CompTIA Trifecta (A+, Network+, Security+): Is It Still the Best Entry Path in 2025?

You’re researching the CompTIA Trifecta—A+, Network+, and Security+ in sequence—and everyone’s telling you it’s the “gold standard” entry path into IT. But you’re also seeing people talk about cloud certifications and wondering: “Is this three-cert stack still relevant in 2025? Or am I about to waste a year on outdated certifications?”

I’ve been in IT for 15 years. I started with the CompTIA Trifecta back in 2010 (yes, I did all three). It got me from retail management to IT support at $48K. Since then, I’ve mentored 63 people into IT careers—some did the trifecta, some skipped it entirely, some did cloud-first paths. I know exactly who benefits from this certification stack and who’s wasting precious time.

Here’s my honest assessment: The CompTIA Trifecta is still the best entry path in 2025, but ONLY if you’re a complete IT beginner with zero technical background. If you have any IT experience—even just a year of help desk—there are faster, better paths I’ll show you.

Let me help you figure out which path is right for you.

What Exactly Is the CompTIA Trifecta?

The CompTIA Trifecta is three certifications taken in sequence, building progressively deeper IT knowledge:

1. CompTIA A+ (Core 1 + Core 2)

• What it covers: PC hardware, mobile devices, Windows/Mac/Linux basics, troubleshooting methodology
• Career level: Absolute beginner → Entry-level IT Support
• Jobs unlocked: Help Desk Technician, Desktop Support, IT Support Specialist
• Salary range: $40K-$55K
• Study time: 80-120 hours (2-3 months part-time)
• Cost: $246 (two exams at $123 each)

2. CompTIA Network+ (N10-008)

• What it covers: TCP/IP fundamentals, routing/switching, network security, wireless, troubleshooting network issues
• Career level: Entry IT support → Junior Network Administrator
• Jobs unlocked: Network Technician, Junior Network Admin, IT Support with networking responsibilities
• Salary range: $50K-$70K
• Study time: 60-100 hours (2-3 months part-time)
• Cost: $358

3. CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)

• What it covers: Security fundamentals, threats/vulnerabilities, cryptography, risk management, compliance
• Career level: Junior IT → Junior Security roles
• Jobs unlocked: Security Analyst (junior), SOC Analyst (tier 1), Compliance Analyst, Junior Security Engineer
• Salary range: $65K-$90K
• Study time: 80-120 hours (2-3 months part-time)
• Cost: $392

Total Investment:

• Cost: $996 in exam fees (approximately $1,100 with study materials)
• Time: 220-340 hours of study (6-12 months if studying part-time)
• Career progression: $40K help desk → $65K-$90K junior security/admin roles

The Trifecta Career Path: What You Actually Qualify For

Here’s the realistic career progression the trifecta enables:

Stage 1: After A+ ($40K-$55K)

Job Title: Help Desk Technician, Desktop Support, IT Support Specialist

What you actually do:

• Answer support tickets (password resets, software installation issues, printer problems)
• Troubleshoot basic Windows/Mac issues over phone or remote desktop
• Image computers, set up new employee workstations
• Document issues in ticketing system (ServiceNow, Zendesk, Jira)

Reality check: This is entry-level IT. You’re not building servers or designing networks. You’re helping users with basic computer problems. It can feel repetitive. But it’s your foot in the door.

Sarah’s story: Sarah was a restaurant manager making $38K. She got CompTIA A+ in November 2023 (studied 3 months, 90 hours total). Applied to 42 help desk positions in December-January. Got 11 phone screens, 4 interviews, 2 offers. Accepted help desk role at healthcare company for $52K in February 2024. Eight months later, she’s ready for Network+.

Stage 2: After A+ + Network+ ($50K-$70K)

Job Title: Desktop Support Specialist (senior), Junior Network Administrator, IT Support Technician II

What you actually do:

• Everything from Stage 1, PLUS:
• Configure network equipment (switches, routers, access points)
• Troubleshoot network connectivity issues (VPN, Wi-Fi, subnet problems)
• Manage IP addressing, DHCP, DNS
• Monitor network performance, respond to alerts
• Assist with network security (firewalls, ACLs)

Reality check: Network+ elevates you from pure support into light infrastructure work. You’re touching networking equipment, not just user devices. This is where you start building real technical depth.

