Overview

In 2026, CompTIA — the Downers Grove, Illinois-based non-profit IT trade association — has executed one of its most consequential certification overhauls in years. Three interconnected developments define this shift: the live launch of CompTIA SecAI+, a refresh of the widely held Security+ SY0-701 exam objectives, and the ongoing rollout of the CompTIA Xpert Series of expert-level credentials. Together, these changes are reshaping the pathways available to IT professionals across the United States.

CompTIA SecAI+: The First AI Security Certification

On February 17, 2026, CompTIA officially launched CompTIA SecAI+ (exam code: CY0-001), its first professional certification dedicated entirely to the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The certification was created in direct response to the rapid emergence of advanced AI-driven security threats, addressing the urgent need for skilled professionals who can both defend against and leverage AI technologies in modern cybersecurity environments.

SecAI+ is the first certification in CompTIA's new Expansion Series, designed to complement — not replace — existing credentials. It builds on foundational CompTIA credentials such as Security+, CySA+, and PenTest+, and gives security professionals a way to demonstrate advanced AI security capabilities alongside their core job-role skills.

The exam covers four domains: Basic AI Concepts (17%), Securing AI Systems (40%), AI-Assisted Security (24%), and AI Governance, Risk, and Compliance (19%). Candidates face a maximum of 60 multiple-choice and performance-based questions in 60 minutes, with a passing score of 600 on a 100–900 scale. CompTIA recommends candidates hold 3–4 years of IT experience with at least 2 years of hands-on cybersecurity experience before attempting the exam.

Key skills validated by SecAI+ include: identifying AI-driven threats such as automated phishing and adversarial machine learning; implementing security controls to protect AI systems, data, and models; leveraging AI to automate workflows and accelerate incident response; and navigating global governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) frameworks for ethical AI adoption.

The certification was developed by over 400 industry subject matter experts. As with all CompTIA credentials, SecAI+ is vendor-neutral, applying across cloud providers, AI platforms, development frameworks, and deployment environments.

Security+ SY0-701 Objective Refresh

In mid-April 2026, CompTIA announced a significant refresh of the Security+ SY0-701 exam objectives. The update reflects accelerating changes in the US cybersecurity landscape, including the proliferation of AI-driven threats, expanded cloud attack surfaces, and new federal compliance mandates stemming from the 2025 National Cybersecurity Strategy implementation directives.

The announcement directly affects hundreds of thousands of IT professionals across the United States who rely on Security+ as a foundational DoD 8570/8140-approved credential for federal and private-sector employment.

The most notable additions to the revised SY0-701 objective framework include:

• Explicit coverage of generative AI security risks
• CMMC 2.0 compliance requirements for defense contractors
• Expanded content on supply chain security

CompTIA has established the following transition timeline:

CompTIA has confirmed that all certifications earned under either objective version carry identical validity and renewal requirements. Candidates who have already purchased exam vouchers are advised to confirm their test date relative to this transition window.

Looking further ahead, a tentative preview launch date of around October 20, 2026 has been noted for Security+ SY0-801, the next full version of the exam.

The CompTIA Xpert Series Rollout

Running in parallel, CompTIA is executing the phased rollout of its Xpert Series — a suite of expert-level certifications targeting seasoned IT professionals with multiple years of hands-on experience. The Xpert Series is designed to fill a long-standing gap in CompTIA's catalog, which has historically focused on foundational and intermediate credentials.

The first three Xpert Series certifications are:

• CompTIA DataAI (formerly DataX, rebranded January 21, 2026): An expert-level data science credential validating the ability to design, deploy, and operate AI-driven data solutions. It targets senior data scientists, quantitative analysts, data engineers, BI managers, and AI/ML specialists. DataAI sits atop CompTIA's data certification pathway, above Data+ and DataSys+.
• CompTIA CloudNetX: An advanced cloud network engineering certification validating skills in advanced network and system architecture for designing and managing complex, hybrid IT infrastructures, including multi-cloud orchestration and SD-WAN.
• CompTIA SecurityX (formerly CASP+): The next iteration of the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner credential, aimed at security architects, senior security engineers, and professionals responsible for an organization's overall cybersecurity readiness. Cloud security, automation, infrastructure as code, and zero trust architecture are among its key testable competencies.

Existing CASP+ holders transition to SecurityX automatically, with no retake required. The Xpert Series rollout is scheduled to continue throughout 2026, with CompTIA promising that these credentials bring vendor-agnostic, skills-oriented certification to the expert level for the first time.

Impact on US IT Professionals

The combined effect of these changes is significant for the US IT workforce. The Security+ refresh directly affects the large population of professionals who hold or are pursuing the DoD-approved credential for federal employment. The SecAI+ launch creates a new career track for mid-career cybersecurity professionals looking to specialize in AI security — a field where demand is already outpacing supply. Market analysis indicates that professionals with AI security expertise command salary premiums of 15–30% over peers with traditional security skills alone.

The Xpert Series, meanwhile, gives experienced IT professionals a vendor-neutral pathway to validate expert-level skills in data/AI, cloud networking, and advanced security — roles previously underserved by CompTIA's certification portfolio.

CompTIA's own research has indicated that 56% of cybersecurity professionals already use AI tools daily, yet most organizations have no formal training on how to do so securely — a gap SecAI+ is directly designed to address.

What Candidates Should Do Now

• Security+ candidates: Determine whether to test before or after the July 1, 2026 objective transition. Either version carries identical credential validity. Begin incorporating the new AI security and CMMC 2.0 content areas if targeting the post-July objective set.
• SecAI+ candidates: The exam is live now via Pearson VUE (test center or OnVUE online). Recommended preparation path: Security+ → CySA+ → SecAI+. Focus study on the Securing AI Systems domain (40% of the exam).
• Xpert Series candidates: DataAI is available now. CloudNetX and SecurityX are rolling out through 2026. CASP+ holders receive automatic SecurityX transition — no retake required.
• All candidates: Use updated official CompTIA exam objectives as the primary study framework. Structured, exam-focused training resources — including SPOTO's updated preparation materials at ccedump.spoto.net — are critical given the tightened domain weighting across all updated exams.

Sources

• PR Newswire – Where AI and Cybersecurity Converge: Introducing CompTIA SecAI+ (February 17, 2026)
• CompTIA Official – SecAI+ Certification V1 Exam Details
• Network World – CompTIA Launches SecAI+ Certification (February 17, 2026)
• SPOTO – CompTIA Launches Updated Security+ SY0-701 Exam Objectives for 2026 Workforce Readiness
• CompTIA Official – CompTIA Launches Xpert Series with DataAI Professional Certification
• CompTIA Blog – CompTIA DataAI: The Reimagined DataX Certification (January 2026)
• CBT Nuggets – Best CompTIA Certifications to Earn in 2026
• Training Camp – New Certifications Coming in 2026: What's Actually Worth Your Time
• ITU Online – What's New in the 2026 CompTIA A+ Certification: 1201/1202 Exam Updates
• CompTIA Instructors Network – Status of the Next Version of Security+ (SY0-801)