Is the CompTIA Security+ Certification worth it today? Costs, salary and FAQ

What is the CompTIA Security+ Certification?

CompTIA Security+ validates foundational, hands‑on skills to perform core security functions. The current exam is SY0‑701. According to the official exam objectives, Security+ assesses your ability to:

• assess and secure enterprise environments
• monitor and secure hybrid environments (on‑prem, cloud, mobile, IoT)
• operate with governance, risk and compliance awareness
• identify, analyse and respond to security events and incidents

The exam includes multiple‑choice and performance‑based questions (PBQs). PBQs simulate real scenarios—such as configuring a control, interpreting logs, or prioritising a response—so you demonstrate practical competence, not just theory. Security+ is valid for three years and participates in CompTIA’s Continuing Education program, which allows renewal through approved learning activities rather than retaking the exam.

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Secondary keywords: SY0‑701, performance‑based questions, governance risk and compliance, incident response, cloud security, exam, prepare.

Why is the CompTIA Security+ Certification so popular?

1. Vendor‑neutral and widely recognised
   Security+ establishes baseline security skills across technologies and platforms. Employers use it as a common benchmark because it maps to practical job tasks rather than a single vendor’s product.
2. Practical, job‑aligned focus
   The objectives emphasise hands‑on work: securing infrastructure, applying cryptographic solutions, vulnerability management, monitoring and incident response. PBQs test how you apply knowledge under realistic pressure.
3. Clear progression path
   Security+ often serves as a launchpad into analyst, SOC and engineer roles, and provides a pathway towards more specialised certifications such as CySA+ and PenTest+. If you come from general IT, Security+ bridges into entry‑level security roles.
4. Three‑year renewal that encourages upskilling
   CompTIA’s CE program keeps knowledge current. Rather than a once‑and‑done credential, Security+ motivates continuous learning through CEUs or advancing to higher‑level certifications.

Is the CompTIA Security+ Certification worth it today?

For most entry‑level and early‑career professionals, yes. If you’re moving into security from help desk, network support, systems administration or cloud support, Security+ validates that you can apply core security practices across modern environments. It’s also useful for analysts already performing basic triage or monitoring who want a recognised credential to formalise skills.

From an Australian perspective, demand for cyber capability remains strong. Organisations are converging networking and security, increasing cloud adoption, and focusing on risk and resilience. Security+ helps you speak the language of risk, controls and incident response, and gives you practical foundations to grow into more advanced roles. If you’re aiming for SOC, incident response or security operations, Security+ is a sensible first step.

Pros of Security+ Certification

Job availability

Australian organisations across sectors—financial services, health, government, MSPs and SaaS—need staff who understand baseline security controls and operational processes. Security+ aligns to those entry‑level security tasks, making it relevant to a wide set of job ads that cite vendor‑neutral foundations.

Security+ salary potential

Security+ itself doesn’t set salary; your pay depends on role, sector, location and experience. That said, Security+ often correlates with the transition from general IT roles to dedicated security positions (SOC analyst, junior security analyst, incident response assistant), which typically attract higher packages than tier‑1 service desk or general support. Add experience, projects and higher‑level certifications and your earning potential grows.

Global recognition

Because Security+ is widely adopted and vendor‑neutral, it travels well. If you move between Australian states or work with global firms, a familiar credential helps hiring managers compare candidates consistently.

Career pathways

Security+ sits at the foundation of CompTIA’s security track. Many learners follow with CySA+ (analysis and detection) or PenTest+ (offensive testing). Others branch into cloud or vendor‑specific credentials. Security+ gives you shared language and practice across multiple pathways.

Cons of Security+ Certification

Cost considerations (including the exam fee in Australia)

CompTIA sells exam vouchers regionally through its online store. The global base voucher price is listed in USD, and Australian pricing is shown in AUD at checkout. Prices can change and bundles that include training, labs and a retake may reduce total cost. Plan your budget for the voucher and any practice resources that suit your learning style.
Tip: if you train with Logitrain, course options may include the exam fee—check current inclusions and dates.

Evolving industry demands

Security evolves quickly: cloud‑first architectures, zero trust, automation, and AI‑assisted operations. Security+ covers fundamental practices, but you’ll need to keep learning through projects, labs and the CE program to stay current.