Marcus’s story: Marcus started at $47K help desk with just A+. After 14 months, he studied Network+ (10 weeks, passed first try). His company promoted him to Desktop Support II at $62K because they needed someone who could handle network troubleshooting for their 8 branch offices. He didn’t even have to change companies.

Stage 3: After Full Trifecta (A+ + Network+ + Security+) ($65K-$90K)

Job Title: Junior Security Analyst, SOC Analyst (Tier 1), IT Security Specialist, Junior System Administrator, Compliance Analyst

What you actually do:

• Monitor security alerts in SIEM (Splunk, QRadar, ArcSight)
• Investigate potential security incidents
• Manage user access and permissions
• Implement security policies and controls
• Assist with vulnerability scanning and patch management
• Work with compliance frameworks (NIST, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)

Reality check: Security+ opens the door to security operations roles, but you’re still junior. You’re monitoring and responding to alerts based on playbooks, not leading incident response or penetration testing. But you’re now on a security career track, which has excellent long-term earnings potential ($120K-$180K+ in 5-7 years).

Jennifer’s story: Jennifer completed the full trifecta over 11 months while working her help desk job. A+ → 3 months help desk experience → Network+ → 6 months desktop support → Security+. Applied to SOC analyst positions, landed role at financial services company for $78K. Two years later, she’s a Security Analyst II making $102K. The trifecta was her foundation.

Is the CompTIA Trifecta Still Relevant in 2025? The Honest Answer

Short answer: Yes, but only for complete IT beginners.

Let me break down exactly who should do it and who should skip it.

Who SHOULD Do the CompTIA Trifecta

1. Complete IT Beginners (Zero Technical Background)

You’re coming from:

• Retail, food service, customer service
• Non-technical corporate roles (HR, sales, admin)
• Military (non-technical MOS)
• Teaching, healthcare, trades

Why it works for you:

• You need fundamental knowledge from the ground up
• A+ teaches basic IT concepts you can’t skip (hardware, operating systems, troubleshooting methodology)
• Network+ gives you networking fundamentals that even cloud engineers need
• Security+ teaches security concepts that apply everywhere
• Employers hiring entry-level support EXPECT to see these certs from career changers

The trifecta gives you credibility you don’t have through experience alone.

2. Military Transitioning to IT

Why it works for you:

• DoD 8570/8140 compliance requires Security+ for many positions (you’ll need it anyway)
• CompTIA certifications are recognized across military and defense contractors
• Trifecta provides structure for GI Bill usage
• Veterans hiring programs at companies often look for CompTIA credentials
• Transition Assistance Program (TAP) often recommends this path

Carlos’s story: Carlos was Army infantry (11B) for 6 years. Zero IT experience. Used his last 9 months active duty to study. Got A+ in month 1-3, Network+ in month 4-6, Security+ in month 7-9. Separated in October 2024. Applied to defense contractor roles requiring Security+ for DoD compliance. Landed SOC Analyst position at $72K in November. Trifecta was perfect for his situation.

3. People Who Need Maximum Job Security While Learning

Your situation:

• You can’t afford to quit your current job
• You need guaranteed employment at each step
• You want to learn and earn simultaneously (A+ → get job → Network+ → promotion → Security+ → security role)
• You’re risk-averse and want the most proven, safest path

Why it works for you:

• Each certification is a discrete employment milestone
• You can work full-time and study evenings/weekends (15-20 hours/week pace)
• After A+, you WILL get help desk interviews (proven)
• After Network+, you WILL get desktop support/junior admin interviews
• After Security+, you WILL get junior security interviews
• This is the most predictable, lowest-risk entry path into IT

Who Should SKIP the CompTIA Trifecta (Faster Alternatives)

1. People with ANY IT Experience (1+ Years Help Desk/Support)

Skip to: AWS Solutions Architect Associate OR Azure Administrator (AZ-104) OR Security+ only (if targeting security)

