What You Need Beyond Security+ to Land Your First Job
What You Need Beyond Security+ to Land Your First Job
CompTIA Security+ is one of the most respected cybersecurity certifications out there. If you’ve earned this certification, you’ve got the fundamentals down: network security, access management, risk mitigation, and incident response. But can Security+ actually get you hired in cybersecurity?
The answer depends on where you want to go next! Security+ with some IT experience can absolutely open doors, and for many people, it’s the credential that starts their cyber career. But to understand how far it can take you, let’s look at what it qualifies you for, how it fits into the broader IT and cybersecurity professional world, and what you can do to keep moving forward.
What Jobs Can You Get with Security+?
Security+ is considered the baseline certification for cybersecurity professionals, and it’s often the first requirement listed on entry-level job postings.
Here are some roles in IT and Cyber where Security+ is either required or strongly preferred:
| Job Title | Typical Role Description | How Security+ Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Help Desk Technician | Troubleshoots network and security issues for users. | Demonstrates security awareness in daily IT operations. |
| Network Administrator | Manages routers, switches, and secure configurations. | Shows understanding of best practices for secure networking. |
| Systems Administrator | Oversees system permissions, backups, and updates. | Proves you can apply security principles to infrastructure. |
| SOC (Security Operations Center) Analyst – Tier 1 | Monitors alerts and investigates suspicious activity. | Meets the baseline requirement for many SOC roles. |
| IT Support Specialist | Provides front-line tech support with a security mindset. | Adds credibility when enforcing security policies. |
So yes, it’s possible for Security+ to help you get your foot in the door, especially in IT roles that include a security component. But if you’re going to use that as your only formal cybersecurity training, it’s probably best as a bridge from only IT experience to full-fledged cybersecurity work.
Bridging from IT to Cybersecurity
Many cybersecurity professionals start in IT. They build foundational skills in troubleshooting, networking, and system administration to then layer on security expertise. Security+ often marks the transition point between those two worlds.
Here’s what that gradual bridge can look like in action:
| Stage | Typical Job | Focus Areas | Certifications That Help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: IT Foundations | IT Support, Help Desk | Hardware, networking, troubleshooting | CompTIA A+, Network+ |
| Stage 2: Security Readiness | Systems or Network Admin | Implementing and maintaining secure systems | Security+ |
| Stage 3: Cyber Specialization | SOC Analyst, Cyber Tech | Threat detection, incident response | CySA+, PenTest+ |
| Stage 4: Professional Advancement | Cybersecurity Analyst, Pen Tester | Defense strategies, vulnerability analysis, compliance | CEH, CISSP (later on) |
If you’re coming from an IT background, Security+ is your pivotal moment when you finally start seeing IT through a cybersecurity lens.
The Reality of the Cyber Job Market
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields, but it’s also incredibly competitive. Many job listings now ask for a mix of certifications, hands-on skills, and experience even for entry-level roles.
That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to move into, and it also doesn’t mean Security+ isn’t valuable. What it does mean is that you’ll want to keep building beyond just Security+ through labs, mentorship, or further certifications to stand out once you’re in the running.
Employers today want candidates who can:
- Recognize and respond to real threats
- Work comfortably with security tools like SIEMs and firewalls
- Communicate clearly during incidents or team investigations
Security+ is a strong first milestone. What separates candidates isn’t the certificate itself, but what they do next. When you keep building skills and experience after Security+, you show employers that you’re in this for the career—not just chasing whatever certification is trending.
Beyond Security+: How To Stand Out
Security+ is a strong start, but if you want to be taken seriously for cybersecurity roles, you should not stop there. The candidates who stand out are the ones who go on to earn both:
- CompTIA CySA+: Covers monitoring, detection, and response in real environments
- CompTIA PenTest+: Covers how attacks are carried out and how to identify weaknesses before someone else does
Learning both gives you a full view of how security teams actually work. Where Security+ coupled with IT experience shows you’re dedicated and dipping your toes in the water, acquiring these certifications as additional knowledge shows that you are ready to dive into a whole new world.
Launching Your Cybersecurity Career with Tech Academy
At ACI Tech Academy, our Cyber Security Analyst program is built for people who want to go beyond Security+ and immerse themselves into the professional world. The program is designed to:
- Prepare you for Security+, CySA+, and PenTest+ so you can stack the credentials employers look for
- Give you hands-on lab time with real defensive and offensive tools used in SOC environments
- Train you to respond to incidents, not just memorize concepts
- Provide 1-on-1 career services to help you translate your new skills into a first role
Whether you’re coming from IT, switching from another area of tech, or starting from the ground up, Tech Academy helps turn Security+ from a line on your résumé into a launchpad for a career you can actually step into.
