CompTIA Security+ vs CCNA Security: What Employers Actually Want

The current Security+ certification is not a generic "cyber" badge. CompTIA frames SY0-701 around five weighted domains, hands-on performance-based work, and a fixed exam window of 90 minutes. The voucher price is $425, the exam can include maximum of 90 questions, and the passing score is 750 on a scale of 100-900.

Security+ vs CCNA Security

Security+ is vendor-neutral. CCNA Security (or its current Cisco equivalent) is vendor-specific, focusing on Cisco network security technologies. Employers in Cisco-heavy environments often value both, but Security+ is more broadly applicable and more commonly required across government, defense, and multi-vendor environments.

For roles that require DoD 8570/8140 compliance, Security+ meets the baseline requirement. CCNA Security does not satisfy the same requirement for most of those roles.

Job market context

BLS reports a median annual wage of $124,910 for information security analysts and projects 28.5% growth from 2024 to 2034. Security+ is recognized across industries. CCNA-track certifications are most valued in network-engineering and Cisco-specific environments.

What should you do with this information next?

Our CompTIA Security+ study guide covers all five SY0-701 domains. Available at securitypluscertprep.com/guide.

SimpuTech's Security+ AI tutor can build a personalized study plan. Try it at SimpuTech.com.