CompTIA Security+ (SY0-801), All-in-One Exam Guide

Product Overview

Get complete coverage of the material on CompTIA Security+ exam SY0-801 inside this comprehensive, up-to-date resource. Cybersecurity experts Mya Heath and Bobby Rogers wrote the guide to every published objective.

Within each chapter, modules drill down on specific exam objectives to give you a clear learning path. Module-ending practice questions then reinforce the concepts you just read.

This practical resource goes beyond knowledge application. It teaches you the skills you need to anticipate security risks and guard against them, which makes it useful long after exam day.

Choose the format that suits how you study. The book is available as an eBook, as a softcover, or as a combo that gives you both.

The book covers all five SY0-801 domains, including:

• Security concepts, controls, change management, and cryptographic solutions
• Threat actors, attack surfaces, malware, and mitigation techniques
• Cloud, network, and data protection architecture, plus resilience and recovery
• Hardening, monitoring, incident response, identity and access management, and automation
• Governance, risk management, compliance, and audits

Additional Online Content

Your purchase also unlocks online content:

• 200+ practice test questions in a customizable test engine
• Free online simulations
• One hour+ of video training
• A curated toolbox of favorite network security-related freeware and shareware
• eBook access: three years from the date of purchase, via the Total Seminars Training Hub

Certification Alignment

The book covers the five official domains of the CompTIA Security+ SY0-801 exam.

• General Security Concepts (16%) — security controls, cryptography fundamentals, and change management
• Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks (24%) — threat actors, attack surfaces, malware, and mitigation techniques
• Security Architecture (19%) — cloud, network, and data protection architecture plus resilience and recovery
• Security Operations (27%) — hardening, monitoring, incident response, identity and access management, and automation
• Security Program Management and Oversight (14%) — governance, risk management, compliance, and audits

Security Operations carries the heaviest weight at 27%, and Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks follows at 24%. Together those two domains account for just over half the exam.

You pass at 750 on a scale of 100 to 900. The exam mixes multiple-choice and performance-based questions.

Career Impact

Security+ is the baseline cybersecurity certification most employers ask for, and it satisfies a widely used government requirement.

• Prepares you for roles such as Security Analyst, Security Administrator, and SOC Analyst
• Also fits Systems Administrators, Network Administrators, and IT Auditors moving into security
• Maps to NICE and DoD 8140 work roles, which many government and contractor positions require
• Leads naturally to CompTIA CySA+, PenTest+, or SecurityX as your next certification

The book doubles as an on-the-job reference once you are certified, so it keeps earning its place on your desk.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this book, you can do the following.

• Apply the right administrative, technical, and physical controls, and explain Zero Trust and least privilege.
• Assess how change management processes affect security operations.
• Choose and apply cryptographic methods, including PKI and certificate management.
• Recognize threat actors, attack types, and social engineering techniques, then mitigate them.
• Secure cloud, network, and hybrid architectures, and plan for resilience and recovery.
• Harden systems, monitor for incidents, and follow an incident response process.
• Configure identity and access management, and automate routine security tasks.
• Support governance, compliance, and audit activity within a security program.

Prerequisites

There is no required prerequisite certification. CompTIA writes the SY0-801 exam for security administrators with about two years of hands-on experience.

The book builds from foundational concepts, so you can start without formal security experience. Many readers come to it after CompTIA Network+, which covers the networking groundwork Security+ assumes.

About the Experts

Bobby E. Rogers, CompTIA CySA+™, CISSP-ISSEP®, CRISC®, CEH™, MCSE: Security, is a cybersecurity professional with over 30 years’ experience in the information technology and cybersecurity fields.

Delivery Options

Mya Heath, CISSP, GCFA, is a senior cybersecurity specialist focusing on threat hunting, detection engineering, and purple team activities. She brings over 20 years’ experience tackling tough problems in cybersecurity.

• eBook: start studying today with a three-year subscription to your eBook copy. Access each chapter 24 hours a day, seven days a week, exclusively on the Total Seminars Training Hub. You save on study materials and shipping, and you get immediate access to your other Training Hub materials as you read.
• Softcover: if you have the space, nothing beats the feel of a physical book or the experience of studying from words printed on paper.
• eBook + softcover combo: get the best of both worlds — the eBook on the Total Seminars Training Hub, plus a physical book to anchor that space on your desk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included with this book?

You get the full CompTIA Security+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide in your chosen format. Your purchase also unlocks 200+ practice test questions in a customizable test engine, free online simulations, one hour+ of video training, and a curated toolbox of network security freeware and shareware.

Which exam version does this book cover?

CompTIA Security+ SY0-801, the current version of the exam. It covers all five official domains.

Can I get this book in print?

Yes. Choose the softcover, or the combo if you want both the printed book and the eBook.

How long do I have access to the eBook?

Three years from the date of purchase, through the Total Seminars Training Hub.

Can I download the eBook?

No. You read it online at the Total Seminars Training Hub, where you can access each chapter 24 hours a day.

What devices can I use to read the eBook?

The eBook works on any device with a web browser — no special software required.

What is the Security+ exam like?

The exam mixes multiple-choice and performance-based questions, and you pass at 750 on a scale of 100 to 900. CompTIA writes it for security administrators with about two years of hands-on experience.

Is this book aligned to the latest exam version?

Yes. This edition is written to the current SY0-801 objectives and covers all five official domains.

Can I use this for classroom or multi-user training?

Single-user licenses cover individual use only. Therefore, they are not valid for classroom instruction. For volume licensing, call 877-687-2768 for discounted multi-user pricing.

What happens after I purchase?

You’ll receive an order confirmation email immediately. For the eBook, a second email arrives with your Total Seminars Training Hub login. For the softcover or combo, you’ll also receive a shipping confirmation when your book goes out. If nothing arrives within 30 minutes, check your spam folder or contact support@totalsem.com.

Educators

Please call 877-687-2768 for discounted multi-user pricing. Single-user licenses are not valid for classroom use.

Order Process

• You’ll receive an email confirming your order.
• eBook access: log in at hub.totalsem.com — works on any device with a web browser, no special software required.
• Softcover and combo orders: your physical book ships separately, and you’ll receive a shipping confirmation.
• eBook access duration: three years from the date of purchase.
• Questions? Contact support@totalsem.com.