what is the latest version of CompTIA Security+

What is The Latest Version of CompTIA Security+?

What is the latest version of CompTIA Security+? In this article, we will provide you with the full history of this IT exam. Let’s get started right now!

Updated at March 14, 2023

CompTIA keeps updating the CompTIA Security+ certification training materials, which provide the essential knowledge to keep cybersecurity professionals prepared for evolving attacks and cyberthreats. This certification can help professionals in any career path become more well-rounded and ready with the skills necessary to safeguard today’s complex commercial computer ecosystem. 

What is the latest version of CompTIA Security+? The SY0-601 exam, the most recent version of this CompTIA exam, places a focus on modern developments like cloud, mobility, and IoT. It was updated to take into account the latest patterns and approaches — covering the foremost center specialist skills in risk evaluation and management, occurrence reaction, forensics, project systems, hybrid/cloud operations, and security controls, ensuring high-performance on their task.

What is The Latest Version of CompTIA Security+?

what is the latest version of CompTIA Security+

From 2000, there was a requirement for entry up to intermediate-level IT certification for experts seeking a career in the field of data security. Particularly, there was not a great springboard to intermediate-level security certifications for people inquisitive about genuinely seeking a career in the field of data security. CompTIA propelled the Security+ certification in 2002 for the purpose of addressing this demand.

The guiding vision of Security+ is to test what is generally assumed to be the capabilities and skills held by a professional with two years of full-time work experience. The credential can bring a significant boost to the certification holder’s competitiveness on the job market and is a positive investment for many career paths, including, security administrator, network/cloud engineer, helpdesk manager/analyst, systems administrator, junior IT auditor/penetration tester, DevOps/software developer, IT project manager or security engineer/analyst.

The directing vision of Security+ is to test what is by and large expected to be the capabilities and abilities held by a proficient user with 2 years of full-time work encounters. The credential can bring a noteworthy boost to the certification holder’s competitiveness on the work showcase and maybe positive speculation for numerous career ways, counting security director, DevOps/software specialist, helpdesk manager, and specialist, frameworks specialist, IT extend specialist, junior IT auditor/penetration analyzer, network, and cloud design, or security engineer/specialist.

2008 Update: CompTIA Security+ SY0-201

Much the same as data security itself, CompTIA Security+ is persistently advancing and should keep up with the constantly changing cybersecurity scene. The primary Security+ exam adaptation was SY0-101 and was utilized until 2008 when the reexamined exam, SY0-201, debuted. This completely new adaptation of the CompTIA Security+ exam included a modern center on frameworks security, organized foundation, organizational security, strategies forget to control, reviews, and cryptography. CompTIA Security+ SY0-201 was accessible for exam takers until the conclusion of the year 2011.

2011 Update: CompTIA Security+ SY0-301

From May 2011, CompTIA Security+ discharged the moment of major modification of Security +, SY0-301. This adaptation was propelled by a few noteworthy changes, counting unused concepts such as cloud computing, danger organization, and moderation, as well as other later advancements within the field of data security. SY0-301 lapsed at the conclusion of the year 2014. In the year 2013, the CompTIA Security+ exam started as a performance-based exam parcel requiring the candidate to perform assignments or unravel issues inside a reenacted data innovation environment, taken after by comparing questions centered on distinctive scenarios.

2014 Update: CompTIA Security+ SY0-401

In the year 2014, CompTIA discharged CompTIA  Security+ exam form SY0-401. This modern adaptation of CompTIA Security+ moved center however once more, this time with an emphasis on getting to control and character administration. This completely new form of the CompTIA Security+ certification exam was terminated in July of 2018.

