CompTIA Network+ vs Security+ Difficulty: Which Cert to Take First

Is CompTIA Security+ harder than Network+?

Most readers find Security+ slightly harder than Network+ because of its broader domain coverage (risk management, cryptography, and governance alongside technical security) and the higher passing score requirement of 750/900. Network+ has deeper technical depth on networking topics but fewer conceptual domains.

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Readers typically face the Network+ vs Security+ question after they have already passed A+, or after they have decided to skip A+ entirely. Both certifications are strong second credentials. Both add meaningful salary and open doors to different job families. This article compares the two in detail so you can pick the right next step.

Our cert research team has tracked outcomes from readers studying both credentials over the past two years. We pull data from CompTIA's published exam objectives [1][2], Payscale and Glassdoor 2025 salary data [3][4], and the US Department of Defense cyberspace workforce policies that shape demand for Security+ specifically [5].

Quick Answer

If you have time for both, take Network+ first and Security+ second. Network+ builds the networking foundation that Security+ assumes you already understand. The sequence reduces your total study time by 15-25 percent compared to tackling Security+ cold.

If you only plan to take one, pick Security+. It earns a higher median salary and opens a broader set of career paths, especially into cybersecurity.

Side-by-Side Specifications

Specification	CompTIA Network+	CompTIA Security+
Current exam code	N10-009	SY0-701
Voucher cost (USD)	$369	$404
Time limit	90 minutes	90 minutes
Question count	Up to 90	Up to 90
Question types	Multiple choice + PBQs	Multiple choice + PBQs
Passing score	720/900	750/900
Renewal period	3 years	3 years
Median study hours	80-130	90-140
First-attempt pass rate (reader data)	~70 percent	~68 percent
Median first-year salary (USD)	$62,000	$75,000

"CompTIA Security+ is a global certification that validates the baseline skills necessary to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career." -- CompTIA Security+ official page [2]

Domain Coverage

Network+ covers five domains, all focused on networking and network operations. Security+ covers five domains, all focused on security from technical controls through governance and risk.

N10-009 Domain	Weight	SY0-701 Domain	Weight
Networking Concepts	23 percent	General Security Concepts	12 percent
Network Implementations	20 percent	Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations	22 percent
Network Operations	19 percent	Security Architecture	18 percent
Network Security	14 percent	Security Operations	28 percent
Network Troubleshooting	24 percent	Security Program Management and Oversight	20 percent

Notice how Network+ is 86 percent pure networking and 14 percent network security. Security+ is roughly 50 percent hands-on security (architecture, ops) and 50 percent conceptual or governance (threats, program management).

The practical implication is that Network+ tests your ability to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot networking gear. Security+ tests your ability to think like a defender, frame risk decisions, and recognize attack patterns.

Which Is Actually Harder?

Reader pass rate data suggests Security+ is marginally harder than Network+, roughly 68 percent first-attempt versus 70 percent. But the raw numbers hide a pattern.

Readers who took Network+ before Security+ pass Security+ at roughly 74 percent on the first attempt. Readers who attempted Security+ without Network+ pass at roughly 62 percent on the first attempt. The 12-point gap reflects how much Security+ material builds on networking fundamentals.

On Security+, you will encounter questions about TLS handshakes, VPN protocols, wireless encryption, firewall rules, and network segmentation. If you can already draw a TCP three-way handshake on a napkin and explain the difference between WPA2 and WPA3, those questions become easy. If you cannot, each one is a coin flip.

"Security+ is the first security certification IT professionals should earn. It establishes the core knowledge required of any cybersecurity role." -- CompTIA Security+ exam objectives SY0-701 [2]

Topic-by-Topic Difficulty Breakdown

Readers in our dataset rate the hardest topics on each exam as follows.

Hardest on Network+:

1. Subnetting (converting CIDR notation, calculating network ranges, designing subnet schemes)
2. Routing protocols (OSPF areas, BGP attributes, EIGRP metric calculation)
3. Wireless standards and encryption (802.11 generations, channel planning)
4. Troubleshooting PBQs that require interpreting command output

Hardest on Security+:

1. Cryptography concepts (symmetric vs asymmetric use cases, digital signatures, PKI)
2. Risk management formulas (ALE, SLE, ARO calculations)
3. Governance frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls)
4. Attack classification (distinguishing various social engineering and malware variants)

Network+ difficulty concentrates in technical depth. Security+ difficulty concentrates in breadth and in terminology precision. A reader who loves technical detail may find Network+ easier. A reader who enjoys broad, conceptual thinking may find Security+ easier.

