Is CompTIA Security+ for Beginners? - ONLC (2024)

Last Updated on May 22, 2024

The cybersecurity industry has grown massively over the last ten years and is projected to double in the coming ten years, according to Fortune magazine. Due to the explosion of the smart device industry, everyone now has a smartphone and other internet-connected devices in their homes. All of these require cybersecurity consultants working behind the scenes to examine and probe for vulnerabilities.

As more employment opportunities open up within cybersecurity, many people are considering making a job switch to the world of technology. One of the best places to start is with CompTIA Security Plus certification. CompTIA Security+ certification is widely accepted in the technology field–it demonstrates that the individual has entry-level core skills needed for a career in cybersecurity or a related field.

Is Certification Right for Beginners?

The CompTIA Security+ exam and certification are the stepping stones to achieving many benefits and countless opportunities in the world of cybersecurity. By obtaining a Security+ certification, you’ll open the door to a career in various specialties such as security administration, network administration, system administration, and cybersecurity.

Certification is absolutely possible for beginners, but it is not for the faint of heart. You’ll learn enough acronyms to make your head spin. At the end of the course, there is a ninety-question exam that must be completed within ninety minutes. While no official figures are available, estimates are that more than 50% of those taking the exam for the first time fail.

Not to worry, though. No matter how many attempts to pass the CompTIA Security Plus exam you need, you can take the test as many times as necessary. That said, you will need to pay to take the exam each time and may have to wait up to fourteen days to retake it if you’ve tried more than twice.

Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field of new threats and patches being released to plug the holes–this is probably one of the reasons why the CompTIA Security+ certification is one of the few certifications that expire. To maintain a CompTIA certification, cybersecurity professionals need to take a new exam every few years to ensure that they are at the forefront of their industry when it comes to emerging threats and fixes.

While the test may sound daunting, it’s good to know that even seasoned cybersecurity professionals have been known to regularly fail their renewal exams because the pace of new threats is nonstop.

How Can You Prepare for the Exam?

If you’re wondering what to study before taking Security Plus training classes, we have a few suggestions. It would be helpful if you had a year or two of IT experience in an entry-level position and have CompTIA Network+ certification.

In addition, having CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ and the CompTIA A+ certifications before seeking CompTIA Security+ certification could be helpful. Both of these will provide a strong foundation on which to build your knowledge of IT, networking, and security. Another way to successfully prepare for the exam includes taking training courses, such as those offered by ONLC.

The average class size of an ONLC class is twelve students. This allows our instructors to maximize the time spent with each student and ensure all students are keeping up with the coursework and have their questions answered in a timely manner.

With both onsite training and remote training programs available, ONLC courses are convenient and comprehensive. Their courses provide the type of hands-on training most people need in order to excel in their jobs.

Instructors are able to remotely view your work as the class progresses and can give you tips on how to work smarter instead of harder. They can even take control of your screen remotely to demonstrate techniques so you can see it happening in real time instead of just listening to verbal instructions.

Additionally, because of the small class size, you’ll always have a chance to ask questions and hear other students ask questions. Intimate learning environments, such as the ones offered by ONLC, lay the foundation for productive learning and preparation for the exams that lie ahead.