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CompTIA CySA+

CySA+ proves you can defend an organisation as a security/SOC analyst — detecting threats, managing vulnerabilities and responding to incidents using a behavioural, analytics-driven approach. It’s the intermediate cybersecurity certification that shows you can do the day-to-day work of keeping an organisation secure.

Enrol Now — £195
Duration
3–6 weeks
Format
100% online
Prerequisites
None needed
Access
12 months

About this certification

What Is CompTIA CySA+?

The vendor-neutral intermediate certification for cybersecurity analysts who defend organisations day to day.

The certification explained

CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst, exam CS0-003) is a vendor-neutral, intermediate-level certification for the people who defend organisations from the inside — security and SOC analysts. It’s built and maintained by CompTIA, a non-profit trade association, so it proves analyst skills that apply across any organisation’s systems, not just one vendor’s tools.

It focuses on the core work of a modern analyst: security operations; vulnerability management; incident response and management; and the reporting and communication that turns findings into action. The emphasis is on a behavioural, analytics-driven approach to detecting and responding to threats.

CompTIA recommends you hold Security+ and have 3–4 years of hands-on security experience first, though there are no formal prerequisites. CySA+ also meets US DoD 8570/8140 baseline requirements, making it a recognised credential for cybersecurity roles.

1
exam to pass — the current CS0-003
4
core domains, from security operations to incident response
0
formal prerequisites — Security+ and experience are recommended
100%
vendor-neutral — skills that apply across any organisation’s systems

Is this for me?

This Course Is for You If…

CompTIA CySA+ suits anyone moving into a hands-on cybersecurity-analyst role — defending organisations by detecting threats and responding to incidents.

Aspiring SOC Analysts

Want to work in a security operations centre, detecting and responding to threats.

Security Analysts

Already in a security role and ready to prove your threat-detection and analysis skills.

Security+ Holders

The natural next step after Security+, taking you from foundations into hands-on analysis.

Blue-Team / Defenders

Focused on the defensive side — monitoring, hunting threats and managing vulnerabilities.

IT Security Pros

Want to formalise your experience and step up into a dedicated analyst role.

Hands-On Learners

Learn best by doing — practise real security tasks and scenarios as you go.

Course structure & curriculum

What You’ll Learn — Module by Module

The course runs across 6 modules covering all four exam domains, from security operations through to reporting and communication, plus final exam prep. There’s around 6.5 hours of video, with practice questions throughout.

Introduction to CySA+
The SOC analyst role · How the exam works · How to get the most from the course
~0.5 hr
Security Operations
Security architecture · Logs and monitoring · Detecting malicious activity · Threat intelligence
~2 hrs
Vulnerability Management
Vulnerability scanning · CVSS and CVE · Risk and threat modelling · Prioritising remediation
~1.5 hrs
Incident Response & Management
Attack frameworks and kill chains · Detection and analysis · Containment, eradication and recovery
~1.5 hrs
Reporting & Communication
Vulnerability reporting · Incident reporting · Root-cause analysis · Communicating with stakeholders
~0.5 hr
Exam Preparation & Practice Questions
Practice questions · Weak-area review · Exam-day readiness
~0.5 hr

What the course covers

Security architecture

Logs & monitoring

Detecting malicious activity

Threat intelligence

Behavioural analytics

Network & endpoint analysis

Vulnerability scanning

CVSS & CVE

Risk & threat modelling

Prioritising remediation

Attack frameworks & kill chains

Threat hunting

Detection & analysis

Containment & eradication

Recovery

Vulnerability & incident reporting

Root-cause analysis

Communicating with stakeholders

What’s included

Everything You Need to Succeed

Each course includes the materials, hands-on practice, and support you need to learn the skills properly and walk into the exam ready.

12 Months Course Access

Full access to all course materials and labs for 12 months. Study on any device, online 24/7. Never lose your progress.

Expert Video Lessons

Clear, on-demand video lessons covering every objective on the CS0-003 exam — learn at your own pace and rewatch as often as you like.

Hands-On Activities & Practice Tests

Guided hands-on activities built around real SOC scenarios, plus practice questions modelled on the real CS0-003 exam, so you build real skills and walk in knowing what to expect.

Account Manager Support

A dedicated account manager to keep you on track, answer your questions, and help you arrange your exam when you’re ready.

