Quick Take
- Narration: Ray Greenley delivers the SY0-701 study guide content with professional pacing and consistent clarity over nearly 25 hours, he handles the range from conceptual overview to specific technical procedure without losing momentum, which is the primary challenge of narrating certification prep content at this length.
- Themes: CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam domains, security architecture and operations, threat mitigation and risk management
- Mood: Structured and reliable, like a well-lit exam prep classroom where no one is wasting your time
- Verdict: A strong audio companion for Security+ candidates, most effective when used alongside the companion PDF rather than as a standalone study method.
I spend a fair amount of time with cybersecurity certification study guides, and the CompTIA Security+ occupies an interesting position in the credential landscape. It is not the first certification most people earn, CompTIA A+ and Network+ typically come before it in the recommended sequence, and it is not the most advanced credential in the field. But it sits at a critical transition point: it is the first certification that makes someone hirable as a security professional rather than just an IT generalist. That transition significance means the stakes for study guides in this category are actually quite high.
The 9th edition of Mike Chapple and David Seidl’s CompTIA Security+ Study Guide covers the SY0-701 exam, the current version of the certification exam, and arrives with 309 ratings averaging 4.6 on Audible. At nearly 25 hours and narrated by Ray Greenley, it is a substantial commitment, though notably shorter than the CISSP Official Guide from the same author partnership.
What the SY0-701 Update Changes
The SY0-701 exam outline introduced meaningful changes from the previous SY0-601 version. Candidates who have been studying with older editions of this guide or preparing for the prior exam version should be aware that the 9th edition was specifically updated to reflect those changes. The current exam domains cover general security concepts, threats and vulnerabilities with their mitigations, security architecture, security operations, and security program management and oversight.
The management and oversight domain is one of the most commonly underestimated portions of the Security+ exam by technical candidates who treat the credential as a technical skills validation. Chapple and Seidl give it appropriate coverage, which reflects one of the book’s consistent strengths: the writing does not privilege what candidates find interesting over what the exam actually tests.
Ray Greenley and the Art of Narrating Technical Prose
Ray Greenley appears in several entries in the Sybex certification guide catalog, and his work here reflects the kind of accumulated familiarity with technical study guide prose that makes a meaningful difference over long listening sessions. He maintains a consistent register that communicates competence without performing expertise. When he reads a definition, it sounds like a definition. When the text transitions to an explanatory example, his pacing reflects that shift.
For candidates using this audiobook during commutes or exercise, Greenley’s reliability is more important than any individual performance choice. At 25 hours, you need a narrator who will not fatigue you. Several reviewers specifically praise the audio component of this study guide, with one noting that it adds real value to their study plan. That assessment aligns with my experience.
The 500 Practice Questions and the PDF Companion
This is where the audiobook format creates its sharpest limitation. The title promises over 500 practice test questions, and those questions are a central selling point of the official Sybex study guide. In audio format, practice questions are at best listenable content rather than interactive assessment tools. You cannot flag questions you got wrong, time yourself, or experience the exam simulation environment that practice tests are designed to create.
The accompanying PDF, which Audible delivers alongside this title, includes access to the Wiley online learning environment. One reviewer specifically calls out the Wiley platform’s interactive features, the searchable glossary, flashcards, and additional practice questions, as meaningful contributors to their preparation. Access to that platform through the print or digital edition is the full study guide experience. The audiobook delivers the explanatory content; the companion PDF and online platform deliver the active assessment layer.
Who This Is For Beyond Security+ Candidates
Chapple and Seidl note in the synopsis that this guide serves not just Security+ candidates but also people aiming for higher-level certifications like CASP+, CISSP, or CISA who want a strong foundational review. That is an accurate framing. The Security+ covers fundamentals that the higher certifications build on, and a clean, well-narrated review of those fundamentals is useful for people who passed the exam years ago and want to refresh their foundational vocabulary before tackling more advanced material.
Who Should Listen, Who Should Skip
Listen if: you are preparing for the SY0-701 exam and want a structured, comprehensive audio companion for commute and exercise listening. Also works as a foundational review for CISSP or CISA candidates refreshing Security+ concepts. Use alongside the companion PDF and Wiley online platform for full study effectiveness.
Skip if: you are looking for an audio-only study solution and have no intention of engaging with the companion materials. The practice questions that justify the title’s subtitle require an interactive format that audio cannot provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this audiobook cover the SY0-701 exam or an older version of the Security+ exam?
The 9th edition covers the SY0-701 exam outline, which is the current version of the CompTIA Security+ exam. Candidates who have been preparing with earlier editions should verify domain alignment against the current exam objectives before sitting for the test.
Are the 500 practice test questions accessible in the audiobook format?
No, not in the traditional interactive sense. The questions are delivered as listenable content rather than an interactive assessment tool. The companion PDF included in your Audible Library provides access to the Wiley online learning environment, where the full practice question bank can be used as an interactive exam simulator.
How does this guide compare to other Security+ study materials like the CompTIA CertMaster or Professor Messer’s content?
The Chapple and Seidl Official Study Guide is valued for its comprehensive domain coverage and alignment with the official CompTIA exam outline. CertMaster is CompTIA’s own official platform product and offers adaptive learning features the book cannot match. Professor Messer’s free video and notes content is highly regarded by the certification community as a complement to rather than replacement for a comprehensive text. Many successful candidates use all three in parallel.
Is the Security+ a useful credential for someone who already holds CompTIA Network+ or A+?
Yes, and it is the natural next step in the CompTIA certification path. Network+ and A+ establish foundational IT and networking knowledge; Security+ adds the security-specific layer that makes a professional eligible for entry-level cybersecurity positions. The SY0-701 exam assumes familiarity with networking concepts that Network+ covers.
