CompTIA CySA+ Exam: A Complete Guide

Data is one of our most important resources in today's modern, data-driven world. Organisations use data as an integral part of their strategic process, as well as to increase their profit, and hence the importance of data is at an all-time high. With the importance of data being paramount right now, it is also under several cybersecurity threats. In order to safeguard their data resources, organisations often resort to individuals well-versed in cybersecurity measures. To validate one’s credentials in the domain, one is advised to sit for the CompTIA CySA+ Exam.  

One of the best methods to validate yourself in cybersecurity is to obtain a CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) certification. According to CompTIA's website, as of September 2021, over 40,000 individuals have earned the CySA+ certification since its launch in 2017.  Obtaining the certification has several benefits for aspiring cybersecurity professionals, and to avail of those benefits, one must sit for an examination. This blog explains the complete details about the CompTIA CySA+ Exam, such as what is on the exam, its cost, and more. 

Table of Contents 

1) What is on the CompTIA CySA+ Exam? 

2) What to expect from the CompTIA CySA+ Exam? 

   a) How many questions are on the exam? 

   b) What type of questions are on the exam? 

   c) What domains does the exam cover? 

   d) What is the duration of the exam? 

3) Conclusion 

What is on the CompTIA CySA+ Exam  

The CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) is one of the most relevant IT workforce certifications around right now. The certification applies behavioural analytics to networks and devices in order to restrict, detect and fight cybersecurity threats. It is the only intermediate high-stakes cybersecurity analytics certification that asks performance-based questions on several relevant domains. The CySA+ examination asks questions related to the security analytics, intrusion detection and response domains.   

CompTIA CySA+ certification examinations are held at Pearson VUE testing centre in a highly proctored setting. The most up-to-date security analytics certification covers the prevention and detection of advanced threats in a post-2014 cybersecurity environment. The CompTIA CySA+ Exam emphasises some of today’s best cybersecurity practices. It focuses on configuring and using threat detection, performing data analysis and interpreting the results to find vulnerabilities, risks and threats to an organisation. 

Learn all there is to know about CompTIA certification by signing up for our CompTIA Certification Training Course! 

What to expect from the CompTIA CySA+ Exam 

In this section of the blog, we will provide you with everything you need to know about the CySA+ exam. Keep reading to learn about the number of questions and types of questions in the exam, its duration, and the domains it covers. 

How many questions are on the exam? 

The CompTIA CySA+ Exam has a maximum of 85 questions. Once you have completed the exam, you will be asked to fill out an exit survey. This survey will ask you for information about your study practices and why you chose to get certified. This exit survey will consist of about 12 multiple-choice questions. 

What type of questions are on the exam? 

The CySA+ examination will put forward a combination of multiple-choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based questions. The multiple-choice questions will be a blend of singular and multiple responses. The performance-based questions aim to test your problem-solving ability in simulated environments.   

One must remember to manage time wisely when solving these problems in the exam. Most performance-based questions appear at the beginning of the exam, and the timer will not be visible when you are working on these questions. 

What domains does the exam cover?

The CompTIA CySA+ Exam covers the following domains and topics: 

1) Threat Management: The exam will test your Threat Management skills. You will be required to recommend the appropriate response and countermeasure to network-based threats. 

2) Vulnerability Management: The exam will also test your ability to manage vulnerabilities, and you will be asked to compare common vulnerabilities found in an organisation. 

3) Cyber-Incident Response: You will be tested on your ability to respond appropriately to cyber-incidents. You will be required to summarise your incident recovery and post-incident response process. 

4) Security Architecture and Tool Sets: The next domain covered in the exam will require you to review security architecture and recommend compensating controls.   

5) Compliance and Assessment: The last domain covered in the exam requires a holistic understanding of how compliance and assessment work in cybersecurity. 

What is the duration of the exam? 

You will be given a total of 165 minutes to complete the CompTIA CySA+ Exam. It must be noted that this duration does not consider the time necessary to check in at the exam centre, so you will have to plan accordingly.


 

Conclusion 

Overall, getting a CompTIA CySA+ certification goes a long way in ensuring that your knowledge of cybersecurity is validated and verified. It increases your value as a cybersecurity expert in the IT domain and helps validate your knowledge in the domain. However, you will be required to pass the CompTIA CySA+ Exam to earn the certification.   

To pass the examination with flying colours, one must know the domains the exam covers, the number and type of questions that may come and the cost. We hope this blog gave you a clear idea of what to expect in the examination and boosted your chances of becoming CySA+ certified.   

Sign up for our CompTIA CySA+ Certification Training Course and make the most of your chance in the CompTIA CySA+ exam!