2017 Update: CompTIA Security+ SY0-501

At that point came SY0-501. Discharged in the year 2017, the CompTIA Security+ exam substance changed by almost 25% from SY0-401. These changes included an expanded accentuation on cyberattacks, chance administration, and best exam practices. The reason for the expanded cyberattack scope was due to the increment in dispersed refusal of assaults, ransomware, phishing, and e-mail assaults. Within the final few years, these assaults have gotten to be more shifted, modern, and effective, making it more vital than ever for data security experts to visibly distinguish and neutralize all of them.

Read more >> CompTIA Security+ Validity: How Long Does This Last?

2020 Update: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601

The current adaptation of the CompTIA Security+, SY0-601, has been accessible since December of 2020, and, once once more, the CompTIA adjusted CompTIA Security+ exam spaces to reflect what’s happening within the industry. This CompTIA Security+ exam comprises the below 5 specific domains:

  • Attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities (which account for 24% of the total number of questions) — Capacity to recognize and get the distinctive sources of dangers, sorts of assaults, and vulnerabilities that will be exploited 
  • Architecture and design (which accounts for 21% of the total number of questions) — Talent to apply security controls in practice to make a secure environment for company operations 
  • Implementation (which accounts for 25% of the total number of questions) — Competence in executing a secure framework plan to protect perspectives related to hardware/firmware security, working frameworks, and peripherals
  • Operations and incident response (which accounts for 16% of the total number of questions) — Skill to reply satisfactorily to a cybersecurity occurrence and plan fitting progression procedures that can give businesses a level of resiliency and operational protections to resist unforeseen threats 
  • Governance, risk, and compliance (which accounts for 14% of the total number of questions) — Recognition with a comprehensive administration, chance, and compliance (GRC) program that adjusts with the procedure to safely empower and back the commerce, both in terms of optimization and clarity

For the purpose of effectively passing the CompTIA Security+ certification, the CompTIA Security+  candidates must demonstrate they have a few abilities: 

  • Assess the security pose of an endeavor environment and suggest and actualize suitable security solutions 
  • Monitor and secure half breed situations, counting cloud, portable, and IoT 
  • Operate with mindfulness of appropriate laws and arrangements, counting standards of administration, chance, and compliance Identify, analyze and react to security occasions and occurrences

CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Exam: What’s New?

what is the latest version of CompTIA Security+

So what is the difference between CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 vs SY0-501? Since the CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 educational modules and exams were presented, there has been a realization that expanded accentuation is required to be put on the central features of cybersecurity, counting security controls, occurrence reaction, and forensics. The proceeding slant toward half breed situations with cloud, portable, and IoT operations, has set a premium on sysadmins and arranged admins who are capable in all viewpoints of day-to-day security administration.

Security administrators must be able to determine and implement the appropriate security solutions for the organization’s hybrid environment, and then monitor those solutions, identifying and responding to security events and incidents. In addition, certified security professionals must understand and operate within the applicable principles of risk, compliance, and governance.

Because of this, the completely new version of CompTIA Security+ – the CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 is more centered but goes more profound than its forerunner. The new CompTIA Security+ exam has five main domains — one less than SY0-501 — and has fewer goals but has 25% more examples compared to the previous version of the CompTIA Security+ exam. In their SY0-601 certification exam goals archive, CompTIA states that the new format of CompTIA Security+ certìication is identical to 2 years of hands-on involvement working in a security or systems chairman work part. The new version of CompTIA Security+ highlights the 5 domains:

  • Attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities (which account for 24% of the total number of questions) 
  • Architecture and design (which accounts for 21% of the total number of questions) 
  • Implementation (which accounts for 25% of the total number of questions)
  • Operations and incident response (which accounts for 16% of the total number of questions)
  • Governance, risk, and compliance (which account for 14% of the total number of questions)

To grant you a case of the profundity secured by the exam, let’s see at the Dangers, Assaults, and Vulnerabilities space. Here, you will be anticipated to be able to distinguish and clarify over 20 diverse social building assault procedures, as well as diverse risk on-screen characters, vectors, insights sources, and the security concerns related to different types of vulnerabilities. In expansion, you will be required to analyze given scenarios to distinguish over 30 sorts of assaults on frameworks, systems/applications such as Secure Attachments Layer (SSL) stripping, ill-disposed AI, malware, dispersed denial-of-service (DDoS), cloud-based and on-premises assaults, API assaults, etc.

