Network+ vs Security+: Which CompTIA Cert to Take Next
Network+ and Security+ are the two certifications most people weigh after their first CompTIA cert. They are both single-exam, vendor-neutral credentials from CompTIA, and they sit next to each other on the early-career IT path, but they point in different directions. Network+ (N10-009) proves you can design, run, and troubleshoot a network. Security+ (SY0-701) is the baseline security certification employers screen for, and it satisfies a well-known U.S. Department of Defense requirement for many technical roles. They overlap on the networking that underpins security, but the honest answer on which to take first depends on the roles you want. PrepClubs is not affiliated with CompTIA.
By PrepClubs Editorial Team, updated April 18, 2026
Take a free testSide-by-side: Network+ vs Security+
The two certifications share a format and a scale but differ on subject, weighting, and the roles they open. Network+ is about infrastructure; Security+ is about protecting it.
| Network+ | Security+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) | CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) |
| Issuing Body | CompTIA | CompTIA |
| Career Stage | Entry to early-mid level | Entry to early-mid level |
| Exams to Pass | One | One |
| Questions | Up to 90 | Up to 90 |
| Time Limit | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Format | Multiple choice + performance-based | Multiple choice + performance-based |
| Domains | 5 | 5 |
| Passing Standard | 720 of 900 scaled | 750 of 900 scaled |
| Focus | Networking depth | Security fundamentals |
| Typical Roles | Junior network admin, network support | SOC analyst, junior security admin, help desk |
| Best Case for You | You want networking roles | You want security roles or a DoD-baseline job |
Format: same shape, different subject
Both exams share a structure. Each has a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, both mix standard multiple-choice with performance-based questions (PBQs), and both are scored on a 100 to 900 scale. The pass line differs slightly: Network+ passes at 720 and Security+ at 750. Neither publishes a per-domain minimum, and both use weighted scoring so harder items count for more.
The subject is where they part ways. Network+ (N10-009) covers five domains built around infrastructure: Networking Concepts, Network Implementation, Network Operations, Network Security, and Network Troubleshooting. Its heaviest domains are Network Troubleshooting (24%) and Networking Concepts (23%). Security+ (SY0-701) also has five domains, but built around protection: General Security Concepts, Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations, Security Architecture, Security Operations, and Security Program Management and Oversight.
The practical implication: prep does not fully transfer. Network+ rewards depth on how networks work; Security+ rewards breadth on how to secure systems and the judgment to pick the right control. Network+ includes a Network Security domain (14%), but that is a slice of one exam, not the whole focus of the other.
Timing and sequence: which to prep first
Neither certification has a formal experience requirement, and neither is a prerequisite for the other. CompTIA positions Network+ as an infrastructure step and Security+ as the security baseline, and you can take them in either order.
The right sequence depends on your target roles. If you want to work with networks, take Network+ first: it is the higher-signal credential for junior network positions. If you want to break into security, or you are aiming at a government or defense-adjacent job, Security+ is the one that matters most, because it satisfies a DoD baseline requirement that appears on a wide range of postings.
A common and sensible path is Network+ then Security+. The networking you learn in Network+ (routing, addressing, protocols, and how traffic actually moves) is the foundation the Security+ Security Architecture and Security Operations domains build on. Coming into Security+ with that base makes the security material easier to reason about. On study time, budget a few focused weeks for each single exam.
What each exam actually asks
Both touch networking and security, but each makes one of them the whole point.
Networking depth
This is Network+ territory. Expect subnetting, VLANs and trunking, routing choices, wireless standards, and structured network troubleshooting. Security+ assumes you understand networking but does not test it at this depth; it uses it as the backdrop for security decisions.
Security judgment and controls
This is Security+ territory. Identify the attack, pick the control, recognize the vulnerability, and choose the right mitigation across all five domains. Network+ covers security in a single domain (14%): logical and physical security, zero trust and SASE, common attacks, and hardening, but without the breadth Security+ demands.
Troubleshooting vs. mitigation
Network+ leans on the structured troubleshooting method and the right NEXT step for a network fault. Security+ leans on the right response to a threat: what to do FIRST during an incident, which control best reduces a risk. Both reward applied reasoning, but toward different outcomes.
Performance-based questions
Both use PBQ-style tasks. On Network+ these lean toward subnet planning, VLAN configuration, and picking the correct diagnostic tool. On Security+ they lean toward configuring a control, sorting items by risk, or completing an incident scenario. In our banks both are re-authored as scenario items so they work on any device.
