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The short answer
If you are asking whether to take Security+ or Network+ first, the honest answer is that it depends on where you are starting and where you want to go. CompTIA's own pages point to an order: the Network+ page recommends CompTIA A+ plus hands-on experience as a junior network administrator or network support technician, and the Security+ V7 page recommends Network+ and experience in a security or systems administrator role. Those are recommendations, not entry rules, so you can choose differently. This page helps you decide, and it is our suggested way of thinking about it rather than a rule.
What each exam covers
Both exams are broad, entry-to-intermediate IT exams from CompTIA. Here is how the current versions compare, according to CompTIA's exam pages.
| Detail | Security+ SY0-701 | Network+ N10-009 |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Security concepts, threats, architecture, operations and oversight | Network concepts, setup, operations, security and troubleshooting |
| Questions | Maximum of 90 | Maximum of 90 |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 750 on a scale of 100–900 | 720 on a scale of 100–900 |
| Question types | Multiple-choice and performance-based | Multiple-choice and performance-based |
| Price | Check the vendor's site for current pricing | Check the vendor's site for current pricing |
The Security+ domains are general security concepts (12%), threats, vulnerabilities and mitigations (22%), security architecture (18%), security operations (28%) and security program management and oversight (20%). The Network+ domains are networking concepts (23%), network implementation (20%), network operations (19%), network security (14%) and network troubleshooting (24%).
Why Network+ first can make sense
Security work is often about protecting things that sit on a network. If you do not yet know how addresses, routing, switching, DNS, wireless and common ports behave, many Security+ topics can feel like memorizing terms without a picture behind them. Network+ builds that picture. It also trains a troubleshooting method, which transfers well to investigating a security problem.
Network+ first is a reasonable choice if:
- you are new to IT and have never configured a router, switch or wireless network;
- you want a help desk, network support or systems role where daily work touches connectivity;
- you learn more easily by understanding how things work before learning how they are attacked.
Our Network+ study guide covers the N10-009 domains and a suggested study plan.
Why Security+ first can make sense
Security+ is not a networking exam, and its objectives explain the ideas it needs. A learner who already uses networks at work, or who has finished A+ or another foundation course, may find the networking parts of Security+ manageable without a separate certification first.
Security+ first is a reasonable choice if:
- your target job posting asks for a security credential and you want to match it soon;
- you already have some networking or systems background from work or study;
- you are motivated mostly by security topics and a longer detour would cost you momentum.
Our Security+ study guide walks through the SY0-701 domains.
Check the version before you commit
CompTIA says the Security+ V8 exam is expected to launch on or around November 17, 2026, and that V7 (SY0-701) is available now. If you plan to book soon, confirm on the Security+ page which version you are preparing for, and match your materials to it. The same habit applies to Network+: confirm the current exam code before you buy a course or book.
A simple way to decide
Answer these three questions honestly.
- Can you explain, in your own words, how a device finds another device on a network? If not, start with Network+ material, even if you decide to skip the exam itself.
- What does the job you want ask for? Read three real postings. If the same credential appears in most of them, that is useful evidence about your local market.
- How much time and money can you spend? Each exam has its own fee, so check the vendor's site for current pricing before planning two attempts back to back.
If your answers are mixed, a middle path is to study the Network+ objectives first, take a free practice set for each exam, and see which feels closer to your current knowledge. Practice results are a snapshot of what you know today, not a prediction of how an exam will go.
Is it fine to skip one?
Yes, it can be. Some learners study networking topics for background and sit only the exam that matches their job goal. The reverse is also true: some learners take both for a broader foundation. Neither choice is wrong. What matters is that your study time lines up with a goal you can name.
Free practice questions
Try a few free questions for each exam in CertMonk and see which topics feel familiar: free practice questions.
FAQ
Do I need Network+ before Security+?
No exam in these pages is listed as a required step for the other. CompTIA recommends Network+ and relevant experience for Security+, so it is guidance about readiness. Check CompTIA's current pages before you book.
Which exam is harder, Security+ or Network+?
That depends on your background. A learner with networking experience may find Security+ more natural, while someone with security reading but no hands-on networking may find Network+ harder. Compare the domain lists above against what you already know.
How long should I study for each?
There is no single answer. Our suggested starting point is to plan weeks of regular study, then adjust after a practice set shows your weak domains. See our Security+ study time guide for a framework.
Should I do A+ first?
CompTIA recommends A+ for Network+ preparation. If you are brand new to computers, A+ may be a gentler start. Our A+ Core 1 vs Core 2 page explains the two A+ exams.
Can I take both exams in the same month?
You can book what you like, but studying two exams at once splits your attention. Sequential study is often simpler to manage. This is a suggestion, not a rule.
