CompTIA Security+™ Certification

Exam Details:

Questions: 100
Time: 90 Minutes
Passing Score: 764 on a scale of 100 - 900
Format: Multiple choice
Cost: $237.00
Other Requirements: None.
Renewal: None.

Editors' Quick Thoughts

This cert, as most CompTIA certs, matches only 1 exam to each cert. A+ was always the flagship cert offered by CompTIA. Although I'll probably get some hate mail for this, Security+ is stealing a lot of its thunder, and, in the area of entry-level security certs, this is the most widely known credential and the one recommended by CSP Mag. It is respected enough to now be an elective for premier certs from other organizations such as Microsoft's MCSE. For exam suggestestions, this one also follows suit with subjective questions. Since this exam was introduced in Dec 2002 and has received much attention, the study materials are plentiful. For this reason, the exam is widely considered easy for those with security experience.

From the Horse's Mouth (CompTIA Web Site Content):

The CompTIA Security+ certification tests for security knowledge mastery of an individual with two years on-the-job networking experience, with emphasis on security. The exam covers industry-wide topics, including communication security, infrastructure security, cryptography, access control, authentication, external attack and operational and organization security. CompTIA Security+ is taught at colleges, universities and commercial training centers around the globe. There are approximately 10,000 CompTIA Security+ certified professionals worldwide. CompTIA Security+ is an elective or prerequisite to advanced security certifications. The objectives of CompTIA Security+ were derived through input from industry, government and academia, a job task analysis, a survey of more than 1,100 subject matter experts and a beta exam with responses from subject matter experts around the world.

There is compelling evidence that neither technologies nor policies alone offer effective protection against security threats. Theft and destruction of intellectual property takes place despite the presence of firewalls, encryption and corporate edicts. The industry and governments around the world must have a well-trained workforce to effectively combat hackers, attacks and security threats. CompTIA Security+ is the standard validation for that workforce.

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