The short answer
Take Network+ N10-009 first if you are new to networking or work in support and want the base. Take Security+ SY0-801 first if your target job is security work and you already understand how networks function. Take both if you want a path from networking to security; many people go in that order, though CompTIA requires neither.
Timing matters too. CompTIA’s Security+ V8 page says SY0-801 is expected to launch on or around November 17, 2026, and today is October 22, 2026. Its predecessor, SY0-701, is still listed with English retirement on June 11, 2027.
Side by side
| Item | Network+ N10-009 | Security+ SY0-801 |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Building, running and fixing networks | Security concepts, threats, controls and operations |
| Launch | June 20, 2024 | Expected on or around November 17, 2026 |
| Questions | Maximum of 90 | Maximum of 90 |
| Question types | Multiple-choice and performance-based | Multiple-choice and performance-based |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 720 (scale 100 to 900) | 750 (scale 100 to 900) |
| Languages | English, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish | English (V8 page) |
| Recommended experience | A+ and 9 to 12 months of hands-on networking | About two years as a security administrator |
| Required prerequisites | None | None |
| Validity | Three years | Three years |
| CEUs to renew | 30 | 50 |
Sources are CompTIA’s exam pages and its CE table, read on October 22, 2026. The Security+ V8 page is a preview of an exam that has not launched, so details can change.
What they cover
Network+ has five domains: Networking Concepts 23%, Network Implementation 20%, Network Operations 19%, Network Security 14% and Network Troubleshooting 24%. It is about how data moves and how to fix it when it does not.
Security+ V8 has five domains too: General Security Concepts 16%, Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks 24%, Security Architecture 19%, Security Operations 27% and Security Program Management and Oversight 14%. It is about risk, controls and responding to incidents.
Where they overlap
- Basic network security: firewalls, segmentation, VPNs, encryption and authentication all appear in both, at different depth.
- Common attacks such as denial of service, on-path attacks and social engineering.
- Hardening, access control and monitoring ideas.
Network+ treats these as tools you use on a network. Security+ treats them as controls you choose for risk.
Where they differ
- Depth in networking. Subnetting, routing, VLANs, wireless design and cable troubleshooting are Network+ territory. Security+ assumes you know the basics.
- Depth in security. Governance, risk, compliance, incident response and a dedicated AI topic in V8 are Security+ territory, and Network+ touches them only lightly.
- Troubleshooting. It is the biggest Network+ domain at 24%. Security+ spends most of its weight on operations and threats.
- Recommended experience. Security+ expects more hands-on time than Network+ does.
How to choose
- Look at your job target. Network support or admin: Network+. Security analyst or administrator: Security+.
- Look at your background. If you cannot explain DHCP, DNS and a VLAN, start with Network+. If you can, Security+ is open to you.
- Look at the calendar. If you plan to study Security+ now, note that the V8 exam is only just arriving. Check which version your booking uses, and use the matching objectives.
- Look at renewal. Security+ needs 50 CEUs and Network+ needs 30. CompTIA says a higher-level certification renews the lower ones, and Network+ sits below Security+. Holding Security+ therefore also keeps Network+ alive.
- Think about time. One after the other needs a few months for each, at a pace you can keep.
Which is harder?
It depends on you. Security+ asks for more experience on paper, and its passing score is higher, but the scales are different and cannot be compared by percentages. A network engineer may find Security+ new and Network+ easy. A security student may find the reverse.
FAQ
Do I need Network+ before Security+?
No. CompTIA lists no prerequisite for Security+.
Can I take both in the same month?
You can, if you have the time. Most people find that one at a time leaves less overlap in their heads.
Which one is better for beginners?
Network+ if you are brand new to networks. A+ comes before it for many people, as CompTIA recommends.
Does SY0-801 replace SY0-701?
CompTIA lists SY0-801 as the next version of Security+. SY0-701 stays available until its retirement dates.
More guides for N10-009
- Network+ N10-009 Exam Format and Scoring
- Network+ N10-009 Study Plan: 4 and 8 Weeks
- Network+ N10-009 Domains Explained
- Network+ N10-009 Sample Questions
- Is Network+ N10-009 Hard? An Honest Look
- Network+ N10-009 Prerequisites
- N10-009 Renewal and Retakes Explained
- N10-009 Cheat Sheet: Key Facts to Review
- CCNA vs Network+: Which Exam First?
Next step
Read the Network+ overview and the Security+ overview, then pick your order. For networking practice, try the N10-009 practice tests; for security, see the SY0-801 practice tests. Both offer original practice questions. Also see our guide on whether N10-009 is worth it.