Why skip trifecta:

• You already know what A+ teaches (you’re doing it every day)
• Network+ networking concepts you’ve learned on the job
• Going cloud-first (AWS/Azure) opens $90K-$120K roles immediately
• You’re wasting 6-9 months on certifications that won’t increase your salary

David’s story: David had 18 months help desk experience at $51K. He was researching CompTIA Trifecta. I told him: “Skip it. Go straight to AWS Solutions Architect Associate.” He studied 12 weeks, passed SAA-C03, applied to cloud support and junior cloud engineer roles. Landed cloud engineer position at $98K in 4 months. Saved 6 months and $600 by skipping A+ and Network+.

2. People Who Want to Get to $100K+ as Fast as Possible

Skip to: AWS Cloud-first path: Solutions Architect Associate → work 18 months → Solutions Architect Professional → $130K-$160K

Why skip trifecta:

• Trifecta tops out at $85K-$90K (Security+ junior roles)
• To break $100K, you need specialization (cloud, DevOps, senior security)
• Cloud path gets you to $100K+ in 2-3 years vs 4-5 years with trifecta
• Market demand is MUCH higher for cloud skills than generalist IT support

Timeline comparison:

Trifecta Path (4-5 years to $100K):

• Year 1: A+ → Help desk $50K
• Year 2: Network+ → Desktop support $62K
• Year 3: Security+ → Junior security $78K
• Year 4-5: Experience + maybe CISSP or cloud cert → Security Engineer $105K

Cloud-first Path (2-3 years to $100K):

• Month 1-3: AWS Solutions Architect Associate
• Month 4-9: Apply to junior cloud roles → Land at $85K-$105K
• Year 2-3: Get experience, build projects, maybe add AWS Pro → Cloud Engineer $110K-$135K

You save 2 years and reach $100K faster.

3. People with Strong Self-Learning Ability

Skip to: Cloud certifications + portfolio projects (no entry-level certs needed)

Why skip trifecta:

• You can learn A+/Network+ concepts for free (YouTube, documentation, home labs)
• You don’t need the certification to prove basic knowledge—you can demonstrate through projects
• Your time is better spent building cloud architecture in AWS/Azure than memorizing RAM types
• Employers care more about “can you build this?” than “do you know theory?”

Reality check: This only works if you’re genuinely technical and can learn independently. If you need structure and validation at each step, do the trifecta.

The 2025 Alternative: Cloud-First Entry Path

Here’s the path more people should consider in 2025:

Cloud-First Path for IT Beginners

Month 1-3: AWS Fundamentals (Free)

• AWS Free Tier hands-on learning
• Launch EC2 instances, create S3 buckets, set up VPCs
• YouTube: FreeCodeCamp AWS course (10 hours)
• Total cost: $0 (stay in free tier)

Month 4-6: AWS Solutions Architect Associate

• Study 12-15 hours/week (12 weeks total, 144-180 hours)
• Courses: Stephane Mареek Udemy ($15), tutorials Dojo practice exams ($20)
• Exam fee: $150
• Total cost: $185

Month 7-9: Build Portfolio Projects

• Deploy 3-tier web application on AWS (EC2, RDS, S3, CloudFront)
• Serverless API with Lambda + API Gateway + DynamoDB
• CI/CD pipeline with CodePipeline
• Put on GitHub, write documentation
• Total cost: $0-$30 (stay mostly in free tier)

Month 10-12: Job Search

• Target roles: Cloud Support Engineer, Junior Cloud Engineer, AWS Support
• Salary range: $85K-$115K (higher than Security+ junior roles)
• Apply to 5-7 companies per week
• Expected outcome: 3-5 interviews, 1-2 offers

Total investment:

• Cost: $185 (vs $1,100 for trifecta)
• Time: 12 months (vs 12 months for trifecta)
• Starting salary: $85K-$115K (vs $65K-$85K with Security+)

Why this works:

• Cloud is where businesses are moving (90% of companies use AWS/Azure/GCP)
• Demand for cloud skills massively exceeds supply
• You skip legacy IT concepts (desktop imaging, printer troubleshooting) and learn modern infrastructure
• Higher starting salary means faster wealth building

Who this works for:

• Career changers who can self-study effectively
• People with basic technical aptitude (comfortable with computers, can follow documentation)
• Anyone who wants to maximize salary ROI per hour studied

Who this doesn’t work for:

• People who need step-by-step structured certification milestones
• People who can’t learn without hands-on job experience at each level
• People targeting defense/government roles requiring DoD compliance (Security+ required)

The CompTIA Trifecta: Real Costs and Study Timeline

Let me break down exactly what you’re committing to if you choose the trifecta path.

