CompTIA SecurityX (CAS‑005) Practice Exams
About the CompTIA SecurityX CAS-005 exam
Exam at a glance
CompTIA's flagship advanced cybersecurity credential at the expert tier.
Rebrand: from CASP+ to SecurityX
SecurityX (CAS-005) released on December 17, 2024 as the successor to CASP+ (CAS-004). The CASP+ name was retired and CAS-004 reached end of life in 2025. The credential remains CompTIA's only expert-tier cybersecurity certification — what changed was the name, refreshed content for current threats (AI/ML security, post-quantum cryptography, supply chain integrity), and a four-domain structure replacing the prior five.
Domain weighting
- Governance, Risk, and Compliance: 20%
- Security Architecture: 27%
- Security Engineering: 31%
- Security Operations: 22%
Recommended experience
CompTIA recommends a minimum of 10 years of general IT experience with at least 5 years of hands-on security experience. Prior CompTIA stack (or equivalent): Network+, Security+, CySA+, Cloud+, and PenTest+. There are no enforced prerequisites, but the exam expects you to already think like a senior practitioner.
Who this exam is for
- Senior security engineers designing and operating enterprise security controls.
- Security architects defining target-state architecture across hybrid and cloud environments.
- Security consultants advising organizations on program-level risk and controls.
- Senior penetration testers moving into program-design or architecture roles.
Why take this certification
- The only expert-tier CompTIA cybersecurity cert. SecurityX sits at the top of CompTIA's security pathway. It pairs with — or for some employers replaces — CISSP as a vendor-neutral senior credential.
- DoD 8140.03 approved. SecurityX is recognized under the US Department of Defense 8140.03 directive for advanced cybersecurity work roles, opening federal contracting opportunities.
- Hands-on validation. Performance-based questions force you to actually complete security tasks in a simulated environment — not just recognize the right multiple-choice answer.
- Pairs naturally with CISSP. Many senior security architects hold both — see the ISC2 CISSP for the management-leaning counterpart.
What you'll learn in the SecurityX CAS-005 exam
SecurityX validates that you can lead enterprise security programs end-to-end: govern, architect, engineer, and operate. Questions are scenario-rich — most stems describe a real organizational constraint (regulatory, technical, operational) and ask which combination of controls fits.
Governance, risk, and compliance at scale
- Security program management, security strategy development, and risk register maintenance.
- Third-party and supply-chain risk management — vendor security assessments, contractual controls, ongoing monitoring.
- The modern regulatory landscape: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX, CCPA, and the EU AI Act — overlapping obligations, breach-notification timelines, cross-border data transfer constraints.
- Audit readiness, evidence collection, and continuous compliance monitoring.
Enterprise security architecture
- Zero trust architecture — deep dive into NIST SP 800-207 principles, identity-centric access, micro-segmentation, continuous verification.
- Cloud-native security architecture and hybrid security patterns spanning on-prem, IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.
- SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) — SD-WAN, SWG, CASB, ZTNA, FWaaS as a converged service model.
- IoT, OT, and ICS security architecture — Purdue model, network segmentation for operational technology, safety-vs-security trade-offs.
Security engineering
- Advanced cryptography and post-quantum cryptography migration planning — crypto-agility, hybrid classical/PQ algorithms, NIST PQC standards.
- FIPS 140-3 standards for cryptographic modules, hardware security modules (HSMs), and key management at scale.
- Advanced IAM and PAM — federation, just-in-time access, secrets management, privileged session recording.
- Secure software development integration — DevSecOps pipelines, SAST/DAST/IAST, software composition analysis.
- Supply chain security — SBOM (Software Bill of Materials), SLSA (Supply-chain Levels for Software Artifacts), signed artifacts, provenance attestation.
Security operations
- Advanced incident response — IR program design, retainers, tabletop exercises, lessons-learned cycles.
- Threat intelligence operationalization — CTI pipelines, MITRE ATT&CK mapping, intelligence-driven defense.
- Advanced threat hunting and senior-level malware analysis — static and dynamic analysis, behavioral indicators, attribution caveats.
- Business continuity and disaster recovery at enterprise scale — RTO/RPO modeling, cross-region failover, third-party dependencies.
- Security automation and orchestration with SOAR — playbook design, integration patterns, measuring mean-time-to-respond improvements.
Emerging technology security
- AI/ML security — model security, prompt injection, training-data poisoning, model supply chain, AI governance frameworks.
- Quantum threats and post-quantum migration planning — "harvest now, decrypt later" risk, inventory of vulnerable cryptography, transition timelines.
- Edge computing security and the security implications of distributed inference.
How the practice exams help
Each free question and every premium exam mirrors the scenario-heavy format CompTIA uses for SecurityX — long stems describing realistic enterprise constraints, multiple plausible options, and explanations that cover the trade-offs (not just why the right answer is right, but why the others fall short in this specific context).
How to prepare for the SecurityX CAS-005 exam
SecurityX is an expert-tier exam — preparation strategy assumes you already have years of hands-on security work. Recommended approach for experienced security professionals:
- Map your gaps against the blueprint (1 week). Download the official CompTIA SecurityX exam objectives and rate yourself honestly against each of the four domains. Most senior security professionals are strong in two or three and have a clear weak domain — usually GRC or formal architecture frameworks for engineers; engineering depth for managers.
- Targeted study (6–8 weeks). Work through CompTIA CertMaster Learn + Practice for CAS-005 and the official SecurityX Study Guide. Focus your reading time on your weak domain; skim the strong ones. Pay extra attention to the topics added in CAS-005 vs CAS-004: AI/ML security, post-quantum migration, SBOM/SLSA, EU AI Act.
