Security+ SY0-701 vs. SY0-801: What Should You Know?
A new version of Security+ creates an unusual situation for certification candidates.
You know you want to earn CompTIA Security+, but now there are two exam codes to think about: SY0-701 and SY0-801.
Does the arrival of SY0-801 mean you should stop studying for SY0-701? Is the newer exam automatically the better choice? What if you've already spent weeks preparing?
The answer depends largely on where you are in your Security+ journey and when you plan to take the exam.
Here's how to think about the transition.
What are SY0-701 and SY0-801?
SY0-701 and SY0-801 refer to different versions of the exam associated with the CompTIA Security+ certification.
SY0-701 is the current exam version.
SY0-801 is the upcoming exam version that will succeed it.
The certification itself remains Security+. What's changing is the exam version and the objectives candidates are expected to know.
Why does CompTIA create new exam versions?
Security+ is intended to reflect cybersecurity knowledge and skills relevant to the industry.
But the industry changes.
New technologies become commonplace. Security practices evolve. Threats change. Organizations adopt different infrastructure and operating models.
Periodic exam updates allow the certification objectives to evolve alongside those changes.
That's why moving from SY0-701 to SY0-801 is more than changing the number at the end of the exam code.
Candidates preparing for the new version need training and study materials aligned with the new objectives.
What's different between SY0-701 and SY0-801?
The detailed comparison will depend on CompTIA's official SY0-801 objectives.
Once those objectives are available, we'll compare both versions to identify what has been added, changed, or removed.
For now, the most important distinction is simple:
SY0-701 materials are designed around the SY0-701 objectives. SY0-801 materials should be designed around the SY0-801 objectives.
That's why it's important to know which exam you intend to take before choosing your primary study resources.
Should you continue studying for SY0-701?
If you've already invested significant time preparing for SY0-701, the announcement of a future exam shouldn't automatically send you back to square one.
Ask yourself:
How far along am I?
Someone nearly ready for the exam is in a very different position from someone who has watched one lesson.
When do I realistically plan to test?
Your target exam date matters more than simply knowing a new version exists.
How much time will I have before SY0-701 retires?
Once CompTIA publishes an official retirement date, compare it with your realistic study timeline.
If you can comfortably prepare and test before retirement, continuing with SY0-701 may remain an option.
If your timeline extends beyond the exam's availability, preparing for SY0-801 becomes relevant.
What if you haven't started studying yet?
If you're starting from zero close to the SY0-801 launch, the decision deserves more consideration.
Look at the official transition dates once they're available and think realistically about how much time you'll need to prepare.
Don't choose an exam solely because it's newer.
And don't choose an older exam simply because more study materials currently exist for it.
The goal is to choose a version you can prepare for thoroughly and take while it's available.
Will SY0-801 be harder than SY0-701?
A new exam version isn't automatically a harder exam.
Updated objectives mean the content candidates are expected to understand may change. That can make certain areas feel easier or harder depending on your existing experience.
Until the official objectives and exam information are available, claims that SY0-801 will definitively be easier or harder are speculation.
A better approach is to focus on preparing thoroughly for whichever version you decide to take.
Do SY0-701 and SY0-801 earn different certifications?
No separate “701 Security+” or “801 Security+” certification is being created.
The exam code identifies the version of the exam.
Candidates who meet CompTIA's certification requirements earn CompTIA Security+.
That distinction is important because candidates sometimes assume waiting for a newer exam results in a “newer” version of the certification itself.
Will your SY0-701 training work for SY0-801?
There may naturally be overlap between successive Security+ exam versions, but your primary preparation should align with the objectives for the exam you're actually taking.
Once SY0-801 launches, candidates preparing specifically for it should use current SY0-801-aligned training.
Dion Training is developing a new Security+ SY0-801 course taught by Jason Dion for learners preparing for the new exam.
A simple way to think about the decision
If you're already preparing for SY0-701, don't abandon your progress based solely on the existence of SY0-801. Review the official timeline and determine whether your current plan is realistic.
If you're just beginning, compare your expected study timeline with the transition dates.
And if SY0-801 will be the relevant exam by the time you're ready to test, begin with resources designed specifically for that version.
The important thing isn't taking the newest exam.
It's preparing for the right exam for your timeline.
Preparing for Security+ SY0-801?
Dion Training's upcoming Security+ SY0-801 course will be taught by Jason Dion and updated for the new exam version.
Join the waitlist and we'll let you know when the course is available.
[Join the Security+ SY0-801 Waitlist]
You can also bookmark our Security+ SY0-801 resource hub for the latest exam updates and transition information.