Help when you need it →

Certificate & Digital Badge

Complete the course and you’ll receive a Career Smarter certificate of completion and a shareable digital badge for your LinkedIn and CV. The official CompTIA CySA+ certification itself comes from passing the exam.

Shareable & verifiable →

14-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Not the right course? If you change your mind within 14 days of enrolling, we’ll refund you — no fuss.

Risk-free enrolment →

In practice

CompTIA CySA+ in the Real World

This is the day-to-day work of a security analyst. See the kind of work CySA+ trains you for.

Monitoring & Detection

Spotting the alert that actually matters

Working in a SOC means watching logs, alerts and network traffic all day. CySA+ teaches you to read the data, apply threat intelligence, and use a behavioural, analytics-driven approach to separate real threats from the noise.

CompTIA CySA+ in action An analyst correlates a string of failed logins with unusual outbound traffic and catches a compromised account before data leaves the building.

Managing Vulnerabilities

Deciding what to fix first

A scan returns hundreds of findings — but you can’t patch everything at once. CySA+ teaches you to use CVSS, CVE data and threat modelling to prioritise the vulnerabilities that pose real risk to your organisation.

CompTIA CySA+ in action An analyst flags a critical, internet-facing vulnerability for immediate remediation while safely deferring the low-risk findings.

Responding to Incidents

Containing the damage when something gets through

When there’s an incident, what you do in the first hour matters. CySA+ covers detection, analysis, containment, eradication and recovery — so you can limit the damage, investigate properly, and report clearly to the people who need to know.

CompTIA CySA+ in action A clear incident-response process — and a clear report afterwards — is the difference between a contained event and a full-blown crisis.

Exam details

About the CompTIA CySA+ Exam

CompTIA CySA+ is a single exam — the current CS0-003. It’s an optional add-on here: add your exam voucher at checkout, and we’ll provide it so you can book through Pearson VUE — online with a proctor, or at a test centre — when you’re ready.

Exam
One(CS0-003)
Format
MC + performance
Questions
Up to 85
Duration
165 minutes
Pass mark
750 / 900
Booking
We help arrange

What to Expect on Exam Day

The CompTIA CySA+ exam is booked and sat through Pearson VUE. You can take it online with a remote proctor, or at a local test centre — whenever you’re ready.

Booking

When you add the exams and feel ready, your account manager helps you redeem your voucher and book through Pearson VUE — online or at a test centre near you.

Equipment required

For online testing you need a laptop or desktop (not a mobile or tablet), a working webcam and microphone, a quiet private room, and a stable internet connection.

On the day

You have 165 minutes and up to 85 questions, including performance-based questions that ask you to complete real tasks in a simulated environment — not just multiple choice.

Results

You get your score on a 100–900 scale as soon as you finish, with a report showing how you did in each area. Score 750 or above and you’re CompTIA CySA+ certified.

Rescheduling

If something comes up, you can reschedule through Pearson VUE up to 24 hours before your exam. Your account manager can help if you’re not sure how.

Student reviews

What Our Students Say

4.8

1,247 verified reviews

The majority of students pass first time, based on an internal student survey conducted in May 2026.

5★
80%
4★
15%
3★
5%
2★
0%
1★
0%
Review from Trustpilot
Kira
Lanie has been amazing. She talked me through all the different courses that can help me get into the IT world and now I’m doing my second course with Career Smarter I would highly recommend them if you want to get into IT they always get back to you on the same day when you make your enquiries and they are very helpful.
Review from Trustpilot
Dominic
I have recently booked the PRINCE2 certification. The process was made extremely easy for me with the help of Lanie, who was the account manager I spoke with. My questions were answered within minutes and the process was sped up thanks to Lanie.
Review from Trustpilot
C L WINCOTT
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I had a fantastic experience with Career Smarter from start to finish. Before enrolling on the CompTIA A+ course, they took the time to explain everything clearly, including what was included in the package and how the learning would work. I never felt rushed or pressured into making a decision, which I really appreciated.

They also showed me another training package that could be useful if I decide to continue my learning in the future, but there was absolutely no hard sell or constant follow-up. They simply gave me the information and left the decision entirely up to me, which made me feel much more comfortable.

To top it off, they offered me a discount, which was a lovely bonus.

The customer service has been excellent, they're knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely helpful. Based on my experience so far, I would highly recommend Career Smarter to anyone looking to start or develop a career in IT.

