Passing the Security+

I recently passed the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) certification — and to be honest, it was tougher than I expected! I’m much more of a practical, hands-on learner, so the multiple-choice format challenged me in ways I didn’t anticipate. Still, I’m proud of pushing through and achieving this milestone, which has deepened my understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals and best practices.

I passed this certificate view here

What I Learned

Preparing for Security+ gave me a well-rounded understanding of core cybersecurity principles and hands-on practices that directly apply to real-world scenarios. Some of the key areas I found most valuable included:

General Security Concepts: Understanding the fundamentals of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA), as well as authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA). I also explored modern security frameworks like zero trust and concepts such as deception and disruption technologies.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations: Learning about different threat actors—ranging from nation-states to insider threats—and their motivations. I gained insight into identifying vulnerabilities across applications, operating systems, and cloud environments, and using mitigation strategies like segmentation, hardening, and patching.
Security Architecture: Diving into secure design principles for on-premises, cloud, and IoT systems. This section really helped me understand how enterprise infrastructure is secured, how data is classified and protected, and how systems maintain resilience and continuity.
Security Operations: This was the most hands-on part of my study. It covered monitoring, vulnerability management, access control, automation, and incident response. I especially enjoyed learning about modern tools like EDR/XDR, SIEM systems, and digital forensics fundamentals.
Security Program Management and Oversight: Gaining a big-picture view of governance, risk management, compliance, and security awareness. I learned how policies and procedures tie everything together to ensure organizations stay compliant and secure.

My Honest Take on the Exam

While I loved diving into the material, I’ll admit I’m not a fan of the multiple-choice format. Cybersecurity is such a practical, scenario-driven field that it deserves more opportunities for hands-on demonstration of skills. The Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) were my favorite part of the exam because they simulate real-world challenges—but honestly, there aren’t enough of them.

I’d love to see Security+ evolve by incorporating more practical components, similar to how certifications like Blue Team Level 1, SOC Level 1, and TCM Security’s PSAA emphasize hands-on labs and simulations. These types of exams test how well you can apply knowledge, not just recall it.

Study Recommendations

For anyone preparing for Security+, here are some tips that worked well for me:

Use multiple resources: I highly recommend Professor Messer’s free Security+ videos—they’re clear, concise, and map perfectly to the exam objectives. Pair them with other study materials like Jason Dion’s practice exams or Mike Meyers’ Security+ guide for different teaching perspectives.
Don’t overdo practice exams: Take each practice test no more than twice. After that, you’ll start remembering the answers rather than learning the concepts, which gives a false sense of confidence. The goal is to understand the “why,” not just recognize the “right” answer.
Focus on your weak spots: After each practice test, spend time studying the areas you struggled with. Strengthen your understanding of those topics before attempting another test.
Space out your practice: Don’t take multiple exams back-to-back. Give yourself time to review, absorb the material, and reinforce knowledge through study, labs, or videos.

Conclusion

Passing Security+ has strengthened my understanding of how to secure networks, applications, and systems—and it’s given me the confidence to pursue more advanced certifications and hands-on experience. I’m excited to continue building my skills in threat analysis, incident response, and risk management.

If you’re considering Security+, I highly recommend it. The content is comprehensive, current, and essential for anyone starting or advancing in cybersecurity.