Security+ SY0-701 vs SY0-801: Which Exam Should You Take?

Short answer: if you plan to sit the exam before spring 2027 and you have already started studying, take SY0-701. If you are starting from scratch in 2027, prepare for SY0-801. Both versions lead to the same CompTIA Security+ certification, valid for three years from the day you pass.

CompTIA expects to launch Security+ SY0-801 (also called Security+ V8) on or around November 17, 2026. The current exam, SY0-701, stays open until June 11, 2027 in English. For about seven months you can choose either one. This guide covers what changes, what stays the same and how to pick.

Key dates at a glance

CompTIA has marked the SY0-801 date as tentative. Launch dates can move, so check the official CompTIA Security+ page before you book a seat in launch week.

What stays the same

• Format: up to 90 questions, a mix of multiple-choice and performance-based questions (PBQs).
• Time: 90 minutes.
• Passing score: 750 on a scale of 100 to 900.
• The certification: you earn the same CompTIA Security+ credential either way, and it is valid for three years.
• Recommended experience: about two years of hands-on work in a security administrator role. There is no hard prerequisite.

What changes in SY0-801

The five domains keep their order, but the weightings move and Domain 2 gets a new name.

*In SY0-701 this domain is called "Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations".

AI security is now on the exam

The biggest content change is artificial intelligence. SY0-801 adds:

• Objective 2.6, a new objective on threats and vulnerabilities that come with AI use, including prompt injection.
• Large language models (LLMs) listed as an attack surface under objective 2.4.
• Agentic AI, chatbots and AI-augmented baselines under objective 4.6, which covers automation and orchestration.

Governance, risk and compliance (Domain 5) carries less weight, while core security concepts (Domain 1) carry more. Security operations is still the largest domain at 27%.

Which exam should you take?

• Take SY0-701 if you have already started studying, or you can sit the exam before about May 2027. Books, video courses and practice tests for SY0-701 are mature and widely tested.
• Take SY0-801 if you are starting your preparation in 2027, or your exam date falls after June 11, 2027. Expect fewer study materials in the first few months after launch.
• Either works if your goal is a job or a promotion. Employers ask for "Security+", not a specific exam code.

One thing to avoid: starting SY0-701 preparation late and running into the June 11, 2027 cut-off. If your timeline is tight, book your exam date first and plan your study weeks backward from it.

How to prepare in 6 to 8 weeks

1. Week 1: download the official exam objectives for your version and mark the topics you already know.
2. Weeks 2 to 5: study one domain at a time, starting with Security Operations and Threats, which together make up about half the exam.
3. Week 6: practice performance-based questions. PBQs usually come first in the exam and take the most time.
4. Weeks 7 to 8: take full-length timed mock exams. Aim for steady scores above your target before you sit the real exam.

Preparing for SY0-801? Add time for the AI objectives. Learn how prompt injection works, why LLMs widen the attack surface and where AI fits into security automation.

How CertOcean can help

Our CompTIA Security+ course is live and instructor-led, with mock exams and a study plan built around the official objectives. CertOcean is an authorized CompTIA partner, so you can also get your exam voucher through us. Not sure which version fits your timeline? Talk to an advisor and we will help you plan your exam date.

Frequently asked questions

When does Security+ SY0-801 come out?

CompTIA expects to launch SY0-801 on or around November 17, 2026. The date is tentative, so confirm it on CompTIA's site before you book.

When does SY0-701 retire?

The English SY0-701 exam retires on June 11, 2027. The Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai versions retire on August 13, 2027.

Is SY0-701 still worth taking?

Yes. Passing SY0-701 gives you the same CompTIA Security+ certification as SY0-801, valid for three years. It is the better choice if you can sit the exam before the retirement date.

Is SY0-801 harder than SY0-701?

The format, time and passing score stay the same. SY0-801 adds AI security topics and shifts the domain weightings, so the difficulty depends on how comfortable you are with the new material.

Do I need Network+ before Security+?

No, it is not required. CompTIA recommends about two years of hands-on security administration experience, but anyone can register for the exam.