Certification comparison
Security+ is the vendor-neutral baseline security cert recognised by employers worldwide. CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) from EC-Council is practitioner-focused and teaches offensive security techniques.
| Factor | SY0-701 | CEH |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing body | CompTIA | EC-Council |
| Focus | Broad security fundamentals | Ethical hacking techniques |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate–Hard |
| Cost | ~$392 USD | ~$1,199 USD (+ training) |
| Validity | 3 years (CE) | 3 years |
| DoD 8570 approved | Yes (IAT Level II) | Yes (CND + some levels) |
| Hands-on lab | No (performance-based Qs) | Yes (EC-Council lab) |
| Study time | 60–120 hrs | 120–200 hrs |
Our verdict
Security+ is the better first choice for most people — it's cheaper, faster, and qualifies for DoD 8570 roles. CEH is worth adding once you have security experience and want to specialise in penetration testing.
Try a sample practice test for each cert. The one that feels more relevant to your work is usually the right call.