administrator role |
| US price | US$399 (secondary source) | US$439 (secondary source) |
| Valid for | 3 years | 3 years |
| Renewal by CEUs | 30 CEUs + US$150 CE fee | 50 CEUs + US$150 CE fee |
| Version change | None announced (launched June 2024) | SY0-801 launches on or around November 17, 2026; SY0-701 English retires June 11, 2027 |
Exam facts come from CompTIA's certification pages. CompTIA's store loads prices dynamically, so the prices are from CompTIA partner Total Seminars, which reports the mid-2026 US list prices. Check the CompTIA store for your country.
What each exam covers
Network+
Five domains: network troubleshooting (24%), networking concepts (23%), network implementation (20%), network operations (19%) and network security (14%). You learn the OSI model, ports and protocols, IPv4 addressing and subnetting, routing and switching, wireless, monitoring and a structured troubleshooting method.
Security+
Five domains. On SY0-701: security operations (28%), threats, vulnerabilities and mitigations (22%), security program management and oversight (20%), security architecture (18%) and general security concepts (12%). On SY0-801 the weights shift toward general concepts (16%) and threats (24%), with less on program management (14%). You learn cryptography, identity and access, attack types, secure architecture, vulnerability management, incident response, risk and compliance.
Where they overlap
Network security is 14% of Network+, and networking knowledge runs through Security+: firewalls, segmentation, secure protocols, VPNs, wireless security and reading network logs. The overlap is real but partial. Network+ teaches how the network works; Security+ assumes you know that and asks how to defend it.
A concrete example: Network+ might ask which port a service uses or why a host on one VLAN cannot reach another. Security+ is more likely to ask which control stops an attacker moving between those VLANs, or what a log entry showing traffic on that port suggests. Same building blocks, different question.
Is Security+ harder than Network+?
It depends on your background, and neither is objectively harder. Security+ has a higher pass mark (750 versus 720), more scenario questions where two answers look plausible, and a large governance and risk section that has no equivalent on Network+. Network+ demands more technical precision: subnetting calculations, routing behaviour and step-by-step troubleshooting.
People from a systems or help desk background often find Security+ more familiar. People who like hands-on networking often find Network+ easier. CompTIA does not publish pass rates for either exam, so we cannot compare them on numbers.
Decision guide: Network+ or Security+ first?
| Your situation | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| New to IT, aiming for security | Network+ first (after or alongside A+). Security+ will be much easier with a networking base. |
| Help desk or sysadmin, comfortable with TCP/IP, DNS and subnetting | Go straight to Security+. Use our Network+ practice test to check for gaps first. |
| Want a networking career | Network+, then consider CCNA. Security+ later if your role moves toward security. |
| A job offer or contract requires Security+ | Security+ now. Fill networking gaps as part of your Security+ study. |
| Budget for only one exam | Security+, if your goal is security. Cover the networking basics with free material as part of your preparation. |
Can I skip Network+ and go to Security+?
Yes. There is no requirement to hold Network+ before you book Security+. Plenty of people skip it, especially if they already work with networks. The risk is studying Security+ without the networking base it assumes: you end up learning both at once, which is slower and more frustrating.
A practical test: take our free Network+ practice test. If you are comfortable with most of it, skip Network+ and start Security+. If you struggle with subnetting, ports or routing, spend a few weeks on networking first, either for the full Network+ exam or just as background.
Which jobs each one targets
CompTIA describes the two certifications for different roles:
- Network+ prepares you, in CompTIA's words, for jobs in technical support, network operations and system administration. CompTIA maps it to the technical support specialist, network operations specialist and system administrator work roles.
- Security+ is listed by CompTIA for security analyst, security engineer and systems administrator roles. CompTIA also states it is approved under the US Department of Defense's DoDM 8140.03 program, which matters for many government and contractor positions.
Both list systems administrator, which is why so many sysadmins end up holding both. If your target is a SOC or analyst role, Security+ is the one that names it. If your target is a network operations centre or a network engineer track, Network+ is the more direct fit, with CCNA as a common next step; our CCNA vs Network+ comparison covers that choice.
Look at ten job listings in your area for the role you want and count which certification they mention. That is a better guide than any general ranking, including ours.
Study time and a combined plan
Neither CompTIA page gives recommended study hours. As a rough guide for someone studying 8 to 10 hours a week with basic IT knowledge:
- Network+: about 10 weeks, with daily subnetting practice and weekly lab time.
- Security+: about 8 to 10 weeks after Network+, longer if you skip it.
If you plan to take both, do them back to back. The networking you learn for Network+ is fresh when you start Security+, and you can reuse the same home lab: the virtual machines and packet captures you used for troubleshooting become your practice ground for firewall rules, log review and hardening. Book Network+ for the end of your first block and Security+ about two months later, so you keep momentum without overlapping the two syllabi.
Whichever order you choose, base your exam date on timed practice scores, not on the calendar.
Cost over three years
Doing both is cheaper to maintain than it looks, because CompTIA treats Security+ as a higher-level certification: earning Security+ fully renews Network+ and A+. If you pass Network+ and then Security+, you mostly need to keep Security+ current.
- Network+ only: US$399 exam plus US$150 CE fee with 30 CEUs over three years.
- Security+ only: US$439 exam plus US$150 CE fee with 50 CEUs over three years.
- Both: US$838 in exams; renewing Security+ then keeps Network+ active through the CompTIA renewal rules.
Exam prices are US list prices per Total Seminars; resellers and bundles often cost less.
How to prepare for either exam
Download the official objectives, study one main resource, build a small lab and use practice questions throughout. Our Network+ study guide has a 10-week plan, and our how to get Security+ guide covers the SY0-701 vs SY0-801 decision step by step. When you are ready to test yourself, try our free Security+ practice test.