Free CompTIA Security+ Study Guide 2026 - Syllabus, Domain Weightage & Study Plan
📋 2026 Edition  ·  Updated August 2026

CompTIA Security+
comptia-security-plus Study Guide - Pass First Attempt

Complete exam coverage for the CompTIA Security+. Every domain, every key topic - structured so you study smart, not hard. Built around the official exam blueprint.

90
Questions
90 min
Duration
750
Passing score
5
Domains
Unlock Practice Test → Take Readiness Diagnostic
92%
First-attempt pass rate
47K+
Candidates prepared
4.9★
Average rating
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Overall readiness (locked)
General Security Concepts
-
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations
-
Security Architecture
-
Security Operations
-
Security Program Management and Oversight
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Exam at a Glance

Everything you need to know before you start

Key facts about the CompTIA Security+ exam structure, format, and scoring.

🆔
comptia-security-plus
Exam code
📝
90 questions
Total questions
⏱
90 minutes
Duration
🎯
750
Passing score
📋
5 domains
Exam domains
📅
Valid 3 years
Certification validity
🌐
Online / In-person
Testing mode
🏆
Globally recognised
Credential type
ℹ️
Scoring method: The Security+ exam is scored on a scale of 100–900. A minimum score of 750 is required to pass. Performance-based questions are scored first, and results are available upon completion.. The exam may include unscored pilot questions - treat every question seriously.
Focus Areas

What should you study for the CompTIA Security+ exam?

To pass the CompTIA Security+ certification exam, you should focus on these core domains. The exam tests your ability to apply concepts in real-world scenarios - not just memorise definitions.

⚠️
Common mistake: Candidates memorise terminology but struggle with scenario-based questions. Focus on when to use what, not just what exists.
🔐
General Security Concepts (12%)
Covers foundational security principles, cryptography, authentication, and security controls.
🏗
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (22%)
Covers types of threats, attack vectors, vulnerability scanning, and threat intelligence.
⚡
Security Architecture (18%)
Covers enterprise security architecture, cloud security, network security design, and infrastructure protection.
💰
Security Operations (28%)
The largest domain — covers incident response, digital forensics, identity management, and security monitoring.
🔄
Security Program Management and Oversight (20%)
Covers risk management, compliance, data privacy, governance, and security awareness programs.
Full Syllabus

CompTIA Security+ Exam Syllabus and Topics

The CompTIA Security+ exam is divided into 5 domains. Each domain tests specific skills and contributes to your overall score. Click any domain to expand topics.

General Security Concepts
Covers foundational security principles, cryptography, authentication, and security controls.
12% ▼
Security Controls and Frameworks
Technical Controls
Administrative Controls
Physical Controls
NIST Framework
Zero Trust
Cryptography Basics
Symmetric vs Asymmetric
Hashing Algorithms
PKI
Digital Signatures
Certificates
~11 questions
12 marks
12% of exam weight
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations
Covers types of threats, attack vectors, vulnerability scanning, and threat intelligence.
22% ▼
Malware and Attack Types
Ransomware
Trojans
Rootkits
Spyware
Fileless Malware
Supply Chain Attacks
Social Engineering and Phishing
Phishing
Spear Phishing
Vishing
Smishing
Pretexting
Tailgating
Vulnerability Scanning and Remediation
CVE/CVSS
Vulnerability Scanners
Patch Management
Penetration Testing Overview
Threat Intelligence
~20 questions
22 marks
22% of exam weight
Security Architecture
Covers enterprise security architecture, cloud security, network security design, and infrastructure protection.
18% ▼
Network Security Design
Segmentation
DMZ
Proxy Servers
SD-WAN
SASE
Cloud Security
Shared Responsibility Model
CASB
Cloud Access Controls
Serverless Security
Container Security
Endpoint Protection
EDR/XDR
Host-Based Firewalls
Application Whitelisting
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
~16 questions
18 marks
18% of exam weight
Security Operations
The largest domain — covers incident response, digital forensics, identity management, and security monitoring.
28% ▼
Authentication and Authorization
MFA
SSO
OAuth
SAML
Privileged Access Management (PAM)
RBAC
Incident Response Process
Preparation
Detection
Containment
Eradication
Recovery
Lessons Learned
Digital Forensics
Chain of Custody
Evidence Collection
Disk and Memory Forensics
Log Analysis
Monitoring and Detection Tools
SIEM
SOAR
IDS/IPS
Netflow Analysis
User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)
~25 questions
28 marks
28% of exam weight
Security Program Management and Oversight
Covers risk management, compliance, data privacy, governance, and security awareness programs.
20% ▼
Risk Management
Risk Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Appetite
Risk Treatments (Accept, Mitigate, Transfer, Avoid)
Compliance and Regulations
GDPR
HIPAA
PCI-DSS
SOX
Data Classification
Privacy Policies
Policies and Frameworks
Security Policies
NIST CSF
ISO 27001
Third-Party Risk Management
Security Awareness Training
~18 questions
20 marks
20% of exam weight
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Study Plan

