Security
CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: Complete Preparation Roadmap
18 min read•Updated December 28, 2024
Why Security+ in 2025?
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) is the #1 entry-level cybersecurity certification recognized globally. With cybersecurity threats increasing 300% year-over-year, Security+ certified professionals earn an average of $95,000/year and have access to over 50,000 open positions.
Quick Facts:
- Exam Code: SY0-701 (launched Nov 2023)
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Questions: 90 (MCQ + performance-based)
- Passing Score: 750/900
- Cost: $404 USD
- No Prerequisites! Beginner-friendly
8-Week Study Plan
Dedicate 10-12 hours per week for 8 weeks. This plan assumes no prior security experience.
Week 1-2: Security Concepts & Threats
- CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability
- Threat Actors: Nation-states, hacktivists, insider threats
- Attack Types: Malware, phishing, social engineering, DoS
- Vulnerability Management: Scanning, assessment, remediation
Week 3-4: Architecture & Design
- Network Security: Firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, proxies
- Secure Network Design: DMZ, segmentation, zero trust
- Cloud Security: IaaS/PaaS/SaaS, shared responsibility model
- Secure Protocols: HTTPS, SSH, SFTP, IPSec
Week 5-6: Implementation & Operations
- Identity Management: MFA, SSO, federation, LDAP
- Cryptography: Symmetric/asymmetric, hashing, PKI, certificates
- Host Security: Antivirus, EDR, application whitelisting
- Mobile Security: MDM, containerization, BYOD policies
Week 7: Governance & Compliance
- Risk Management: Assessment, mitigation, acceptance, transfer
- Policies & Procedures: AUP, data classification, retention
- Compliance: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX
- Incident Response: Preparation, detection, containment, recovery
Week 8: Practice & Review
- Take 4-5 full-length practice exams
- Master performance-based questions (PBQs)
- Review all acronyms and port numbers
- Schedule exam for end of week 8
Study Resources
📚 Essential Resources:
- Professor Messer's SY0-701 Videos - Free, high-quality video series
- CompTIA Official Study Guide - Comprehensive textbook (~$50)
- CertifyPro Practice Tests - Free realistic questions with explanations
- Jason Dion Practice Exams - Udemy course with 6 practice tests (~$15)
💡 Pro Tips:
- Memorize acronyms: Security+ has 100+ acronyms. Create flashcards.
- Practice PBQs: Performance-based questions are worth more points.
- Know port numbers: SSH (22), HTTPS (443), RDP (3389), etc.
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