Cybersecurity · Free online course

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep

Prepare for CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 with Professor Messer's complete free video course: every exam objective across the five domains, with EDWartens notes, worked calculations, practice questions and an optional security project. Exam preparation only: the EDWartens certificate is not the CompTIA Security+ certification, which is earned only by passing CompTIA's exam.

  • 13 modules
  • 15h 11m of video
  • Beginner
  • English
  • ₹0, free
  • Lab practice in your browser
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course cover

₹0Free for good

Worth ₹7,999 by length and depth against classroom training. It has always been free; that is not a former price.

No card. Checkout takes a minute and gives you a receipt.

Certificate ₹499, optional. The course is free either way.

Overview

About CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep

Revise every Security+ SY0-701 exam objective with free video lessons, notes and practice questions. Exam preparation only.

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep is a free, self-paced online course from EDWartens for candidates preparing for the CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam, and IT staff moving into security. It has 13 modules and 15h 11m of video lessons, with written notes, a practice task per module, a practical project and a final assessment of 15 questions (pass mark 60%). Learning costs nothing and needs only a free account. The optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, verifiable by code, is a one-off ₹499 inclusive of GST for learners in India; it is not a vendor credential. Updated 1 November 2026.

Who it is for: Candidates preparing for the CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam, and IT staff moving into security

This course includes

  • 15h 11m of video lessons
  • 13 modules with written notes and diagrams
  • One final assessment: 15 questions, pass mark 60%
  • Ask-an-engineer support from practising engineers
  • Lifetime access, the course does not expire
  • Optional verifiable certificate when you finish
  1. Step 1 of 3

    Learn the 13 modules

    15h 11m of video lessons, written notes and a practice task per module, at your own pace.

  2. Step 2 of 3

    Pass the final assessment

    15 questions drawn from every module, pass mark 60%, 3 attempts.

  3. Step 3 of 3

    Take the certificate, if you want it

    Optional, paid once, only if you choose it. The course stays free either way.

    See the certificate and its price

A look inside

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep: Syllabus at a glance
Syllabus at a glance
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep: What you will be able to do
What you will be able to do
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep: Tools and credits
Tools and credits

From the lessons

  • How to Pass Your SY0-701 Security+ Exam in 2026

    How the Security+ exam works

    by Professor Messer

  • Change Management - CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 - 1.3

    Change management and cryptography (1.3 to 1.4)

    by Professor Messer

  • Memory Injections - CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 - 2.3

    Types of vulnerability (2.3)

    by Professor Messer

  • Segmentation and Access Control - CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 - 2.5

    Mitigation and security architecture (2.5 to 3.2)

    by Professor Messer

  • Secure Baselines - CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 - 4.1

    Hardening, assets and vulnerability management (4.1 to 4.3)

    by Professor Messer

  • Identity and Access Management - CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 - 4.6

    Identity, automation and incident response (4.6 to 4.9)

    by Professor Messer

Lesson frames belong to the creators named in the Credits and are shown from YouTube.

What you learn

What you will be able to do

By the end you will be able to:

  • Explain the SY0-701 objectives in the exam's own vocabulary
  • Compare security controls, cryptography and PKI options
  • Recognise common threats, attacks and their indicators
  • Calculate SLE and ALE for a risk
  • Apply the concepts in a small-office security assessment

How it works

How this course works

  1. Watch the lessons

    Short video lessons, one module at a time, at your own pace.

  2. Read the notes

    Open the Reading tab for the written notes and diagrams of the module.

  3. Practise in the 3D labOptional

    Try the module in the free 3D lab, in your browser.

  4. Check yourself

    Answer the questions to see what stuck before you move on.

  5. Final assessment

    Pass the final once you have been through the modules.

  6. Certificate, if you want oneOptional

    Optional, with a page anyone can use to verify it.

Syllabus

Course content, module by module

In order, at whatever pace suits you. Each module ends with a practice task that builds on the last.

Modules
13
Video lessons
121
Of video
15h 11m
Final questions
15
  1. 01

    How the Security+ exam works

    1 lesson · 10m
  2. 02

    Security controls and fundamental concepts (1.1 to 1.2)

    8 lessons · 1h 4m
  3. 03

    Change management and cryptography (1.3 to 1.4)

    10 lessons · 1h 27m
  4. 04

    Threat actors, vectors and social engineering (2.1 to 2.2)

    6 lessons · 48m
  5. 05

    Types of vulnerability (2.3)

    14 lessons · 1h 14m
  6. 06

    Malicious activity and indicators (2.4)

    15 lessons · 1h 45m
  7. 07

    Mitigation and security architecture (2.5 to 3.2), with lab practice:

    13 lessons · 1h 55m
  8. 08

    Protecting data and building resilience (3.3 to 3.4), with lab practice:

    8 lessons · 1h 2m
  9. Final assessment · 15 questions, pass mark 60%

3D lab

Practise in the 3D lab

Practise firewall rules, backups, log reading and incident order in the OT security lab; the same ideas apply to office networks, so you see them work, not only read them.

