Exam Comparison
CySA+ vs Security+
Comparing the CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003) and the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701). Both fall under IT Certifications.
The Bottom Line
Security+ is the foundation; CySA+ is the intermediate blue-team analyst certification built on top of it. The order is not negotiable in practice, CySA+ assumes Security+-level knowledge throughout. Take Security+ first, work or lab for a while, then CySA+ to specialize toward SOC analysis.
CySA+ vs Security+: At a Glance
| Detail | CySA+ | Security+ |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003) | CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) |
| Governing Body | CompTIA | CompTIA |
| Number of Questions | 85 | 90 |
| Time Limit | 165 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing Score | 750/900 | 750/900 |
| Exam Fee | $392 USD | $392 USD |
| Category | IT Certifications | IT Certifications |
| C3RT App | Cyber Security Cert Exam Prep: CISSP, CEH & CySA+ Soon | CompTIA & Cisco Exam Prep: A+, Network+, CCNA & More Soon |
Content Areas Compared
CySA+ Domains
- Security Operations(33%)
- Vulnerability Management(30%)
- Incident Response and Management(20%)
- Reporting and Communication(17%)
Security+ Domains
- General Security Concepts(12%)
- Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations(22%)
- Security Architecture(18%)
- Security Operations(28%)
- Security Program Management and Oversight(20%)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CySA+ and Security+?
Security+ certifies baseline security literacy across the whole field. CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst) goes deep on defensive operations: threat detection, log and traffic analysis, vulnerability management, incident response process, and interpreting SIEM output, the daily work of a SOC analyst. Security+ says "understands security"; CySA+ says "can sit in a security operations center and find the intrusion." CySA+ also satisfies DoD 8140 at higher role levels than Security+.
Can I take both the CySA+ and the Security+?
Yes, this is the standard CompTIA blue-team ladder (Security+ → CySA+, with SecurityX/CASP+ beyond). CompTIA’s renewal system helps: passing CySA+ renews your Security+ automatically, so stacking them costs less maintenance than it appears.
Which should I take first, CySA+ or Security+?
Security+ first, CompTIA positions CySA+ as a next step with Security+-level knowledge assumed, and the exam’s log-analysis scenarios are brutal without that grounding plus some hands-on exposure. The ideal gap is a year or so of SOC, help-desk-security, or serious homelab/CTF work between the two.
Does C3RT cover both the CySA+ and the Security+?
C3RT is building apps for both the CySA+ and the Security+. Both will be available on iOS and Mac.
The CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003) (CySA+) is administered by CompTIA. The CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) (Security+) is administered by CompTIA. C3RT is not affiliated with either organisation. Certification names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.