Security+ SY0-701 vs SY0-801: What Changes and Which Exam to Take

CompTIA expects Security+ V8 (SY0-801) to launch on or around November 17, 2026, and the current SY0-701 exam retires in English on June 11, 2027. Pick by your test date. Before November 17, SY0-701 is your only option. Between launch and June 11, 2027 you can take either, and after that date it's SY0-801.

The format doesn't change. Both exams have a maximum of 90 questions, run 90 minutes and need a 750 on a 100 to 900 scale to pass.

When does Security+ SY0-801 come out?

As of September 2026, CompTIA lists the SY0-801 launch date as November 17, 2026, and describes it as expected on or around that date. English is the only language listed so far. CompTIA estimates V8 will retire about three years after launch.

"On or around" matters. Launch dates can shift by days or weeks, so don't plan a V8 test for launch week until you can actually book it.

Here are the dates side by side.

Date: What happens

• November 7, 2023: SY0-701 launched
• On or around November 17, 2026: SY0-801 expected to launch in English
• June 11, 2027: SY0-701 retires in English
• August 13, 2027: SY0-701 retires in Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai

If you're testing in one of those four other languages, you have a couple of extra months on SY0-701.

What's the difference between SY0-701 and SY0-801?

The domain names are close, but the weights moved. This is how CompTIA splits each exam.

• Domain: General security concepts
  SY0-701: 12%
  SY0-801: 16%
• Domain: Threats, vulnerabilities and mitigations (701) or attacks (801)
  SY0-701: 22%
  SY0-801: 24%
• Domain: Security architecture
  SY0-701: 18%
  SY0-801: 19%
• Domain: Security operations
  SY0-701: 28%
  SY0-801: 27%
• Domain: Security program management and oversight
  SY0-701: 20%
  SY0-801: 14%

Program management and oversight drops the most, and general concepts and threats pick up the difference. For study planning, that means less time on policy and compliance and more on controls, cryptography, threat actors and attack indicators.

AI is the headline addition. The SY0-801 objectives include a new item that asks you to explain the security risks associated with artificial intelligence, covering AI systems, models, prompts, privacy and data exposure. CompTIA's V8 page also mentions Zero Trust, cloud and hybrid environments, automation and security tools across the objectives.

The recommended experience changes slightly too. For SY0-701, CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years in a security or systems administrator role. The SY0-801 recommendation is two years of hands-on experience as a security administrator, with no Network+ mention.

Is SY0-801 harder than SY0-701?

I can't tell you that yet, and I'd be wary of anyone who claims to know before launch. The question count, time limit and passing score are identical. What changes is the content mix. Someone strong on hands-on topics and weaker on governance may find SY0-801's weights suit them a little better. If policy and risk are your strong suit, SY0-701 plays to that.

Should I take SY0-701 or wait for SY0-801?

Here's how I advise students, based on when they plan to test.

1. Testing before November 17, 2026: take SY0-701. It's the only version available.
2. Testing between November 17, 2026 and June 11, 2027: either works. Already studied for SY0-701? Stay with it. If you're starting fresh in late 2026, SY0-801 materials will match the newer objectives.
3. Testing after June 11, 2027: SY0-801. SY0-701 will be gone in English.

Don't wait for V8 if your employer or a DoD role needs Security+ now. Either version earns you Security+, and that's what the requirement asks for. Our DoD 8570 and 8140 page covers how the requirement works. The roles that ask for it, and what they pay, are on our Security+ jobs and salary page.

One thing I'd avoid is starting SY0-701 prep in the spring of 2027 with a test date that could slip past June 11. If your date is shaky, go straight to SY0-801.

The reverse mistake happens too. People hear a new version is coming and stall for months. Most of what you learn for SY0-701 still applies to SY0-801, since four of the five domain names carry over and the format is identical. Time spent studying now is rarely wasted.

Does my current Security+ expire when SY0-801 launches?

No. Your certification stays good for three years from the date you earned it, regardless of which exam version you passed. You renew by earning 50 continuing education units over the three-year cycle. CompTIA also lets you renew with a single activity, and one option is passing the latest release of the full exam once a newer version is available. So after SY0-801 launches, passing it would renew an older Security+. Our guide on keeping your certification active walks through the options.

How can Accumentum help with either exam?

We run both courses. The Security+ SY0-701 course takes 4 to 8 weeks part-time and stays available for anyone testing before SY0-701 retires. Our Security+ V8 (SY0-801) course follows CompTIA's five new domains, including the AI risk objective. When you enroll, tell us your target date and we'll confirm which course fits.

Not sure where you stand? The free Security+ Exam Readiness Score is 20 questions and gives you a quick read. PathPass® has a Security+ SY0-701 practice bank at $19 a month for one exam or $39 for all banks, and there's a free preview. Check the PathPass page for the SY0-801 bank's availability.

If cost is the issue, the PathPay 12-Month Program lists Security+ at $162.50 a month, $1,950 total, with the exam voucher included. PathPay® is a payment plan, not a loan.

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