CompTIA Security+ Structured Study Roadmap

Designed for candidates studying 1-2 hours per day. Select your timeline below.

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Exam Strategy

Tips to pass CompTIA Security+ on your first attempt

Tactical advice beyond content knowledge - what separates candidates who pass from those who retake.

🗓
Security Operations is the largest domain at 28% — prioritize incident response and monitoring concepts.
🔍
Know the difference between similar tools: SIEM vs SOAR, IDS vs IPS, EDR vs XDR.
⏭
Study compliance frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) and know when each applies.
📊
Practice scenario-based questions — the exam is heavily situational, not just definitional.
Recommended Resources

Official and trusted study materials

Curated resources ranked by usefulness. Quality over quantity - focus on a small set of authoritative sources.

Official
Official Exam Guide
The authoritative blueprint. Know every objective before studying anything else.
→ Vendor website
Practice Tests
CompTIA Security+ Practice Test
Full-length CompTIA Security+ simulations with detailed per-domain analysis and explanations.
→ Start free practice test
Mock Exam
CompTIA Security+ Mock Exam
Timed, full-length CompTIA Security+ mock exam that mirrors the real test format and pacing.
→ Take free mock exam
Training
CompTIA Security+ Certification Training
Get instant explanations for any CompTIA Security+ concept, 24/7 domain-level weak-area coaching, and adaptive practice - no waiting for a session.
→ CompTIA Security+ certification online training
AI Tutor
CompTIA Security+ AI Tutor
Get instant explanations for any CompTIA Security+ concept, 24/7 domain-level weak-area coaching, and adaptive practice - no waiting for a session.
→ Try CompTIA Security+ AI tutor
Reference
CompTIA Security+ Cheat Sheet
One-page summaries for each CompTIA Security+ domain - ideal for last-week revision.
→ Get free cheat sheet
Diagnostic
CompTIA Security+ Readiness Test
10-minute diagnostic that scores your readiness against the 750 pass threshold, domain by domain.
→ Check my readiness
Community
Study Groups & Forums
Reddit r/certifications and exam-specific Discord servers for peer support and tips.
→ Reddit / Discord
⚠️
Avoid brain dumps. Sites selling "real exam questions" violate most vendor NDAs and are legally risky. Questions rotate regularly - brain dumps lead to overconfidence on outdated material and a higher retake rate.
Reviews

What candidates say after passing

★★★★★
"Passed CompTIA Security+ on my first attempt after 5 weeks. The domain-level diagnostic showed me exactly where my gaps were - I stopped wasting time on topics I already knew."
Rahul S.
Solutions Architect, Bangalore
★★★★★
"The structured study plan kept me on track. I tried studying on my own for 3 months and failed. With Edureify's roadmap I passed in 6 weeks."
Priya M.
Cloud Engineer, Mumbai
★★★★★
"The AI mentor was like having a personal tutor available at 2am. Every concept I didn't understand was explained until I got it. Invaluable for the General Security Concepts domain."
David K.
DevOps Engineer, London
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about CompTIA Security+

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