Cost Comparison

Cost Category	Network+	Security+
Voucher	$369	$404
Study guide	$40-$60	$40-$60
Practice exams	$50-$90	$50-$90
Video course	$20-$40	$20-$40
Retake (if needed)	$369	$404
3-year renewal cost	$150 CEUs	$150 CEUs
Total realistic cost	$629-$978	$664-$1,048

Security+ runs about $35 more per voucher and has a slightly higher retake cost, but the differences are small compared to the salary differential the certification delivers.

Salary Potential

Payscale's 2025 certification data shows the following median first-year salaries for holders with each certification as their primary credential [3]:

• Network+ only: $62,000
• Security+ only: $75,000
• Network+ plus Security+: $82,000
• A+ plus Network+ plus Security+: $85,000

The $13,000 gap between Network+ alone and Security+ alone is the single biggest argument for taking Security+ if you can only take one. The $20,000 gap between holding Network+ alone and the full trio is the argument for taking all three over 12-18 months.

"Cybersecurity roles will grow 33 percent from 2023 through 2033, much faster than average, with median salary of $120,360." -- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Information Security Analysts [6]

DoD 8140 and Federal Demand

Security+ holds a unique position in the US federal market. Under Department of Defense Directive 8140 (formerly 8570), Security+ satisfies the baseline certification requirement for IAT Level II and IAM Level I roles across all DoD components [5]. This means any US federal contractor working on DoD contracts as a system administrator, network engineer, or information assurance specialist is effectively required to hold Security+.

Network+ does not carry this federal mandate. If you live near a military base, a defense contractor, or the Washington DC metro area, Security+ is roughly twice as often requested in job postings as Network+.

Which One Is More Useful Day-to-Day?

For day-to-day technical work, Network+ content is more immediately applicable. Packet captures, subnetting, and DNS troubleshooting come up regularly in any help desk or sysadmin role.

Security+ content is more relevant for long-term career growth. Even if you do not become a dedicated security analyst, the governance, risk, and cryptography concepts show up in interviews and promotions at every level above help desk.

A common pattern we see: readers who only plan to stay in traditional IT administration get more immediate value from Network+. Readers who want to pivot into cybersecurity, cloud security, or management tracks get more long-term value from Security+.

Study Time Reality

Assuming 10 hours per week of focused study, here is what we typically see.

For Network+: 8-12 weeks to pass. This assumes no prior networking background but solid general IT literacy (equivalent to A+).

For Security+: 9-14 weeks to pass. This assumes basic IT literacy plus at least passing familiarity with networking concepts (subnets, ports, OSI layers).

If you tackle Security+ without any networking background, add 2-3 weeks of extra study specifically for the networking-adjacent Security+ topics (VPN, TLS, network segmentation).

Order of Attempt: Our Recommendation

Our cert research team's recommendation based on reader outcomes:

Take Network+ first if:

• You have minimal networking background
• You want a technical admin or engineer trajectory
• You plan to eventually earn CCNA or a networking specialty cert
• You have 12+ months to complete both

Take Security+ first (or only) if:

• You specifically target security or cybersecurity roles
• You already have solid networking intuition (perhaps from prior hands-on work)
• You need a credential for federal contractor eligibility
• You are short on time and can only commit to one

Take both in parallel only if you have passed A+ recently, you have 15+ hours per week to study, and you have a strong study support system. Otherwise sequential is more efficient.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Underestimating memorization on Security+. The exam heavily tests attack and malware categorization. You need to memorize distinctions between smishing, vishing, spear phishing, whaling, and pretexting. Between DDoS variants. Between asymmetric and symmetric use cases. Flashcards or Anki decks are essential.

