Network+ vs Security+: Which First?

Both are core CompTIA certifications and both show up constantly in IT job postings. Here's how they actually differ, and how to decide which to earn first.

What each certification actually tests

Network+ (N10-009) teaches you how networks actually work — how data gets from one machine to another, how addressing and subnetting work, how routers, switches and Wi-Fi fit together, and how to figure out what's wrong when traffic stops flowing. It's foundational knowledge, and it sits underneath almost every other job in IT.

Security+ (SY0-701) is about defending those systems — who's attacking, what they're after, how encryption protects data, how you control who gets access, and how to weigh up risk. It quietly assumes you already understand how the network underneath works, and builds security thinking on top of that.

Where they overlap

• Authentication & access control (RADIUS, LDAP, SSO, MFA)
• VPNs and secure remote access
• Firewalls, segmentation, and basic network hardening
• Common attack types (DoS, on-path attacks, spoofing)

That overlap is real, and it works in your favor. Network+ has its own security objectives (4.1–4.3), so if you study it first you'll already recognize a decent chunk of Security+ when you get there.

Which to take first

If you're new to IT, take Network+ first. Here's why it makes a difference: Security+ constantly refers to things like subnets, ports, VPNs and firewalls without stopping to explain them. If those are still fuzzy, you end up learning two subjects at once and neither one sticks properly.

Already worked a helpdesk, NOC or sysadmin job, and you're aiming at a security role? Going straight to Security+ is a perfectly sensible choice. Just be ready for the networking-flavored questions to feel harder than the rest, and brush up on subnetting before you sit it.

Career impact

Network+ points toward network admin, NOC technician and infrastructure work. Security+ points toward SOC analyst, security admin and compliance roles. Plenty of postings — government and defense jobs especially — will accept either one as a baseline qualification. Holding both is what really widens your options, and it's a common path rather than an unusual one.

Does one pay more?

Security-titled roles (SOC analyst, security admin) often post slightly higher salary ranges than entry-level network admin or NOC roles in the same market, since security headcount is generally scarcer than networking headcount. But the gap is small at the entry level and easily outweighed by other factors — your region, the specific employer, and any hands-on experience you already have matter more than which cert you hold. Neither certification alone commands a premium; they're both gatekeeping credentials that get you considered, not pay-setting credentials on their own.

Quick decision guide

• Take Network+ first if: you're new to IT, you want to work toward infrastructure/sysadmin/NOC roles, or your job postings list Network+ as a requirement.
• Take Security+ first if: you already have solid networking experience, your target role is security-specific (SOC, GRC, security admin), or your employer requires Security+ for a DoD 8140-aligned position on a deadline.
• Take both if: you want maximum flexibility — Network+ then Security+ is the more common order since it reinforces, rather than duplicates, what you just learned.

Frequently asked questions