Side by side · CySA+ vs SecurityX
CySA+ vs SecurityX (formerly CASP+)
CASP+ is now CompTIA SecurityX: the advanced exam carries the code CAS-005 and launched on December 17, 2024. It sits one level above CySA+ (CS0-004) in CompTIA's ladder. CySA+ is built for the working analyst; SecurityX targets the senior engineer or architect, recommends about ten years of IT experience and reports only pass or fail.
From CASP+ to SecurityX, with the CySA+ versions alongside
Jun 6, 2023
CySA+ CS0-003 launches
The previous CySA+ version, per CompTIA's V3 page.
Dec 17, 2024
SecurityX CAS-005 launches
The CASP+ name is replaced by SecurityX with this exam code.
Jun 23, 2026
CySA+ CS0-004 launches
The current CySA+ version.
Dec 22, 2026
CS0-003 retires in English
Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish versions run until March 23, 2027.
Side by side
| Point | CySA+ CS0-004 | SecurityX CAS-005 |
|---|---|---|
| Level≠ | Analyst: SOC, vulnerability management, incident response | Advanced: security architect and senior engineer |
| Questions≠ | Maximum of 85 | Maximum of 90 |
| Time≠ | 165 minutes | Up to 165 minutes |
| Result≠ | Scaled score; 750 on 100–900 to pass | Pass or fail; no scaled score |
| Recommended experience≠ | About 4 years hands-on | 10 years in IT, including 5 in security |
| US voucher price≠ | $425 (CompTIA, June 2026) | Current price: see the CompTIA store |
| Valid for | 3 years | 3 years |
| Renewing it also renews≠ | Security+, Network+, A+ | CySA+, PenTest+ and everything below |
| DoD 8140 roles shared (per CompTIA) | 511, 531, 541, 461, 612 | 511, 531, 541, 461, 612 |
Rows marked ≠ are where the two differ. Sources: CompTIA CySA+ V4 page, CompTIA SecurityX page, CompTIA CE program FAQ, CompTIA framework alignment. SOC = security operations center.
SecurityX gives you no numberRule
SecurityX reports pass or fail only. CySA+ reports a scaled score, and the CySA+ passing score of 750 sits on a 100–900 scale. Do not carry a CySA+ score target into SecurityX prep, or convert either result into a percentage.
What sets the two apart in practice
CySA+ CS0-004 is weighted toward the analyst's queue: Security Operations 34%, Vulnerability Management 26%, Incident Response and Management 24% and Reporting and Communication 16% (CS0-004 objectives, version 2.0). CompTIA's examples of its performance-based questions (PBQs) are hands-on tasks: analyze alerts from a security information and event management (SIEM) tool, review logs, prioritize vulnerabilities, recommend remediation.
SecurityX CAS-005 is CompTIA's exam for the advanced architect and engineer, and its experience recommendation reflects that: ten years in IT, five of them in security, against about four years of hands-on work for CySA+. The two still overlap where it counts for hiring: CompTIA maps both to the same five DoD 8140 work roles, including Cyber Defense Analyst (511) and Vulnerability Assessment Analyst (541), and ISC2 accepts either one toward the one-year CISSP experience waiver (how CySA+ compares with CISSP).
Order of the two
Because SecurityX sits at the top of the continuing education hierarchy, earning it later renews CySA+ as well, so taking CySA+ first costs you no extra renewal work down the line. The renewal mechanics, including the $150 CE fee per three-year cycle (CompTIA, checked October 2026), are on the CySA+ renewal page.
Recommended experience, rung by rung
Signs CySA+ is the next exam for you
- You work an alert queue, a vulnerability program or incident tickets rather than designing the architecture behind them.
- Your experience is closer to four years than ten.
- You want a scaled score report to measure against your practice results.
- You plan to renew with continuing education units (CEUs): 60 per three-year cycle, covered on CySA+ renewal.
- You are weighing a management credential too: compare CySA+ vs CISSP.
- You are ready to pick materials: CySA+ prep resources compared lists what targets CS0-004.
Name change, scoring and order
Did CASP+ become SecurityX?
Yes. SecurityX is the current name: CompTIA launched SecurityX CAS-005 on December 17, 2024, formerly CASP+ (CompTIA SecurityX page, checked October 2026).
Will I get a score if I pass SecurityX?
No number. SecurityX CAS-005 reports pass or fail with no scaled score, while CySA+ CS0-004 reports a scaled score with 750 on 100–900 to pass (CompTIA exam pages, checked October 2026).
Can I take SecurityX before CySA+?
CompTIA lists experience as a recommendation for both exams. The usual route goes upward through the ladder; the analyst certification overview shows where each fits.
Sources
- CompTIA SecurityX exam page · CAS-005 format, pass/fail result, launch date, recommended experience (checked October 9, 2026)
- CompTIA CySA+ V4 (CS0-004) exam page (checked October 9, 2026)
- CompTIA CySA+ V3 (CS0-003) exam page · launch and retirement dates (checked October 9, 2026)
- CompTIA CE program FAQ · renewal hierarchy (checked October 9, 2026)
- CompTIA framework alignment page · DoDM 8140.03 work roles (checked October 9, 2026)
Facts checked. Now practice.
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