CompTIA Security+ Certificate
CompTIA Security+ certification training for your first cybersecurity role
This CompTIA Security+ training covers every current exam domain in small live online classes, with official CertMaster Labs, courseware, and the exam voucher included in tuition. Enroll any time: rolling enrollment means no cohort calendar to wait for.
- Training careers nationwide since 2006
- 100% live instruction, never recordings
- WIOA and DVR funding eligible
Program snapshot
Schedule
Upcoming Classes
Register or talk to an advisor first about funding and fit.
No events to show
Don't see a time that works? Enroll any time. A new class forms once enrollment fills, typically within 2 to 3 weeks; class start timing depends on enrollment and cannot be guaranteed.
Curriculum
What the CompTIA Security+ course covers in 48 hours
Security+ is the natural next step after CompTIA A+ or Network+ for anyone moving from IT support into security. The curriculum follows the current published CompTIA Security+ exam domains, and every module combines live instruction with hands-on work in official CompTIA CertMaster Labs, practicing the real tasks of a security analyst: SIEM monitoring, log analysis, vulnerability scanning, and incident response. Scenario exercises mirror the exam's performance-based questions (PBQs). 48 hours across six modules, delivered in sixteen 3-hour sessions.
General Security Concepts (6 hrs)
Outcome: classify security controls, explain how confidentiality, integrity, and availability shape security decisions, and describe how hashing, encryption, and PKI protect data in real systems.
- Security control categories and control types
- The CIA triad, zero trust architecture, and gap analysis
- Physical security and change management processes
- Hashing, symmetric and asymmetric encryption, and where each is used
- Public key infrastructure (PKI) and digital certificates
- Hands-on lab: working with certificates and hashing
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (9 hrs)
Outcome: profile threat actors, recognize indicators of malicious activity in logs and traffic, and match each attack type to the defense that counters it.
- Threat actor types, motivations, and capabilities
- Attack surfaces and common threat vectors
- Social engineering, including AI-assisted phishing and impersonation
- Vulnerabilities across applications, operating systems, hardware, and cloud
- Malware, password attacks, and injection attacks
- Indicators of malicious activity and mitigation techniques from segmentation to least privilege
- Hands-on labs: analyzing common attacks and identifying indicators of compromise
Security Architecture (6 hrs)
Outcome: compare the security implications of architecture models, place security appliances correctly in a network design, and explain how backups, failover, and continuity planning keep an organization running.
- Enterprise, cloud, virtualized, IoT, and ICS environments
- Network appliances, secure communication, and access technologies
- Protecting data at rest, in transit, and in use
- Backup strategies, failover, high availability, and continuity planning
- Hands-on lab: configuring secure network segments
Security Operations (12 hrs)
Outcome: harden a system against a baseline, run and interpret vulnerability scans, investigate SIEM alerts, and work an incident from detection through documentation the way a SOC analyst does. This is the largest module because it is the daily work of the analyst roles this certificate targets.
- Secure baselines, hardening, and asset management
- The vulnerability management lifecycle
- Identity and access management, MFA, and privileged access
- SIEM monitoring, log analysis, and security automation
- The incident response lifecycle and digital forensics fundamentals
- Hands-on labs: vulnerability scans and working an incident end to end
Security Program Management and Oversight (9 hrs)
Outcome: perform the risk calculations that appear on the exam, evaluate third-party and supply chain risk, and explain how audits, penetration testing, and awareness programs keep an organization compliant.
- Governance structures, policies, standards, and procedures
- Risk management and risk analysis, with hands-on risk calculations
- Vendor assessment, supply chain risk, and compliance monitoring
- Privacy requirements and data roles
- Audit and assessment types, penetration testing, and rules of engagement
- Security awareness programs that change user behavior
Exam Preparation and Capstone (6 hrs)
Structured review across every Security+ domain, instructor-explained practice questions, dedicated performance-based question (PBQ) practice, a full timed practice exam, and a capstone incident scenario where you analyze evidence, respond, and report findings the way a working analyst would. Exam scheduling, voucher use, and test-day preparation are covered here.
Lesson content and order may vary based on instructor approach and changes in the industry. Official CompTIA courseware and CertMaster Labs access are included in tuition.
