Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • The Importance of Cybersecurity Skills in Organizations
  • Upskill Employees According to the Needs
  • All You Need to Know: CompTIA CySA vs PenTest
  • Certifications That Fit Your Career Path
  • Why Choose NetCom Learning for IT Certifications?
  • Related Resources

CySA+ vs PenTest+: Which CompTIA Security Skill Will You Need to Learn First in 2024?

Blog banner

Introduction

The number of data breaches is rising, and they have multiplied over the past decade. Organizations are forced to rethink their strategies in order to protect their data. If your organization aims to win the cybersecurity battle, it must keep pace by quickly building a capable team of cybersecurity experts. These experts must think both ways (as a criminal and ethical hacker) and should be able to institute protocols to protect their network vigorously.

In this blog, you will learn which CompTIA security skill you should learn first, CySA vs PenTest. But before diving into CySA vs PenTest, let’s understand why do organizations need a skilled cybersecurity workforce.

CompTIA Courses for Your Team
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Prep (Exam CS0-003)
CompTIA PenTest+ Certification Prep (Exam PT0-002)

 

The Importance of Cybersecurity Skills in Organizations

Technology has become extremely sophisticated these days, yet the skills of cybercriminals often outreach the ability and knowledge of cybersecurity professionals who work for organizations. Do you have trouble believing this state of affairs? The proof lies in the number of cyberattacks. The PWC global survey reported that 48 percent of companies do not have an overall information security policy yet; 44 percent don’t have an employee security awareness training program; and 54 percent don’t have an incident response process in place. With the increased importance of cybersecurity, qualified candidates are in high demand, more so than ever before. 

Upskill Employees According to the Needs

Every organization, irrespective of the industry, needs a security team. Organizations must emphasize upskilling their employees on the most prevalent and up-to-date technology.

CompTIA is the world's leading tech association that focuses on skills development and provides several cloud computing certifications. If you have been in the security domain for quite some time now, it’s time to take the next step and get certified in CySA+ or PenTest+. First let's know the difference between the two CySA vs PenTest.


All You Need to Know: CompTIA CySA vs PenTest

CompTIA PenTest+ and CySA+ are well-known and established exams in the cybersecurity and IT fields. On taking a quick glance, you will notice that their exam objectives and course content are quite similar. So, are you confused and not able to figure out which certification suits you the best? 

Professionals who want to pursue a career as a cybersecurity analyst or engineer should begin with the CompTIA CySA+ certification course. On the other hand, those curious to pursue a career as a penetration tester should focus on the CompTIA PenTest+ certification course. 

  • Exam Difficulty – CySA vs PenTest
 PenTest+ is an offensive-focused certification, while CySA+ focuses more on defensive and preventative security tactics. Another criterion that adds on to the difficulty level is the quality of your study material, lab exercises, and the software tools you can read, listen to, and experiment with. It further depends on how much prior knowledge you have of each subject. For example, if you have a few years of penetration testing experience, PenTest+ will undoubtedly be easier than CySA+, because the exam is more in line with your prior knowledge and experience. 
  • Preparation Time – CySA vs PenTest
 The preparation time significantly depends on the experience you have. Experienced cybersecurity professionals, including dedicated penetration testers and cybersecurity analysts, might also need a generous amount of study time to prepare for these exams, considering the nature of the questioning that CompTIA provides. 
  • Employment Rate and Job Role – CySA vs PenTest
 The objectives for CySA+ are threat management, vulnerability management, cyber incident response, and security architecture and toolsets. CompTIA CySA+ certification focuses on the job title of cybersecurity analyst, which is an active position for all the organizations, with an expected 28% increase in the number of jobs between 2016 and 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

 
The objectives for CompTIA PenTest+ certification are planning and scoping, information gathering and vulnerability identification, attacks and exploits, penetration testing tools, and reporting and communication. According to Cyberseek, penetration testers are in high demand, with a median salary of $98,000.  

  • Certification Validity – CySA vs PenTest
 CompTIA recommends that a professional must have 3+ years of hands-on information security or related experience for both these exams. Both these CompTIA exams are valid for three years each. A professional is required to renew each of these certifications separately (assuming you earn them both). However, you are eligible to earn a higher certification and get the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification, while your previous certifications are still valid. 

 

Certifications That Fit Your Career Path

Now when you know the difference between CySA vs PenTest, you might choose what best suits your needs. Cybersecurity is an exciting and promising career field that directly impacts many aspects of our daily lives. With the knowledge you learn in one exam, it can be enhanced by the other. If you wish to grow and be good at cyber defense, you must understand potential attacks that hackers could use to exploit your systems. Similarly, if you’re passionate about penetration testing, you are required to understand potential exploits for vulnerabilities and the defensive mechanisms that could prevent hacks. Therefore, it is safe to say that both the exams are essential for your career, and each will enrich you with significant knowledge of both worlds.  

With the increasing skills gap, now is a great time to begin and grow your career with the right cybersecurity certifications. Learn to defend your organization's data from the bad guys of the cybersecurity world. Also learn how to respond to cybersecurity incidents with the CompTIA CySA+ certification. 

You would also want to gain hands-on expertise in new penetration testing techniques and protect your organization. 

Why Choose NetCom Learning for IT Certifications?

At NetCom Learning, we promote growth with credibility and knowledge. We have been training professionals around the globe for more than 20 years. With 3,500+ courses categorized into 9 different practice areas, we offer personalized curricula and on-site training, all delivered by 3,000+ experienced instructors. We have been recognized as the platinum partner with CompTIA. We have also collaborated with other famous names in the IT industry, such as EC-Council, Microsoft, Cisco, and many more, to deliver the best and latest training content. 

Looking for a program to empower your teams with comprehensive knowledge of networking concepts, infrastructure, network operations, security, troubleshooting, and tools? NetCom Learning’s Security Skilling Program is a one-stop solution for all your security needs. 

Request for more info