Security+ SY0-801 vs SY0-701: What Changes in V8 and Which Exam Should You Take?
CompTIA Security+ V8 (exam code SY0-801) is scheduled to launch on 17 November 2026. The current version, Security+ V7 (SY0-701), remains available in English until 11 June 2027. If you are deciding which exam to take—or whether to switch study plans—this comparison covers what CompTIA has published about the change, how domain weights shift, and who should sit which exam now.
Official details are on CompTIA’s Security+ V8 and Security+ V7 certification pages. Figures below come from those pages; do not treat third-party summaries as authoritative if they conflict with CompTIA.
What’s changing in Security+ V8
V8 is an evolution of the same core Security+ credential, not a new certification brand. CompTIA keeps the familiar five-domain structure, the same high-level exam format, and the same focus on practical security skills employers expect from early-career and mid-level practitioners. The updates centre on domain weight redistributions, clearer emphasis on foundational concepts, and explicit coverage of AI-related security risks.
Key facts CompTIA lists for both versions:
- Maximum of 90 questions (a mix of multiple-choice and performance-based questions)
- 90 minutes
- Passing score: 750 on a scale of 100–900
That format is unchanged between V7 and V8 on the official pages. What does change is when each exam version is available and how much each domain counts toward your score. Recommended experience language also shifts slightly: V8 lists a security administrator with two years of hands-on experience; V7 still references CompTIA Network+ plus two years in a security or systems administrator role.
Timeline to remember:
- 17 November 2026 — Security+ V8 / SY0-801 launch (per CompTIA)
- 11 June 2027 — SY0-701 English retirement
- Other SY0-701 languages (Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai) retire 13 August 2027
Between mid-November 2026 and mid-June 2027, both English exams overlap. That window is useful if you are already deep into SY0-701 study—or if you prefer to wait for V8 learning products and practice banks to mature.
Domain comparison: SY0-701 vs SY0-801
CompTIA still organises Security+ into five domains. V8 renames the threats domain slightly (from “Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations” to “Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks”) and adds an objective on security risks associated with artificial intelligence—including risks related to AI systems, models, prompts, privacy, and data exposure.
| Domain | SY0-701 (V7) | SY0-801 (V8) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Security Concepts | 12% | 16% | +4% |
| Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks* | 22% | 24% | +2% |
| Security Architecture | 18% | 19% | +1% |
| Security Operations | 28% | 27% | −1% |
| Security Program Management and Oversight | 20% | 14% | −6% |
*On V7 this domain is titled “Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations.”
Two shifts stand out for study planning:
- General Security Concepts rises from 12% to 16%. Controls, change management impacts on security, and cryptographic solutions carry more weight. Expect more questions that test whether you can compare control types and apply encryption, hashing, certificates, and key management correctly.
- Security Program Management and Oversight drops from 20% to 14%. Governance, risk management, third-party risk, compliance, audits, and awareness remain on the exam, but with less proportional emphasis than on V7.
Security Operations stays the largest domain in both versions (28% → 27%), covering monitoring, vulnerability management, identity and access, automation, incident response, and investigation data sources. Architecture edges up slightly (18% → 19%), reinforcing cloud, hybrid, on-premises, data protection, and resilience themes.
Which exam should you take now?
Your choice depends on timing, available materials, and how far along you already are—not on which version “looks newer” on a CV. Both SY0-701 and SY0-801 earn CompTIA Security+.
Take SY0-701 (V7) if…
- You are already studying with SY0-701 books, videos, or labs and can sit the exam before 11 June 2027 (English).
- You want the widest selection of mature practice content right now.
- Your employer, bootcamp, or training voucher is still mapped to V7 objectives.
Passing SY0-701 still earns CompTIA Security+. The certification does not expire when the exam version retires; you renew through CompTIA’s continuing education or renewal pathways.
Plan for SY0-801 (V8) if…
- You are starting from scratch after November 2026 and want the current blueprint.
- You specifically want coverage that includes CompTIA’s newer AI-risk objectives.
- Your realistic test date will fall after SY0-701 English retirement.
If you are beginning study in late 2026 with a flexible schedule, waiting for V8 can make sense—especially once official objectives PDFs, CertMaster updates, and third-party practice exams catch up. If you need the cert for a job posting this quarter, finishing SY0-701 is usually the faster route.
How to prepare
Regardless of version, Security+ rewards hands-on understanding over rote memorisation. A practical plan:
- Download the official exam objectives for the version you will sit (V7 or V8) from CompTIA and treat them as your checklist. Cross off topics only when you can explain and apply them.
- Map study time to domain weights. On V7, lean harder into Security Operations (28%) and Program Management (20%). On V8, boost General Security Concepts (16%) and Threats/AI risks (24%), while still drilling Operations as the largest slice.
- Practice performance-based questions (PBQs). Both versions mix PBQs with multiple choice; timed practice under the 90-minute limit matters as much as content knowledge.
- Use a full-length practice exam to find weak domains before you book Pearson VUE (or your chosen delivery channel).
For a deeper SY0-701 study walkthrough—domains, tips, and a preparation approach—see our CompTIA Security+ exam preparation guide.
When you are ready to pressure-test your knowledge, try the CompTIA Security+ practice exam on Testimea, or start with the free Security+ practice exam trial.
Bottom line
Security+ V8 (SY0-801) launches 17 November 2026 with the same exam length, question cap, and 750 passing score as V7—but with rebalanced domains, a threats-domain rename, and explicit AI risk coverage. SY0-701 English stays open until 11 June 2027. Choose V7 if you can finish soon with existing materials; choose V8 if you are starting later or want the updated blueprint. Either way, align practice to the official objectives for the version on your voucher—and confirm dates on CompTIA’s site before you book.
Ready to practise? Take the Security+ trial or unlock the full Security+ practice exam on Testimea.
