If deciding whether to pursue CISSP vs Security+ has you feeling a little overwhelmed, know that you are not alone. These certificates cover comparable ground, and the ubiquity of job advertisements that mix basic and advanced qualifications might easily mislead you, as it did for so many others.
While both are widely recognized information security certificates, the CISSP and Security+ are considerably different and are meant for people at very different stages of their employment. IT Exams will lead you through a CISSP vs Security+ comparison, highlighting the distinctions and guiding you toward the right certification for you in this post.
What Are CISSP And Security+?
CISSP Certification
The (ISC)² established the CISSP information security certification. The CISSP certification is widely recognized and establishes best practices in information security.
Candidates must have a minimum of five years of experience in two or more of the CISSP common body of knowledge (CBK) areas, pass an exam, and agree to follow (ISC)²’s code of ethics to achieve the CISSP.
Earning the CISSP can help you get a new job, demonstrate your dedication to lifelong learning, and give you the confidence to remain ahead of the ever-changing cybersecurity field.
Whether you are just starting out in information security or an experienced firewall professional trying to further your career, the CISSP is an excellent aim to aspire towards. All you need is dedication and trustworthy resources like the CISSP practice exam for mock exams and live sessions.
Security+ Certification
CompTIA Security+ is a worldwide recognized certification that verifies a person’s cybersecurity expertise. Security+ addresses the fundamental principles of network security and risk management. The exam is intended to assess an individual’s understanding of common security topics such as vulnerabilities, attacks, and controls.
Security+ is a vendor-neutral certification, which means it is not tied to any particular technology or platform. This makes it an excellent alternative for people looking to start a career in cybersecurity or add to their existing array of IT credentials.
With the increasing significance of cyber security, obtaining a Security+ certification is a terrific way to stand out. It is also a requirement for many government and military positions.
To obtain the Security+ certification, students must pass a CompTIA test. The test includes multiple-choice and performance-based questions designed to measure an individual’s understanding of security principles.
The Security+ test requires no prior experience, although applicants are highly advised to have at least two years of hands-on experience dealing with networks before taking the exam.
What Are The Differences Between CASP Vs CISSP?
In this CASP vs CISSP study guide, we will lead you through the most significant differences between these two IT certifications. The comparison is very clear and detailed so take a close look below!
CISSP vs Security+: Exam Eligibility Requirements
CISSP Requirement
The CISSP criteria are substantially more demanding.
You must have at least five years of work experience in at least two of the eight test domains. There are particular criteria governing how many hours of labor constitute full-time employment and what might be counted as part-time hours.
If you have a four-year degree in information security or one of an authorized list of additional security certifications (including Security+), you can satisfy up to one of the five years of needed experience.
If you do not have five years of experience, you can take the test; but, passing does not make you a CISSP. You become an Associate of (ISC)² until you have the necessary experience. So, while you may tell prospective employers that you are an associate who passed the exam, you should not sell yourself as a CISSP.
Security+ Requirement
There are no prerequisites for taking and passing the Security+ test.
Having said that, CompTIA has offered several recommendations. You should have at least two years of expertise in IT administration with an emphasis on security. In reality, a solid training course will be more than enough to compensate for those lost years of expertise.
CompTIA also suggests that you have a basic understanding of IT before commencing your training for this certification. We concur and recommend that you first obtain your Network+ certification; however, it is not required.
CISSP vs Security+: Exam Details
CISSP Exam
The CISSP test lasts four hours and consists of 125-175 questions. It includes multiple-choice and advanced inventive questions. The passing grade is 700 out of 1000.
The official CISSP Certification test Outline divides the test content into eight domains:
- Security and Risk Management (15%)
- Asset Security (10%)
- Security Architecture and Engineering (13%)
- Communication and Network Security (13%)
- Identity and Access Management (IAM) (13%)
- Security Assessment and Testing (12%)
- Security Operations (13%)
- Software Development Security (11%)
The English versions of the test have changed from a regular linear style to a Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) format from the May 2021 launch. This implies that the quantity and complexity of questions fluctuate based on how you answered prior questions.
“Following a candidate’s response to an item, the scoring algorithm re-estimates the candidate’s ability based on the difficulty of all items presented and answers provided,” states (ISC)². The computer’s estimation of the candidate’s aptitude grows increasingly exact with each successive item answered…”
The examination, like Security+, is offered through Pearson VUE; however, the CISSP exam can only be taken in person at a testing location.
There is a significant distinction between this test and the Security+ exam. You can mark questions for subsequent review on the Security+ test. You cannot skip questions and return to them later because of the way the CAT system works.
Security+ Exam
The latest edition of the Security+ exam is SY0-601 as of this writing. Its material is divided into five categories:
- Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities (24%)
- Architecture and Design (21%)
- Implementation (25%)
- Operations and Incident Response (16%)
- Governance, Risk, and Compliance (14%)
The test will consist of no more than 90 questions, which will be either multiple-choice or performance-based questions (PBQs). The number of PBQs on the test might range between one and 10. Fewer multiple-choice questions will come from more PBQs.
The PBQs will require you to do some simple hands-on tasks in a virtual setting. This might entail adding particular firewall rules to a table or dragging and dropping security devices into the appropriate locations on a network map.
The multiple choice questions will frequently follow a “given this scenario” structure, in which you are asked to examine the circumstances and determine the best course of action. Others may request that you compare and contrast concepts (for example, elasticity vs. scalability).
“You want to implement a process that separates corporate apps from personal apps on mobile devices,” as an example of a CompTIA-style test question. Which of the following strategies will allow you to do this?”
Security+ needs a passing score of 750 (out of 100-900) and can be taken online or in person at a Pearson VUE testing location. You will have 90 minutes to finish the test and your results will be available virtually soon following the exam.
