CompTIA Security+ Study Guide

Planning to sit the CompTIA SY0-701 exam? CompTIA offers the CompTIA Security+, and this FAQ collects the questions candidates ask most often — what the exam covers, who it is designed for, how it is structured and scored, how demanding it is, and how to prepare for it with purpose. For official eligibility, policies and updates, visit CompTIA’s official exam page.

The CompTIA SY0-701 exam’s content is organized into five domains: General security concepts (12%), Threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations (22%), Security architecture (18%), Security operations (28%), and Security program management and oversight (20%). Use this guide to understand what the exam expects before you build a study plan, and come back to it as your preparation moves from reading to practice.

CompTIA SY0-701 — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

SECTION A: CompTIA SY0-701 Certification Overview

Q1. What is the CompTIA SY0-701 exam?

SY0-701 is the exam code for CompTIA Security+ V7, the core security certification covering threats, security architecture, security operations and governance. CompTIA launched V7 on November 7, 2023, and the exam allows a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes. Passing SY0-701 on its own earns the CompTIA Security+ certification. SY0-701 is now retiring: the English exam retires on June 11, 2027, and its replacement is SY0-801.

Q2. Who should take the CompTIA SY0-701 exam?