Which is actually harder
Network+ is deep on one subject, and topics like subnetting, routing behavior, and structured network troubleshooting demand real understanding rather than recall. Candidates who are shaky on the math and the mechanics of how traffic moves find it the harder of the two.
Security+ is broader. It spans the full security landscape at a moderate depth, and its challenge is even coverage plus the judgment to pick the best control when several options look plausible. Candidates who can memorize but struggle to reason about trade-offs find Security+ the harder one.
The honest comparison: Network+ rewards depth on infrastructure; Security+ rewards breadth plus decision-making on security. The harder one for you depends on whether your weaker point is technical depth or applied judgment. Both are single 90-question exams, so neither has the stamina problem of a two-exam certification.
Scoring and how employers read each
Network+ reports a single scaled score from 100 to 900, with 720 to pass. Employers read it as proof you can work with real networks, which is why it appears on junior network administrator and network support postings. There is no per-domain minimum, so even accuracy across all five domains is the target.
Security+ reports a scaled score from 100 to 900, with 750 to pass. Employers treat it as a checkbox: you either hold a current Security+ or you do not. Critically, it satisfies a U.S. Department of Defense baseline requirement for many technical roles, which is a large part of why it appears on so many government-adjacent postings and is often the single most-requested entry security credential.
Because neither exam publishes a raw-to-scaled conversion, the practical target on both is the same: consistent accuracy across every domain. On Network+ that means real depth on infrastructure; on Security+ it means broad coverage plus sound control-selection judgment.
Who values each certification
Network+ is the credential that signals you can design, run, and troubleshoot networks, so it shows up on junior network administrator, network technician, and network support postings. Employers hiring for networking-track roles read it as evidence you understand infrastructure. If you know you are heading toward networking, Network+ is the credential that moves you there.
Security+ is the credential that gets entry and early-mid candidates through the first screen for SOC analyst, junior security administrator, help desk, and technical support roles, especially in defense, government, and contractor settings where it satisfies a baseline requirement. Employers hiring for these roles include the U.S. Department of Defense and large contractors such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, General Dynamics, SAIC, and Raytheon. If you want a security role or a government-adjacent job, Security+ is the higher-priority credential.
How prep differs between the two
For Network+, prep for depth on one subject. The heaviest domains are Network Troubleshooting (24%) and Networking Concepts (23%), so start there. Get genuinely comfortable with subnetting, VLAN and routing behavior, wireless standards, and the structured troubleshooting method, then round out Implementation, Operations, and Security. Take full-length timed forms so 90 questions in 90 minutes feels routine.
For Security+, prep for broad, even coverage plus judgment. Work the current SY0-701 objectives domain by domain, because the exam punishes weak domains more than it rewards a strong one. Drill the control-selection and incident-response question styles where several answers are plausible and one qualifier decides the key. Practice performance-based tasks until the interactive items feel familiar.
If you can do both, Network+ then Security+ is a strong sequence: the networking foundation you build first makes the security architecture and operations material easier to reason about. If you can only do one and you want a security or defense-adjacent role, prep Security+ first, because it is the credential those postings screen for.
Which one should you actually prep for
If you want a networking-track role: prep Network+. It is the higher-signal credential for junior network positions and proves you can run and troubleshoot infrastructure.
If you want a security role, or you are aiming at a government or defense-adjacent job: prep Security+. It is the baseline security certification employers screen for and satisfies a DoD baseline requirement that appears on a wide range of postings.
If you can do both, do them in order: Network+ first to build the infrastructure foundation, Security+ next to secure it. The networking you learn first makes Security+ easier, so the sequence compounds. They are complementary steps, not a fork in the road.
CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)
CompTIA Network+ N10-009 is the vendor-neutral networking certification employers screen for, and the exam leans on applied judgment more than memorized facts. Our practice bank is the biggest of its kind: 10 full-length timed forms, roughly 900 original questions across all five domains at official weighting, with a clear rationale for every answer. Start with a free 25-question diagnostic, then unlock the full bank for $69 one time: one-time payment, 30-day access, and a Pass Guarantee. No subscription and no auto-renew. PrepClubs is not affiliated with CompTIA.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 is the baseline security certification employers screen for. Our practice bank is the biggest of its kind: 10 full-length timed forms, roughly 900 original questions across all five domains at official weighting, with a clear rationale for every answer. Start with a free 25-question diagnostic, then unlock the full bank for $69 one time: one-time payment, 30-day access, and a Pass Guarantee. No subscription and no auto-renew. PrepClubs is not affiliated with CompTIA.
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