› Certifications · compare
Compare certifications Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
CompTIA · entry
Security+ CompTIA Security+
Broad entry-level knowledge across threats, ops, IAM, network, and crypto basics.
Official page ISC2 · professional
CC ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity
The CC is ISC2's entry-level certification without experience requirements and explicitly targets career starters, career changers, and students. Notably, ISC2 periodically offers CC training and the exam for free (as part of the 'One Million Certified' initiative), which has significantly increased market penetration. Content covers five domains: Security Principles, Incident Response, Access Control, Network Security, and Security Operations – at a solid but intentionally broad entry level. As a stepping stone to SSCP or CISSP it is well-suited; as a standalone credential it carries less weight than Security+. From September 2026, a new Exam Outline applies.
Official page Comparing
CompTIA Security+
ISC2 CC
› Cost Annual maintenance fee
$50/yr
$125/yr
3-year cost of ownership
$542
$375
› Exam mechanics Pass mark
Security+ 750/900 (~83%)
CC 700/1000 (scaled)
Pass mark
750/900 (~83%)
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
Security+ $404 fee · 0d wait
CC $50 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$404 fee · 0d wait
$50 fee · 30d wait
Study time
Security+ 40–100 hrs
CC 30–80 hrs
Study time
40–100 hrs
30–80 hrs
CPE / yr
Security+ 17 CPEs
CC 40 CPEs
Delivery
Security+ test center
CC test center
Delivery
test center
test center
› Salary signal (US base) Range
Security+ $65K – $95K
CC $55K – $80K
Range
$65K – $95K
$55K – $80K
Median
Security+ $78,000
CC $65,000
Role context
Security+ Entry security analyst / junior IT generalist, US, 0–3 years.
CC Entry security analyst / IT generalist, US, 0–2 years.
Role context
Entry security analyst / junior IT generalist, US, 0–3 years.
Entry security analyst / IT generalist, US, 0–2 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10) › Recognition & lifecycle Recognition
Security+ Global · US · EU · UK
CC Global
Recognition
Global · US · EU · UK
Global
Holders worldwide
700,000
80,000
Current version
Security+ SY0-701 (2023-11)
CC 2022 launch (2022-09)
Current version
SY0-701 (2023-11)
2022 launch (2022-09)
› Domain coverage A1 Governance, Risk & Compliance
Security+ ○ touched
CC ● core
A1 Governance, Risk & Compliance
○ touched
● core
A10 Security Operations
● core
·
A11 Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
A11 Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
○ touched
·
A2 Network Security
● core
● core
A21 Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
A21 Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
⚠ gap
·
A4 Application Security
○ touched
·
A5 Cloud Security
○ touched
·
A6 Identity & Access Management
A6 Identity & Access Management
● core
·
A9 Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
A9 Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
⚠ gap
·
B1 AI-Powered Threat Detection
B1 AI-Powered Threat Detection
⚠ gap
·
C1 Adversarial Machine Learning
C1 Adversarial Machine Learning
⚠ gap
·
D2 Post-Quantum Cryptography
D2 Post-Quantum Cryptography
⚠ gap
·
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.