Cybersecurity skills are at a premium in the Washington DC region. IT professionals with the ability to assess the cyber threat landscape are in demand. CompTIA’s CySA+ Certification demonstrates you are ready to take on higher levels of responsibility in the industry. Still, before you commit to training, you want to know how hard is the CySA+ exam, and can I do it?
Learn more about CySA+ and what is expected in the exam.
What is the CompTIA CySA+ Certification?
The CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) certification is an intermediate-level cybersecurity credential designed for IT professionals who specialize in network and IT infrastructure security. It validates your ability to use behavioral analytics to improve the overall state of information security, analyze and interpret data, identify and address vulnerabilities, and respond to cybersecurity incidents.
CySA+ serves as a bridge between the entry-level Security+ certification and the advanced-level CASP+ certification, making it an important next step for security professionals looking to advance their careers in the cybersecurity field. The certification is recognized by the Department of Defense (DoD) and satisfies the 8570 IAT Level II requirements.
Key points: Intermediate-level security certification, focuses on security analytics and threat detection, recognized by DoD, natural progression after Security+
How Difficult is the CySA+ Exam?
The difficulty of the CySA+ exam varies based on your experience and background. For those with extensive hands-on experience in cybersecurity roles, particularly in security analysis or threat detection, the exam may be relatively manageable. However, for those with limited practical experience, the exam can present a significant challenge due to its focus on applied security skills rather than just theoretical knowledge.
CompTIA recommends that candidates have 3-4 years of hands-on information security or related experience before attempting the CySA+ certification. The exam is designed to test not only your knowledge but also your ability to apply that knowledge in practical scenarios, which requires a deeper understanding of cybersecurity concepts and tools than entry-level certifications.
Primary factors affecting difficulty: Prior cybersecurity experience, hands-on skills with security tools, analytical thinking abilities, understanding of threat detection and incident response
Exam Content and Skills Tested
The CySA+ exam tests your ability to perform data analysis, identify and address vulnerabilities, suggest preventive measures, leverage intelligence, apply threat detection techniques, and effectively respond to security incidents. It emphasizes the practical application of security skills through performance-based questions and scenario-based multiple-choice questions that simulate real-world challenges.
Key domains covered in the exam include threat and vulnerability management, software and systems security, security operations and monitoring, incident response, and compliance and assessment. The exam places particular emphasis on your ability to analyze security data, interpret results, and make recommendations based on findings—skills that are increasingly important as organizations face sophisticated and evolving cyber threats.
Key areas: Security analytics, vulnerability management, threat detection, incident response, security operations, compliance, performance-based questions
Preparation and Study Time
Most professionals require significant time to prepare for the CySA+ exam. According to surveys, about two-thirds of successful candidates spend up to three months studying, with the largest group taking 6 weeks to 3 months. Only a third of candidates needed more than three months, while those claiming to prepare in less than two weeks are outliers rather than the norm.
Effective preparation involves a combination of structured study materials, hands-on practice with security tools, practice exams, and real-world experience. Creating and sticking to a consistent study plan is crucial, as is gaining practical experience with security analysis tools and techniques. Instructor-led training courses, like those offered by TrainACE, can be particularly valuable for those who want guidance from experienced professionals and structured learning environments.
Recommended preparation: 6 weeks to 3 months of study, instructor-led training, hands-on practice with security tools, practice exams, consistent study schedule
Career Benefits and Value
The CySA+ certification is highly valued in the cybersecurity industry, particularly in regions with high concentrations of government agencies, defense contractors, and technology companies, such as the Washington DC and Maryland areas. It demonstrates your readiness to take on higher-level cybersecurity responsibilities and can open doors to roles such as cybersecurity analyst, threat intelligence analyst, security operations center (SOC) analyst, and vulnerability analyst.
This certification is especially valuable for those seeking to specialize in security operations, incident response, or threat management. It bridges the skills gap that many employers are looking for in today's cybersecurity landscape, making it a worthwhile investment for IT professionals looking to advance their careers in these areas. Additionally, its recognition by the DoD makes it particularly valuable for those seeking positions in government or defense-related organizations.
Career benefits: Higher-level cybersecurity roles, increased marketability, DOD 8570 compliance, specialized security operations skills, bridging the cybersecurity skills gap
What is a Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA)?
As described by CompTIA, a cybersecurity analyst is: “a trained cyber professional who specializes in network and IT infrastructure security. The cybersecurity analyst thoroughly understands cyberattacks, malware, and the behavior of cybercriminals, and actively seeks to anticipate and prevent these attacks.”
That sentence encompasses many skills! From the definition alone, you can see that this certification demands a bit more than superficial knowledge. It requires an ability to perceive what you are seeing and how it might be used to thwart your security or defensive measures. It also indicates you know many tools that are specific to these tasks.
As you might have guessed, this certification follows CompTIA’s A+, Network+, and Security+ in the continuation of understanding our industry and its vulnerabilities and defenses. CySA+ is one step below the coveted CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification as the fourth step in the CompTIA series.
With so many high-profile companies, government agencies, and military installations based in Washington DC and Maryland, it’s not hard to understand why CySA+ certified practitioners are in demand.
What are the requirements to pass the CySA Exam?
As specified by CompTIA’s documentation, you need to be able to analyze and interpret data, identify and address vulnerabilities, suggest preventive measures, leverage intelligence, and threat detection techniques, and effectively respond to and recover from incidents.
It also specifies that you should have four years of experience in the security field. This is a tall order but is suggested to enhance your chances of passing the exam.
Your understanding of the concepts in this course assumes you took the previous three and therefore did not need to re-learn them. This course expands on them. CySA+ is not recommended as your first IT certification attempt.