Find the strangerWatch

Optional. Skip it whenever you like: it never blocks your progress or your certificate.

Project

The course project

Optional practice that ends in the kind of job the course prepares you for, with the documents that go with it.

About 10 hours

A security assessment of a small accounting office, mapped to Security+ domains: asset list, risk register, incident procedure and report

Assess the security of a 25-person accounting office. Build its asset list, a risk register with ALE figures and an incident procedure, then write a prioritised report mapped to the SY0-701 domains.

This project at a glance
  1. 4documents in the pack
  2. 7steps to follow
  3. 6things to hand in
  4. 10 hof work, at your pace

Sample document pack, 4 documents, filled in for the scenario

  • Asset inventoryAsset list: Parkside Tax Consultants
  • Risk registerRisk register with annualised loss
  • ProcedureIncident response: ransomware and email account takeover
  • ReportSecurity assessment report and priorities

Read inside the course and download as a workbook. The project is optional practice, marked when you submit it; the certificate needs only the modules and the final assessment.

Tools

Software, hardware and lessons

Software

None required. A free virtual lab (for example a Linux virtual machine) is useful for the project.

Hardware

Any computer with a browser.

Who it is for

Beginner in security. Basic networking knowledge (IP addresses, ports, what a firewall does) helps; CompTIA recommends some IT experience before sitting the exam.

Video lessons by

  • Professor Messer

Independent creators, credited in full under Credits.

Software you need

What to download, where from, what it costs and how to install it. Every link goes to the maker's own site, never a mirror.

Nothing is required

A free Linux virtual machine is useful for the project.

Optional

Useful, not needed to finish the course.

  1. 01

    Oracle VirtualBox

    Oracle

    Free
    Runs on
    Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Linux and Solaris hosts
    Account
    None needed

    The VirtualBox platform packages are free and open source under GPL version 3. The separate Extension Pack is free only for personal and educational use (PUEL licence); business use of the Extension Pack needs a commercial licence from Oracle.

  2. 02

    Ubuntu Desktop

    Canonical

    Free
    Runs on
    64-bit PC (Intel or AMD) or ARM 64-bit. Recommended: 2 GHz dual-core processor, 6 GB RAM, 25 GB free disk space.
    Account
    None needed
    Size
    About 5.9 GB ISO (Intel or AMD 64-bit, current LTS)

    Free to download and use. LTS releases get five years of free security updates, which Ubuntu Pro can extend.

    Alternatives

Checked against each maker's own page on 27 September 2026. Trial lengths and editions change; the maker's page is the final word.

What you walk away with

Your certificate for CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep

Finish the course, pass the final, and this is the document with your name on it.

Sample Wartens Certificate of Completion for CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep, issued through the EDWartens training portal
Sample. The issued certificate carries your name, your final score, a unique certificate ID and its own QR code.
  • Verifiable by anyone

  • Adds to LinkedIn in one click

  • QR code on the certificate

  • Names what you can do

  • A permanent link

  • Earned, not attended

Learning is free. The certificate is optional.

Add it now and pay only when you have finished the course, or come back for it later. One-off, US$23.99, with a receipt.

Issued by Wartens Ltd (England and Wales, company no. 15262249) through the EDWartens training portal, as a Certificate of Completion for this self-paced course. Sold in India by Wartens Automation Private Limited. It is not a vendor certification, a university award or a CPD-accredited activity, and it does not certify competence on live equipment. Delivered electronically; see the refund policy.

Practise what you learn in the free 3D lab

Technical work is judged on what you can do: wiring, commissioning, finding a fault. Doing a task yourself teaches more than watching it a second time, and a lab lets you try it safely before you meet real equipment. It does not replace working on real hardware.

  • Practise safely, so a mistake costs nothing.
  • The lab checks your work like a site test, so you know when it is right.
  • Free, in your browser, with nothing to install.

Why learn with EDWartens

What you get with this course.

  • Free from the first lesson to the final assessment.
  • Practice in a free 3D lab in your browser, with nothing to install.
  • Video lessons with written notes and a project.
  • An optional certificate that anyone can verify online.

FAQ

Common questions

Is this the official Security+ course?

