Security+ 801 vs 701 (Don't waste your money)

Main takeaway

The video argues that most candidates should take Security+ SY0-701 if they can realistically sit the exam by April 30, 2027. The newer SY0-801 is the better choice for people who will not be ready by then.

The presenter’s central advice is to choose based on your likely exam date—not hype about the new version—and avoid spending money on materials for an exam you will not take.

Dates and exam basics

• SY0-701 (Security+ V7) launched on November 7, 2023.
• SY0-801 (Security+ V8) is listed by CompTIA as expected to launch around November 17, 2026. The presenter stresses that this is an expected, not final, date.
• The English-language SY0-701 exam is scheduled to retire on June 11, 2027. The presenter says both exams will be available during an overlap of about seven months.
• Both versions have up to 90 questions, including multiple-choice questions and performance-based questions (PBQs), a 90-minute time limit, and a passing score of 750 on a 100–900 scale.
• The presenter says passing either version awards the same Security+ certification, which is valid for at least three years. The exam’s retirement does not invalidate a certification already earned.
• For DoD 8140 purposes, the presenter says the qualification matrix lists Security+ rather than a particular exam version.

What changes in SY0-801

The exam still has five domains, but their weightings shift:

Domain SY0-701 SY0-801 General Security Concepts 12% 16% Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Countermeasures → Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks 22% 24% Security Architecture 18% 19% Security Operations 28% 27% Security Program Management and Oversight 20% 14%

The presenter characterizes the overall shift as more emphasis on fundamentals and threats, and less on management. Security Operations remains the largest domain.

Other changes and additions mentioned include:

• AI-related risks, including prompt injection, data poisoning, jailbreaking, hallucinations, and model manipulation.
• Large language models as a potential attack surface; deepfakes and QR-code phishing (“quishing”) in social engineering; and AI tools used defensively in security operations.
• Passkeys and backup codes in identity and access management.
• Frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, the cyber kill chain, and the diamond model.
• Some material has moved between domains, while sections such as blockchain and cryptography have been shortened.

The presenter says the AI material is at a general-awareness level: candidates should recognize and explain the risks, not become AI engineers. The video also cites Professor Messer’s estimate that roughly 40% of the content differs between 701 and 801. Therefore, 701 materials should not be treated as sufficient preparation for 801 without filling in the gaps.

How to choose: the presenter’s rule

1. Choose SY0-701 if you can take it by April 30, 2027. The presenter recommends leaving about six weeks before the June 11 retirement date in case a retake is needed.
2. Choose SY0-801 if your realistic exam date is after April 30, 2027. This includes people starting from scratch who are unlikely to be ready by the cutoff. The presenter estimates many candidates need two to three months to prepare.
3. Be especially cautious about taking 701 near its retirement. If you fail too close to June 11, you may have to switch to preparing for 801 instead of retaking 701.
4. Consider your work needs. The presenter says 801’s AI content may be more relevant for people whose jobs involve AI safety.

Why the presenter favors 701 for candidates who can meet the deadline

• More established study resources: 701 has had years of courses, books, flashcards, practice tests, study groups, and candidate feedback. The video mentions free Professor Messer videos and existing Jason Dion materials.
• 801 resources may lag its launch: The presenter says several providers’ 801 materials were still planned or incomplete at the time discussed, so early candidates may have fewer preparation options.
• A new exam may have early uncertainty: The video notes that CompTIA launch dates can shift and recommends checking CompTIA’s official exam information.
• The credential is the same: The presenter’s view is that employers and the DoD requirement generally care that the candidate holds Security+, not which exam code they passed.

Money and preparation advice

• Do not assume a voucher will remain usable after an exam retires. The presenter says CompTIA voucher terms make exam retirement dates take precedence over voucher expiration dates.
• Schedule the exam when buying a voucher, rather than purchasing one for a version you may not be able to take in time.
• Do not buy 701 materials if you expect to take 801.
• Do not buy an expensive 801 boot camp just because it is new. The presenter recommends starting with the free exam objectives and free study resources, then adding a book and a set of practice tests if needed.
• Use the relevant exam objectives as a checklist and make sure all study materials match the version you plan to take.

Personal example and promotions

The presenter recounts that Security+ helped qualify them for a defense-related radar systems engineering role in Japan. They say they went from a $72,500 salary to $140,000 after earning the certification, illustrating the credential’s value in their own career.

The presenter also promotes a free AI/IT careers course, a preparation tool identified in the subtitles as “Cert Snap” and later “Cert Sniper,” and paid career-coaching services. These are promotional claims and offers, not independent conclusions of the comparison.

Speakers and sources mentioned

• Main speaker: Symoné B. Tech channel host, identified in the video metadata as Symoné B. “Beez.” The subtitles render the name inconsistently as “Simon.”
• CompTIA: Cited for exam dates, objectives, exam format, certification validity, and voucher terms.
• Professor Messer: Cited for free 701 course materials and an estimate that about 40% of the content differs between versions.
• Jason Dion / Dion Training: Cited regarding existing 701 materials and planned 801 training.
• Sybex: Cited regarding a planned 801 study manual.
• Training Camp: Cited regarding potential shifts in CompTIA launch dates.
• An unnamed trainer: Quoted describing the AI objective as relatively brief study for people who already know the basics.
• An unnamed exam-question provider: Mentioned as still reviewing its plans for 801 questions.
• DoD 8140 qualification matrix: Cited as listing Security+ without specifying an exam version.
• The presenter’s former hiring manager: Recounted in the presenter’s career anecdote.