CompTIA Security+ Certification Training and Boot Camp SY0-601

Frequently asked questions

• What’s the value in earning the Security+ certification?

  • In today’s job market, there is a high demand for information security professionals — and receiving a Security+ certification is the perfect way for entry-level students to get their foot in the door. It can also serve as a career differentiator for IT professionals already in the field.

• What are the pre-requirements for earning the Security+?

  • While there are no mandatory pre-requirements to taking the Security+ exam, it’s highly suggested that students have at least 2 years experience working in network administration (with a focus on information security) in addition to the Network+ certification. Click here for more information.

• What career opportunities are available to Security+ Boot Camp graduates? What’s the job outlook like for Security+ professionals?

  • The job market has never looked better for those who are certified in IT security. Earning the Security+ can open open up a wide variety of job opportunities and the cert is often used as a resume filter in HR departments, even if it’s not listed as a requirement. Click here for more information about the job outlook and opportunities available to Security+ Boot Camp grads.

• What is the difference between the SY0-501 and SY0-601 exams?

  • Due to constant changes within the information security industry, including emerging threats and new technologies, CompTIA has updated it’s Security+ exam from the SY0-501 to the SY0-601. The SY0-501 exam will be officially retired on July 31, 2021. There are six primary differences between SY0-501 to the SY0-601:

    1. Newer 601 skills include more threats; cloud environments; entry-level incident response; and governance, risk and compliance (GRC).
    2. There are fewer domains in the new version: 5 instead of 6.
    3. There are fewer objectives: 35 instead of 37.
    4. There are 25% more bulleted examples listed under each objective to help contextualize the meaning of the objective. Although the exam questions are not based on the bulleted examples, students should be familiar with all of them.
    5. Several exam domains and exam objectives were re-ordered and re-named to address instructional design improvements. For example, the previous Technologies and Tools domain was broken apart into the domains where the technologies and tools were applied.
    6. Bloom’s taxonomy indicates more application of skills and slightly less analysis overall. Analysis skills are taught in CySA+, which is higher up the cybersecurity career pathway. Application of skills, such as administration and configuration, are covered in Security+.

    Watch our webinar, CompTIA Security+: Everything you need to know about the SY0-601 update, featuring CompTIA Director of Products Patrick Lane, to learn more about the update.

• When does the new SY0-601 Security+ exam start? When does SY0-501 retire?

  • The new SY0-601 version of the Security+ exam will be available in November 2020; however, version SY0-501 does not retire until July 31, 2021. Infosec’s authorized CompTIA Security+ Boot Camp will continue training to SY0-501 until spring 2021, at which point we will begin training to the new SY0-601 version of the exam.

    Watch our webinar, CompTIA Security+: Everything you need to know about the SY0-601 update, featuring CompTIA Director of Products Patrick Lane, to learn more about the update.

• What are Performance Based Questions (PBQs)?

  • The Security+ performance based questions come in a variety of formats and require students to perform a specific task or solve a problem in a simulated environment. These questions are more involved than the standard multiple choice, fill in the blank, and drag and drop questions.

• What do I need to know about the new Performance Based Questions (PBQs)?

  • There are a few things you should know. First, there may be questions in which there is more than one way to get a correct answer. In these instances, the test taker will receive full points if the correct solution is achieved. Second, on all CompTIA exams, there is a timer; however, with PBQs, this timer is not visible. Third, partial credit on answers is occasionally offered.

• How does the Security+ examination process work?

  • The exam takes 90 minutes and there are 90 questions. You will need to achieve a score of 750 (on a scale of 100-900) in order to pass. Questions are a combination of multiple choice and performance based and the Security+ exam voucher costs $330. Click here for more info on the examination process.

• Is the online Security+ Boot Camp as effective and informative as an in-person training session?

  • Whether you choose to take your training course in-person or online, you will have access to the same content and training materials as all other student enrolled in the course. If you take your training online, you’ll have access to additional features, such as recorded replays of your daily lessons and an Exam Pass Guarantee. You can rest assured that the class will be effective, regardless of the training modality you select.

• What does this Security+ course offer that other certification prep classes do not?

  • Infosec’s Security+ Boot Camp has the highest first time pass rate in the industry — 93%! If you choose to take the course in our popular live online format, you will also receive an Exam Pass Guarantee. This means if you don’t pass the exam on the first attempt, we’ll pay for your second exam FREE!

• How is the Security+ related to the DoD 8570?

  • The Security+ fulfills the requirements for Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 8570, which is mandatory if you are looking to get a government job that is involved with any aspect of information security. Click here for more information.

• What are the Security+ domains?

  • There are 6 domains for the Security+ SYO-501 exam. They are Threats, Attacks and Vulnerabilities, Technologies and Tools, Architecture and Design, Identity and Access Management, Risk Management and Cryptography and PKI. Click here for more information on these domains.

• How long is the Security+ certification good for after you pass the test?

  • The Security+ is valid for 3 years. However, certification holders are required to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and pay a yearly Continuing Education (CE) fee. Click here for more information on CEUs.

• What are the renewal requirements for the Security+?

  • Security+ cert holders are required to earn 50 CEUs per renewal period (every 3 years) and pay an $50 annual Continuing Education (CE) fee to CompTIA. Click here for more information on the renewal requirements.

• What job titles are most common for people who hold CompTIA’s Security+ certification?

  • The job market has never looked better for those who are certified in IT security, and the Security+ certification can help you break into the industry. Some common positions that this certification can help you land include: Security Analyst, IT Support Technician, Security Specialist, Help Desk Support and many others!

• What are some tips for preparing for the Security+?

  • The first thing a student should do is perform a comprehensive review of which topics are tested in the certification exam. Some domains are weighted more heavily than others, but it’s important to study each topic with equal attention. Enrolling in a Security+ Boot Camp like the one offered here is another surefire method of preparing oneself for the exam. Click here for more study tips.