Course Overview:
The CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) CS0-003 course is designed to equip students with the skills needed to proactively defend and continuously monitor modern IT environments. This certification focuses on behavioral analytics to identify and combat cybersecurity threats, going beyond simple threat detection to implement effective response strategies.
Why We Need It:
In today’s digital world, cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated. Organizations need professionals who can detect vulnerabilities, analyze security incidents, and respond effectively to mitigate risks. CySA+ fills this gap by training analysts to act as the bridge between security operations and threat intelligence.
How It Is Useful:
- Threat Detection: Learn to identify and assess potential cyber threats using advanced analytics tools.
- Incident Response: Understand how to respond to incidents, minimize damage, and prevent recurrence.
- Security Monitoring: Gain hands-on experience with continuous monitoring and reporting.
- Vulnerability Management: Learn to detect and remediate security weaknesses in systems and applications.
Benefits for Students and Professionals:
- Prepares for a globally recognized certification that validates practical cybersecurity skills.
- Enhances career prospects in roles like Cybersecurity Analyst, Threat Analyst, and Security Operations Center (SOC) Technician.
- Builds foundational knowledge for advanced cybersecurity certifications and roles.
Certification Expiry & Renewal:
The CySA+ certification is valid for 3 years. Renewal can be done through CompTIA’s Continuing Education (CE) program by earning CEUs or passing the latest version of the exam.
Course Summary:
This course combines theory, hands-on labs, and real-world scenarios to teach students how to secure networks, detect threats, and respond to incidents efficiently. It is ideal for IT professionals who want to advance their careers in cybersecurity and strengthen organizational defense strategies.
EXAM DOMAINS AND WEIGHTS
| Domain | % of Exam |
|---|---|
| 1.0 Security Operations | 33% |
| 2.0 Vulnerability Management | 30% |
| 3.0 Incident Response and Management | 20% |
| 4.0 Reporting and Communication | 17% |
| Total | 100% |
1.0 Security Operations (33%)
1.1 System and Network Architecture Concepts
- Log ingestion
- OS concepts
- Infrastructure
- Network architecture
- Identity and access management
- MFA, SSO, federation, PAM, passwordless
- CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker)
- Encryption and sensitive data protection
- PKI, SSL inspection
- DLP, PII, Cardholder data (CHD)
1.2 Analyze Indicators of Potentially Malicious Activity
- Network-related
- Bandwidth spikes, beaconing, P2P anomalies, rogue devices, scans/sweeps, unusual ports
- Host-related
- CPU/memory/disk usage, unauthorized software/processes/privileges
- File system/registry changes, scheduled tasks, data exfiltration
- Application-related
- Anomalous activity, new accounts, unexpected output, outbound communication, service interruptions
- Other
- Social engineering, obfuscated links
1.3 Use Appropriate Tools or Techniques
- Tools
- Packet capture: Wireshark, tcpdump
- Log analysis/SIEM: correlation, SOAR
- Endpoint security: EDR
- DNS/IP reputation: WHOIS, AbuseIPDB
- File analysis: strings, VirusTotal
- Sandboxing: Joe Sandbox, Cuckoo Sandbox
- Techniques
- Pattern recognition (command & control), suspicious commands
- Email analysis (headers, DKIM, DMARC, SPF, links)
- Hashing, abnormal account activity, impossible travel
- Scripting/programming: JSON, XML, Python, PowerShell, shell scripts, regex
1.4 Compare Threat Intelligence vs. Threat Hunting
- Threat actors: APTs, hacktivists, organized crime, nation-state, insiders, supply chain
- TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, Procedures)
- Confidence levels: timeliness, relevancy, accuracy
- Collection methods: open source (social media, CERTs, dark web), closed source (paid feeds, ISACs)
- Threat intelligence sharing: incident response, vulnerability & risk management, security engineering
- Threat hunting
- IoC collection, analysis, application
- Focus areas: configs/misconfigs, isolated networks, critical assets
- Active defense, honeypots
1.5 Efficiency and Process Improvement
- Standardize processes, identify automation opportunities
- Streamline operations: SOAR, threat feed orchestration
- Technology integration: APIs, webhooks, plugins
- “Single pane of glass” for monitoring and management
2.0 Vulnerability Management (30%)
2.1 Implement Vulnerability Scanning
- Asset discovery: mapping, fingerprinting
- Considerations: scheduling, performance, sensitivity, segmentation, regulatory
- Scan types: internal vs. external, agent vs. agentless, credentialed vs. non-credentialed
- Passive vs. active, static vs. dynamic
- Critical infrastructure: OT, ICS, SCADA
- Security baseline scanning, frameworks: PCI DSS, CIS, OWASP, ISO 27000 series
2.2 Analyze Vulnerability Assessment Output
- Tools: Angry IP Scanner, Maltego, Burp Suite, ZAP, Arachni, Nikto, Nessus, OpenVAS, GDB, Immunity Debugger, Nmap, Metasploit, Recon-ng, cloud assessment tools (Scout Suite, Prowler, Pacu)
2.3 Prioritize Vulnerabilities
- CVSS metrics: attack vector, complexity, privileges, interaction, scope, impact (confidentiality, integrity, availability)
- Validation: true/false positives/negatives
- Context awareness: internal/external/isolated, exploitability, asset value, zero-day
2.4 Recommend Controls
- Common vulnerabilities: XSS, buffer/integer/heap/stack overflow, data poisoning, broken access control, cryptographic failures, injection, CSRF, directory traversal, insecure design, outdated components
- Identification/authentication failures, SSRF, RCE, privilege escalation, LFI/RFI
- Compensating controls: managerial, operational, technical, preventive, detective, responsive, corrective
- Patching/config management: test, implement, rollback, validate
- Risk management: accept, transfer, avoid, mitigate
- Policies, SLOs, prioritization, escalation
- Attack surface management: discovery, testing, pen testing, bug bounties
- Secure coding: input validation, output encoding, session management, authentication, data protection, parameterized queries
- SDLC and threat modeling
2.5 Attack Methodology Frameworks
- Cyber kill chain
- Diamond Model
- MITRE ATT&CK
- OSSTMM
- OWASP Testing Guide
3.0 Incident Response and Management (20%)
3.1 Perform Incident Response Activities
- Detection/analysis: IoCs, evidence acquisition (chain of custody, data integrity, legal hold), log analysis
- Containment, eradication, recovery: scope, impact, isolation, remediation, re-imaging, compensating controls
3.2 Preparation and Post-Incident Activities
- Preparation: IR plan, tools, playbooks, tabletop exercises, training, BC/DR
- Post-incident: forensic analysis, root cause, lessons learned
4.0 Reporting and Communication (17%)
4.1 Vulnerability Management Reporting
- Include: vulnerabilities, affected hosts, risk score, mitigation, recurrence, prioritization
- Compliance reports
- Action plans: patching, configuration management, compensating controls, awareness & training
- Inhibitors: SLA, MOU, legacy/proprietary systems, business interruption
- Metrics/KPIs: trends, top 10, critical/zero-day vulnerabilities
- Stakeholder identification & communication
4.2 Incident Response Reporting
- Stakeholder identification, incident declaration/escalation
- Report content: executive summary, who/what/when/where/why, recommendations, timeline, impact, evidence
- Communications: legal, PR (customer/media), regulatory, law enforcement
- Root cause analysis, lessons learned
- Metrics/KPIs: MTTR, MTTR, MTTR for detect/respond/remediate, alert volume
