CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601)
This blog post talks about CompTIA Security+ Certification.
Introduction
CompTIA Security+ is a global certification that validates the baseline skills necessary to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career. In my opinion, this is a entry level certification that targets the US market and is not so relevant in SG. I don't think hiring managers in SG would care if you have this certification or not. However, if you're in the USA, i believe that its a requirement to have this in order to work in some of their government jobs. I took the SY0-601 edition which has since been revised to SY0-701. I passed the exam in Oct 2023.
Exam details
Why did i choose this?
I have no prior certifications after i graduated from university. Looking through the Cyber Security Roadmap planner, I saw this generic entry level cert that tests the basic concepts of cybersecurity so i just gave it a go. The exam objectives seemed to align with the cyber modules that i took in university too.
Cost
I paid roughly 350 SGD for the exam (after a 20% discount code). Currently it goes for 404 USD in the CompTia Store 1. Writing this almost a year since i obtained the cert, I feel that you can skip this. For the price point vs takeaways, it is way too expensive. Note that it expires after 3 years too, which can be renewed through CPEs or taking a more advanced cert from CompTIA.
Study Materials
I bought a study guide for roughly 40 SGD from Amazon that comes with mock questions. There are equivalent materials on learning portals like Coursera or Udemy too. In total, I spent two weeks studying and doing practice papers. I was familiar with the bulk of the examinable topics as they were already taught in school or something that I had experience in my daily taskings.
Exam Details
You can find all the exam details at Security + Exam details 2. In summary, its a MCQ + performance-based questions 3. There is a maximum of 90 questions and you need at least 750/900 to pass. You can either take the exam online (proctored) or go down to an exam center. Its a closed book exam.
Honest Opinions
Thankfully, I passed the exam on my first try, else the retake cost would make this certification way over my budget. Is this exam really worth it? From a job seeking perspective, I doubt this has any value. From a learning perspective, there are many similar entry level certs that tests on these topics too. Ultimately, I feel that its the certification company's branding that contributes to the overall "value" of obtaining the cert.
If you're entirely new to the cyber security scene, and you're on a budget, definitely explore other cheaper alternatives using the Security Certification Roadmap.