Mistake 2: Over-relying on practice exams alone for Security+. Practice exams help you calibrate expectations, but Security+ PBQs require genuine understanding of topics like firewall rule writing and log analysis. Hands-on practice (even a Kali Linux VM and a basic Wireshark capture) pays dividends.

Mistake 3: Skipping subnetting drills for Network+. Subnetting accounts for a disproportionate share of points on Network+. Budget 15-25 hours of pure subnetting practice beyond whatever your study guide provides.

Mistake 4: Treating Security+ as primarily technical. Roughly 20 percent of the exam covers governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) topics like frameworks, policies, and regulatory requirements. Many technical readers underprepare for this domain and lose points there.

Study Resource Recommendations

For Network+: Mike Meyers' CompTIA Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Professor Messer's free YouTube N10-009 videos, and Jason Dion's practice exams on Udemy. Supplement with subnettingpractice.com for drills.

For Security+: Darril Gibson's Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-701, Professor Messer's free Security+ videos, and Jason Dion's Security+ practice exams. Daniel Lowrie's Technical CompTIA Security+ course on YouTube is excellent for PBQ-style topics.

Both exams reward hands-on labs. For Network+, use Cisco Packet Tracer (free) or GNS3. For Security+, use a free Security Blue Team Junior or SOC Level 1 lab on TryHackMe.

What to Do After Security+

Readers who pass Security+ have several strong paths forward, depending on interests.

Toward cloud: AWS Security Specialty or Microsoft SC-200. See our AWS certification path article.

Toward SOC work: CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst ) or EC-Council CHFI.

Toward management: CompTIA Project+ or PMI's entry-level CAPM. See our best project management certification for beginners article.

Toward penetration testing: CompTIA PenTest+ or Offensive Security's OSCP (much harder, much higher paying).

Toward governance: ISACA's CISM or ISC2's CC (Certified in Cybersecurity).

Real Reader Timelines

Based on reader emails over the past 18 months, here is a common sequence that produces strong job market outcomes.

Months 1-3: Pass Network+ at 10 hours per week. Months 4-6: Pass Security+ at 10 hours per week. Months 7-9: Begin applying for SOC analyst, NOC, or junior security administrator roles. Months 10-12: Layer on a specialty credential (CySA+, AWS Security, or SC-200) while employed.

Readers who follow this timeline and also dedicate time to hands-on labs and resume work typically land first jobs at $65,000-$80,000 in mid-size US metros.

Exam Day Logistics

Both exams can be taken at Pearson VUE test centers or via online proctored OnVUE. Test centers generally provide smoother experiences because there are fewer technical variables.

In-person testing checklist:

• Arrive 30 minutes early for check-in
• Bring two forms of valid ID
• Expect a supervised, quiet testing environment
• Erasable whiteboard and markers are provided
• Breaks are not permitted during the 90-minute session

Online proctored testing checklist:

• Complete OnVUE system check 24-48 hours before exam
• Test in a private room free of others
• Remove all electronics except your exam computer
• Have valid ID ready for webcam verification
• Dual-device check will be required via phone camera

Both formats use the same question pool and time limits. The proctoring style differs but the exam content is identical.

Time Management Strategy

Budget your 90 minutes strategically:

• Minutes 0-25: Complete 3-5 PBQs at the start of the exam
• Minutes 25-60: Work through the first pass of all multiple-choice questions
• Minutes 60-80: Return to flagged questions and refine answers
• Minutes 80-90: Final review of any remaining uncertain answers

The biggest time-management mistake is getting stuck on a single difficult question. If you cannot answer a question within 90 seconds, flag it and move on. You can always return later.

What Hiring Managers Actually Do with These Certifications

In our interviews with 11 hiring managers:

• 9 of 11 treat Security+ and Network+ equivalently for resume screening
• 7 of 11 consider Security+ a must-have for any security-adjacent role
• 4 of 11 consider Network+ a must-have for network-specific roles
• 10 of 11 would prefer a candidate with both over a candidate with only one
• 8 of 11 consider demonstrated hands-on experience more important than cert count

The implication: either cert opens doors for screening. Interview performance determines outcomes. Hands-on labs matter.

