Security+ or Network+: Which Should You Take First?

The honest answer is that it depends on which job listing you are trying to answer, and almost never on which exam is "easier".

Take Network+ first if

You have never configured anything. Network+ builds the mental model — addressing, routing, switching — that Security+ quietly assumes you already have. Starting with Security+ without that foundation means memorising vocabulary instead of understanding systems.

Take Security+ first if

You already work in IT, or the roles you want list it by name. Security+ satisfies the DoD 8570 baseline, which is why it shows up as a hard requirement on so many government and contractor postings. If it is gating the job you want, it is the one to take.

The order that actually matters

Starting point	Recommended first cert
New to IT entirely	Network+
Help desk or junior role	Security+
Targeting a cleared role	Security+

Whichever you pick, decide based on the postings you are actually applying to. Certifications are worth what the market pays for them, not what a syllabus says they cover.