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Network+ vs Security+ in 2026: Which CompTIA Certification Should You Take First?
- Order matters for beginners. CompTIA lists Network+ in the recommended experience for Security+.
- Similar exam format. Both have up to 90 questions in 90 minutes; Network+ passes at 720 and Security+ at 750.
- Security+ is changing. V8 (SY0-801) launches around November 17, 2026, and SY0-701 retires in English on June 11, 2027.
- They lead to different jobs. Network+ points toward network support and administration; Security+ toward security analyst roles.
Network+ and Security+ are two of CompTIA’s core certifications, and they sit right next to each other on most IT career roadmaps. That is why the Network+ vs Security+ question comes up so often: which one first, which one is harder, and which one leads to the job you want? This guide answers all three with CompTIA’s official exam details and federal pay data, and shows how Access Computer Training (ACT) prepares Tampa Bay learners for both.
What Is the Difference Between Network+ vs Security+?
The core Network+ vs Security+ difference is focus. Network+ (N10-009) validates that you can design, implement, operate, and troubleshoot networks, from IP addressing to wireless and cabling. Security+ (SY0-701) validates core security skills: threats and vulnerabilities, security architecture, security operations, and program management. Networking comes first because you can’t secure what you don’t understand.
| Network+ | Security+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Current exam | N10-009 (V9), launched June 20, 2024 | SY0-701 (V7); SY0-801 (V8) launches around Nov 17, 2026 |
| Questions and time | Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes | Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 720 on a 100 to 900 scale | 750 on a 100 to 900 scale |
| Recommended experience | A+ plus 9 to 12 months in a junior network role | Network+ plus two years in a security or systems administrator role |
| Focus | Building and fixing networks | Securing systems, data, and users |
| Points toward | Network support and administration | Security analyst and security operations roles |
Exam details come from CompTIA’s Network+ and Security+ V7 pages as of October 2026.
Should You Take Network+ Before Security+?
Yes, if you are new to networking. CompTIA’s recommended experience for Security+ includes Network+, and much of Security+ assumes you already understand ports, protocols, and how traffic moves. If you already work as a network technician or administrator, you can usually go straight to Security+ and save time.
One way to decide: try explaining how a device gets an IP address, what DNS does, and how a firewall rule works. If those answers come easily, you are probably ready for Security+. If not, Network+ fills exactly those gaps.
Is Network+ or Security+ Harder?
It depends on your background, which is why the Network+ vs Security+ difficulty debate never settles. Security+ has a higher passing score, 750 versus 720, and covers broader concepts. Network+ goes deeper on technical detail such as subnetting and troubleshooting. Taking Network+ first usually makes Security+ more approachable, because the networking foundation is already in place.
What Does Each Exam Cover?
Network+ spends the most questions on troubleshooting and networking concepts, while Security+ weighs security operations and threats most heavily. Comparing domain weights side by side is the quickest way to see the Network+ vs Security+ difference in study time. Here is CompTIA’s official breakdown:
| Network+ N10-009 domain | Weight | Security+ SY0-701 domain | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network troubleshooting | 24% | Security operations | 28% |
| Networking concepts | 23% | Threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations | 22% |
| Network implementation | 20% | Security program management and oversight | 20% |
| Network operations | 19% | Security architecture | 18% |
| Network security | 14% | General security concepts | 12% |
Notice the overlap: 14% of Network+ is already network security. In a Network+ vs Security+ study plan, that shared ground is a head start for whichever exam you take second.
What Should a Network+ vs Security+ Home Lab Include?
A small home lab turns both exams from memorization into practice. You don’t need expensive gear, just a computer that can run a few virtual machines. Build it once and reuse it for both stages of your Network+ vs Security+ plan.
- Two or three virtual machines (one Windows, one Linux) on a private virtual network
- Static and dynamic IP addressing, plus a DNS lookup you can explain step by step
- Basic firewall rules that allow one service and block another
- User accounts with different permission levels
- Log review: find a failed login in the system logs and note what it shows
- A written troubleshooting log for every problem you solve
How Does the Security+ V8 Change Affect Your Plan?
CompTIA expects Security+ V8 (SY0-801) to launch on or around November 17, 2026, with expanded coverage of areas such as AI-related risks and security operations. The current SY0-701 exam stays available until its English retirement on June 11, 2027. If you start Network+ now, you will likely sit for Security+ V8, so plan your study materials accordingly.