Who this is for
Who this cybersecurity certification is for
IT support techs moving into security
You work help desk or desktop support and want the next rung. Security+ is the credential employers look for when promoting from IT support into security, and it builds on what you already do: hardening systems, managing access, and responding when something breaks.
A+ or Network+ holders stacking credentials
If you finished CompTIA A+ or Network+, Security+ is the natural next exam and much of the networking foundation is already in place. Your instructor spends class time on what is new: threats, operations, and governance.
Veterans and government-bound candidates
Security+ may satisfy foundational qualification requirements under the DoD 8140 Cyber Workforce Qualification Program, which matters for federal, military, and defense contractor jobs. Qualifying veterans can pay $1,059 with the Next Mission Scholarship.
Why it works
Hands-on labs, taught live in small classes
Security skills are learned by doing. In a small live class your instructor watches you work a scan, a log, or an incident, corrects your process on the spot, and ties every lab to the exam objective it covers. Practice exam results decide where review time goes, so the final sessions focus on the domains where the class needs it most.
Career outcomes
CompTIA Security+ jobs and salary
Cybersecurity teams hire for skills they can see. Security+ is the credential employers most often list for the first step, a Tier 1 SOC or security analyst role, and the hands-on lab work in this program is how you show you can do the job, not just pass the exam.
Career paths
Cybersecurity jobs and where Security+ leads
Security+ is the credential employers most often list for the first step into cybersecurity. Most security careers start in a security operations center (SOC), and the skills you practice in this program, monitoring alerts, reading logs, scanning for vulnerabilities, and working incidents, are the daily work of those first roles. Open each role below to see what the job involves and how the program prepares you for it.
SOC Analyst (Tier 1)
The front line of a security operations center. Tier 1 analysts monitor alerts in a SIEM, triage suspicious activity, separate real incidents from false positives, and escalate confirmed incidents to senior analysts with clear documentation.
In this program: SIEM monitoring and log analysis workflows (Module 4), indicators of compromise (Module 2), and a capstone incident scenario (Module 6).
Security Analyst
Investigates threats and vulnerabilities across an organization's systems, runs and interprets vulnerability scans, analyzes logs, and recommends fixes before attackers find the gaps. Security analysts often own hardening baselines and access reviews.
In this program: vulnerability management, hardening, and identity and access management (Module 4), plus threat and attack analysis (Module 2).
Incident Response Analyst
Steps in when a breach or attack is underway: contains the damage, preserves evidence, coordinates recovery, and documents what happened and how to prevent it. Many incident responders start in the SOC and move into this role as they take ownership of investigations.
In this program: the incident response lifecycle and digital forensics fundamentals (Module 4), and resilience and recovery planning (Module 3).
Compliance Analyst
Keeps the organization aligned with security frameworks and regulations, supports internal and external audits, evaluates vendors and supply chain risk, and translates requirements into controls the IT team can implement.
In this program: governance, risk management, third-party risk, compliance, audits, and privacy (Module 5).
Security-adjacent roles
Security+ also strengthens applications for systems administrator, network security administrator, and IT support roles with security responsibilities, where employers increasingly expect staff to harden systems, manage access, and respond to incidents.
Career progression: from IT support to specialist
A typical path runs from help desk or desktop support into a Tier 1 SOC role, then to Tier 2 or security analyst as you take ownership of investigations. With experience, analysts specialize: incident response and digital forensics, cloud security, governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), or penetration testing.
Credentials tend to follow the same path: A+ and Network+ for the IT foundation, Security+ for the first security role, then CompTIA CySA+ for analyst work, CompTIA PenTest+ for offensive security, or cloud security certifications. Career coaching is included in tuition to help you plan the next step and land the first role.
Where cybersecurity jobs are
Every organization that stores data needs security staff. Common employers include managed security service providers (MSSPs), financial services, healthcare, government agencies and defense contractors, education, and any company large enough to run its own SOC. Government and defense roles often require certifications recognized under the DoD 8140 framework, where Security+ is a common baseline.