- Hands-on labs (2–3 weeks). Performance-based questions are where unprepared candidates fail. Spend time in cloud security consoles (AWS / Azure / GCP IAM and security tooling), build a small zero-trust lab, and practice configuring SAST/DAST in a CI pipeline. CertMaster Labs include vendor-neutral PBQ practice that mirrors the exam format.
- Practice exams (2 weeks). Take timed full-length practice tests to identify residual weak spots and build endurance for the 165-minute sitting. Detailed explanations on every answer option help you internalize the senior-level reasoning rather than memorizing answers. Aim for consistent strong performance across all four domains before booking the exam.
Recommended timeline
12–16 weeks of focused study (8–12 hours per week) for experienced security professionals with the recommended 5+ years of hands-on security work. Candidates already holding CISSP often find significant content overlap and can compress the timeline — the main delta is SecurityX's heavier emphasis on hands-on engineering and CompTIA-specific framing.
Official resources
Start with the official CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) certification page for exam objectives, sample questions, and the CertMaster training products. The official SecurityX Study Guide (replacing the prior CASP+ guides) is the most comprehensive single text. Supplement with vendor-neutral architecture references — NIST SP 800-207 (zero trust), NIST PQC publications, and the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix — all of which are cited in the exam objectives.
Frequently asked questions
Are these actual exam questions?
No. All Nex Arc CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) practice questions are original content based on the provider's published exam blueprint, official documentation, and real-world scenarios across every topic the exam covers. We do not offer brain dumps, leaked questions, or actual exam content. Using or distributing real exam questions violates certification provider agreements and can result in certification revocation.
How many questions are in the CompTIA SecurityX exam?
The CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) exam consists of a maximum of 90 questions delivered in 165 minutes. The exam mixes traditional multiple-choice questions with performance-based questions (PBQs) that ask you to complete realistic security tasks in a simulated environment.
What's the SecurityX passing score?
SecurityX uses a pass/fail scoring model rather than a numeric scaled score — this is consistent across CompTIA's Expert-tier certifications (SecurityX and the prior CASP+). You either pass the exam or you don't; CompTIA does not publish a percentage or scaled score breakdown. Focus on demonstrating depth across all four domains rather than chasing a target number.
How do I access the full SecurityX practice exam?
Click on the Buy Now button in the sidebar to purchase the complete CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) course. After payment, you'll have instant access to 12 practice exams with detailed explanations and lifetime access.
What are the prerequisites for the SecurityX exam?
There are no formal prerequisites, but CompTIA recommends a minimum of 10 years of general hands-on IT experience including 5 years of hands-on security experience. Recommended prior CompTIA certifications (or equivalent knowledge) are Network+, Security+, CySA+, Cloud+, and PenTest+. SecurityX is an expert-tier exam — it expects you to already think like a senior practitioner. Going in without that experience base will leave you guessing on the performance-based questions.
How long is the SecurityX certification valid?
CompTIA SecurityX is valid for three years from the date you pass the exam. To recertify you can either retake the current version of the exam or accumulate 75 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) over the three-year cycle and submit them through CompTIA's CertMaster CE program. CEUs can be earned from a wide range of activities including industry conferences, vendor training, publishing technical content, attending CompTIA webinars, or completing higher-level certifications. SecurityX is also approved under DoD 8140.03 for advanced cybersecurity roles.
What's the exam cost and can I retake it if I fail?
The SecurityX exam costs $526 USD at list price through Pearson VUE (testing centers or online proctoring). CompTIA's first-attempt and second-attempt retake policy has no mandatory wait between the first and second attempt, but a 14-day wait is required between the second attempt and any subsequent attempts. Each attempt requires a separate exam voucher. CompTIA voucher bundles, employer benefits, academic discounts, and partner programs can reduce the effective cost — verify pricing in your region before booking.
What's the difference between SecurityX (CAS-005) and CASP+ (CAS-004)?
SecurityX (CAS-005) is the same expert-tier credential as CASP+ (CAS-004) — CompTIA rebranded the certification when it released CAS-005 on December 17, 2024. CASP+ (CAS-004) reached end of life in 2025. The new exam refreshes content for current threats including AI/ML security risks, post-quantum cryptography migration planning, supply chain security with SBOM/SLSA, zero trust architecture, and modern cloud-native security patterns. The domain structure changed from five domains in CAS-004 to four in CAS-005: Governance/Risk/Compliance, Security Architecture, Security Engineering, and Security Operations. The job-role focus is unchanged: senior security engineers, security architects, and security consultants.
How does SecurityX compare to CISSP?
SecurityX and ISC2 CISSP target overlapping senior cybersecurity roles, but with distinctly different approaches. SecurityX is vendor-neutral, includes hands-on performance-based questions, uses pass/fail scoring, and has no formal experience-verification requirement. CISSP is issued by ISC2, uses scaled scoring (700/1000 to pass), requires five years of verified, endorsed work experience across two of eight domains, and is exclusively multiple-choice/multiple-response — there are no hands-on simulations. The two certifications are complementary rather than competitive: many senior security architects and consultants hold both, with CISSP carrying more weight in management-oriented roles and SecurityX preferred where employers want demonstrated hands-on technical depth. For US government roles, both certifications satisfy multiple DoD 8140.03 work-role baselines.
Can I retake the SecurityX exam if I fail?
Yes. CompTIA allows an immediate retake of your first failed attempt with no mandatory wait. From the second retake onward you must wait 14 days between attempts. Each attempt requires a new $526 voucher (or bundle pricing if applicable). There is no lifetime cap on attempts.