Certification difficulty

Security+ is a rigorous, entry‑level exam. PBQs can be challenging if you’ve only studied theory. Good preparation involves hands‑on practice, interpreting logs, and building muscle memory for common tasks (e.g., applying a control, prioritising alerts, or drafting an incident workflow). Time management matters.

Where to begin to get your Security+ Certification

1. Review the official SY0‑701 objectives
   Use the domains as your study map. Prioritise high‑weight areas and build a weekly plan.
2. Choose your training approach
   Options include self‑study with official materials, instructor‑led training, labs, or blended learning. At Logitrain, our course is exam‑aligned and balances concepts with practical scenarios.
3. Practise performance‑based tasks
   Simulate common workflows: configuring a control, interpreting SIEM alerts, classifying data, selecting cryptographic options, or walking through an incident. PBQ familiarity lowers exam stress.
4. Build a revision routine
   Use short daily drills for terminology and controls; reserve longer sessions for lab‑style practice. Take a full timed practice exam near the end to test pacing.
5. Plan for renewal
   Note the three‑year cycle and CE options. Track webinars, training, projects and higher‑level certifications that earn CEUs.

Key topics covered in Security+

While the exam objectives are comprehensive, the following list captures themes you’re likely to meet during study and on the job:

• general security concepts and control types
• risk, governance and compliance principles
• threat actors, vectors and the attack surface
• vulnerability management, CVE and common weaknesses
• security architecture across on‑prem, cloud, virtualisation and IoT
• data protection, classification, privacy and retention
• cryptographic solutions, PKI, hashing and digital signatures
• identity, authentication, authorisation and accounting
• secure configuration, hardening and baselining
• network security fundamentals and segmentation
• secure communication and access, including VPNs and wireless controls
• monitoring, alerting and SIEM use cases
• security operations, playbooks and automation
• incident response lifecycle: preparation, detection, containment, eradication, recovery and lessons learned
• business continuity and disaster recovery considerations

Is a Security+ enough to get a job?

Security+ opens doors, but experience still matters. Employers look for evidence of practical capability: projects, labs, small wins in your current role, or volunteer work where you’ve applied controls or participated in incident handling. Pair Security+ with a short portfolio:

• a mini lab where you baseline a system and apply hardening
• a write‑up of an incident workflow, showing triage steps
• a cloud security note where you classify data and apply appropriate encryption

This demonstrates you can learn and apply, not just pass an exam.

Is Security+ worth it in Australia?

Yes—for early‑career professionals and career‑changers who want recognised, practical foundations. Australia’s demand for cyber capability is steady, with organisations modernising networks, adopting cloud and emphasising resilience. Security+ gives you the baseline language and hands‑on skills to contribute to SOC tasks, control implementation and incident response. Pair it with practical lab work and you’ll be competitive in entry‑level security roles.

Does having a Security+ Certification pay well?

Security+ itself does not guarantee a salary outcome. However, it’s commonly associated with stepping into dedicated security roles, which usually pay more than general IT support. Salaries vary by city, sector and your experience. Use Security+ to access interviews, then highlight your projects and measurable outcomes to secure a stronger offer.

Is the Security+ very difficult?

Security+ is challenging if you rely solely on reading. The exam rewards applied understanding and confident execution in PBQs. If you practise configurations, read logs, and rehearse incident steps, you’ll find the exam fair and achievable. Many learners report that PBQs feel comfortable after doing at least a dozen realistic exercises.

Is the Security+ certification stressful?

Any timed exam can be stressful, especially with PBQs. Reduce stress by:

• practising PBQ‑style tasks so you recognise patterns quickly
• using a time plan (e.g., allocate a fixed window for PBQs, then move to multiple‑choice)
• learning how to flag questions and return later
• running one full mock under exam conditions the week before

How many fail Security+?

CompTIA does not publish pass or fail rates for its exams. That means public “first‑time pass rate” figures are speculation. Focus on your study plan, PBQ practice and time management. If you need a retake, it’s common to improve markedly on the second attempt after targeted remediation.

The future of networking jobs in Australia

Networking and security are converging. Organisations are deploying integrated multicloud networking and security platforms, adopting AI‑assisted operations, and modernising data centre architectures to support new workloads. For early‑career professionals, this means the baseline skills you learn in Security+—identity, controls, segmentation, monitoring and incident response—connect directly with network‑security roles. As networks become more automated and cloud‑connected, professionals who can speak both “netops” and “secops” will be valuable. Security+ is a strong foundation for that blend.