CompTIA · Computing Technology Industry Association

CompTIA CASP+ / SecurityX

CASP+ · CAS-005

CASP+ is CompTIA's master-level cybersecurity certification — now rebranded to SecurityX, with the current exam version CAS-005. It validates that you can architect, engineer, and operate enterprise security, not just manage it, and it's approved under DoD 8140 for senior defense and contractor roles. The exam is pass/fail, packed with hands-on performance-based tasks, and unforgiving on time — a single failed sitting can stall a clearance, a promotion, or a contract requirement for weeks. This page breaks down exactly what's tested, how it's delivered, and how to get it done right the first time.

165 Minutes
Up to 90 Questions
Pass / Fail
Center or Online (OnVUE)

Pay Only After You Pass

No upfront fee — you settle only after your verified passing result. We advertise guaranteed results — 100% pass guaranteed or money back.

Exam Spec Sheet

Provider CompTIA
Exam code CAS-005 (SecurityX)
Format Multiple-choice + performance-based
Duration 165 minutes
Questions Up to 90
Scoring Pass / Fail (no scaled score)
Fee ~$509 USD
Proctoring Pearson VUE / OnVUE
Validity 3 years (75 CEUs)
Compliance DoD 8140 approved
See CompTIA Help Options

EXAM FORMAT

How CASP+ / SecurityX (CAS-005) is built — at a glance

90

Maximum questions

Up to 90 items blending standard multiple-choice with hands-on performance-based tasks. CompTIA tends to front-load the PBQs, so you may face several simulations before the multiple-choice block.

165

Minutes to finish

A single 165-minute block with no scheduled breaks. The performance-based questions eat time fast, which is why pacing — not knowledge gaps — sinks many candidates on their first attempt.

P/F

Pass or fail only

Unlike Security+ or CySA+, CASP+ reports no scaled number. You either clear CompTIA's cut score or you don't — there's no partial credit on your transcript, just "pass" or "fail."

What "SecurityX" means for you

In December 2024 CompTIA rebranded CASP+ to SecurityX, releasing CAS-005 as the current version. The credential, exam length, and difficulty are unchanged — only the name moved. Many job postings, DoD directives, and HR systems still say "CASP+," so the two terms point to the same exam you'll book through Pearson VUE.

Why performance-based items are the real test

CASP+ is a practitioner exam, not a memorization quiz. The PBQs drop you into simulated consoles, log files, and architecture decisions where you must apply security engineering judgment under the clock. Knowing the theory isn't enough — you have to execute, which is exactly where hands-on coaching pays off.

WHAT'S TESTED

Four CAS-005 domains — bars show each domain's official weight on the exam

1

Security Engineering

31%

The largest domain. Designing and implementing secure systems, cryptographic solutions, secure access, endpoint and cloud controls, and automation — the deep technical core of the exam.

2

Security Architecture

27%

Architecting resilient enterprise security: zero trust, network and data-flow design, hybrid and multi-cloud, and securing emerging technology across complex environments.

3

Security Operations

22%

Threat management, vulnerability and incident response, monitoring, detection, and using automation and analytics to run a modern security operations capability.

4

Governance, Risk & Compliance

20%

Risk management programs, regulatory and framework compliance, third-party and supply-chain risk, and translating business requirements into security strategy.

Engineering and Architecture together make up nearly 60% of CAS-005, so the exam rewards candidates who can build and defend a design — not just recall definitions. CompTIA streamlined the older CASP+ (CAS-004) objectives into a leaner four-domain SecurityX blueprint, but the bar is unchanged: senior, hands-on security judgment.

DELIVERY & PROCTORING

Two ways to sit CAS-005 — and what to expect on test day

At a Pearson VUE test center

You sit CAS-005 in a quiet, monitored room at a Pearson VUE center. Staff verify your government-issued ID, store your belongings, and watch the room. You're provided a workstation and an erasable noteboard. This is the most stable option for an exam this long and PBQ-heavy.

Online, proctored via OnVUE

You take CAS-005 from a private room at home through Pearson VUE's OnVUE platform, monitored by a live proctor. You'll run a system test, an ID check, and a 360° room scan beforehand. No physical scratch paper is allowed — only the built-in on-screen whiteboard.

ID & identity check

A valid, unexpired government photo ID with a name that exactly matches your CompTIA / Pearson VUE profile. The proctor captures your photo before the 165-minute timer starts.

