Security+ vs. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Security+ vs. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The EC-Council's CEH certification generates significant debate in the cybersecurity community, with passionate advocates and detractors. CEH focuses on offensive security techniques, teaching tools and methods used by malicious hackers to test system security. This offensive focus contrasts sharply with Security+'s balanced coverage of defensive and offensive concepts. While exciting for those interested in penetration testing, CEH's narrow focus limits its applicability to general security roles.

Difficulty comparisons reveal different challenges in each certification. CEH covers more technical tools and requires memorization of numerous attack techniques, port numbers, and tool syntax. However, the multiple-choice format tests recall rather than practical application. Security+ requires understanding broader concepts and applying knowledge to scenarios, testing comprehension over memorization. Many professionals report CEH as easier to pass through memorization but less valuable for developing real security skills.

The cost differential significantly favors Security+ over CEH. While Security+ costs $392, CEH exam fees reach $1,199, with additional costs for required training unless candidates can prove two years of security experience. The total CEH investment often exceeds $2,500-$4,000 when including official training. This 6-10x cost difference makes CEH a substantial financial commitment compared to Security+'s accessible pricing. Recent addition of CEH Practical adds another $550 for hands-on validation.

Industry perception varies dramatically between these certifications. Government and defense contractors often value CEH due to its inclusion in DoD 8570 approved certifications. However, many security professionals criticize CEH's emphasis on outdated tools and memorization over practical skills. Security+ enjoys more consistent respect across the industry as a vendor-neutral foundation certification. For entry-level candidates, Security+'s broad applicability and reasonable cost make it the superior choice, with CEH potentially valuable later for those pursuing offensive security specializations.