CompTIA says Network+ V9 (N10-009) launched June 20, 2024, with retirement usually about three years after launch, estimated for 2027. Check CompTIA’s page before you book, and see the Security+ V8 page for the newest version.
Which Jobs Do Network+ vs Security+ Lead To?
Network+ points toward network support and administration, while Security+ points toward security analyst and operations roles. The BLS reports a May 2025 median of $99,130 for network and computer systems administrators and $129,180 for information security analysts. Many people hold both, since security roles often expect networking experience first.
Median annual wage for network and computer systems administrators, May 2025, per the BLS.
Median annual wage for information security analysts, May 2025, a field the BLS projects to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035.
Be aware that the BLS projects network and computer systems administrator employment to decline 4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 13,400 openings a year, while security analyst roles grow. That is one more reason many people treat Network+ as the foundation and Security+ as the next step, rather than choosing only one.
To see specific roles, read our guides to jobs you can get with Network+ and becoming a network technician with no experience.
Network+ vs Security+: A Simple Study Order
- Confirm your foundationIf PC hardware and operating systems are new to you, start with CompTIA A+.
- Take Network+Focus on troubleshooting and networking concepts, which together make up nearly half the exam.
- Get hands-on timePractice in a home lab or a support role so concepts stick before Security+.
- Take Security+Lean on security operations and threats, the two heaviest domains, and confirm whether you are studying for V7 or V8.
Network+ vs Security+ for Career Changers: Which Path Fits You?
Most career changers should start with Network+, unless they already work with networks every day. If you are coming from help desk or no IT background, Network+ builds the base Security+ assumes. If you already configure switches and firewalls, go straight to Security+. Find your situation below to see where the Network+ vs Security+ decision points you.
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No IT background yet | A+, then Network+ | Builds the hardware and networking base both exams assume |
| Help desk or desktop support | Network+ | Turns daily troubleshooting into networking depth |
| Network technician or administrator | Security+ | You already meet much of what Network+ covers |
| Aiming for a security analyst role | Network+, then Security+ | Matches CompTIA’s recommended experience for Security+ |
How ACT Prepares You for Network+ and Security+
ACT’s CompTIA Network+ prep and CompTIA Security+ prep are each 60-hour live, instructor-led programs with the exam voucher and retake assurance included. To take both in order with A+, the IT Network & Security pathway is a 212-hour program covering A+, Network+, and Security+.
For the bigger picture, see the full CompTIA certification roadmap, compare CompTIA certification costs, or read our deeper guides to Network+ and Security+.
Take Network+ and Security+ in the Right Order
Access Computer Training offers live Network+ and Security+ prep for Tampa Bay and all of Florida. Self-pay options are available, and workforce grant funding may cover part of the cost, depending on eligibility.
Book Your Career Strategy Call → or call 855-9-LEARNIT FL DOE Licensed · CIE License No. 5237Frequently Asked Questions
Should I take Network+ or Security+ first?
Take Network+ first if you are new to networking, since CompTIA recommends Network+ knowledge before Security+. If you already work with networks, you can start with Security+.
Is Security+ harder than Network+?
Security+ has a higher passing score (750 versus 720) and broader topics, while Network+ is more technically detailed. Difficulty depends on your background, and Network+ first usually makes Security+ more approachable.
Is Network+ necessary for Security+?
It is not a formal prerequisite. CompTIA lists Network+ as recommended experience for Security+, along with two years in a security or systems administrator role.
Can I skip Network+ and go straight to Security+?
Yes, if you already understand networking. Without that background, skipping Network+ usually makes Security+ harder, because much of its content assumes networking knowledge.
Which pays more, Network+ or Security+?
Certifications do not set pay by themselves, but they point toward different roles. The BLS reports May 2025 medians of $99,130 for network and computer systems administrators and $129,180 for information security analysts.
Should I wait for Security+ V8?
Not necessarily. SY0-701 is available until June 11, 2027 in English, and SY0-801 is expected around November 17, 2026. Choose the version that matches your timeline and study materials.
Final Thought
The Network+ vs Security+ decision is really a question of order, not either-or. Build the networking foundation, prove it, then layer security on top. That sequence matches CompTIA’s own recommendations and the way many IT careers grow, and it makes each exam easier than it would be on its own.
Plan Your Network+ and Security+ Path
Talk with an Access Computer Training advisor about which CompTIA exam to take first, class dates, and self-pay options. Workforce grant funding may cover part of the cost, depending on eligibility.
Book Your Career Strategy Call → or call 855-9-LEARNIT FL DOE Licensed · CIE License No. 5237