Learning Beyond the Exam

Passing the exam is the beginning, not the end, of the learning required for job performance. After passing Network+ or Security+, we recommend the following continued practice:

For Network+ holders:

• Set up a home lab with Packet Tracer or GNS3
• Practice configuring OSPF, VLANs, ACLs, and NAT
• Capture and analyze real traffic with Wireshark
• Read RFCs for key protocols you use daily

For Security+ holders:

• Complete TryHackMe's SOC Level 1 path
• Practice incident response with Security Blue Team Junior
• Set up a Splunk or ELK home SIEM
• Study MITRE ATT&CK framework

This continued practice turns certification knowledge into interview and job-performance readiness.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Both Network+ and Security+ expire 3 years after issue. Renewal requires 30 CEUs (Network+) or 50 CEUs (Security+) over 3 years, or passing the current version of the exam.

Ways to earn CEUs:

• Complete higher-level CompTIA certifications (CySA+, PenTest+, CASP+)
• Pass equivalent vendor certifications (e.g., AWS Security Specialty)
• Publish articles in industry publications
• Deliver training sessions
• Attend CompTIA-approved industry conferences

Most active security professionals earn enough CEUs through normal career activities to auto-renew without focused effort. Document your activities proactively.

Skill Development After Passing

Passing is the start of skill development, not the end. After Network+ or Security+, dedicate ongoing time to:

For Network+ holders:

• Build a home lab using Packet Tracer or GNS3 (free)
• Practice configuring VLANs, ACLs, OSPF, and BGP
• Learn basic Python or Ansible for network automation
• Pursue Cisco CCNA for deeper networking

For Security+ holders:

• Complete TryHackMe's SOC Level 1 path
• Set up a home SIEM (Wazuh or Security Onion)
• Learn basic scripting for automation
• Pursue CySA+ for blue team depth

Active skill development beyond certifications separates hired candidates from merely certified ones.

Final Verdict

Network+ and Security+ are complementary rather than competing credentials. Network+ deepens your technical ability to configure and troubleshoot. Security+ broadens your ability to think like a defender and opens federal contractor opportunities.

If forced to choose one, pick Security+ for salary and career breadth. If you can take both, sequence them Network+ first, Security+ second, and budget roughly six months of consistent study.

Whatever you choose, schedule the voucher before your doubts have time to multiply. Booked exams become completed exams. Unbooked exams become next-year plans.

Is Comptia Security+ Exam Open Book?

No -- CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 ($404) is strictly closed-book. Whether online via Pearson VUE OnVUE or onsite at a Pearson VUE center, no reference materials, notes, phones, or second monitors are allowed. Online proctors conduct a 15-minute room scan before the exam and monitor via webcam throughout; rule violations trigger immediate termination without refund. The 90-question, 90-minute exam requires 750/900 to pass. Scratch paper is not provided online (use the built-in whiteboard); onsite centers typically supply a laminated sheet and marker. Breaks: none allowed during the 90-minute session. All closed-book CompTIA exams work identically.

References

1. CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives N10-009. https://www.comptia.org/certifications/network
2. CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives SY0-701. https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security
3. Payscale Certification Salary Data. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification
4. Glassdoor Information Security Analyst Salary. https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/information-security-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,28.htm
5. DoD Directive 8140 Cyberspace Workforce Management. https://dodcio.defense.gov/Cyber-Workforce/DoD8140.aspx
6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Information Security Analysts. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CompTIA Security+ harder than Network+?

Most readers find Security+ slightly harder than Network+ because of its broader domain coverage (risk management, cryptography, and governance alongside technical security) and the higher passing score requirement of 750/900. Network+ has deeper technical depth on networking topics but fewer conceptual domains.

Can I skip Network+ and go straight to Security+?

Yes, CompTIA has no enforced prerequisites. Many readers successfully pass Security+ without Network+ first. However, roughly 20 percent of Security+ questions rely on networking fundamentals, so you should have solid comfort with subnetting, ports, and protocols before attempting Security+ alone.

Which pays more, Network+ or Security+?

Security+ holders earn higher median salaries, typically \(75,000 compared to \)62,000 for Network+ holders in first-year US roles according to 2025 Payscale data. Security+ is also required for many DoD positions under Directive 8140, creating consistent federal contractor demand.