CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+: Why Cyber Security Professionals Need All Three in 2024?

CompTIA A+ Certificate

A+ is one of the most basic certificates offered by CompTIA. Its primary purpose is to prepare you for an entry-level job in the IT industry. Some skills that you will learn in the CompTIA A+ certificate include:

• Identifying, using, and connecting hardware devices
• Installing and configuring operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS, iOS
• Software troubleshooting
• Hardware and network troubleshooting
• Security setup in devices against vulnerabilities
• Types of networks and different connections
• Configuring mobile devices and laptops
• Virtualization and cloud computing
• Operational procedures for best environmental impacts

As a candidate for the A+ certification, you will have to take two core exams, 220-1101 and 220-1102. The certificate is valid for up to three years and can be renewed with CompTIA’s education program. 

Some of the typical jobs you can land with this certificate include service desk analyst, help desk technician, data support technician, technical support specialist, end-user administrator, etc.

CompTIA Training Courses for Your Team

CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Prep

CompTIA Security+ Certification Prep (Exam SY0-701)

CompTIA A+ Certification Prep (Exam 220-1101 & 220-1102)

CompTIA Network+ Certificate

CompTIA Network+ helps you build a career in IT infrastructure and covers troubleshooting, configuring, and managing networks. By completing the Network+ certification, you can:

• Design and implement functional networks
• Troubleshoot network problems
• Use switches and routers to segment network traffic and build strong networks
• Support the creation of virtualized networks
• Implement network security, standards, and protocols
• Find out the strengths and weaknesses of existing network configurations
• Configure, manage and maintain essential network devices

You will be able to gain crucial skills in:

• Networking concepts
• Network security
• Infrastructure
• Network troubleshooting and tools
• Network operations

CompTIA Network+ N10-007 is a single exam certificate and is regularly updated based on changes in technology. The exam fee is US$ 338. It will cover several critical security concepts, models, best cloud computing practices, newer hardware, and virtualization techniques. The exam will contain 90 multiple-choice questions with single or multiple responses. The exam duration is 90 minutes.

You are recommended to take the CompTIA A+ certificate before Network+ and have 9 to 12 months of networking experience. The exam is available in English, Spanish, German, and many others. You can expect jobs, such as junior network administrator, help desk technician, junior system engineer, IS consultant, system engineer, etc.

CompTIA Security+ certificate

CompTIA Security+ validates your skills in IT security and sets you up for a career in cybersecurity. It provides practical hands-on skills to secure systems, software, and hardware. Security+ is aligned with the modern demands of skills in risk assessment and management, incident response, forensics, enterprise networks, ensuring high performance on the job, etc. 

The Security+ SY0-701 exam is an entry-level certificate for cybersecurity professionals. It complies with ISO 17024 standards.

You will learn the following skills with the Security+ certification:

• Attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities on the internet based on newer, custom devices and socially engineered attacks
• Transitions in architecture and design, like hybrid networks
• Administering identity, access management, basic cryptography, wireless, and end-to-end security
• Operations and incident response procedures, such as threat detection, risk mitigation techniques, security controls, and basic digital forensics
• Governance, risk management, and compliance to various regulations

After completing the Security+ certificate, you can get jobs, such as security administrator, systems administrator, network/cloud engineer, DevOps/software developer, IT project manager, etc. 

The Security+ exam has 90 questions, and the duration is 90 minutes. The questions are multiple-choice and are performance-based. It is preferred to have a CompTIA Network+ certificate before taking the Security+ exam and have 1 to 2 years of experience in IT administration with a security focus. The certificate expires after three years and costs US$ 370. 

Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity

CompTIA A+ is one of the three foundational cybersecurity certifications for getting into the IT industry. CompTIA A+ candidates can troubleshoot and solve various issues from networking and operating systems to security. 

The Security+ certificate is an entry-level certificate to get you into the cybersecurity field. It prepares you to monitor and secure hybrid environments, identify, analyze and respond to security incidents, operate with the awareness of laws and policies, assess an organization's cybersecurity posture and implement solutions, etc. 

With a CompTIA Network+ certificate, you prove that you have the necessary networking and infrastructure knowledge to enter the IT field. It certifies that you have a professional understanding of emerging technological advancements, such as virtualization and cloud technology. You can bag network field engineer, computer technician, network analyst roles, among others.

Conclusion

You can take the A+, Network+, and Security+ in any order you like. A+ will give you a basic understanding of all the general IT concepts, including security. You might find taking the Network+ exam easier as it is only one exam compared to the two exams for A+. Network+ revolves around basic networking concepts. You can take the Security+ exam without any other certificate, but you need to know networking tools and other concepts. 

If you want to build a career in cybersecurity, go for all three certificates. They will give you an understanding of all essential concepts in security and networking.