N10-008 vs N10-009: What Changed?

CompTIA periodically refreshes Network+ to keep pace with how networks actually look today. Here's what's different between N10-008 and the current N10-009 exam.

Same structure, updated content

Good news first: if you've already started studying, you haven't wasted your time. Both versions use the same five domains — Networking Concepts, Network Implementation, Network Operations, Network Security, and Network Troubleshooting. CompTIA didn't rebuild the exam from scratch. They refreshed what sits inside each domain to match how networks actually look today.

What N10-009 added or expanded

• Cloud & virtual networking — VPCs, security groups, NAT/internet gateways, and the shared-responsibility model get more direct coverage.
• Modern WAN & security architecture — SD-WAN, SASE, SSE, and zero trust architecture (ZTA) concepts appear explicitly.
• Automation & infrastructure as code — version control, configuration drift, and automation basics are now testable.
• IPv6 and dual-stack environments — more emphasis on IPv6 alongside IPv4, reflecting real-world dual-stack networks.

What got trimmed

Older gear and fiddly console details got quieter, making room for the cloud, security and automation topics above. That's the general pattern with every refresh: less about equipment you're unlikely to meet, more about what's on real networks now. One thing didn't change — troubleshooting is still one of the heaviest parts of the exam, and knowing the methodology and the tools still matters more than anything else.

Which one should you study for?

For almost everyone, the answer is simply N10-009. It's the current exam, and it's what you'll sit if you book today. The one exception is if you already bought a voucher or a course tied to N10-008 and you're booked to take it before it retires — in that case, finish what you started. Either way, check the retirement dates on CompTIA's own site before you commit. Those dates come from CompTIA and they do move.

Frequently asked questions