Network+ N10-008 vs N10-009: What Changed

CompTIA's Network+ got a significant refresh: the new version is leaner, more modern, and less interested in your ability to memorize lists. If you are studying now, there is exactly one exam to care about — here is what changed and how to prepare for it.

The Big Picture: Smaller, Newer, More Practical

N10-009 is roughly 27% smaller than its predecessor, with about a third of the content being new. CompTIA did not just trim — it rebalanced the exam toward how networks are actually built and operated today: more cloud, more automation, more security thinking, and far less rote memorization.

N10-009 Domain Weights

Notice the emphasis: troubleshooting is the heaviest domain at 24%. The exam rewards people who can reason through broken networks, not people who can recite specifications.

What Is New in N10-009

• Cloud networking — VPCs, network security groups (NSGs), and cloud gateways are now first-class topics. Hybrid and cloud-hosted networks are assumed knowledge.
• SDN and VXLAN — software-defined networking concepts and VXLAN overlays reflect how modern data centers actually segment traffic.
• Zero trust — the "never trust, always verify" model joins the Network+ blueprint, tying the exam to contemporary security architecture.
• SASE-adjacent operations — secure access service edge concepts shape how the exam treats remote access and edge security.
• DNSSEC, DoH, and DoT — DNS security extensions and encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS / DNS over TLS) are now testable.
• API-driven management — interacting with network devices and controllers through APIs, reflecting the automation trend across the industry.

What Got Dropped

The most welcome change: N10-009 cut the rote memorization that made the 008 feel like a trivia contest. Gone or sharply reduced:

• Exhaustive 802.11 standard lists — memorizing every Wi-Fi amendment's speeds and frequencies
• Cable pinouts — the T568A/B memorization drills
• Hardware tools — memorizing physical toolkit inventories

How to Study for N10-009

• Use only N10-009 materials. Older 008 books waste your time on dropped topics and miss cloud, SDN, and zero trust entirely.
• Weight your study by the domains. Troubleshooting (24%) and Concepts (23%) together are nearly half the exam — but do not neglect the new cloud and security content, which is where memorizers lose points.
• Practice scenario questions. The exam leans on "given this network diagram / these symptoms, what is wrong?" style items. Drill those, not vocabulary lists.
• Lab the fundamentals. Subnetting, VLANs, and basic routing should be muscle memory — they underpin the troubleshooting scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still take the N10-008 exam?

No. N10-008 was retired on December 20, 2024, and is no longer available. All new Network+ candidates take N10-009.

Is N10-009 easier than N10-008?

It is leaner — about 27% smaller with the rote memorization cut — but not necessarily easier. The new cloud, SDN, zero-trust, and API content demands real understanding, and troubleshooting remains the heaviest domain at 24%.

I studied for N10-008. Is that wasted?

No. Core networking concepts — the OSI model, subnetting, routing, switching, VLANs — transfer directly. Redirect your remaining study to the new material: cloud networking (VPCs, NSGs), SDN/VXLAN, zero trust, DNSSEC/DoH/DoT, and API-driven management.

What are the N10-009 domain weights?

Networking Concepts 23%, Network Implementation 20%, Network Operations 19%, Network Security 14%, and Network Troubleshooting 24%.

How does Network+ compare to the CCNA?

Network+ is vendor-neutral — it teaches networking concepts applicable anywhere. The CCNA is Cisco-focused and goes deeper into Cisco configuration and proprietary topics. Many people earn Network+ first, then CCNA for vendor-specific depth.