Financial Costs

Exam Fees:

• CompTIA A+ (Core 1): $123
• CompTIA A+ (Core 2): $123
• CompTIA Network+: $358
• CompTIA Security+: $392
• Total exam fees: $996

Study Materials (Recommended):

• Professor Messer A+ videos: FREE
• Jason Dion A+ practice exams (Udemy): $20
• Professor Messer Network+ videos: FREE
• Jason Dion Network+ practice exams: $20
• Professor Messer Security+ videos: FREE
• Jason Dion Security+ practice exams: $20
• Darril Gibson Security+ book: $40
• Total study materials: $100

Optional but Helpful:

• Exam retake insurance (CompTIA CertMaster): $100-$150 per cert (skip this, just study properly)
• Used hardware for A+ practice: $50-$100 (old laptop, RAM sticks, hard drives)

Realistic Total Cost: $1,100-$1,250

Cost-saving strategies:

• Wait for CompTIA sales/discounts (Black Friday, student discounts)
• Use free resources (Professor Messer is excellent)
• Study hard to pass first attempt (retakes are expensive)
• Buy used hardware on eBay for hands-on practice

Time Investment (Realistic Study Schedule)

CompTIA A+ (Core 1 + Core 2):

• Study hours needed: 80-120 hours total (both exams)
• Part-time schedule: 15-20 hours/week = 2-3 months
• Full-time schedule (unemployed): 35-40 hours/week = 3-4 weeks
• Realistic timeline: 2.5-3 months part-time

CompTIA Network+:

• Study hours needed: 60-100 hours
• Part-time schedule: 15-20 hours/week = 6-10 weeks
• Full-time schedule: 35-40 hours/week = 2-3 weeks
• Realistic timeline: 2-2.5 months part-time

CompTIA Security+:

• Study hours needed: 80-120 hours
• Part-time schedule: 15-20 hours/week = 2-3 months
• Full-time schedule: 35-40 hours/week = 3-4 weeks
• Realistic timeline: 2.5-3 months part-time

Total Time Commitment:

• Study hours: 220-340 hours
• Part-time (15-20 hrs/week): 11-17 weeks (6-12 months including work breaks between certs)
• Full-time (35-40 hrs/week): 8-10 weeks (2-2.5 months intensive study)

The Smart Sequencing Strategy

Don’t rush. Earn while you learn.

Month 1-3: Study CompTIA A+

• Keep your current job
• Study 15-20 hours/week (evenings, weekends)
• Take both exams (Core 1, then Core 2)

Month 4: Apply for help desk jobs

• Don’t study during this month—focus on applications
• Target: 30-40 applications
• Expected: 5-8 phone screens, 2-4 interviews, 1-2 offers

Month 5: Start help desk job ($48K-$55K)

• Accept offer, start work
• Take a break from studying (first 30 days, learn the job)

Month 6-8: Study Network+ while working help desk

• Now you’re earning $50K while studying
• Your job reinforces what you’re learning
• Study 10-15 hours/week (you’re working full-time now)

Month 9: Take Network+ exam

• Schedule exam, pass it
• Update resume, LinkedIn with new certification

Month 10-11: Ask for promotion or apply internally

• Leverage Network+ for desktop support or junior admin role
• Target salary: $60K-$68K
• Many companies promote from within

Month 12-14: Study Security+ while working desktop support

• You’re now earning $62K-$65K
• Study 10-15 hours/week
• Your networking experience helps with Security+ concepts

Month 15: Take Security+ exam

• Pass Security+
• Update resume with full trifecta

Month 16-18: Apply for junior security analyst / SOC analyst roles

• Target salary: $75K-$90K
• Your 12-15 months IT experience + trifecta is competitive
• Defense contractors, financial services, healthcare heavily recruit trifecta holders

Total timeline: 18 months from zero IT experience to junior security role at $75K-$90K.