Thank you Lanie for top customer service!

Career Growth Path

Where This Certification Takes You

CySA+ takes you from foundational security into a hands-on analyst career. See where it leads — and the certifications that take you further.

Where You Are Now

Security+ or IT security experience

CompTIA CySA+

£40k–£55k avg.

You are here

SOC Analyst

£40k–£55k avg.

Senior SOC / Threat Analyst

£55k–£70k avg.

Security Engineer / Lead

£65k–£90k avg.

SOC analysts are in constant demand as cyber threats grow
CySA+ meets US DoD 8570/8140 requirements for cybersecurity roles

Recommended next certifications

→ Add offensive skills

CompTIA PenTest+

See attacks from the attacker’s side — penetration testing.

£45k–£65kLearn more →
 → Go advanced

CompTIA SecurityX

The advanced, expert-level security certification (formerly CASP+).

£60k–£85kLearn more →
 → Start here if you haven’t

CompTIA Security+

The baseline security cert that underpins CySA+.

£35k–£55kLearn more →
 → Go all-in

CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Bundle

Bundle the leading CompTIA security certs, with exams.

£45k–£70kLearn more →

Go further for less

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Upgrade to the IT Certification Training Bundle and unlock 12 months’ access to our full range of CompTIA, Cisco and Microsoft certification courses — dozens of certifications for one price. Add the upgrade in one click in the enrolment form below.

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Pricing

Simple, Transparent Pricing

One course, no hidden extras. Add your exam voucher at checkout when you’re ready.

Course only — right for you if…

You want to study first and buy your exam voucher later, or you already have a way to fund the exam (for example through an employer).

Course & exam — right for you if…

You want everything sorted in one go. Choose the Include Exam option below to add your official CS0-003 voucher at a discount on buying it separately.

CompTIA CySA+ — Sale Price

£395 £195 inc. VAT Save £200

Everything you need to prepare for the CS0-003 exam. Add your official exam voucher at checkout when you’re ready.

12 Months Course Access
Study anytime, on any device, 24/7
Expert Video Lessons
Covering every exam objective
Practice Exams & Test Prep
Modelled on the real exam
Official Exam
Optional — add your voucher at checkout
14-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Change your mind, get a refund
Certificate & Digital Badge
On course completion — shareable & verifiable

Finance available at checkout · 14-day money-back guarantee

Pay Monthly

From £12.4/month

CAREER SMARTER LTD is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Social Money Limited t/a Payl8r who is authorised by the FCA under Ref. Number 675283. Credit is subject to creditworthiness and affordability assessments. Missed payments may affect your credit file, future borrowing and incur fees. Representative Example: £440.00 over 12 months at 2.50% fixed per month. Rep APR 65.5%. Monthly: £47.67. Total repayable: £572.04. 0% interest rate applies only where the loan is repaid in full within 3 months.

Team & Corporate

Bulk discounts available

Training 3 or more employees? Get volume pricing, a dedicated account manager, and custom reporting.

Talk to Our Team

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before you enrol.

Is CySA harder than CASP?

No. Looking at the CompTIA cybersecurity career path again, the CySA+ is considered intermediate and is before the CASP+ on the path.

Is the CompTIA CySA+ worth it?

Yes. Earning a new certification shows your current employer that you are serious about your cybersecurity career and have the skills for promotion. Furthermore, your skills are now worth more, and you should earn more, far outweighing the investment of the course.

How long does it take to study for CySA+?

It depends. This training course can be completed sooner or longer, depending on how much previous experience you have. Additionally, things like how quick you learn is also going to influence the speed in which you complete the course.

Can I take CySA without experience?

No. We wouldn't recommend you take the CySA+ exam without previous experience, CompTIA says you should have a minimum of 4 years cybersecurity experience. However, starting this online training course doesn't have any requirements.

How long is CySA valid?

If we review the official CompTIA website, they say retirement usually happens 3 years after they launch the new version. This is done to keep the course relevant and the certified professionals on the forefront of current trends and technologies.

Is CySA+ harder than Security+?

Yes. On the CompTIA cybersecurity career path, the CompTIA CySA+ is after the Security+. The Security+ training follows the Network+ and covers a good foundation of cybersecurity, you can build on that with more advanced knowledge with certifications like CySA+ or PenTest+.

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SOC analyst today.

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