DRAFT OBJECTIVES · SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Arsenal / Exam Change Watch
Network+ V10 draft: what's changing
CompTIA has posted draft objectives for the next Network+ (N10-010). It's not final, there's no launch date, and the draft still has typos. Here's what it says so far, and what it means for you right now.
Live exam today
N10-009 (V9)Launched June 20, 2024. Maximum of 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 720.
V10 launch date
Not announcedCompTIA's Network+ page still lists V9 only (checked October 29, 2026).
N10-009 retirement
Estimated 2027CompTIA's wording: "usually three years after launch." No exact date yet.
Draft objectives
25 → 22Question count and exam length are "[TBD]" in the draft. Passing score is listed as 720.
Read this as a preview, not a study plan. CompTIA says drafts may contain minor issues and that more than one version may be posted before launch. This draft has visible errors (the header says "N10-010 V10" but the body says "V1"), so expect at least one more revision.
01 / Domain weights
Security and operations go up
The five domain names stay the same. In the draft, Network Security gains the most and Networking Concepts loses the most.
| Domain | N10-009 | V10 draft | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 Networking Concepts | 23% | 20% | −3 |
| 2.0 Network Implementation | 20% | 19% | −1 |
| 3.0 Network Operations | 19% | 21% | +2 |
| 4.0 Network Security | 14% | 17% | +3 |
| 5.0 Network Troubleshooting | 24% | 23% | −1 |
02 / What's new
AI lands on Network+
3.5 Summarize important concepts related to artificial intelligence (AI) usage.
Objective title quoted from the DRAFT N10-010 objectives.
It's not a coding test. It's about knowing what AI tools are, where they help a network team, and when not to trust them. The draft bullets:
- Generative AI (skill augmentation)
- Non-generative AI
- Agentic AI (network infrastructure for AI)
- Large language models (LLMs)
- Machine learning
- Research
- Knowledge base/repository
- Anomaly detection
- Data analysis (documentation summary, output analysis)
- Trend detection
- Process improvement
- Public vs. private system
- Acceptable use policy (AUP)
- Proper tool use: results verification (bias, hallucinations, ethics) and avoiding overreliance
- Data poisoning
- Prompt injection
- Social engineering
- Access control (AC)
Other notable additions in the draft
- 1.2 cloud: containerization, microservices, community cloud, cloud interconnect services
- 1.3 protocols: the OSI model merges in, plus the TCP/IP model
- 1.4 media: now scenario-based, with installation considerations like noise, distance, weather/climate, budget and bandwidth
- 1.5 types: two-tier, intranet, extranet, air-gapped, wireless bridge
- 1.7 modern environments: GraphQL and SOAP alongside REST; SLAAC and CDN move in
- 2.3 wireless: Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, low-power vs. standard-power access points
- 2.4 physical installs: meet-me room, demarcation point, access control vestibule, biometrics, asset labeling, PPE
- 3.1 policies: SOPs, knowledge base and key risk indicators (KRIs)
- 3.3 BC and DR: fault tolerance, stress testing, mobile sites, bubble and parallel DR tests
- 3.4 management: crash cart, standalone vs. centralized GUI
- 4.2 attacks: ping sweeping, rubber duck, password sniffing, overflow, and a new 14-item impacts list
- 5.1 and 5.3: speed mismatch and unidirectional links; netcat and spectrum analyzer; "display outputs" instead of named show commands
03 / What's removed
Cut from the draft
These are in N10-009 but not in the V10 draft. Still study them if you're taking N10-009. They're fair game until it retires.
The troubleshooting methodology
N10-009 5.1 "Explain the troubleshooting methodology." has no home in the draft. Troubleshooting stays, but as "given a scenario" objectives. Brand-new removals like this are exactly what can come back in a later draft.
N10-009 3.4 splits up
DNS, DHCP and NTP move into troubleshooting (V10 5.2); SLAAC moves to 1.7. DNSSEC, DNS over HTTPS, DNS over TLS, PTP and NTS aren't named.
Fewer protocols listed by name
The big port/protocol table is gone. FTP, Telnet, SMTP, LDAP and SQL Server's port 1433 aren't named. Don't stop learning ports: they still drive firewall and troubleshooting questions.
- SASE/SSE
- Virtual private cloud (VPC) and internet/NAT gateways
- Coaxial, twinaxial/direct attach copper, Fibre Channel, BNC and F-type
- Clientless VPN
- Ad hoc wireless
- MAC flooding, MAC filtering and content filtering
- Named social engineering techniques (phishing, dumpster diving, shoulder surfing, tailgating). "Social engineering" itself stays.
04 / Objective map
N10-009 to V10 draft, objective by objective
N10-009 titles are quoted from CompTIA's official N10-009 objectives (Version 4.0). V10 titles are quoted from the DRAFT, including its typo in 1.4.