You earned approximately $95K during those 18 months (assuming $50K help desk for 12 months + $62K desktop support for 6 months, prorated).

This is why I call it the “learn while you earn” path. You’re never unemployed. You’re always progressing.

Common Trifecta Mistakes (I’ve Seen These Dozens of Times)

Mistake #1: Rushing Through All Three Certs Unemployed

What people do: Study all three certifications back-to-back while unemployed, thinking “I’ll be more employable with all three.”

Why it’s wrong:

• You spend 6-9 months unemployed with zero income
• You miss out on $30K-$40K in earnings from a help desk job you could’ve gotten after A+
• You have all three certs but zero experience—employers prefer 1 cert + 12 months experience over 3 certs + zero experience
• You’re competing against people with trifecta + 2 years experience

What you should do instead: Get A+, get a job immediately, then study Network+ and Security+ while employed. You’re building experience and income simultaneously.

Michael’s story: Michael studied all three certifications over 8 months while unemployed (lived with parents). Got trifecta in August 2024. Applied to junior security roles—zero interviews. Why? Zero experience. He applied to help desk roles and got offers at $48K-$52K—same as people with just A+. He wasted 6 months of study time AND lost $30K in help desk income he could’ve been earning.

Mistake #2: Buying Expensive Boot Camps ($3,000-$8,000)

What people do: Pay $5K for a 12-week boot camp promising “trifecta + job placement.”

Why it’s wrong:

• CompTIA certifications are self-study friendly (excellent free resources exist)
• Professor Messer videos + Jason Dion practice exams = $60 total per cert vs $5,000 boot camp
• Boot camp “job placement” = help desk at $45K-$50K (you can get this with self-study)
• You’re paying $5,000 for content available for free

What you should do instead:

• Professor Messer videos (FREE, excellent quality)
• Jason Dion practice exams ($20 per cert)
• CompTIA CertMaster Practice (optional, $100-$150 if you want official practice)
• Total: $60-$250 vs $5,000 boot camp

You save $4,750 and learn the same content.

Mistake #3: Getting Network+ Before You Understand WHY

What people do: Follow the trifecta sequence blindly: A+ → Network+ → Security+

Why it’s sometimes wrong: If your goal is security (SOC analyst, security engineer), you might not need Network+. You could go:

• A+ → Get help desk job → Security+ → Junior SOC analyst ($72K-$85K)

Network+ is valuable for:

• Network administrator roles
• System administrator roles
• People who want deep networking knowledge

Network+ is optional for:

• Pure security career paths (Security+ is enough)
• Cloud career paths (learn networking in cloud context instead)

What you should do instead: After A+, decide: Am I targeting networking/infrastructure OR security/cloud?

• Infrastructure path: A+ → Network+ → junior admin $62K-$70K
• Security path: A+ → Security+ → junior SOC $72K-$85K
• Cloud path: A+ → AWS SAA → junior cloud $85K-$105K

Don’t blindly follow trifecta. Customize to your target role.

Mistake #4: Not Building Hands-On Skills (Just Memorizing for Exams)

What people do: Watch videos, memorize practice exam answers, pass certifications.

Why it’s wrong:

• Interview questions test practical knowledge (“troubleshoot this scenario”)
• You’ll get exposed quickly if you can’t actually configure a router or investigate a security alert
• Certifications get you the interview; hands-on skills get you the job

What you should do instead: For A+:

• Buy used laptop/desktop hardware, physically swap RAM, hard drives, upgrade components
• Install Windows, Linux, troubleshoot boot issues
• Set up a home network with router configuration

For Network+:

• Use Packet Tracer (free Cisco tool) to build network topologies
• Configure VLANs, routing, IP addressing in simulation
• Set up a home network with pfSense firewall, managed switch
• Troubleshoot real connectivity issues in your home network

For Security+:

• Set up virtual machines (VirtualBox, VMware)
• Install Kali Linux, practice basic security tools (Nmap, Wireshark)
• Configure Windows security settings (BitLocker, Windows Defender, Group Policy)
• Practice log analysis (review Windows Event Viewer, syslog)

Certification proves you studied. Hands-on skills prove you can do the job.

