If you want a cybersecurity job and you already understand basic networking (IP addresses, subnets, DNS, common ports), take Security+ first. If those words still feel shaky, take Network+ first, or at least study its material before you sit Security+, because Security+ assumes you know how networks work and builds security on top.
That is the rule of thumb. Below is how to work out which camp you are in, what each exam actually tests, and how the two fit together.
What is the difference between Security+ and Network+?
Both are vendor-neutral CompTIA certifications aimed at early-career IT people. They answer different questions.
Network+ (N10-009) asks: can you build, run and fix a network? It covers how data moves, how networks are designed, how devices are configured and how to troubleshoot when something breaks.
Security+ (SY0-701) asks: can you protect systems and respond when something goes wrong? It covers threats, attacks, security architecture, day-to-day security operations, and the governance and risk side of security.
Here is how the official domains compare.
| Network+ N10-009 | Security+ SY0-701 | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1 | Networking Concepts (23%) | General Security Concepts (12%) |
| Domain 2 | Network Implementation (20%) | Threats, Vulnerabilities & Mitigations (22%) |
| Domain 3 | Network Operations (19%) | Security Architecture (18%) |
| Domain 4 | Network Security (14%) | Security Operations (28%) |
| Domain 5 | Network Troubleshooting (24%) | Security Program Management & Oversight (20%) |
| Questions | Up to 90 | Up to 90 |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 720 (100–900 scale) | 750 (100–900 scale) |
Network+ figures are from CompTIA’s Network+ page; Security+ figures from CompTIA’s Security+ page. Both exams mix multiple-choice and performance-based questions, where you work through a simulated task. For current prices, check CompTIA’s exam pages, because they change and vary by country.
Notice that Network+ already has a security domain, and Security+ is full of networking. The overlap is the reason the order matters.
Where the two overlap, and why that matters
Take a typical Security+ scenario: a company wants to stop its guest Wi-Fi users reaching the finance servers. The right answer involves segmentation, VLANs, firewall rules and perhaps 802.1X. Security+ expects you to choose the right control quickly. Network+ is where you learn what a VLAN actually is and why traffic between VLANs has to pass through a router or firewall.
Or take this firewall rule, the kind of rule logic both exams test (shown here in Linux iptables syntax):
# allow staff subnet to reach the web server on HTTPS only
iptables -A FORWARD -s 10.10.10.0/24 -d 10.10.50.20 -p tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -s 10.10.10.0/24 -d 10.10.50.0/24 -j DROP
If you can read that and explain why the order of the two lines matters, you are ready for the networking content in Security+. If /24, --dport 443 and “forward” mean nothing yet, Network+ material will save you a lot of confusion.
Is Security+ harder than Network+?
They are hard in different ways, and difficulty depends on your background.
Network+ feels harder for people without hands-on IT experience. It is detailed and practical: subnetting by hand, the OSI model, cabling standards, wireless standards, routing protocols, and troubleshooting methodology. There is a lot of memorisation, and the troubleshooting domain is the biggest single slice of the exam.
Security+ feels harder for people who struggle with scenarios. Many questions describe a situation and ask for the best option among several plausible ones. You need to understand concepts well enough to choose between, say, a compensating control and a corrective one, or know when to use hashing rather than encryption. It also covers more breadth: cryptography, identity, cloud, incident response, risk and compliance.
The higher passing score on Security+ (750 against 720) does not by itself mean it is harder; both are scaled scores, not percentages. Many candidates find Security+ wider and Network+ deeper.
Who should take Network+ first?
Take Network+ (or study its content thoroughly) first if:
- You are new to IT and have never configured a router, switch or firewall.
- You cannot yet subnet a /26 in your head or on paper.
- You do not know the difference between TCP and UDP, or what ports 22, 53, 443 and 3389 are for.
- You want a networking, infrastructure or IT support job as your first role.
- You are aiming for a SOC analyst role later and want to read packet captures and firewall logs with confidence.
A quick self-check. Can you answer these without searching?
- How many usable host addresses are in 192.168.10.0/26?
- Which protocol resolves an IP address to a MAC address on a local network?
- A user can reach websites by IP but not by name. What is the most likely broken service?
