The CompTIA SecurityX certification represents a significant evolution from the established CASP+ (Advanced Security Practitioner) certification. While essentially a rebrand and update, SecurityX brings several notable changes focused on specialization, modern security challenges, and practical technical skills for today's cybersecurity landscape.
This comprehensive guide is designed for cybersecurity professionals, security architects, and enterprise security practitioners who are considering the SecurityX certification or wondering how their existing CASP+ credentials have changed. You'll learn about the updated focus areas, reduced objectives, and new technological emphasis that define SecurityX.
SecurityX vs CASP+: Quick Comparison
| Aspect | 📚 CASP+ (CAS-004) | ✨ SecurityX (CAS-005) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Objectives | 28 objectives | 23 objectives Streamlined |
| Primary Focus | Mix of technical and managerial | Technical implementation and hands-on skills Enhanced |
| Domain Structure | 4 domains (same naming) | 4 domains (updated weighting and content) Updated |
| Exam Format | Up to 90 questions, 165 minutes | Up to 90 questions, 165 minutes |
| Performance-Based Questions | Yes (PBQs included) | Yes (enhanced with VM environments) Enhanced |
| Zero Trust Emphasis | Limited coverage | Extensive coverage and frameworks New |
| Cloud Security | Basic cloud concepts | Advanced cloud governance and security Enhanced |
| Automation & AI | Minimal coverage | AI threat modeling, security automation New |
| Managerial Content | Substantial policy and management focus | Streamlined, technical focus prioritized Reduced |
| Risk Communication | Standard risk management | Executive-level risk communication emphasis New |
| Official Resources | CompTIA CASP+ | CompTIA SecurityX |
Key Differences Between SecurityX and CASP+
🎯 Technical Focus vs. Managerial Aspects
SecurityX places greater emphasis on hands-on, practical skills for designing and implementing security solutions. The certification has reduced focus on managerial tasks that were part of CASP+, making it more aligned with the day-to-day responsibilities of senior security practitioners and architects. Learn more about security architect roles.
📊 Exam Objectives: 28 → 23
SecurityX covers 23 objectives instead of the 28 that were part of CASP+ v4. This reduction doesn't mean less content—rather, it reflects a more specialized and streamlined approach that's more relevant to modern threats and technologies. The consolidation eliminates redundancy while deepening coverage in critical areas.
🏗️ Domains and Weighting Updates
Both certifications maintain the same four main domains, but SecurityX updates the weighting and content to reflect emerging priorities:
- Governance, Risk, and Compliance – Streamlined with focus on practical application
- Security Architecture – Enhanced with zero trust and cloud-native design patterns
- Security Engineering – Deeper technical implementation requirements
- Security Operations – Updated with automation and threat intelligence workflows
Explore NIST Risk Management Framework for governance best practices.
🔄 Reduced Managerial Content
Managerial and policy-oriented content was streamlined or downgraded to prioritize technical expertise for senior practitioners. SecurityX assumes candidates have management awareness and focuses instead on technical decision-making, solution design, and implementation capabilities.
Modern Technology Inclusion in SecurityX
SecurityX introduces updated topics that were less emphasized or absent in previous CASP+ versions:
🛡️ Zero Trust Frameworks
Comprehensive coverage of zero trust architecture principles, implementation strategies, and verification mechanisms. Learn from CISA's Zero Trust Maturity Model.
☁️ Cloud Governance
Advanced cloud security governance, including multi-cloud strategies, container security, and cloud-native security controls. Reference ISO/IEC 27017 for cloud security guidelines.
🤖 Automation & Orchestration
Security automation workflows, SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) platforms, and automated threat response mechanisms.
🧠 AI Threat Modeling
Understanding AI/ML security implications, adversarial machine learning, and integrating AI considerations into threat models and security architectures.
💼 Executive Risk Communication
Translating technical security risks into business language, presenting to C-level executives, and aligning security investments with business objectives.
🔧 Enhanced PBQs
Performance-Based Questions delivered in virtual machine environments, simulating real-world security architecture and implementation scenarios.
Continuity for Existing CASP+ Holders
Good news for current CASP+ holders! All valid CASP+ certifications were automatically transitioned to SecurityX, ensuring current holders retain full recognition with no disruption. You don't need to retake the exam or complete any additional requirements. Your certification maintains the same continuing education requirements (CEUs) under CompTIA's CE program.
Learn more about CompTIA Continuing Education requirements.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- SecurityX is a rebrand and evolution of CASP+, not a completely new certification. It maintains core concepts while modernizing focus areas.
- More technical, less managerial – SecurityX emphasizes hands-on implementation over policy and management aspects.
- Reduced objectives (23 vs. 28) reflect specialization and removal of redundancy, not reduced scope.
- Modern security topics like zero trust, cloud governance, automation, and AI threat modeling are now core components.
- Existing CASP+ holders automatically transitioned to SecurityX with no action required.
- Enhanced performance-based questions delivered in VM environments test real-world implementation skills.
- Same four domains with updated weighting and contemporary content aligned with current threat landscape.