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CompTIA Security+ Syllabus
Entry-level vendor-neutral cybersecurity certification from CompTIA covering core security skills.. The complete CompTIA Security+ outline — 5 subjects, 25 chapters and 117 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.
CompTIA Security+ subjects
Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.
5 chapters · 23 topics · 54 sub-topics
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations5 chapters · 22 topics · 60 sub-topics
Security Architecture4 chapters · 21 topics · 43 sub-topics
Security Operations6 chapters · 28 topics · 70 sub-topics
Security Program Management and Oversight5 chapters · 23 topics · 45 sub-topics
CompTIA Security+ flashcard decks
321 question-and-answer cards across 5 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.
How to work through the CompTIA Security+ syllabus
The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.
Weight your plan accordingly: Security Operations carries 28 topics while Security Architecture carries 21. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for CompTIA Security+.
The ~140 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.
CompTIA Security+ syllabus FAQ
What subjects are in the CompTIA Security+ syllabus?
CompTIA Security+ covers 5 subjects: General Security Concepts, Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations, Security Architecture, Security Operations and Security Program Management and Oversight. Together they contain 25 chapters and 117 named topics.
How many topics does the CompTIA Security+ syllabus contain?
The full CompTIA Security+ outline breaks down into 25 chapters, 117 topics and 272 sub-topics. Security Operations is the largest single subject with 28 topics across 6 chapters.
How long does it take to cover the whole CompTIA Security+ syllabus?
Roughly 140 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 7 weeks.
Are there CompTIA Security+ flashcards?
Yes — 321 question-and-answer flashcards across 5 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.
Is this CompTIA Security+ syllabus free to use?
Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the CompTIA Security+ syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in United States and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.
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