CompTIA Security+
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
CompTIA Security+ is widely recognized as a foundational, entry-level cybersecurity certification. It is frequently recommended as a starting point for those entering the field or as part of the 'CompTIA trifecta' (A+, Network+, and Security+). While it is often described as a 'cake walk' compared to more advanced certifications like SSCP or CISSP, it is valued for providing a broad, generic foundation in security principles.
Pros
- Strongly recognized for entry-level security positions
- Provides a solid foundational knowledge of security concepts
- Can be completed quickly by those with existing IT experience
- Serves as a helpful stepping stone for advanced certifications like CySA+ or CISSP
Cons
- Considered a beginner certification with limited utility for advanced careers
- Terminology and phrasing may differ from other certification bodies
- Passing does not guarantee readiness for more rigorous exams like CISSP
Caveats
- Reported difficulty is highly subjective; some pass with minimal effort while others fail despite using popular study guides
- One mention in the data refers to a book titled 'Security' by Gina Wohlsdorf rather than the certification
- Some users suggest skipping the full CompTIA trifecta in favor of more specialized networking certs like CCNA
Best for
- Entry-level IT professionals transitioning into security
- Candidates needing a foundational certification for US-based roles
- Building confidence before attempting more difficult security exams
Avoid if
- You are an established cybersecurity professional with several years of experience
- You require a certification with the depth and prestige of the CISSP
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence is drawn from a window between January 2025 and December 2025 with a median age of 433 days. Note that one source was a false positive for a novel.
Sentiment
31 positive (79%) · 6 mixed (15%) · 2 negative (5%)
Trust + time weighted score: +80% · raw score 74%
What redditors said (10 of 39)
Sec+ is great for IAT2 compliance and you can knock it out in a month or so.
Im an IT support with 5 years now with comptia Network+ Security + and recently passed az104.
not mandatory, but it is good to have some prior knowledge about cyber security concepts (ive only done security+ and some vendor trainings)
I also have my security + and that exam was definitely the type that you can memorize a lot of it.
Do Security+ first since it covers the fundamentals of security, IAM included.
I passed my Network+ and Security+ with esase, damn near perfect scores on them with minimal studying besides a few practice exams
Security+ would do more and I'm planning on getting it
Me, I'd probably do something like Security+ before attempting to tackle the SC-200
I know it’s sort of common, but I’d go security+ and then move to vendor specific things like AWS Cloud Practitioner or Azure entry level certs.
Given your goal, I’d probably do Security+ before AZ-500. You already have a strong infra base with CCNA + AZ-104, and Security+ rounds that out nicely for NOC, network infrastructure, cloud admin, and junior security-aware operations roles.
Compare
CompTIA Security+ vs AB-900CompTIA Security+ vs CompTIA Network+CompTIA Security+ vs AB-730