The CompTIA Server+ (SK0‑005) certification is tailored for IT professionals aiming to validate their proficiency in installing, managing, securing, and troubleshooting server systems across data center, on‑premises, and hybrid environments. Launched in May 2021, this mid‑level exam comprises up to 90 multiple‑choice and performance‑based questions, to be completed in 90 minutes, and requires a passing score of 750 on a 100–900 scale. Candidates are expected to have approximately two years of hands‑on experience in server environments and should possess foundational knowledge equivalent to CompTIA A+ certification.

The exam covers four core domains: Server Hardware Installation and Management (18%), Server Administration (30%), Security and Disaster Recovery (24%), and Troubleshooting (28%).

The hardware domain includes tasks like racking servers, managing power and network cabling, configuring RAID, and maintaining various drive types, from SSDs to hybrid systems.

The administration domain focuses on OS installation (GUI, core, virtualized, or scripted), network configuration, server roles and virtualization, scripting basics, asset documentation, backup of configurations, and licensing concepts .

Security and disaster recovery encompass server hardening techniques, physical and data security, identity and access management, backup strategies (full, incremental, snapshot), and recovery planning including hot, warm, cold, and cloud-based site setup .

The troubleshooting domain emphasizes systematic problem-solving across hardware, storage, OS and software, network connectivity, and security issues, involving techniques such as diagnostics, log analysis, reseating components, and resolving boot errors or DHCP/DNS issues .

Aspiring candidates should follow a structured preparation plan using official exam objectives to guide their study. Practical experience and familiarity with real-world scenarios—especially using hands-on labs, performance-based exercises, scripting tasks, RAID configuration, virtualization, and disaster recovery setups—can significantly enhance readiness. This targeted strategy helps ensure both technical competence and confidence when tackling the SK0-005 Server+ exam.