AI and security
How AI is changing cybersecurity work
AI is reshaping both sides of cybersecurity. Attackers use AI to write convincing phishing emails, clone voices for social engineering, and probe networks at machine speed. Defenders answer with AI-powered threat detection, automated alert triage, and machine learning models that surface anomalies no person could catch in raw log data.
What this means for your career: employers want analysts who can work alongside AI, not compete with it. Automated tools handle the repetitive filtering, but a person still decides whether an alert is a real incident, whether an email is AI-generated phishing, and how to respond when something gets through. The curriculum covers AI-assisted social engineering, automation in security operations, and the hands-on SIEM monitoring, log analysis, and incident response skills that stay valuable as the tools evolve.
Tuition
CompTIA Security+ certification cost
*Example only: the full $5,295 financed over 36 months at 13.99% APR, Climb's lowest current rate; $100 registration fee applies; subject to credit approval. Scholarships, WIOA, DVR, the Community Heroes Discount, and employer billing can lower your cost.
Funding
Five ways to cover your tuition
KR
I learned a LOT in this class, and it really challenged me to push through my limits… In a small classroom environment… you get personalized instruction that helps you understand complex concepts in a way you wouldn’t get in a bigger, more impersonal course offering.
Krish R., DWC certificate student
Included with tuition
Support every step of the way
Guidance from pre-enrollment to graduation, included for every student at no additional cost.
Admissions advisors
From pre-enrollment through your first day, an advisor walks you through program details, funding, and scheduling.
Instructor mentoring
Your instructor is your mentor before, during, and after class, helping you become industry-ready.
Student support
A dedicated student affairs manager helps you set up accounts, check your technology, and get class files.
Career coaching
Meet one-on-one with a career coach on your resume, LinkedIn, portfolio, job search, and interviews.
Tech support
Stuck mid-program? Reach tech support by Slack, email, or phone and get moving again.
Internships and alumni
Join the Parker Dewey micro-internship network for real project experience, plus the DWC alumni community.
Since 2006
Why DWC trains differently
Most online cybersecurity training is a video library and a discussion forum. DWC has delivered live, instructor-led career training nationwide since 2006, and every hour of this program is taught live over Zoom by an instructor who answers your questions in real time: no pre-recorded lectures, and no waiting days for a forum reply while your lab sits broken.
You graduate with the DWC CompTIA Security+ Certificate, a professional certificate issued by Digital Workshop Center, alongside your CompTIA credential, with career coaching included to help you land the first role.
FAQ
CompTIA Security+ questions, answered
Still curious? Attend a free info session or call 970-980-8091.
When can I start CompTIA Security+ training?
Classes are small and live, with rolling enrollment. Enroll any time, and your class start date, session days, and session times are set once enrollment fills, typically within 2 to 3 weeks. Class start timing depends on enrollment and cannot be guaranteed. Sessions can be scheduled during the day or in the evening.
How much does CompTIA Security+ certification cost at DWC?
Tuition is $5,295, and it includes the CompTIA Security+ exam voucher, official CompTIA courseware, and CertMaster Labs access, so there are no separate fees for courseware, labs, or your first exam attempt. WIOA, DVR, scholarships, employer billing, and Climb Credit payment plans can lower your out-of-pocket cost.
Is CompTIA Security+ worth it for starting a cybersecurity career?
For most people entering cybersecurity, yes. Security+ is the credential employers most commonly list for entry-level security roles like SOC analyst and security analyst, it is vendor-neutral so it applies to any employer's technology stack, and it may satisfy foundational requirements for government and defense positions under DoD 8140. It will not replace hands-on skill, which is why this program pairs the certification with real lab work in SIEM monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and incident response, so you interview with both the credential and the ability to do the job.
How long does it take to get Security+ certified?
The course is 48 hours of live instruction: sixteen 3-hour sessions, two per week, for about 8 weeks. Exam preparation is built into the final module, so most students sit the exam shortly after finishing. With rolling enrollment there is no cohort calendar to wait for; your class schedule is set once enrollment fills, typically within 2 to 3 weeks.
Do I need CompTIA A+ or Network+ before Security+?