- What is the difference between a switch and a router?
(Answers: 62; ARP; DNS; a switch forwards frames within a network using MAC addresses, a router forwards packets between networks using IP addresses.) If you got all four right and could explain why, you probably know enough networking to start Security+.
Who can go straight to Security+?
Go straight to Security+ if:
- You have worked in IT support, systems administration or networking for a while.
- You studied computer science or networking and the basics above were easy.
- You are aiming at GRC, security awareness or audit-side roles, where the networking depth of Network+ matters less.
- You need one recognised security certification soon and your networking is solid enough.
Even then, do a networking refresher in the first week of your Security+ preparation. Our Security+ SY0-701 study guide builds that in.
Should you take both?
If your budget and time allow, Network+ then Security+ is a sound order, and it matches CompTIA’s own cybersecurity career pathway, which describes Network+ as a strongly recommended step before Security+ while making clear there are no required prerequisites. The two together give an employer confidence that you understand both how systems connect and how to protect them.
If you can only afford one exam, most people heading for a security job pick Security+ and self-study the Network+ content for free, using the official exam objectives as a checklist. You can download the objectives from each exam’s CompTIA page. Working through the objectives line by line, with a home lab, gives you most of the knowledge without the exam fee. You just will not have the credential.
Remember the difference between a certificate and a certification. A course completion certificate shows you studied. A certification such as Network+ or Security+ is an exam-based credential that employers can verify with CompTIA. Neither guarantees a job, but certifications are often used to filter CVs for entry-level roles.
What about Security+ vs A+?
CompTIA A+ sits before both. It covers hardware, operating systems, mobile devices, basic networking, troubleshooting and support procedures, and it is split into two exams (Core 1 and Core 2). It suits people who want a first helpdesk or desktop support job.
A sensible sequence for someone starting from nothing:
| Starting point | Suggested order |
|---|---|
| Never worked in IT | A+ material → Network+ → Security+ |
| Some IT support experience | Network+ → Security+ |
| Comfortable with networking | Security+ → then specialise (CySA+, PenTest+, GRC) |
You do not have to sit every exam. Many people study A+ content without taking the exams and go straight for Network+ or Security+. For the wider picture of which certifications to take and when, see best cybersecurity certifications for beginners.
A note on exam versions
Exam versions change roughly every three years. CompTIA’s site currently lists the next Security+ version, Security+ V8 (SY0-801), which CompTIA says is expected to launch on or around 17 November 2026. SY0-701 is still available, and when a new version launches the old one usually stays available for a period before retiring. If you are already well into studying for SY0-701, check CompTIA’s Security+ page for its retirement date and plan to sit it before then. If you are just starting, compare the two sets of objectives and choose the version you can sit comfortably within its window. Network+ N10-009 launched in 2024; check CompTIA’s page for its status before you book.
A four-week networking primer before Security+
If you are borderline, spend four weeks on this before starting Security+ in earnest:
- Week 1: OSI and TCP/IP models, common ports and protocols. Make flashcards for 20 key ports.
- Week 2: IP addressing and subnetting. Do ten subnetting problems a day until /24, /26 and /28 feel easy.
- Week 3: Switching, VLANs, routing and NAT. Build a small lab in Cisco Packet Tracer or GNS3.
- Week 4: Wireshark. Capture your own traffic, find a DNS query, a TCP three-way handshake and a TLS handshake. Run
nslookup example.comand find the matching packets.
After that, the networking parts of Security+ become revision rather than new learning.
FAQ
Can I skip Network+ and go straight to Security+? Yes. There are no formal prerequisites for Security+. CompTIA recommends prior networking knowledge and experience, so make sure you have it, whether or not you hold Network+.
Which is better for a SOC analyst job, Security+ or Network+? Security+ is more directly relevant, but SOC work leans heavily on networking. Strong networking knowledge plus Security+ is a good combination.
Is Network+ worth it if I want to be a penetration tester? The knowledge is essential; the certification is optional. Testers live in networks, ports and protocols.
How long does it take to study for each? It depends on your background and weekly hours. Use the official objectives to judge how much is new to you, and plan accordingly.