CompTIA Network+

I almost skipped Network+ entirely. I had just passed Security+ and thought I was ready to sprint straight into cybersecurity jobs. Then I bombed my first technical interview because I couldn’t explain subnetting or tell the interviewer what happens at Layer 3 of the OSI model. That was a humbling day.

Here’s the truth nobody told me when I started: Security+ teaches you security concepts, but Network+ teaches you how networks actually work. And if you don’t understand how data moves from point A to point B, you’re going to struggle in almost every cybersecurity role. Firewalls, intrusion detection, packet analysis, cloud security—all of it sits on top of networking fundamentals.

What Is CompTIA Network+?

Network+ is a vendor-neutral certification that validates your understanding of networking concepts, infrastructure, operations, and security. It’s designed for IT professionals who want to prove they can design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks.

CompTIA recommends having 9 to 12 months of networking experience before attempting the exam, but plenty of people pass it with dedicated self-study and lab work. I did it with zero professional experience, just a lot of late nights and a home lab I built from old equipment I found on Facebook Marketplace.

What Does the Exam Cover?

The current exam is N10-009, released in 2024. It covers five main domains:

Networking Concepts (24%) – This is the foundation. You’ll learn about the OSI model, TCP/IP, ports and protocols, IP addressing, and subnetting. If you’ve never calculated a subnet mask before, this section will keep you busy.

Network Implementation (19%) – Here you get into the physical and logical stuff. Routing, switching, wireless standards, WAN technologies, and how to actually deploy network devices.

Network Operations (16%) – This covers monitoring, documentation, backups, disaster recovery, and organizational policies. It’s the day-to-day work of keeping a network healthy.

Network Security (19%) – Firewalls, VPNs, access control, authentication methods, and common attacks. This is where Network+ starts overlapping with Security+ material.

Network Troubleshooting (22%) – The largest domain. You need to know how to diagnose problems using tools like ping, traceroute, nslookup, and packet sniffers. Expect scenario-based questions that test your problem-solving skills.

The OSI Model: You Can’t Escape It

If there’s one concept that shows up everywhere in Network+, it’s the OSI model. It breaks down network communication into seven layers, and understanding what happens at each layer helps you troubleshoot problems and understand how security tools work.

I won’t lie—I had to drill this into my head with flashcards, diagrams, and dumb mnemonics. But once it clicked, everything else started making more sense. When someone says a firewall operates at Layer 4, you’ll actually know what that means.

Who Should Get Network+?

Network+ makes sense if you’re trying to break into IT or cybersecurity and you don’t have a strong networking background. It’s also valuable if you’re already in a help desk or support role and want to move toward network administration or security.

If you already have years of networking experience or hold a CCNA, you might find Network+ too basic. But for career changers, students, and self-taught folks like me, it fills in gaps you didn’t even know you had.

Exam Details

Performance-based questions are the ones that trip people up. You might have to configure a small network, drag and drop components, or troubleshoot a simulated scenario. Practice these before exam day.

How I Passed Network+

I used a combination of video courses, practice exams, and hands-on labs. Here’s what worked for me:

I started with video content to understand the concepts. Free YouTube playlists got me through the basics, and I supplemented with a paid course when I needed more structure. Professor Messer’s videos are legendary in the cert community for a reason—they’re free, they’re thorough, and they follow the exam objectives exactly. I watched those on 1.5x speed while taking notes, then went back to rewatch anything that didn’t stick.

Flashcards saved me on memorization. Port numbers, cable types, wireless standards, the OSI layers, connector types—there’s a lot of raw memorization in Network+. I used Anki and ran through cards every morning for about fifteen minutes. It felt tedious at first, but by exam day I could rattle off port 443, 22, 3389, and the rest without thinking.

Practice exams were non-negotiable. I didn’t schedule my test until I was consistently scoring above 85% on practice tests. And I mean real practice tests that simulate the exam environment, not just random quizzes. When I got a question wrong, I didn’t just check the answer—I went back to my notes and made sure I understood why I missed it. That feedback loop is where the real learning happens.

The hands-on piece matters more than people think. You can memorize that OSPF is a link-state routing protocol, but until you’ve configured it and watched it build neighbor relationships, it’s just words on a screen. I built a small home lab with a managed switch and a couple of old routers I found on Facebook Marketplace for about forty bucks total. Packet Tracer is free from Cisco and lets you simulate network configurations without any hardware. GNS3 is another option if you want something more advanced.

I also joined a few Discord servers and Reddit communities where people were studying for the same exam. Having a group to ask questions, share resources, and vent frustrations made the process less isolating. Explaining concepts to other people is one of the best ways to make sure you actually understand them yourself.

One thing I wish I’d done earlier: read the exam objectives document from CompTIA before starting. It’s free on their website and tells you exactly what’s covered. I wasted time studying topics that weren’t even on the exam because I didn’t check the objectives first. Don’t make that mistake.

Test Day Tips

Performance-based questions come first, and they’re the ones that trip people up. You might have to configure a small network, drag and drop components, or troubleshoot a simulated scenario. Don’t panic if you don’t know the answer immediately—flag them and come back. I spent way too long on one PBQ in the beginning and had to rush through multiple choice questions at the end.

Time management matters. Ninety minutes sounds like a lot until you’re staring at question 60 with twenty minutes left. I practiced with a timer so the pressure wouldn’t surprise me on exam day.

Read every question twice. CompTIA loves words like “BEST,” “MOST,” or “FIRST” that completely change the answer. Two options might both be technically correct, but only one is what they’re actually asking for.

Get there early. Bring two forms of ID. Don’t cram in the parking lot—you either know it or you don’t at that point. Take a breath and trust your prep.

What Comes After Network+?

Once you have Network+, you’ve got options. Security+ is the natural next step if you’re heading into cybersecurity. CCNA goes deeper into Cisco networking if you want to specialize. CySA+ builds on both if you’re aiming for analyst roles.

For me, Network+ was the missing piece. After I passed it, those technical interview questions stopped tripping me up. I could talk about packet flow, explain why a traceroute was timing out, and actually sound like I knew what I was doing—because I finally did.

Network+ isn’t glamorous. It’s not going to get you a six-figure job on its own. But it builds a foundation that makes everything else in IT and cybersecurity easier to learn. If you’re self-taught, a career changer, or just someone who wants to actually understand how networks work instead of guessing, this cert is worth your time.

Start with the concepts. Build a lab. Take practice tests until you’re bored. Then go pass that exam and move on to the next challenge.

Jenna Carson

Self-taught security pro. No degree, just certs, labs, and a lot of late nights.