How do I keep my security Plus certification active?

To keep your CompTIA Security+ active, you must earn 50 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within the three-year cycle, pay the CE fees, and log them on the CompTIA website. You can earn CEUs through various activities like training, webinars, college courses, or by passing a higher-level certification (like CySA+ or CASP+) or the current Security+ exam, which waives fees and renewals.

How to keep Security+ active?

Taking a Higher-Level CompTIA Certification

Passing a higher-level CompTIA certification, such as CySA+, PenTest+, or CASP+, will automatically renew your Security+ cert, as well as any lower-level certifications you may have.

How to keep CompTIA certs from expiring?

Enrollment in the CompTIA continuing education program is automatic. Keep your certifications current by obtaining CE units for activities and training relevant to your certification every three years.

How do I keep my security clearance active?

Maintaining a security clearance requires understanding and fulfilling reporting obligations. Clearance holders are required to self-report certain events or changes in circumstances that may affect eligibility to access classified information. This self-reporting demonstrates ongoing reliability and trustworthiness.

Does a security plus certificate expire?

Your CompTIA Security+ certification is good for three years from the date you pass your certification exam.

How to Renew your A+, Network+, or Security+ in Just a Few Hours

Is CompTIA still worth IT in 2025?

Yes, CompTIA certifications remain highly relevant in 2025, especially for foundational IT roles like Help Desk (A+), Networking (Network+), and Security (Security+), acting as crucial entry points and building blocks for broader IT careers, with updates like the A+ launch in March 2025 ensuring they cover evolving tech, although some argue for more advanced certs for senior roles. 

Can I make $200,000 a year in cyber security?

Yes, making $200,000 a year in cybersecurity is achievable, especially in senior roles like CISO, Security Architect, or Lead Software Security Engineer, or with specialized skills in high-demand areas, though it's less common and typically requires significant experience, certifications, and potentially strategic career moves like moving into sales engineering or management. Entry-level to mid-level roles usually start lower, but a clear career path with continuous learning can lead to six-figure incomes and beyond, with some tech giants even offering $200k+ for early-career security engineers. 

How much does it cost to reactivate a security clearance?

Financial Impact: Losing clearance could reduce your annual income by $12,000–$50,000, with reactivation costs of $420 (Secret) or $5,410 (Top Secret). Processing Delays: Clearance reactivation takes an average of 138 days (Secret) and 249 days (Top Secret), further compounding lost income.

How long does a security clearance stay inactive?

The moment you leave a cleared position or contract, your clearance is no longer active, it's considered current – assuming your investigation hasn't expired. Obtain another cleared position within two years, and your clearance can be reactivated without a new investigation.

How do I reactivate my security clearance?

If your security clearance has been suspended or revoked, filing an appeal is often your only path to reinstatement. The process begins by submitting a formal response to the Statement of Reasons (SOR) issued by the government or your employer.

Which CompTIA certs never expire?

CompTIA Cloud Essentials+

The Cloud Essentials+ certification never expires for some reason. You can read the details on the CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ information page. Of course, we teach the course here, so check it out if you want to learn all the basics of Cloud networking.

Should I take SY0 601 or 701?

You should take the Security+ 701 (SY0-701) because the 601 version was retired in July 2024, meaning it's no longer available for new certifications, and the 701 covers current, relevant security challenges, focusing more on modern threats, cloud security, Zero Trust, and incident response with updated domain weights. The 701 is the only viable option for new candidates, aligning better with current employer needs and the evolving threat landscape.
 

Can I put expired certifications on my resume?

Expired certifications can be relevant if they demonstrate long-term expertise or foundational skills, but make sure to clearly indicate their expired status. If the expired certification is no longer relevant to your current career path, it's best to leave it off your resume.

What is the highest paid CompTIA certification?

The Top 10 Highest Paying CompTIA Certifications

1. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) ...
2. CompTIA Cloud+ ...
3. CompTIA Security+ ...
4. CompTIA Project+ ...
5. CompTIA Network+ ...
6. CompTIA Linux+ ...
7. CompTIA PenTest+ ...
8. CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)

What is the 80 20 rule in cyber security?

The 80/20 rule in cybersecurity, or the Pareto Principle, suggests that 80% of security risks come from 20% of causes, prompting focus on high-impact areas like user training (phishing) or critical vulnerabilities for maximum risk reduction with limited resources. While effective for prioritizing, some argue it's outdated as modern, sophisticated threats demand a 100% coverage mindset for all digital assets, especially with AI and IoT. The principle helps identify critical controls, but ignoring the other 20% can leave significant gaps, so it's used as a guide for prioritization, not neglect.
 

Is cyber security a high salary?

Cybersecurity is undoubtedly among the most rewarding fields in terms of offering a competitive salary package, job security, and growth potential. With entry-level roles starting at $70,000 and senior roles exceeding $200,000, cybersecurity salaries are among the most competitive in the tech industry.

How to keep clearance active?

Tips on maintaining an active clearance, such as: timely updates, open communication with the FSO, and proactive steps like finding part-time cleared roles to avoid lapses.

Can I pay for my own security clearance?

Clearances are granted based on a need-to-know basis—you must have a role that requires access to classified information. ❌ The government initiates and pays for the clearance investigation. You cannot pay for a clearance investigation on your own or request one independently.

What is a Tier 5 Top Secret clearance?

Tier 5 (Former SSBI or Level 3) – critical sensitive national security position. This investigation makes the staff member eligible for a top-secret clearance. Tier 5+ (Formerly level 4) – a select designation for staff needing TS/SCI security clearances. Only a very select few positions are within this scope.

How do I know if my clearance is still active?

Contact your Security Officer at your service duty station with questions about the status of your security clearance or adjudication of your investigation.

Is a security clearance for life?

Duration of security clearances: Variations and standards

Secret level clearances: Requires reinvestigation every 10 years. Top secret level clearances: The highest level of clearance often involves sensitive and critical information; reinvestigations are required every 5 years.

What tech jobs pay $400,000 a year?

Tech jobs paying $400k+ are typically senior, specialized roles in high-demand fields like AI/Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Data Science, often at major companies or successful startups, including Principal/Staff Engineers, Engineering Directors, CTOs, AI/ML Scientists, Cloud Architects, Product Managers, and Security Leads, with compensation including base, bonuses, and stock. Roles at companies like OpenAI, Netflix, Google, Netflix, Google, and. 

Why do people quit cybersecurity?

Many cybersecurity professionals are quitting due to a combination of high-pressure work environments, chronic understaffing, and a lack of organizational support and recognition—not primarily because of salary or a lack of opportunities.

What is the 90 10 rule in cyber security?

The 90/10 rule in cybersecurity means 90% of security relies on people and good practices (awareness, policies, training), while only 10% depends on technology (firewalls, antivirus), emphasizing that human behavior, like avoiding phishing or using strong passwords, is the biggest defense against cyber threats, not just technical tools. This rule highlights that effective cybersecurity needs robust user training and policies to counter human error, which often bypasses technical safeguards through social engineering or negligence.