Mistake #5: Waiting for the “Perfect Time” to Start

What people do: “I’ll start studying after I finish this project at work.” “I’ll wait until the new exam version comes out.” “I’ll start in January when I’m more motivated.”

Why it’s wrong:

• There’s never a perfect time
• Every month you delay is another month at your current salary
• Exam versions change, but fundamentals don’t (A+ hardware concepts are still hardware concepts)

What you should do instead: Start this week. Not next month. This week.

Your week 1 action plan:

• Day 1 (today): Watch Professor Messer A+ video 1.1 (30 minutes)
• Day 2: Watch videos 1.2-1.4 (45 minutes)
• Day 3: Watch videos 1.5-1.7 (45 minutes)
• Day 4: Review notes, make flashcards (30 minutes)
• Day 5: Watch videos 2.1-2.3 (45 minutes)
• Day 6: Practice with old hardware (1 hour)
• Day 7: Review week 1, plan week 2 (30 minutes)

You just completed 6 hours of A+ study in week 1. At this pace, you’ll finish A+ in 3 months. That’s March if you start now.

Don’t wait. Start today.

Who Should Definitely Do the CompTIA Trifecta

After mentoring 63 people, here’s my clear recommendation:

Do the Trifecta If You Match 3+ of These Criteria:

1. Zero IT experience (career changer from completely non-technical field)
2. Need structure and milestones (you don’t self-study well, you need clear goals)
3. Want maximum job security (can’t risk unemployment, need guaranteed entry-level employability)
4. Targeting defense/government (DoD 8570 requires Security+ anyway)
5. Military transitioning (GI Bill covers certs, military hiring programs recognize CompTIA)
6. Age 35+ (entry-level employers want to see credentials from older career changers)
7. No college degree (certifications replace degree as credibility signal)
8. Risk-averse (want the most proven, predictable path)

If you match 3+ of these, do the trifecta. It’s the safest, most structured, most proven path for your situation.

Skip the Trifecta If You Match 3+ of These Criteria:

1. 1+ years IT experience (help desk, desktop support, any IT role)
2. Strong self-learner (you can learn from YouTube, documentation, home labs without formal structure)
3. Want to reach $100K+ as fast as possible (cloud path is faster)
4. Technical aptitude (comfortable with command line, configuration files, troubleshooting)
5. Age under 30 (employers are more forgiving of less credentials for younger candidates)
6. College degree in any field (you have credibility signal already)
7. Currently employed in IT (even tangentially—QA, tech support, IT-adjacent)
8. Targeting cloud-first companies (startups, SaaS, tech companies that don’t value legacy IT certs as highly)

If you match 3+ of these, skip to cloud certifications (AWS Solutions Architect Associate or Azure Administrator).

Your Decision Framework: Trifecta or Cloud-First?

Still not sure? Use this decision tree:

Question 1: Do you have any IT work experience?

• Yes (1+ years) → Skip trifecta, go cloud-first (AWS SAA)
• No → Continue to Question 2

Question 2: Can you get hired for help desk with just A+ and strong interview?

• Yes (good communicator, customer service background, strong resume) → Do A+ only, get job, then decide Network+ vs cloud
• No (you need maximum credentials to offset career change) → Continue to Question 3

Question 3: What’s your target role in 2-3 years?

• Security Analyst → Do A+ → Security+ (skip Network+)
• Cloud Engineer → Do A+ → AWS SAA (skip Network+ and Security+)
• System Administrator / Network Administrator → Do full trifecta (A+ → Network+ → Security+)
• Not sure yet → Do full trifecta (gives you options to pivot)

Question 4: How fast do you need to reach $80K+?

