All certifications / Compare / Security+ vs SSCP

Security+ vs SSCP: which should you take?

Both are early-career security certifications; Security+ is the more requested one, and SSCP leans toward hands-on security operations and administration.

Which first?

Take Security+ first. Security+ has no experience requirement and opens more doors early; SSCP adds depth once you have the experience it asks for.

Who each one is for

Security+ (SY0-701): People starting out who want the most widely recognized entry-level security certification.

SSCP (Oct 2025 outline): Administrators and practitioners with at least a year of security experience who want a vendor-neutral operations credential from ISC2.

Key differences

SSCP requires one year of paid work in one of its domains to be fully certified; Security+ has no requirement.
SSCP is often a stepping stone toward CISSP, and both are ISC2 certifications with an annual maintenance fee and continuing education.
Security+ is listed in more job postings; SSCP is respected but less common as a hiring filter.

Side by side

Security+ vs SSCP exam facts
Item	Security+	SSCP
Vendor	CompTIA	ISC2
Exam	SY0-701	Oct 2025 outline
Questions	Up to 90 (multiple choice and PBQs)	100–125 (computerized adaptive testing)
Time	90 minutes	120 minutes
To pass	750 on a 100–900 scale	700 out of 1000
Free study plan here	16 weeks	–
Career tracks	Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Administration	Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Administration

Exam domains

Security+ (SY0-701)

General security concepts 12%
Threats, vulnerabilities & mitigations 22%
Security architecture 18%
Security operations 28%
Program management & oversight 20%

SSCP (Oct 2025 outline)

Security concepts & practices 16%
Access controls 15%
Risk identification, monitoring & analysis 15%
Incident response & recovery 14%
Cryptography 9%
Network & communications security 16%
Systems & application security 15%

Exam details come from each vendor's published objectives as recorded in the study plans; confirm them on the vendor's page before you book.

Study either one for free
Week-by-week lessons, quizzes, exam simulations and hands-on labs.

Security+ plan SSCP plan