If you're starting your journey into cybersecurity or looking to level up your IT career, you've probably encountered two major certifications: CompTIA Security+ and Cisco CCNA. Both are highly respected in the industry, but they serve different purposes and career paths. As someone currently pursuing my PNPT and having earned both my Security+ and CCNA, I want to break down the differences to help you decide which certification aligns with your goals.
Quick Answer: Security+ is best for those pursuing cybersecurity roles (SOC analyst, security specialist), while CCNA is ideal for network administration and infrastructure careers. Many professionals, including myself, pursue both to have a well-rounded skill set.
What is CompTIA Security+?
CompTIA Security+ is an entry-level, vendor-neutral cybersecurity certification that validates your ability to perform core security functions. It's designed to teach you the foundational knowledge needed to design, implement, and maintain secure networks.
What Security+ Covers:
- Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities
- Architecture and design for security
- Implementation of secure systems
- Operations and incident response
- Governance, risk, and compliance
- Cryptography and PKI
- Identity and access management
Security+ focuses exclusively on cybersecurity principles and is considered the baseline certification for anyone serious about a career in this field. It's vendor-neutral, meaning the concepts apply whether you're working with Cisco, Microsoft, Linux, or any other technology stack.
What is CCNA?
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is a certification that validates your knowledge of networking fundamentals, specifically with Cisco equipment. While it includes security components, it's primarily focused on network infrastructure, routing, switching, and network management.
What CCNA Covers:
- Network fundamentals and architecture
- IP connectivity (routing protocols like OSPF, EIGRP, BGP)
- Network access (VLANs, STP, wireless)
- IP services (NAT, NTP, DHCP, DNS)
- Security fundamentals
- Automation and programmability (Python, APIs)
CCNA is Cisco-specific, meaning you'll learn how to configure, manage, and troubleshoot Cisco network devices. However, the networking concepts you learn apply universally across all networking equipment, making it valuable regardless of the vendor you work with.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | CompTIA Security+ | Cisco CCNA |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Cybersecurity fundamentals | Networking fundamentals |
| Vendor | Vendor-neutral | Cisco-specific |
| Exam Cost | $425 USD | $300 USD |
| Exam Length | 90 minutes, max 90 questions | 120 minutes |
| Prerequisites | None (recommended: 2 years IT experience, Network+) | None (recommended: 1 year Cisco experience) |
| Study Time | 30-45 days (with experience) | 3+ months |
| Renewal Period | 3 years (50 CEUs required) | 3 years (must recertify) |
| DoD 8570 Approved | Yes (IAT Level II) | Yes |
Career Paths and Salary Expectations
Security+ Career Paths
Security+ is typically the first cybersecurity certification professionals pursue. It opens doors to entry-level security positions:
- Security Administrator: Median salary ~$91,500
- Security Specialist: Median salary ~$61,000
- SOC Analyst: Median salary ~$75,000
- Systems Security Engineer: Median salary ~$88,900
From Security+, you can progress to more advanced certifications like CEH, CISSP, or specialized tracks in penetration testing (like PNPT, OSCP) or defensive security (CySA+, GCIH).
CCNA Career Paths
CCNA is ideal for those pursuing network-focused careers, though it's also valuable for security professionals who need strong networking fundamentals:
- Network Administrator: Median salary ~$70,000
- Network Security Analyst: Median salary ~$87,000
- Security Consultant: Median salary ~$103,000
- Network Engineer: Median salary ~$85,000
- Security Engineer: Median salary ~$116,000
From CCNA, you can specialize further with CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Security, or branch into security-specific roles.
Which Certification Should You Choose?
Choose Security+ If:
- You want to pursue a career specifically in cybersecurity
- You're interested in SOC analyst, security specialist, or incident response roles
- You need a DoD 8570-compliant certification for government/military IT jobs
- You want vendor-neutral knowledge that applies across all technologies
- You're planning to pursue advanced security certifications (CEH, CISSP, etc.)
- You have limited networking experience and want to focus on security concepts first
Choose CCNA If:
- You want to pursue network administration or engineering roles
- You're interested in understanding how networks actually function at a deep level
- You work primarily with Cisco equipment or infrastructure
- You want to build a strong networking foundation before specializing in security
- You're interested in network automation and programmability
- You plan to pursue advanced Cisco certifications (CCNP, CCIE)
My Personal Experience and Recommendation
I earned both certifications, and honestly, I believe having both gives you a significant advantage in cybersecurity. Here's why:
Security+ taught me: The security concepts, threat landscape, cryptography, and how to think about security holistically. It gave me the vocabulary and frameworks (like the CIA triad, defense in depth, zero trust) that are essential in this field.
CCNA taught me: How networks actually work. Understanding TCP/IP, routing protocols, VLANs, and network segmentation at a deep level has been invaluable. You can't properly secure what you don't understand, and CCNA gave me that understanding.
Pro Tip: If you're serious about cybersecurity, I recommend getting Security+ first (it's faster and gets you into security roles), then pursuing CCNA to deepen your networking knowledge. Many cybersecurity professionals struggle because they don't understand the underlying network infrastructure they're trying to protect.
Exam Difficulty and Study Time
Security+ Difficulty
Security+ is a broad exam covering many topics at a surface level. The challenge is the breadth of knowledge required rather than depth. With CompTIA's performance-based questions (PBQs), you'll need to demonstrate practical understanding, not just memorize definitions.
Study Resources I Used:
- Professor Messer's free video series (excellent!)
- Jason Dion's practice exams on Udemy
- Official CompTIA CertMaster Practice
- Darril Gibson's Get Certified Get Ahead book
CCNA Difficulty
CCNA is more technical and requires hands-on practice. You need to understand subnetting, routing protocols, and be able to configure Cisco devices via CLI. The exam is longer and tests both breadth and depth of networking knowledge.
Study Resources I Used:
- OCG (Official Cert Guide) by Wendell Odom
- Neil Anderson's Udemy course
- Packet Tracer and GNS3 for hands-on labs
- Boson ExSim practice exams
- David Bombal's YouTube content
Do You Need Both?
Not necessarily, but having both makes you a stronger candidate. Here's the reality:
For SOC Analyst roles: Security+ is often required or strongly preferred. CCNA is a nice-to-have that shows you understand networking.
For Network Security roles: Both certifications are often listed in job requirements because you need to understand both networking AND security.
For Penetration Testing: Security+ is more relevant initially, but understanding networking (CCNA knowledge) becomes crucial as you advance.
For Security Engineering: You'll definitely want both, as you're designing and implementing secure network infrastructure.
Final Thoughts
Both certifications are valuable and respected in the industry. Security+ is your gateway to cybersecurity roles, while CCNA builds the networking foundation that makes you a better security professional. If you can invest the time and money, getting both will set you apart from other candidates.
My recommendation? Start with Security+ if you're new to IT and want to get into security quickly. Then, pursue CCNA to deepen your technical knowledge. This is the path I took, and it's served me well as I work toward more advanced certifications like PNPT.
Remember, certifications are just stepping stones. The real learning happens when you're hands-on in labs, doing CTFs, and working in the field. Use these certifications as motivation to learn, not just pieces of paper to collect.
Bottom Line: Don't overthink it. Pick the certification that aligns with your immediate career goals, study hard, pass the exam, and then keep learning. The cybersecurity field rewards those who are persistent and continuously expanding their knowledge.
[ KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED ] - [ CERTIFICATIONS EARNED ] - [ CAREER ADVANCED ]