In spite of the fact that the substance and center of the CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 exam have changed, its structure has not. The exam still highlights up to 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions. The exam is 90 minutes long, and you’ll have to score at least 750 on a scale of 100 to 900 to gain your certification of CompTIA Security+. You’ll be able to take the CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 exam online or individually at a Pearson VUE testing center. Within the US, an exam voucher costs $370.

Read more >> How long to study for Security+

Who Should Take the Latest Version of CompTIA Security+?

Of course, since the CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 certification exam is set to resign in the year 2022, anybody considering approximately getting or reestablishing their Security+ ought to take the modern exam. Here are a few extra scenarios where it makes sense to require the  latest CompTIA Security+ exam:

You’re Confident to be Security+ Certified

In case you have passed the CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 exam, at that point, your Security+ certification is substantial for exactly 3 years from your Security+ certification date. At that time, you’ll take the then-current exam to resume your certificate. Managers typically look at the CompTIA Security+ certification itself, instead of the particular exam. So, unless your work particularly requests CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 certification, there’s nothing you would like to do.

You’re Carefully Prepared to Take the CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 Exam

Maybe you’ve started studying for the CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 certification exam? Well, you’ve got until the end of July 2022 to require it, after which you may need to take the unused exam. Should you take the CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 certification exam or go straight for the modern one? Unless your work, or the one for which you’re pointing, particularly requires the CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 certification exam, at that point it’s truly up to you. 

Check out the exam destinations reports and hone questions for each exam. Choose which  CompTIA Security+ exam you are feeling way better arranged for — and make your choice! In the event that you take and pass the CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 exam, at that point you’ll be Security+ certified for the following 3 years before the process of reestablishing your CompTIA Security+ certification.

Looking to Get Security-Certified?

Are you a junior-level information technology director, helpdesk specialist, or cloud builder looking to move into cybersecurity? Maybe you’re a DevOps build, an engineer, or an IT reviewer needing to include security certification to your CV?

In any of these mentioned circumstances, you ought to consider the CompTIA Security+ certification on your 1st try. In case you try to work in IT for the US Government, at that point CompTIA Security+ is one of the security certifications affirmed by the Office of Defense (DoD 8570.01) rules. For you, the CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 certification exam versus the CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 certification exam wrangle may be a no-brainer! Begin considering right now for the latest version of the Security exam.

Preparing For the CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Exam

what is the latest version of CompTIA Security+

Before the process of starting your journey on the Security+ SY0-601 certification exam, take note of CompTIA’s prescribed candidate encounters. They propose that candidates who endeavor the exam ought to have at least 2 years of work experience in IT sysadmin, with a center on security and hands-on specialized infosec involvement. Do not stress in the event that you do not have that working experience. Share your cybersecurity objective along with your manager and inquire about assignments that will assist you to construct experience.

Know the content

Another step that you should consider is to see what your course covers. CompTIA gives a nitty-gritty drill-down into the points secured in each SY0-601 certification exam area. In preparation for taking the SY0-601 CompTIA Security+ certification exam, check out our CompTIA Security+ practice test to familiarize yourself with the test format.

Create an effective studying strategy

Presently that you’ve recognized what you would like to consider, it’s time to form an effective studying strategy. Be practical about your work and life commitments. Attempt to schedule study time amid your downtime, or in conjunction with times after you may be utilizing a few of the studying material you’re learning. For occurrence, in the event that you’re planning to go to a specialized course or brief that’s centered on examining current organized security patterns, arrange to ponder organizing strategies before or even during/after that workshop.

