Security+ — CompTIA Security+
The most widely recognized entry-level security certification globally and the de facto baseline for government and contractor security roles under DoD 8140. Covers a broad range of security concepts from network security and cryptography to identity management and incident response — none deeply, but all adequately for a foundational credential. The main criticism is that it has become somewhat of a checkbox cert: passing it does not meaningfully validate hands-on security ability. That said, it opens more doors than almost any other entry-level cert and is worth getting simply for the access it provides to government and large enterprise hiring pipelines.
| Issuer | CompTIA |
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| Level | beginner |
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| Domains | Defensive Security / SOC, Security Architecture & Engineering |
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| Practical weight | 25% |
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| Cost (USD) | 392 |
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| Renewal | 3 years |
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| DoD 8140 | Yes |
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| Skills | network_security_fundamentals, threat_identification, access_control_concepts, cryptography_basics, incident_response_basics, vulnerability_concepts, risk_management_basics |
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Official certification page
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