CISSP vs Security+: Exam Difficulty
The framework of the two tests is relatively similar; however, the level of difficulty is far from comparable. Security+, as shown in the figure below, is a certification earned in the third stage of your career while training for general security-related professions.
CISSP, on the other hand, is pursued when you reach the fourth stage of your career and want to become an advanced cybersecurity specialist. While the two tests cover some of the same material, the differences in difficulty reflect the differences in competence and experience.
CISSP Difficulty Level
The architecture of the new CAT exam system provides a particularly demanding exam suited to your expertise. As you correctly answer questions, the algorithm will choose more challenging questions from that domain.
As the exam grows more tough, the importance of the questions increases. If you continue to answer questions correctly, the exam will conclude sooner with a passing grade.
In particular, the algorithm evaluates your potential to meet the passing score at question 100. If the computer finds that you have a passing potential of at least 95%, the exam will terminate with a pass. If the computer forecasts your failure probability at 95% or higher, the exam will fail. If a 95% pass/fail judgment cannot be made at question 100, it is reevaluated after each question until question 150.
The style and complexity of the Advanced Innovative Questions are comparable to those of Security+.
Security+ Difficulty Level
The Security+ test is far from simple. To pass your test, you will need to put in many long hours of study and practice. It is, however, an entry-level test. It is not intended to test career veterans. It is designed for you, the student trying to obtain your first security certification to display on your wall.
CompTIA has a horrible habit of employing ambiguous language on certain questions, requiring you to read carefully to verify you understand what they’re asking. A single phrase may alter the entire question, so don’t speed through it.
The PBQs seem scary, especially because they are more difficult to practice on your own. Fortunately, if you comprehend the topics you’ve been learning, they’re usually rather simple.
Take your time memorizing your acronyms; there are a lot of phrases to memorize.
Overall, Security+ is a challenge, but it is appropriate for an entry-level learner.
CISSP vs Security+: Cost and Renewal Requirements
The CISSP certification is unquestionably more expensive to get and maintain.
The CISSP test costs $749 USD, whereas the Security+ exam costs $381 USD. (ISC)² also charges a yearly membership fee of $125, while CompTIA and Security+ do not.
Both certificates are valid for three years and must be renewed either by retaking the test or by gaining educational credits. These are known as continuing education units (CEUs) by CompTIA and continuing professional education (CPEs) by (ISC)².
CompTIA and (ISC)² have particular standards for what constitutes educational credit, but in general, this might include taking additional security-related courses, gaining certifications, presenting at conferences, publishing, or visiting industry events.
There is no price if you renew by acquiring a more advanced CompTIA certificate, such as the Pentest+ or CySA+. The renewal price is $150 if you renew using outside certificates or other allowed methods. CISSP takes 120 CPEs to renew, with 40 earned each year, necessitating a substantially larger expenditure to maintain.
Within three years of the exam’s validity, Security+ renews with 50 CEUs. Your renewal may or may not include an extra fee.
CISSP vs Security+: Job Opportunities
A countrywide employment search on Indeed at the time of writing yielded 10,148 job advertisements in America referencing Security+ vs. 22,714 citing CISSP. While seeing more than twice the number of ads demanding CISSP is impressive, there are other aspects to consider.
Going through the top 50 CompTIA Security+ results, seven required extra and more advanced certifications, with six specifically requiring CISSP. In the same top 50 results, 18 of the job posts were for entry-level or help desk positions. This is not always a negative thing, especially if you are just starting out in your job. In comparison, the great majority of the top 50 CISSP listings were for senior or managerial roles with annual wages exceeding $100,000.
The average CISSP certification salary today is $129,877, according to ZipRecruiter, while the average compensation for a Security+ holder is $58,325.
So, what are we to make of this? Again, Security+ is aimed at people who are just beginning out in the field of information security. This is demonstrated by the job descriptions and compensation. The CISSP represents experienced professionals who may command better pay.
CISSP vs Security+: Which Certification Is Right For You?
As we have seen, comparing CISSP to Security+ is not an apples-to-apples comparison. The cost, testing, criteria, and outcome of CISSP and Security+ are vastly different. However, there is still a lot of uncertainty in this area.
The alarmingly large percentage of HR Departments that wrongly require CISSP for entry-level employment surely doesn’t help matters. To diagnose a DNS issue, you do not need to be a CISSP, and you will not find a CISSP working for an entry-level support desk pay.
If you would like to compare credentials of comparable status, CISSP vs CASP+ (CompTIA’s Advanced Security Practitioner) are more closely matched, whereas (ISC)²’s Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) is more comparable to Security+.
It is simple to determine which certification is superior. The CISSP is more in demand and offers doors to more rewarding careers. Is it, nonetheless, the superior certification for you? If you must inquire, the answer is no.
Students who are beginning from zero or close to zero should begin with the fundamentals. Security+ is a good certification to obtain in terms of security principles. It covers a wide range of topics without being too technical for newcomers. It demonstrates that you can converse with professionals without becoming lost in the conversation.
Furthermore, if you have been working in security for a while and are looking to further your career, CISSP should be on your radar.
FAQs
What is the best certification after CISSP?
Is CISSP the hardest?
Which certification is better CISSP or CISM?
Can I take security+ without experience?
Can a beginner take security+?
Final Words
In conclusion, the CISSP vs Security+ certifications are two of the most widely used cybersecurity credentials. They both have advantages and disadvantages. CISSP is designed for seasoned cybersecurity professionals, whilst Security+ is designed for individuals who are just getting started.
If you already have a few years of experience, the CISSP is generally the preferable option. However, if you are just getting started, Security+ will provide you with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of cybersecurity. This essay should have helped you comprehend the fundamental distinctions between them.
