Quick answer: Choose Security+ if you are early in your cybersecurity career, need a broad defensive foundation, or require a DoD 8570 baseline certification. Choose CEH if you have 2+ years of experience, want to specialize in offensive security (ethical hacking), or need an intermediate certification for penetration testing roles. Security+ is cheaper, easier, and more widely recognized for entry-level positions; CEH is more expensive, harder, and valued for specialized red-team or government contractor roles.
Understanding the Core Focus: Defensive vs. Offensive
The most fundamental difference between Security+ and CEH lies in their focus areas. Security+ is a defensive certification. It validates your ability to secure networks, manage risk, identify vulnerabilities, and respond to incidents from a blue-team perspective. You learn how to build and maintain secure systems, implement policies, and protect data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
CEH, on the other hand, is offensive. It teaches you to think like an attacker—how to scan networks, exploit vulnerabilities, crack passwords, and perform social engineering. The Certified Ethical Hacker credential proves you can use the same tools and techniques as malicious hackers, but for authorized security assessments. While Security+ covers "what to protect," CEH covers "how to attack and how to defend against those attacks."
This distinction drives everything else: exam content, difficulty, and career paths. Security+ is broad and foundational; CEH is specialized and technical. If you are just entering cybersecurity, Security+ gives you the baseline. If you already understand basic security and want to pivot to penetration testing, CEH is a logical next step.
Cost Comparison: Which Certification Is Easier on Your Wallet?
Security+ is significantly cheaper than CEH. The Security+ exam (SY0-701) costs $404 for a single voucher. You can often find discounted vouchers through CompTIA bundles or academic programs, bringing the cost closer to $350. Study materials are abundant and affordable: Professor Messer’s free video series, a $10-20 study guide, and practice tests from sites like Courseiva.
CEH is a heavier investment. The exam voucher alone costs $1,199 (ANSI version) or $1,699 (Practical version). Additionally, EC-Council requires you to take an official training course (often $850–$3,000) unless you have prior experience or alternative certifications. Optional exam prep bundles add $500–$1,000. Total cost for CEH can easily exceed $2,500–$4,000.
Hidden costs: Security+ requires no renewal fees beyond the standard $150 every three years. CEH requires 120 Continuing Education Credits (ECE) every three years, which costs $80 for renewal fees plus time for training or conferences. Government contractors often cover these costs, but for individuals, Security+ is the budget-friendly choice.
| Cost Factor | Security+ | CEH |
|---|---|---|
| Exam voucher | $404 | $1,199–$1,699 |
| Training (recommended) | $0–$200 | $850–$3,000 |
| Total estimated | $400–$600 | $2,000–$4,500 |
Difficulty and Prerequisites: Which Exam Is Harder?
Security+ is designed for beginners. No formal prerequisites exist, though CompTIA recommends 9–12 months of IT experience and the Network+ certification. The exam covers 90 questions (multiple-choice, performance-based) in 90 minutes. Topics include threats, attacks, vulnerabilities, architecture, identity management, risk management, and cryptography. The pass rate is estimated at 75–85% for prepared candidates. Study time averages 30–60 hours.
CEH is significantly harder. EC-Council recommends 2+ years of experience in information security. The exam has 125 questions (multiple-choice only) in 4 hours. It dives deep into specific tools (Nmap, Metasploit, Wireshark), attack vectors, and methodologies like footprinting, scanning, enumeration, and exploitation. The pass rate is lower (60–70%), and study time averages 80–120 hours for experienced professionals. Many candidates fail on their first attempt due to the breadth of tool-specific knowledge required.
Key difference in difficulty: Security+ tests conceptual understanding and broad knowledge. CEH tests technical proficiency and memorization of tool commands, port numbers, and attack sequences. If you struggle with rote memorization, CEH will be harder.
Prerequisites and Eligibility: Who Can Take Each Exam?
Security+ has no prerequisites. Anyone can schedule and take the exam. There is no application process or background check. This makes it ideal for career changers, students, and IT professionals transitioning into security.
