Which certification should you take?
Two certifications side by side: questions, time, passing score, cost and what each exam covers, from the same facts as our exam guides, plus which one to take first.
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Certification comparisons
Pick a pair
Each page puts the two exams’ facts in one table and says who each suits.
Security+ vs CySA+
Security+ is the broad starting point for security work. CySA+ goes deeper into one job, the security analyst’s, and comes after Security+ on CompTIA’s path.
Network+ vs Security+
Network+ teaches how networks are built and fixed. Security+ teaches how to defend them. They’re steps on the same path, and Network+ usually comes first.
CCNA vs Network+
Network+ is vendor-neutral and covers how networks work. CCNA goes further and has you configure and troubleshoot Cisco routers and switches. CCNA is the harder and more hands-on of the two.
Security+ vs CISSP
They’re for different stages of a career. Security+ is the baseline for people starting in security. CISSP is for experienced professionals, and ISC2 requires years of paid security work before it certifies you.
ISC2 CC vs Security+
Both are entry-level security certifications. ISC2’s Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) is the gentler start and expects no experience. Security+ covers more ground, goes deeper and adds hands-on questions.
AWS Cloud Practitioner vs AZ-900
They’re the same kind of exam for two different clouds: an entry-level check that you understand cloud concepts, the main services, security, pricing and support. Choose the cloud you’ll actually use.
AWS Solutions Architect vs AZ-104
Both are the usual second step on their cloud, but they test different jobs. The AWS exam is about designing solutions. AZ-104 is about running Azure day to day.
CAPM vs PMP
CAPM is for people starting out in project management. PMP is for people who already lead projects and can show years of doing it.
AZ-900 vs AZ-104
AZ-900 checks that you understand Azure and the cloud. AZ-104 checks that you can administer Azure. One is a fundamentals exam, the other a job-role exam.
CCNA vs CCNP Enterprise
CCNA shows you can run a small or medium network. CCNP Enterprise shows you can design, build and troubleshoot a large one, and it takes two exams: a core exam and a concentration you choose.
CySA+ vs PenTest+
They’re two sides of the same level. CySA+ is defense: finding and responding to attacks. PenTest+ is offense: finding and exploiting weaknesses, with permission, before an attacker does.
AWS Cloud Practitioner vs AWS Solutions Architect
Cloud Practitioner checks that you understand AWS. Solutions Architect – Associate checks that you can design on it. Cloud Practitioner is optional.
A+ Core 1 vs A+ Core 2
They aren’t alternatives: you need to pass both to earn A+. Core 1 is about hardware, networking and devices. Core 2 is about operating systems, security, software problems and working procedures.
CCNA vs Security+
They lead to different jobs. CCNA is for building and running networks. Security+ is for protecting systems and data. Choose by the work you want to do.
Security+ vs SSCP
They cover similar ground at a similar level, from two different bodies. Security+ is CompTIA’s and has no experience requirement. SSCP is ISC2’s, requires paid security work and sits on the path toward CISSP.
SSCP vs CISSP
Both are ISC2 certifications. SSCP is for the people who operate security day to day. CISSP is for those who design and manage it, and asks for far more experience.
CISSP vs CCSP
CISSP covers security management as a whole. CCSP goes deep into securing cloud services. CCSP is often taken after CISSP, which meets all of CCSP’s experience requirement.
Security+ vs PenTest+
Security+ is the general foundation. PenTest+ is a specialist certification for people who test systems by attacking them, with permission. PenTest+ comes later.
AZ-104 vs AZ-305
AZ-104 is about running Azure. AZ-305 is about designing solutions on it. They’re two steps of one path: Microsoft requires the administrator certification before it awards the architect one.
AWS Solutions Architect vs AWS Solutions Architect – Professional
The same subject at two depths. Associate checks that you can design a sound solution on AWS. Professional checks that you can design for a large organization, with many accounts, migrations and competing requirements.
AWS Solutions Architect vs AWS Developer
Both are associate-level AWS certifications. Solutions Architect is about choosing and combining services into a design. Developer is about writing, deploying and debugging the code that runs on them.
AWS Solutions Architect vs Google Cloud Engineer
Each is the usual first technical certification on its cloud, but they aren’t the same job. The AWS exam is about designing solutions. Google’s Associate Cloud Engineer is about deploying and operating them.
AWS AI Practitioner vs AI-901
Both are entry-level AI certifications, one for each cloud. The AWS exam is about understanding AI and generative AI and how AWS services apply them. Microsoft’s goes a step further, into putting AI solutions together with its own tools. Neither asks you to train models.
CAPM vs Project+
Both are entry-level project management certifications. CAPM is PMI’s and follows the same framework as PMP. Project+ is CompTIA’s, written for people who manage smaller projects as part of an IT job.
PMP vs PMI-ACP
PMP covers project management as a whole, predictive and agile. PMI-ACP goes deep on agile alone: its frameworks, practices and the thinking behind them.
Weighing up one certification?Is it worth it?Exam costs
Exam versions
Old version or new?
Exams that have two versions or outlines in use right now: what changed between them, and which one to sit.
- Security+ SY0-701 vs SY0-801
General Security Concepts grows the most, from 12% to 16% of the exam.
- CISSP: what changes in the new exam outline
Asset Security grows the most, from 10% to 12% of the exam.
- CySA+ CS0-003 vs CS0-004
Incident Response and Management grows the most, from 20% to 24% of the exam.
- DataSys+ DS0-001 vs DS0-002
Business Continuity grows the most, from 12% to 14% of the exam.
- AWS Solutions Architect – Professional SAP-C02 vs SAP-C03
The outline was reorganized between SAP-C02 and SAP-C03, so the domains don’t map one to one. Both are listed below with their weights.
- AWS Developer DVA-C02 vs DVA-C03
Troubleshooting and Optimization grows the most, from 18% to 22% of the exam.
- AWS ML Engineer MLA-C01 vs MLA-C02
Deployment and Orchestration of ML and AI Workflows grows the most, from 22% to 24% of the exam.
- AB-100: what changes in the new exam outline
Plan AI-powered business solutions moves from 25–30% to 35–40%.
- Google Cloud DevOps Engineer: what changes in the new exam outline
Building, implementing, and maintaining CI/CD pipelines, including continuous testing, for application, infrastructure, and ML workloads grows the most, from 25% to 30% of the exam.
- Google Security Operations Engineer: what changes in the new exam outline
Data management grows the most, from 14% to 20% of the exam.