- New no N10-009 equivalent
- Merged combines objectives
- more bullets or now scenario-based
- Renumbered new number
- Removed no V10 home
| N10-009 | N10-009 objective | V10 draft | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Explain concepts related to the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model. | 1.3 Explain networking protocols, models, and traffic types. | Merged |
| 1.2 | Compare and contrast networking appliances, applications, and functions. | 1.1 Compare and contrast networking appliances and functions. | Renumbered |
| 1.3 | Summarize cloud concepts and connectivity options. | 1.2 Explain cloud virtualization concepts. | |
| 1.4 | Explain common networking ports, protocols, services, and traffic types. | 1.3 Explain networking protocols, models, and traffic types. | Merged |
| 1.5 | Compare and contrast transmission media and transceivers. | 1.4 Given a scenario, install transmission and media receivers. | |
| 1.6 | Compare and contrast network topologies, architectures, and types. | 1.5 Explain the importance of network topologies, architectures, and types. | |
| 1.7 | Given a scenario, use appropriate IPv4 network addressing. | 1.6 Given a scenario, use appropriate Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) network addressing. | Renumbered |
| 1.8 | Summarize evolving use cases for modern network environments. | 1.7 Summarize appropriate use cases for modern network environments. | |
| 2.1 | Explain characteristics of routing technologies. | 2.1 Explain concepts and characteristics of routing technologies. | |
| 2.2 | Given a scenario, configure switching technologies and features. | 2.2 Given a scenario, apply the appropriate configurations on switching technologies. | |
| 2.3 | Given a scenario, select and configure wireless devices and technologies. | 2.3 Given a scenario, apply the appropriate configurations on wireless technologies and hardware. | |
| 2.4 | Explain important factors of physical installations. | 2.4 Explain important aspects of physical installations. | |
| 3.1 | Explain the purpose of organizational processes and procedures. | 3.1 Given a scenario, apply organizational policies, processes, and procedures. | |
| 3.2 | Given a scenario, use network monitoring technologies. | 3.2 Given a scenario, use appropriate network monitoring technologies to determine common issues. | |
| 3.3 | Explain disaster recovery (DR) concepts. | 3.3 Explain BC and DR concepts. | |
| 3.4 | Given a scenario, implement IPv4 and IPv6 network services. | Split: DNS, DHCP and NTP to 5.2; SLAAC to 1.7 | Removed |
| 3.5 | Compare and contrast network access and management methods. | 3.4 Given a scenario, use the appropriate network access and device management methods. | Renumbered |
| none | (no N10-009 equivalent) | 3.5 Summarize important concepts related to artificial intelligence (AI) usage. | New |
| 4.1 | Explain the importance of basic network security concepts. | 4.1 Explain basic network security and compliance concepts. | |
| 4.2 | Summarize various types of attacks and their impact to the network. | 4.2 Explain types of attacks and their impact on the network. | |
| 4.3 | Given a scenario, apply network security features, defense techniques, and solutions. | 4.3 Given a scenario, apply network security features, defense techniques, and solutions. | |
| 5.1 | Explain the troubleshooting methodology. | No home in the draft | Removed |
| 5.2 | Given a scenario, troubleshoot common cabling and physical interface issues. | 5.1 Given a scenario, troubleshoot common cabling and transmission issues. | |
| 5.3 | Given a scenario, troubleshoot common issues with network services. | 5.2 Given a scenario, troubleshoot common issues with network devices and services. | |
| 5.4 | Given a scenario, troubleshoot common performance issues. | Merged into 5.2 (wired/performance) and 5.1 (wireless) | Merged |
| 5.5 | Given a scenario, use the appropriate tool or protocol to solve networking issues. | 5.3 Given a scenario, use the appropriate tool or protocol to diagnose networking issues. | Renumbered |
05 / Decision time
Take N10-009 now, or wait for V10?
If you're studying now, finish now. There's no V10 date to wait for, and the certification you earn is the same CompTIA Network+, good for three years either way.
- You're studying today. That's almost everyone reading this.
- You want the cert in the next several months. N10-009 is the only Network+ you can book.
- Your book, course and practice tests are all N10-009.
- You aren't planning to test until well after CompTIA announces a V10 date.
- CompTIA publishes final (not draft) objectives and an N10-009 retirement date.
- You're starting from zero at that point, not halfway through.
Smart overlap. Some draft topics are worth learning now because they help on both versions: DR and business continuity, physical security, switching detail like STP, Wi-Fi 6E, interface counters and troubleshooting scenarios.
Last cycle as a guide: N10-008 kept running for about six months after N10-009 launched. Expect a similar overlap once V10 gets a date, but wait for CompTIA to confirm it.
We'll update this page when CompTIA posts a new draft, final objectives or a launch date. For now, everything on BB Tech Tools stays aligned to N10-009.
Sources
- DRAFT CompTIA Network+ N10-010 V10 Exam Objectives (CompTIA's Exam Objectives Under Development page): V10 titles, bullets and draft weights.
- CompTIA Network+ N10-009 Exam Objectives Version 4.0 (official PDF): N10-009 titles and weights.
- comptia.org Network+ page: exam version V9, launch June 20, 2024, retirement "usually three years after launch (estimated 2027)." Checked October 29, 2026.