The CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) is often the first “serious” certification many people take on their cybersecurity journey. It’s respected, widely recognized, and a great foundation for anyone aiming to enter security or cloud engineering.
But when I started studying for Security+, I made mistakes, wasted time, and misunderstood what really mattered.
Looking back, here are 5 things I wish I knew before diving into it.
1. It’s About Concepts, Not Memorization
When I first cracked open Security+ material, I thought I needed to memorize every port number, encryption algorithm, and acronym.
Reality check: CompTIA tests whether you understand security concepts and can apply them.
- Example: Instead of asking “What port does HTTPS use?”, you might see:
“A system admin wants to secure traffic between a web server and client. Which port should be opened on the firewall?”
- It’s about understanding scenarios, not reciting trivia.
Lesson: Focus on the “why” behind protocols and tools, not just the raw facts.
2. Don’t Underestimate the Domains
Security+ is broad. It covers:
- General Security Concepts (21%)
- Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (22%)
- Security Architecture (18%)
- Security Operations (28%)
- Security Program Management & Oversight (11%)
When I studied, I spent too much time on topics I liked (cloud, IAM) and ignored others (risk management, governance). But the exam is balanced — you can’t skip domains.
Lesson: Study strategically across all domains, even the “boring” ones.
3. Hands-On Practice Matters More Than You Think
The exam includes performance-based questions (PBQs) where you configure firewalls, analyze logs, or troubleshoot scenarios.
If you only study theory, you’ll panic. But if you’ve actually:
- Spun up a VM and configured basic firewall rules
- Played with Wireshark or Nmap
- Used a SIEM demo (Splunk, Wazuh, ELK)
…you’ll feel confident.
Lesson: Lab practice cements theory. Even basic hands-on experience makes PBQs much easier.
4. Use Multiple Study Resources (But Don’t Overwhelm Yourself)
At first, I tried to use everything — books, YouTube, Udemy, practice tests, Discord groups. It backfired. I got overwhelmed and stuck in resource-hopping instead of focused learning.
What actually worked:
- Professor Messer’s Security+ videos (great free resource).
- Dion Training practice tests (excellent exam prep).
- A study plan with specific milestones.
Lesson: Pick 2–3 high-quality resources and stick with them. Depth > distraction.
5. Think Like a Security Analyst, Not a Student
The biggest shift came when I stopped asking, “What will CompTIA test me on?” and started asking, “How would I solve this in real life?”
For example:
- Instead of memorizing IDS vs IPS, I imagined defending a network against attacks.
- Instead of memorizing risk frameworks, I thought about how a security team would present risk to executives.
This mindset not only helped me pass, it prepared me for real security work.
Lesson: Treat Security+ as job prep, not just exam prep.
If you’re studying for CompTIA Security+:
- Don’t just memorize — understand.
- Respect every domain, even if it’s not your favorite.
- Do hands-on labs (yes, even simple ones).
- Stick to a few strong study resources.
- Think like a security analyst, not a test-taker.
Passing Security+ is great. But truly learning security fundamentals is even better because those lessons stay with you far beyond the exam.
For anyone preparing, here’s the repo with the materials that helped me: GitHub
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