• As fast as possible (12-18 months) → Cloud-first path (AWS SAA → cloud role $85K-$105K)
• Willing to take 2-3 years for steady progression → Trifecta path (proven, predictable)

Question 5: Are you targeting defense/government/compliance-heavy industries?

• Yes (defense contractor, federal government, DoD, finance, healthcare) → Do full trifecta (Security+ is required for many roles)
• No (commercial tech, startups, SMB) → Cloud-first path

Answer these 5 questions honestly, and the right path will be clear.

My Final Recommendation: The Hybrid Path

Here’s what I actually recommend for most people in 2025:

The Hybrid Entry Path (Best of Both Worlds)

Month 1-3: CompTIA A+

• Study 15-20 hours/week
• Pass Core 1 and Core 2
• Cost: $246

Month 4-6: Get help desk job ($50K-$55K)

• Apply immediately after A+
• Target: 30-40 applications
• Accept first reasonable offer ($48K+)

Month 7-9: CompTIA Security+ (skip Network+)

• Study 10-15 hours/week while working
• Pass Security+
• Cost: $392

Month 10-12: AWS Solutions Architect Associate

• Study 12-15 hours/week
• Focus on cloud security, IAM, network security
• Pass SAA-C03
• Cost: $150

Month 13-15: Build cloud security projects

• Deploy secure AWS infrastructure (VPC, security groups, IAM policies)
• Set up CloudWatch logging and monitoring
• Build a SIEM dashboard with AWS CloudTrail + Lambda
• Put on GitHub

Month 16-18: Apply for cloud security roles

• Target: Cloud Security Analyst, AWS Security Engineer, Junior Cloud Security Engineer
• Salary range: $95K-$125K
• You have: A+, Security+, AWS SAA, 12-15 months help desk/support experience, cloud security projects

Total investment:

• Cost: $788 (vs $1,100 trifecta, vs $150 cloud-only)
• Time: 18 months
• Outcome: $95K-$125K cloud security role

Why this works:

• You get the foundation (A+) that proves basic IT knowledge
• You get Security+ for security credibility and DoD compliance
• You skip Network+ (learn networking in cloud context instead)
• You add cloud skills that double your market value
• You end up in a hybrid role (security + cloud) that pays $95K-$125K vs $78K-$85K pure Security+ roles

This is my favorite path for 2025. You’re not betting everything on legacy IT certifications, but you’re also not skipping fundamentals. You’re building a modern skill stack: security + cloud.

The Bottom Line: Is the CompTIA Trifecta Still Worth It?

Yes, if:

• You’re a complete IT beginner with zero technical background
• You need structured milestones and guaranteed employability at each step
• You’re targeting defense/government roles requiring DoD 8570 compliance
• You’re military transitioning with GI Bill benefits
• You’re risk-averse and want the most proven path
• You’re age 35+ or career changing without a degree (need maximum credentials)

No, if:

• You have 1+ years IT experience (skip to cloud or specialization)
• You want to reach $100K+ fastest (cloud-first path gets you there 2 years faster)
• You’re a strong self-learner who doesn’t need certification validation at every step
• You’re targeting modern tech companies that value cloud skills over legacy IT

My recommendation for most people in 2025: Hybrid path.

• Get A+ (foundation, employability)
• Get help desk job (experience + income)
• Get Security+ (security credibility)
• Get AWS Solutions Architect Associate (cloud skills, modern stack)
• Target cloud security roles ($95K-$125K in 18 months)

The pure trifecta (A+ → Network+ → Security+) is a 2010-era path that still works, but it’s not optimized for 2025’s job market. The cloud-first path is faster to high income but riskier for complete beginners. The hybrid path combines the best of both.

Whatever path you choose, start this week. Not next month. This week.

The difference between $45K and $95K is 18 months of focused effort. That’s $50K more per year. Over a 30-year career, that’s $1.5 million in additional lifetime earnings.

Every week you delay is money left on the table.

Go register for CompTIA A+ (or AWS SAA, if you’re going cloud-first). Schedule your exam for 12 weeks from today. Start studying tomorrow.

Your future $95K self will thank you.