The CompTIA Security+ certification exam was developed in 2002 in order to address the need for IT staff proficient in IT security due to rising security issues in the industry. To qualify for the certification it is recommended (though not a requirement) that candidates have two years of security-related experience in order to have the necessary background knowledge, or they could take courses aimed at the objectives of the certification exam.

The Security+ certification demonstrates that the professional has competency in:

• Network security
• Threats and vulnerabilities
• Compliance and operational security
• Cryptography
• Access control and identity management
• Application, data and host security