Take CompTIA Security+ practice exams

Since it is an entry-level exam, numerous candidates may not be recognizable with test-taking techniques or how it feels to require a coordinated exam. Taking multiple CompTIA Security+ practice exams will assist you to survey how much time you’ll need for each address, as well as your by and large information level. Taking CompTIA Security’s practice exams based on single-domain subjects may be a great step. Once you’ve aced each space zone, take full-length CompTIA Security+ practice exams to guarantee you’re prepared for the real CompTIA Security+ exam encounter. To begin, survey CompTIA Security’s practice questions. Another choice is InfoSec Institute’s practice questions.

As the CompTIA Security+ practice exam test comes about, don’t be discouraged. Unless you’re an experienced test taker, it is very common for things to go acrid amid the primary round of  CompTIA Security+ questions, particularly in the event that you’re not done along with your perusing and CompTIA Security+ preparation course. Take your time to consider and utilize each asset accessible to clarify any  CompTIA Security+ questions. By the conclusion of your  CompTIA Security+ studying materials, you may see reliable outcomes on CompTIA Security+ practice exams.

Get plenty of rest

This could seem like a no-brainer, but this was the leading exhortation I got before the process of taking the CompTIA Security+ exam. Attempt to schedule the exam near to your place of work so you don’t need to stress about being focused on activity-induced there. I took my test at 10 a.m., less than a mile from my house, and did not go to work until after taking the CompTIA Security+ exam.

The morning of, I did a light audit of a few of the concepts to guarantee I hadn’t overlooked them overnight. These included the OSI demonstration, the CIA set of three, and a few of the foremost utilized ports and conventions. But that was it. I needed to grant my brain a break before the process of taking the CompTIA Security+ test.

Choosing to utilize a self-study-only approach could appear like a striking choice, but it may not be the finest methodology. Going through a certification arrangement course lets you spend time with experienced educators, with real knowledge on how to defeat the CompTIA Security+ exam. It is a great opportunity to urge all your questions to be replied to, share encounters and procedures, and indeed organize in case it is in-person preparation. This comes about in a more noteworthy victory rate on any certification exam.

A Few Extra Tips for CompTIA Security+ Exams

Some of the time the method may not flow as effectively as it sounds. In the event that the studying material is especially complex, or you’re having inconvenience understanding certain concepts, extra work is essential. Here are a couple of tips: 

  • Fix your botches: On the CompTIA Security+, the practice exam goes back to questions you got inaccurate to guarantee you get the concepts behind the right answer. 
  • Don’t overcompensate it: Don’t take the CompTIA Security+ practice exams more than twice. At that point, you increment your victory rate based on nature more than conceptual understanding.
  • Evaluate your preparation: In case you would like more time, it’s affirmative to reschedule the CompTIA Security+ exam. I would caution not to surpass an extra two weeks. 
  • Work the exam: On the day of the CompTIA Security+ exam, skip the scenario-based questions until the conclusion. They tend to be anxiety-producing – particularly being the primary few questions. Work on the multiple-choice first for the purpose of feeling comfortable and boosting your certainty, at that point circle back.

The Final Words

The CompTIA Security+ certification is currently regarded as one of the leading vendor-neutral credentials to validate the pattern competencies necessary to exhibit knowledge of core IT security-related abilities. It includes setting up the framework, organizing it, securing the devices, programs, and systems, learning about cyberthreats and investigations, chance management techniques, and nature with various cyberlaws, approaches, and controls. The certification was developed to validate the skills of data security specialists. By updating its exam locations, Security+ has successfully kept up with the evolving data security industry and will continue to launch expert careers in the long run.

The most recent security exam, the CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 certification exam, will support bolstering the esteem of the credential. CompTIA Security+ was regarded as a core infosec certification. The query “What is the latest version of CompTIA Security+?” has been answered for you today. You could be sure that earning the CompTIA Security+ certification will aid you in the development of the pattern aptitudes necessary for a successful career in the IT industry.