› 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
SSCP (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner
The SSCP is ISC2's entry-level certification below the CISSP and targets technically active security professionals with initial work experience. Since October 2025, the exam uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), which customizes the exam experience individually and increases integrity. The SSCP covers seven technical domains, from access control through cryptography to network security, and positions itself as practical proof of operational security competence. It is less well-known than Security+ or GSEC, but benefits from ISC2's strong brand and serves well as an intermediate step toward the CISSP. The effort for annual certification maintenance (AMF + CPEs) is moderate.
Official page Comparing
CompTIA Security+
ISC2 SSCP
› Cost Annual maintenance fee
Security+ $50/yr
SSCP $125/yr
Annual maintenance fee
$50/yr
$125/yr
3-year cost of ownership
$542
$624
› Exam mechanics Pass mark
Security+ 750/900 (~83%)
SSCP 700/1000 (scaled)
Pass mark
750/900 (~83%)
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
Security+ $404 fee · 0d wait
SSCP $599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Retake policy
$404 fee · 0d wait
$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Study time
Security+ 40–100 hrs
SSCP 60–150 hrs
Study time
40–100 hrs
60–150 hrs
CPE / yr
Security+ 17 CPEs
SSCP 20 CPEs
Delivery
Security+ test center
SSCP test center
Delivery
test center
test center
› Salary signal (US base) Range
Security+ $65K – $95K
SSCP $75K – $115K
Range
$65K – $95K
$75K – $115K
Median
Security+ $78,000
SSCP $92,000
Role context
Security+ Entry security analyst / junior IT generalist, US, 0–3 years.
SSCP SOC analyst / hands-on security operator, US, 1-3 years experience required for cert.
Role context
Entry security analyst / junior IT generalist, US, 0–3 years.
SOC analyst / hands-on security operator, US, 1-3 years experience required for cert.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10) › Recognition & lifecycle Recognition
Security+ Global · US · EU · UK
SSCP Global
Recognition
Global · US · EU · UK
Global
Holders worldwide
Security+ 700,000
SSCP 10,000
Holders worldwide
700,000
10,000
Current version
Security+ SY0-701 (2023-11)
SSCP 2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
Current version
SY0-701 (2023-11)
2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
› Domain coverage A1 Governance, Risk & Compliance
A1 Governance, Risk & Compliance
○ touched
·
A10 Security Operations
Security+ ● core
SSCP ● core
A10 Security Operations
● core
● core
A11 Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
A11 Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
○ touched
·
A15 Cryptography
Security+ ● core
SSCP ● core
A15 Cryptography
● core
● core
A2 Network Security
Security+ ● core
SSCP ● core
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
Security+ ● core
SSCP ● core
A6 Identity & Access Management
● core
● 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.