CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Now the Only Active Exam Version

1. Security+ SY0-701 Officially Replaces SY0-601

CompTIA has completed the transition to Security+ SY0-701 as the current version of the CompTIA Security+ certification exam. The previous version, Security+ SY0-601, has retired, which means all new candidates must register for the SY0-701 exam if they want to earn the Security+ credential.

Security+ remains one of the most popular entry-to-mid-level cybersecurity certifications worldwide. It is commonly requested for roles such as security analyst, SOC analyst, security engineer, system administrator and network security specialist. The move to SY0-701 ensures that exam content reflects current threat landscapes, hands-on security operations and job role expectations.

2. Why CompTIA Released Security+ SY0-701

Every few years, CompTIA updates its certification exams to align with how organizations are actually defending their environments. For Security+ SY0-701, several industry trends drove the change:

• Growing importance of cloud and hybrid environments in security design.
• Shift toward security operations, monitoring and incident response.
• Increased focus on hands-on skills and real-world threat scenarios.
• More emphasis on risk-based decision-making and aligning controls with business needs.

As a result, SY0-701 keeps many of the foundational concepts from SY0-601, but reshapes the blueprint into fewer, more integrated domains with stronger orientation toward what security teams actually do day-to-day.

3. From SY0-601 to SY0-701: How the Domains Changed

While the exact domain names differ between SY0-601 and SY0-701, candidates will notice the following changes in SY0-701:

• Domains are reorganized to emphasize security operations and incident response, rather than only listing theoretical concepts.
• Threats, vulnerabilities and attacks are updated to include current tactics such as supply chain attacks, living-off-the-land, MFA fatigue and cloud-centric threats.
• Security controls and technologies are described in a more use-case–driven way, focusing on how security practitioners actually deploy and tune them.
• The exam objectives reflect a stronger need for understanding how to communicate risk and security posture to management and other teams.

If you previously studied for SY0-601, much of your knowledge is still relevant. However, you should review the official Security+ SY0-701 exam objectives and make sure your study plan and question bank practice match the new blueprint.

4. What This Means for Candidates Who Have Not Taken the Exam Yet

If you have not yet scheduled or taken the Security+ exam, you now have a clear path: register directly for SY0-701. There is no reason to look for SY0-601 study materials or practice exams anymore, unless you are using them as additional background reading.

For new candidates, SY0-701 is an opportunity: the exam is structured around current job tasks and roles, so the time you invest in learning will translate more directly to real-world work in a security operations team or security engineering role.

5. Recommended Study Approach for Security+ SY0-701

A solid SY0-701 study plan typically combines four elements:

• 1) Official exam objectives: download the SY0-701 objectives document and read it line by line. Highlight any term you do not immediately understand.
• 2) One main study guide or course: use a structured Security+ SY0-701 course or book that explains each objective with diagrams and practical examples.
• 3) Hands-on practice: set up a small lab or use cloud labs to practice hardening systems, configuring firewalls, exploring logs and responding to basic incidents.
• 4) Targeted question bank: use a Security+ SY0-701 question bank that is clearly labeled for the new exam version and organized by domain.

Instead of passively reading, treat each domain as a mini-project: define what you need to know, build a small lab or scenario, then reinforce it with questions and explanations.

6. How to Use a Security+ SY0-701 Question Bank Effectively

Many candidates underestimate the value of doing questions early and often. For Security+ SY0-701, a question bank is not only for “final review”—it is a tool to shape the way you read scenarios and apply concepts.

To get the most value from a Security+ SY0-701 question bank:

• Start with domain-based sets (for example, 20–30 questions focused on a single domain) to learn the style of Security+ questions.
• Read explanations even when you answer correctly. This builds extra context and connects concepts you might not have linked together.
• Mark questions that you got wrong or guessed. Revisit those items after you revisit the relevant section of your study guide or notes.
• In the final weeks, take mixed-domain SY0-701 practice exams to simulate the time pressure and topic switching of the real test.

7. Impact on Employers and Job Descriptions

For employers, the move to SY0-701 provides confidence that newly certified Security+ holders have been tested against up-to-date threats and controls. Job descriptions that previously referenced “Security+ SY0-601 or higher” will gradually be updated to mention Security+ SY0-701 or simply “current Security+ certification”.

From a candidate perspective, holding the latest version of Security+ can be a small but real differentiator—especially when you combine it with practical experience, lab work and additional vendor-specific security training.

8. Next Steps for Security+ Candidates

If you are planning to take the Security+ exam in the coming months:

• Confirm that all your study resources explicitly mention SY0-701.
• Align your notes and flashcards with the latest SY0-701 exam objectives.
• Schedule your exam with enough time to complete at least one full round of domain-based question bank practice and one or two full-length practice exams.
• Focus on understanding why certain security controls are selected in specific scenarios, rather than purely memorizing definitions.

Article Details

• Certification: CompTIA Security+
• Exam Code: SY0-701 (current)
• Former Version: SY0-601 (retired)
• Focus: Threats, operations, risk-based security

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