Environment scan

A clear desk, no second monitor, no phone within reach, and a full webcam scan of the room. No notes, no headphones, and no one else may enter for the duration.

During the exam

Stay in frame and on-camera the whole time. There are no scheduled breaks in the 165 minutes. Talking aloud, leaving the seat, or losing connection can flag or void the OnVUE session.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS

CASP+ / SecurityX targets senior, hands-on security pros

  • Senior security engineers and security architects
  • DoD & federal contractors needing an 8140-approved cert
  • Security+ / CySA+ holders stepping up to an advanced credential
  • Technical leads who want to stay hands-on rather than move to management
  • Cloud and infrastructure pros owning enterprise security design

PREREQUISITES & DIFFICULTY

No hard requirement — but it's CompTIA's hardest exam

  • No mandatory prerequisite to sit the exam
  • CompTIA recommends 10+ years in IT, including 5+ years hands-on security
  • Knowledge at the level of Network+, Security+, CySA+, Cloud+ and PenTest+
  • Comfort applying — not just reciting — security engineering in live scenarios

Difficulty: CASP+ is widely considered CompTIA's most demanding certification. The pass/fail format, performance-based simulations, and 165-minute time crunch mean theory alone rarely gets you across the line — most candidates plan 8–12 weeks of focused, hands-on preparation. That pressure is exactly the point where our help is designed to take the weight off.

HOW EXAM ASSIST HELPS YOU PASS CASP+

CASP+ / SecurityX is a high-stakes, pass/fail, performance-heavy exam standing between you and a clearance, a role requirement, or a contract. Exam Assist pairs you with a vetted CompTIA security specialist and works on a pay-after-you-pass model — so the risk sits with us, not you. No upfront fee, guaranteed results: Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end, and you settle only after the verified result.

1

Share your exam details

Tell us your delivery method (Pearson VUE center or OnVUE), target date, and why you need CASP+ — a clearance, a DoD 8140 role, or a promotion. Takes a couple of minutes over WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord.

2

Get an honest feasibility answer

We review your timeline and the CAS-005 objectives and tell you plainly whether it's realistic — before any money is discussed. If it isn't a fit, we say so.

3

The sitting is handled

Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end. You're matched with a CASP+ specialist who maps the work around the performance-based tasks, the four domains, and the OnVUE environment — discreetly and confidentially.

4

Settle after the verified result

You only pay once your passing result is confirmed on your official CompTIA record. No verified pass, nothing owed.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED

Straight answers about CASP+ / SecurityX (CAS-005)

Is CASP+ the same as SecurityX (CAS-005)? +
Yes. In December 2024 CompTIA rebranded the Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification to SecurityX, and the current exam version is CAS-005. It is the same master-level cybersecurity credential — same exam length and structure — just under a new name. If your employer or DoD role still references CASP+, SecurityX (CAS-005) is the exam you sit.
How is the CASP+ / SecurityX exam scored — is there a numeric score? +
Unlike most CompTIA exams, CASP+ / SecurityX (CAS-005) is pass/fail only. There is no scaled 100–900 score reported. You either meet the cut and pass or you do not, so every domain and every performance-based task matters toward that single result.
How many questions are on the CASP+ / SecurityX exam and how long is it? +
The CAS-005 exam has a maximum of 90 questions and a 165-minute time limit. It mixes traditional multiple-choice questions with hands-on performance-based items that drop you into simulated security scenarios, which is why time management is one of the hardest parts of the exam.
Can I take CASP+ / SecurityX online from home? +
Yes. CompTIA delivers CAS-005 through Pearson VUE — either at a physical test center or online via OnVUE, the remotely proctored option you sit from a private room at home. OnVUE requires a webcam, a clean workspace, a government ID check, and a 360-degree room scan before the exam unlocks.
What experience does CompTIA recommend before CASP+ / SecurityX? +
CASP+ / SecurityX has no hard prerequisite, but CompTIA recommends a minimum of 10 years of general hands-on IT experience, including at least 5 years of hands-on security, and knowledge at the level of Network+, Security+, CySA+, Cloud+, and PenTest+. It is positioned as a practitioner-level (not managerial) certification for senior security engineers and architects.
Do I pay Exam Assist before or after I see my CASP+ result? +
You settle only after your verified passing result is confirmed. There is no upfront fee — you share your exam details, receive an honest feasibility answer, and decide before any money changes hands. We advertise a guaranteed pass with money back if you do not pass; we offer a transparent, results-first arrangement.
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