Professor Messer is a widely recognized online instructor who produces free and paid training materials for IT certification exams. His CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 course covers objectives for the Security+ certification (exam code SY0-701), aimed at entry-level to early-career cybersecurity professionals. The course typically includes video lessons, study notes, practice questions, and a community-driven Q&A format.
At first glance, Messer’s videos are aggressively plain. He stands against a solid blue background (a signature now iconic in the industry). He wears a polo shirt. He speaks in a steady, monotone baritone. He does not crack jokes about hackers in hoodies. He does not use dramatic zooms or dubstep intros.
But this minimalism is a deliberate trap for complexity. The SY0-701 exam covers 35 distinct objectives, from zero-day attacks to cloud virtualization, from PKI infrastructure to social engineering. Messer dissects each objective into five-minute chunks. He uses a simple highlighter on a PDF of the exam objectives. He defines the term, gives a real-world example, and moves on.
This "boring" approach works because cybersecurity is not magic. It is discipline. By removing the performative entertainment of "edutainment" influencers, Messer signals to the student: This is hard work, but it is finite work.
Professor Messer’s SY0-701 course is not just a resource; it is a pillar of the cybersecurity community. It democratizes access to a career that can lift families out of poverty. It proves that authority does not come from a fancy studio, but from accuracy, consistency, and respect for the student’s time. Professor Messer-s CompTIA Security SY0-701 Co...
When a student passes the SY0-701 exam, they often tweet a screenshot of their score. Messer replies with a single word: "Congrats."
It is humble. It is predictable. It is exactly what you need. And in the chaotic world of cybersecurity, that blue screen is the most reassuring color there is.
TL;DR: Professor Messer succeeded with the SY0-701 because he prioritized clarity over charisma and accessibility over profit, turning a free YouTube series into the gold standard for CompTIA certification.
Professor Messer’s CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 training is a comprehensive, free 121-video series covering 100% of exam objectives across five core domains. The curriculum includes supplemental resources like study notes, practice exams, and monthly study groups to prepare learners for the certification. Explore the full course at Professor Messer www.professormesser.com Professor Messer's CompTIA SY0-701 Security+ Course Professor Messer is a widely recognized online instructor
While the videos are free, Professor Messer sells two highly recommended supplements:
Many candidates report that purchasing both for ~$55 is a bargain compared to CompTIA’s $400+ voucher or other prep courses costing $500+.
The course consists of approximately 180 videos, ranging from 5 to 20 minutes each. Total runtime is roughly 16–18 hours. Here’s a sample of how he covers Domain 2.0 (Threats & Vulnerabilities):
Each video begins with the objective number (e.g., 1.2 – Risk Management Processes), making it easy to skip around if you need to review a weak area. TL;DR: Professor Messer succeeded with the SY0-701 because
I analyzed dozens of “I passed SY0-701” posts from r/CompTIA and the Tech Discord. Here’s the consensus:
“Messer got me 80% of the way. His videos nailed the concepts. But you NEED PBQ practice – I almost failed because of the first two PBQs.” – u/security_matt
“I only used Messer’s videos and his course notes. No books. Passed with 782. The practice exams were harder than the real thing.” – u/cyber_newb
“Messer explains encryption and hashing better than my $2k bootcamp.” – u/techie_j
Common criticism: His voice can be monotonous, and he doesn’t dive deep into labs or CLI commands. However, for exam objective coverage, former students rate him 9.5/10.