There are no formal prerequisites, but you should be comfortable with computers and have foundational networking knowledge such as IP addressing, routing, and switching. If you are missing that foundation, DWC recommends CompTIA Network+ first, and career changers starting from zero often begin with CompTIA A+. Career changers who have worked adjacent to IT, run a home lab, or built networking knowledge on their own are often a good fit. An admissions advisor can help you find the right starting point in a short conversation.
How hard is the Security+ exam?
The exam is timed and mixes multiple-choice questions with performance-based questions (PBQs) that drop you into simulated scenarios, and it is scored on a scaled passing score. PBQs are where unprepared candidates struggle, so this program uses instructor-led scenario exercises in the PBQ format throughout, plus a full timed practice exam before test day. CompTIA updates the exam about every three years; training follows the current published objectives, and your voucher is issued for the version you will sit.
Is the Security+ exam voucher included in tuition?
Yes. Your $5,295 tuition includes the CompTIA Security+ exam voucher, along with official CompTIA courseware and CertMaster Labs access. Retakes, if needed, are purchased separately at CompTIA pricing, and CompTIA certifications renew through continuing education every three years.
What jobs can I get with Security+ and no security experience?
Security+ opens entry-level roles including SOC analyst (Tier 1), security analyst, incident response analyst, and compliance analyst, and it strengthens applications for security-adjacent roles like systems administrator and network security administrator. Employers hiring at this level look for the certification plus evidence you can work the tools, which is what the CertMaster Labs work provides, and tuition includes career coaching for your resume, portfolio, and interviews.
Can WIOA pay for Security+ training?
Yes, for eligible students. WIOA funds job training for qualifying unemployed and dislocated workers through local American Job Centers, and this program's tuition sits within typical WIOA training account limits. Rolling enrollment means training can begin soon after your funding is approved instead of waiting for a cohort. Start with our WIOA funding guide and what WIOA pays for, then ask admissions to help you confirm eligibility in your state.
Does Security+ meet DoD 8140 requirements?
CompTIA Security+ may satisfy foundational qualification requirements for applicable work roles and proficiency levels in the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF) under the DoD 8140 Cyber Workforce Qualification Program. That makes it especially relevant for veterans, active-duty service members, and anyone pursuing federal, military, or defense contractor positions. Confirm the requirement for a specific position with the hiring agency or contractor.
Is this Security+ course online or in person?
The program is 100% live online over Zoom, taught in real time by your instructor, never pre-recorded video. Lab work happens in your browser through official CompTIA CertMaster Labs, so all you need is a computer, webcam, and reliable internet. To see how live online training works before enrolling, attend a free info session.
What comes after CompTIA Security+?
Most graduates spend their first year in a SOC or security analyst role, then specialize. Common next steps include CompTIA CySA+ for analyst work, CompTIA PenTest+ for penetration testing, and cloud security credentials, along with experience in incident response or compliance. Career coaching is included in tuition to help you plan that path.
Is there a scholarship for veterans?
Yes. The Next Mission Scholarship takes 80% off standard tuition for eligible U.S. veterans and qualifying active-duty service members within 180 days of separation, so a qualifying veteran pays $1,059 for this program with the exam voucher, courseware, and labs still included. Eligibility requires verified veteran status (DD-214 or equivalent), separation within the past 7 years, and individual annual income between $30,000 and $75,000. Veterans below that range may qualify for fully funded training through WIOA or VA Vocational Rehabilitation, and veterans above it qualify for the Community Heroes Discount of 40% off.
What credential will I earn?
The DWC CompTIA Security+ Certificate, a professional certificate issued by Digital Workshop Center, and the CompTIA Security+ certification, issued by CompTIA when you pass the exam.
Keep exploring
Related programs and classes
Enroll any time. Start within weeks.
Cybersecurity teams are hiring, and the credential they ask for is Security+. Request program information and an admissions advisor follows up within one business day to plan your schedule, your exam timeline, and your funding.
*Class start timing depends on enrollment and cannot be guaranteed. Monthly payment example: the full $5,295 financed over 36 months at 13.99% APR (Climb's lowest current rate); $100 registration fee applies; financing subject to credit approval. The exam voucher covers one attempt; retakes are purchased from CompTIA. Scholarships are reviewed and awarded individually, and award amounts are not guaranteed. An advisor follows up within one business day.