The Security+ is the most recognized entry-level security certification in IT. It’s vendor-neutral, DoD-approved, and one of the fastest ways to prove you understand the fundamentals of cybersecurity. Here’s how to pass it without wasting time or money.
Why Security+ Matters in the DoD
If you’re working in or trying to break into the cleared defense space, Security+ isn’t optional — it’s a baseline requirement baked into federal policy.
DoD Directive 8140 (formerly 8570) mandates that anyone with privileged access to DoD information systems hold a qualifying certification. Security+ satisfies the requirement for two of the most common workforce categories:
- IAT Level II — covers roles like network technician, systems administrator, and help desk with elevated access
- IAM Level I — covers information assurance management roles
That means if you’re a contractor or government employee touching classified systems in an IT capacity, your employer may not be able to keep you in your seat without it. Many cleared job postings list it as a hard requirement, not a nice-to-have.
Beyond compliance, it signals something real to hiring managers in the defense space: you understand the threat landscape, you know the frameworks, and you took the time to get credentialed. In a pool of cleared candidates, that matters.
If your goal is a DoD IT or cybersecurity role — whether you’re transitioning from the military, already a contractor, or breaking in from the outside — Security+ is the fastest legitimate on-ramp. If you’re still weighing whether to pursue A+ or Network+ first, see The CompTIA Trifecta: Worth It, Overrated, or Mandatory? for the honest breakdown of what each cert actually does for a cleared career.
What You’re Actually Signing Up For
Before you study, know what you’re walking into.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Exam code | SY0-701 |
| Questions | Up to 90 (multiple choice + PBQs) |
| Time limit | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 750 / 900 |
| Voucher price | $425 ($276 with student discount) |
The performance-based questions (PBQs) are the ones that trip people up. They’re scenario-based — configuring a firewall, analyzing a log, matching a threat to a control. You can’t memorize your way through them. You need to understand what’s happening.
The Five Domains
The exam tests you across five areas with the following weightings:
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| General Security Concepts | 12% |
| Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations | 22% |
| Security Architecture | 18% |
| Security Operations | 28% |
| Security Program Management and Oversight | 20% |
Security Operations is the biggest slice — over a quarter of the exam. If you’re going to prioritize, start there.
Phase 1: Build the Foundation with Professor Messer
Go to Professor Messer’s free SY0-701 playlist on YouTube. Watch it once, front to back, at a comfortable pace.
Don’t grind it. Don’t take exhaustive notes on everything. Just watch it like you’re learning something new — jot down terms, concepts, or anything that feels unfamiliar. The goal in this phase is exposure, not mastery.
Messer’s videos are thorough, free, and aligned directly to the exam objectives. There’s no reason to pay for video content when this exists.
Phase 2: Find Your Weak Spots with Jason Dion’s Practice Exams
Once you’ve finished the Messer playlist, buy Jason Dion’s practice exams on Udemy. They go on sale frequently — don’t pay full price.
Take your first practice test cold. Your score doesn’t matter. What matters is the breakdown afterward.
Dion’s exams tell you exactly which domains you missed questions in. That breakdown is your study plan. If you’re scoring 60% in Threats and Vulnerabilities but 85% in Security Architecture, you know where to spend your time.
From there, the loop looks like this:
- Take a practice exam
- Review every question you got wrong — read the explanation, not just the answer
- Go back to the Messer video that covers your weak area
- Use an LLM (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) to quiz yourself or explain concepts in plain language
- Take another practice exam
Repeat until you’re consistently hitting 80%+ across the board.
Don’t Study Yourself Into the Ground
The people who fail the Security+ usually fall into one of two camps: they studied too little, or they studied too hard in too short a window and burned out before test day.
A few practical rules:
- Study in consistent sessions — 45–60 minutes a day beats a 6-hour Sunday cram
- Spread your prep over 4–8 weeks depending on your background
- Take at least one full day off per week
- When you’re consistently passing Dion’s practice exams, schedule the real test. Don’t keep delaying.
Spaced repetition works. Exhaustion doesn’t.
What to Do on Exam Day
Flag the PBQs and come back to them. Answer everything you know first, then return to the harder ones with remaining time. The multiple choice questions are faster — bank time there and use it on the PBQs.
750 out of 900 is the pass mark. That’s roughly 83%. Aim higher in practice so test-day nerves have margin to work with.
Resources
- Professor Messer SY0-701 Course — free on YouTube
- Jason Dion Practice Exams — Udemy (wait for a sale)
- CompTIA Security+ official page — exam objectives, pricing, and registration