No. It is an independent free course built on Professor Messer's free SY0-701 videos, credited on every module. CompTIA and Security+ are trademarks of CompTIA, and neither CompTIA nor Professor Messer is affiliated with EDWartens.

Does passing this course give me the Security+ certification?

No. The certification is awarded only by passing CompTIA's exam, booked and paid for through CompTIA. This course prepares you for it and gives you an EDWartens certificate of completion.

Does it cover every exam objective?

Yes. The course follows Professor Messer's complete SY0-701 series, which covers every objective across the five domains, in 12 teaching modules.

How long does the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course take?

About 19 hours of lessons, notes and practice questions, plus about 10 hours for the project. Spread over several weeks, with time for revision, is a realistic plan before booking the exam.

Do I need experience?

No, though basic networking knowledge helps. CompTIA recommends some IT experience before sitting the exam itself.

Is the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course really free?

Yes. Every module, the notes, the 130 practice questions, the project and the final assessment. The only paid item is the EDWartens certificate, if you want it.

Is SY0-701 still the current exam?

Yes, as of September 2026. CompTIA expects to launch Security+ V8 (SY0-801) on or around 17 November 2026, and SY0-701 stays available for a period after that, so check CompTIA's retirement date before you book.

What is the project in the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course?

A security assessment of a 25-person accounting office in Geelong, Australia: an asset list, a risk register with SLE and ALE figures, an incident response procedure and a prioritised report mapped to the five exam domains. It doubles as a revision checklist and a portfolio piece.

Do I have to use the lab?

No. The lab is optional practice. You can skip it whenever you like, and it never blocks your progress, the final assessment or your certificate.

Is the lab free?

Yes. Every lab level for this course opens in your browser, free, with nothing to install.

Is the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course free in India, and what does the certificate cost?

Yes. Learning costs ₹0 in India: every module, the written notes, the practice tasks and the final assessment, with no card and no trial period. The only paid item is the optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 including GST for this beginner course, paid in rupees through Razorpay, and only if you want it after passing the final assessment.

What topics does the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course cover, module by module?

The CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course has 13 modules. It opens with "How the Security+ exam works", goes through "Security controls and fundamental concepts (1.1 to 1.2)", "Types of vulnerability (2.3)", "Hardening, assets and vulnerability management (4.1 to 4.3)" and "Governance, risk and compliance (5.1 to 5.6)" and ends with "Final Assessment". The full list with minutes is under "What you learn" on this page.

What can I do after the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course?

After the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course: Classify security controls and explain CIA, AAA and zero trust; Explain PKI, encryption, hashing and digital signatures; Recognise threat actors, vectors, social engineering and attacks. These are the practical outcomes the course is written around, and the final assessment of 15 questions checks them.

What software and hardware do I need for the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course, and does it cost anything?

For the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course, software: None required. A free virtual lab (for example a Linux virtual machine) is useful for the project. Hardware: any computer with a browser. The course itself is free.

Is the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course suitable for me, and what level is it?

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep is rated beginner. Beginner in security. Basic networking knowledge (IP addresses, ports, what a firewall does) helps; CompTIA recommends some IT experience before sitting the exam. It is written for candidates preparing for the CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam, and IT staff moving into security, and has 15h 11m of video lessons at your own pace.

Which jobs use the skills from the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course?

Skills from the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep course (for example: classify security controls and explain CIA, AAA and zero trust) are used in information security analyst work. The course gives you practical evidence of the skill; it does not promise a job, and employers decide on experience and interview.

All course facts
Price
₹0, free for good. No trial, no card. Comparable classroom training of this length costs about ₹7,999.
Who it is for
Candidates preparing for the CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam, and IT staff moving into security
Format
13 self-paced modules, 15h 11m of video, written notes, a practice task per module and one final assessment.
Level
Beginner. Beginner in security. Basic networking knowledge (IP addresses, ports, what a firewall does) helps; CompTIA recommends some IT experience before sitting the exam.
Brand
CompTIA
Software
None required. A free virtual lab (for example a Linux virtual machine) is useful for the project.
Hardware
Any computer with a browser.
Certificate
Optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 inclusive of GST for learners in India, verifiable by code. Not a vendor credential.
Video lessons by
Professor Messer (independent creators, credited below)
Language
English
Last updated
1 November 2026

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Credits

Who made the video lessons

The video lessons in this course were created by the people below, not by EDWartens. Every lesson streams from its creator's own YouTube channel; EDWartens neither hosts nor sells that footage, and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens and do not endorse this course. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks and the assessments.

  • Professor Messerthe complete free CompTIA SY0-701 Security+ Training Course, every lesson in this course

If you are one of these creators and would like a lesson removed or credited differently, write to info@edwartens.co.in.