CEH has stricter eligibility. EC-Council requires candidates to either:
- Attend an official training course (approved by EC-Council), or
- Submit an application proving 2+ years of information security experience (with a signed letter from your employer).
Additionally, EC-Council may require a background check for the CEH Practical exam. If you have a criminal record related to hacking or unauthorized computer access, you may be denied. This is rare but worth noting for those with legal issues.
For government roles: CEH is often required for specific job codes (e.g., 7810 series), but the stricter prerequisites can delay certification for newcomers.
Employer Recognition and DoD 8570 Compliance
This is a critical factor for anyone considering government or defense contractor work. DoD Directive 8570.01-M (now transitioning to 8140) mandates specific certifications for information assurance roles. Security+ is listed as an IAT Level II baseline certification, which covers roles like network administrator, system administrator, and security analyst. It is the most common certification for entry-level government positions.
CEH is listed as IAT Level III and CSSP Analyst roles. It is required for more advanced positions like intrusion analyst, vulnerability analyst, and penetration tester. However, CEH is not as universally recognized as Security+ for baseline roles. Many government contractors require Security+ first, then CEH for specialized positions.
Private sector recognition: Security+ is recognized globally as a foundational cert. CEH is well-known in the security community, but some hiring managers view it as less rigorous than other offensive certifications (e.g., OSCP, GPEN). CEH is still valued for compliance-heavy roles (banking, healthcare) and government contractors.
| Certification | DoD 8570 Category | Typical Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Security+ | IAT Level II | Security analyst, SOC analyst, network admin |
| CEH | IAT Level III, CSSP | Penetration tester, vulnerability analyst |
Who Should Get Security+?
Security+ is the right choice if you:
- Are new to cybersecurity (0–2 years experience)
- Need a DoD 8570 baseline certification for a government job
- Want a broad, vendor-neutral understanding of security concepts
- Plan to work in a blue-team role (SOC analyst, security administrator, compliance)
- Have a limited budget or time for certification prep
- Are studying for other CompTIA certifications (Network+, CySA+)
Example career path: Help desk → Network+ → Security+ → SOC analyst → CySA+ → CISSP.
Who Should Get CEH?
CEH is the right choice if you:
- Have 2+ years of IT security experience
- Want to specialize in offensive security or penetration testing
- Need a DoD 8570 CSSP certification for government contracting
- Work in a role that requires ethical hacking knowledge (e.g., red team, security assessment)
- Are willing to invest significant time and money
- Prefer a more technical, tool-focused exam over conceptual knowledge
Example career path: Security analyst → Security+ → CEH → OSCP → Penetration tester.
Which Certification Should You Choose First?
For most people, the answer is Security+ first, then CEH later. Security+ builds a solid foundation that makes CEH easier to understand. Without Security+, CEH can feel overwhelming—you’re learning attack techniques without understanding the underlying defensive principles.
However, if you already have strong security fundamentals (e.g., from a degree or hands-on experience), you can skip Security+ and go straight to CEH. Just be prepared for the higher cost and difficulty.
Exception: If you need a DoD 8570 IAT Level II cert quickly for a job, get Security+. If you need CSSP cert for a specific role, get CEH. Do not get both unless your career path explicitly requires it.
Final Takeaway and Next Steps
Both Security+ and CEH are valuable, but they serve different stages of a cybersecurity career. Security+ is the affordable, accessible entry point that opens doors to government and private-sector roles. CEH is a specialized, expensive credential for those committed to offensive security.
Your action plan:
- If you are early in your career or on a budget: Study for Security+ first. Start with free resources and practice questions.
- If you have experience and a clear offensive security goal: Plan for CEH, but budget for training costs.
- For government roles: Get Security+ first (IAT Level II), then evaluate if CEH is needed for your specific job code.
Ready to start? Courseiva offers free Security+ practice questions designed to mirror the actual exam format. These questions cover all five domains and include detailed explanations. No fluff—just the knowledge you need to pass.
👉 [Access Free Security+ Practice Questions on Courseiva.com]
Build your foundation today. The rest follows.