The CompTIA Security+ Certification: What It Is, Why You May Need It, and How to Get It
What Is the CompTIA Security+ Certification?
The CompTIA Security+ certification is a widely recognized credential that IT professionals with two years of experience obtain to show they have the essential cybersecurity skills and knowledge necessary for job placement in intermediate roles. It is accepted by many government agencies and can be used as a stepping stone to other more advanced certifications. The certification covers a wide range of topics, too, ensuring the user is well versed in topics such as risk management, incident response, cryptography, network security, and compliance.
What Skills Are Tested on the CompTIA Security+ Exam?
When sitting for the CompTIA Security+ exam, you’ll be tested on a wide array of cybersecurity topics. Let’s explore some common skills this exam covers.
Vulnerabilities, Threats, and Cyberattacks
On the CompTIA Security+ exam, you’ll need to understand, identify, and explain different vulnerabilities, threats, and cyberattacks and how they affect various systems. Vulnerabilities are weaknesses in systems, software, or hardware that attackers can exploit; threats are potential dangers that can exploit these vulnerabilities, including malware and phishing; and cyberattacks are deliberate actions taken to exploit vulnerabilities.
Identity and Access Management
The CompTIA Security+ exam covers how organizations manage user identities, authentication, authorization, and user control to protect systems and data. The test focuses on concepts like identity controls, account types, authentication methods, and access controls, which are all critical to securing data and resources.
Cryptography and Public Key Infrastructure
The exam will cover cryptography and public key infrastructure (PKI), focusing on securing data through encryption, hashing, digital signatures, and key management, as well as testing your knowledge of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, certificate management, and security best practices. It covers areas in encryption concepts, certificate authorities, cryptographic protocols, and cryptographic attacks and defenses.
Technology and Tools
You will be evaluated on your knowledge of various cybersecurity technologies and tools used to detect, mitigate, and prevent threats. The exam covers the different attack vectors and common vulnerabilities, network security tools, security architecture, data protection, network security tools, endpoint security and system hardening topics, command-line tools, and wireless security topics.
Risk Assessment and Management
Risk assessment and management covers identifying, analyzing, and managing risks to protect organizational assets. It includes concepts like risk management processes, risk analysis, and risk mitigation. It’s also smart to study up on cost-benefit analysis, risk frameworks and standards, and compliance and legal issues. This section ensures that test-takers are well prepared to evaluate risks, implement security controls, and maintain a secure environment.
Design and Architecture
Part of the exam concentrates on planning, deploying, and safeguarding IT infrastructures and networks. Test-takers must be able to prove their understanding of security architectures, secure network design, and the integration of security measures into an organization’s infrastructure.
How Much Can You Make with This Certification?
You might be wondering how CompTIA Security+ certification would benefit you. Aside from providing you with more education and skills training you can use on the job, this certification looks great on resumes. You can land some big-time IT jobs with this certification under your belt, like network administrator, cybersecurity engineer, security specialist, security consultant, and penetration tester.
These roles can make you more money. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, network and computer systems administrators made a 2023 median annual salary of $95,360, and information security analysts made a median salary of $120,360. If you want to grow your career and increase your pay, earning this certification is an excellent choice.
CompTIA Security+ Training at Excelsior University
Don’t feel discouraged about taking an exam to earn the CompTIA Security+ certification. There’s plenty of help out there to prepare you. Before taking the exam, CompTIA recommends earning your CompTIA Network+ certification and completing two years of experience working as a security or systems administrator, but many IT professionals choose to have a degree under their belt, as well.
A Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, for instance, provides students with the technical and theoretical knowledge needed to protect systems, networks, and data from cyberthreats. Students usually study a mix of computer science, networking, security principles, cryptography, ethical hacking, risk management, and legal aspects of cybersecurity.
You might also consider earning a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in something like cybersecurity. A typical IT program includes IT fundamentals, networking and cloud computing, computer hardware and software, etc., and your concentration would allow you to delve into cybersecurity components.
Some would-be test-takers also enroll in a course specifically geared toward passing the CompTIA Security+ exam. This option might make sense if earning a bachelor’s degree isn’t practical or if you need a refresher on some of the material.
If you want to grow your skills and education in cybersecurity and technology, taking the CompTIA Security+ exam is a solid choice. It can help take you to new career heights and improve your financial outlook. And don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to help prepare for such a big exam, including gaining real-world experience and taking courses. Soon, you’ll be on your way to becoming a certified technology professional.
