CompTIA Security+™ Certification

"Benchmarking foundational skills through the CompTIA Security+ certification and then adding progressive layers of expertise seems to us to be absolutely theright thing to do, from both the customer and employee standpoints"

Steve Jordan, Vice President
System Engineering & Consulting, McAfee, Inc.

CompTIA Security+™ and Your Career

CompTIA Security+ validates your commitment to security. Business owners across all industries want to hire professionals who can keep their networks secure. A CompTIA Security+ credential on your resume proves to employers your ability to keep their information safe from network security breaches.

View a diagram of where CompTIA Security+ fits in the certification landscape.

CompTIA Security+™ and the US Department of Defense
In 2004, the US Department of Defense (DoD) established Directive 8570.1: Information Assurance Training, Certification and Workforce Management. It requires that all DoD Information Assurance technicians and managers are trained and certified. CompTIA Security+ is an approved certification that meets DoD requirements.

Visit the US Government resources page for more information.

Key benefits for becoming CompTIA Security+ certified:

  • A solid credential that can be utilized in any industry.
    • U.S. Dept. of Defense and Directive 8570: U.S. DOD employees or contractors engaged in work related to information security are required to be certified, as specified in a list of certifications included in the Directive 8570 manual, and CompTIA Security+ is one of the designated certifications.
    • Healthcare industry and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): This Congressional Act of 1996 requires that standards be met in the security and privacy of data in the healthcare industry. One way that healthcare companies can demonstrate their compliance with the standards in this act is to verify certification of their network and information security staff.
    • Financial industry and web-based attacks: The financial industry and its customers are vulnerable to attacks designed to gain access to personal account information. Those who provide network security are critical in this business, and the CompTIA Security+ certification is an assurance of baseline competency.
  • Validation of achievement in an industry-valued skill.
    • All industries need trained security professionals to combat hackers and security threats. CompTIA Security+ shows employers you can maintain the integrity of their business communications, infrastructure and operations.
  • Viable career path, leading to higher level positions.
    • Seventy-four percent of IT managers say a CompTIA certification is an important factor in considering an employee for a promotion.*

*Measuring the Value of IT Certification, Kotler Marketing Group, 2003