The exam contains both multiple-choice questions, drag and drop type questions, and performance-based questions. These are like scenarios and provide information and require you to perform some action based on the presented scenario. Here is where the understanding of the concepts and principles learned comes in. If you have no previous experience or no idea what they are talking about, passing these performance-based questions is exceedingly difficult.
The maximum number of questions, again according to CompTIA, is eighty-five. You have 165 minutes to take the exam and need a score of at least 750 on a scale of 1 to 900.
How hard is the CySA+ Exam?
This is a very subjective question and one that requires discussion to answer. It is entirely dependent upon your understanding of the material, your experience, and your ability to accomplish all the things listed in the requirements above.
This is a challenging test, as it does require a higher level of experience and understanding of the issues and their impacts than previous tests in the series.
The performance-based questions appear to me to have a higher weight than other questions in the test (this is based upon a personal feeling) and are the newest addition of question types on all the CompTIA tests. They are genuinely relevant as they do reflect much more clearly the real-world readiness a candidate presents to a potential employer, and CompTIA is striving to be “more relevant in the real world.”
Another reason this is a hard question to answer is that we all learn differently. We all have different experiences, particularly in the IT industry.
I have had a wealth of experience in this field and have had almost every job available. That gives me a completely distinct perspective from someone new to the industry. Some of my students that work in this every day think the test is “easy.” (Their term, not mine). Others think it is pretty difficult, primarily because they do not have a lot of firsthand experience, so each test taker is different in many ways.
What can I do to best prepare for this Certification Exam?
My number one recommendation is to attend an instructor-led CySA+ class at Trainace! (Okay, I may be a bit biased here), but having someone to bounce questions against, someone who has the experience doing this job, is especially important.
Another essential trait is Curiosity. Why does this work like this; why did this work; why didn’t it work? Given a set of indications, what is happening here? These are all fundamental questions to be able to answer for yourself. It will force you to take extra time to find out the answers, which will enhance your understanding of the issue and its’ resolution.
Many historians have written concerning conflicts and the best way to wage against them and win. Most agree that “knowing the enemy” is crucial in devising plans to defeat them. This course goes a long way to helping you understand what is happening. If you understand your adversary, his tactics, techniques, and plans, you stand a much better chance of seeing the indicators of compromise so much of our responses depend upon.
And, as always, practice, practice, practice.
Ontology
| Category | Subcategory | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Difficulty | Comparison to Other Exams | - Generally considered harder than Security+ and Network+ - Easier than CASP+ (CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner) - More advanced than Security+ - Difficulty level between Security+ and CASP+ |
| Subjective Difficulty | - Challenging for those without hands-on cybersecurity experience - Difficulty varies based on individual background and preparation - Requires analytical thinking and problem-solving skills - More difficult than entry-level certifications |
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| Pass Rate | - Specific pass rate not publicly disclosed by CompTIA - Generally considered to have a lower pass rate than Security+ |
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| Exam Structure | Format | - Multiple choice questions - Performance-based questions (PBQs) - Scenario-based questions testing real-world skills |
| Length | - 165 minutes (2 hours and 45 minutes) - Maximum of 85 questions - Time management is crucial |
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| Passing Score | - 750 out of 900 points - Scaled scoring system - No penalty for wrong answers |
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| Prerequisites | Recommended Experience | - Network+ and Security+ knowledge beneficial - 3-4 years of hands-on information security or related experience - Familiarity with security tools and processes |
| Formal Requirements | - No strict prerequisites - Can be taken without prior certifications - CompTIA recommends Security+ or equivalent knowledge |
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| Exam Content | Focus Areas | - Security operations and monitoring - Vulnerability management - Incident response procedures - Threat intelligence and analysis - Compliance and assessment - Software and systems security - Security architecture and tool sets |
| Skills Tested | - Analyzing data to identify vulnerabilities and threats - Configuring and using threat detection tools - Interpreting log data - Performing data analysis and interpreting results |
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| Preparation | Study Time | - Varies by individual and experience level - Generally several months of dedicated study - 60-120 hours of study recommended for experienced professionals |
| Study Resources | - Official CompTIA CySA+ Study Guide - Practice tests and exam simulations - Hands-on labs and virtual environments - Online courses and video training - Cybersecurity forums and study groups |
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| Preparation Strategies | - Create a study schedule - Focus on weak areas identified in practice tests - Gain hands-on experience with relevant tools - Join study groups or find a study partner |
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| Career Impact | Job Roles | - Cybersecurity Analyst - Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst - Vulnerability Assessment Analyst - Threat Intelligence Analyst - Security Engineer - Incident Response Coordinator |
| Industry Recognition | - DoD 8140/8570 approved - Valued by employers in government and private sectors - Demonstrates intermediate to advanced cybersecurity skills |
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| Career Advancement | - Can lead to higher-level positions in cybersecurity - Potential salary increase - Stepping stone to more advanced certifications like CASP+ |
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| Exam Updates | Relevance | - Updated regularly to reflect current technologies and threats - Exam objectives reviewed and revised periodically |
| Versions | - Current version is CySA+ (CS0-002) - Important to check for the latest exam version when preparing |
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| Cost and Logistics | Exam Fee | - Varies by region and promotions - Typically around $359 USD - Retake policies and fees apply for failed attempts |
| Testing Options | - In-person testing centers - Online proctored exams available |
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| Comparison to Other Certs | Security+ vs CySA+ | - CySA+ is more advanced and specialized - Security+ focuses on foundational security concepts - CySA+ emphasizes analysis and practical application |
| CASP+ vs CySA+ | - CASP+ is more advanced and management-focused - CySA+ is more technical and hands-on - CASP+ suitable for senior roles, CySA+ for mid-level positions |
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