A Quick Guide to the CompTIA CySA Certification

CySA Certification

CompTIA CySA+ certification can prevent and respond effectively to data breaches.

Cybersecurity is the area of IT with the most severe personnel shortages right now, but that doesn’t mean that just anyone can get a cybersecurity job. These highly skilled positions require extensive knowledge and expertise in the area of cybersecurity, and the CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification can provide this knowledge and help IT professionals develop the skills they need to get a job in the cybersecurity field.

What Is the CompTIA CySA Certification?

The CompTIA CySA+ certification is unlike other cybersecurity certifications in a few key ways. First of all, it is an intermediate level certification rather than at the beginner level like CompTIA Security+ and others. But unlike the few other intermediate security certifications out there (Certified Ethical Hacker or Certified Intrusion Analyst), the CySA+ certification exam uses performance-based questions to ensure that you not only know about cybersecurity, but you are also able to put your knowledge into practice in real-world situations.

The certification is also more broad-based than other intermediate trainings, most of which focus on only one aspect of cybersecurity. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) focuses on penetration testing, while Certified Intrusion Analyst focuses on intrusion testing. In contrast, the CySA+ focuses on security analytics, intrusion detection and response.

The first thing students learn when preparing to take the CySA+ exam is threat management. Cutting edge tools are used to determine whether intrusion attempts are being made, and if they are, an appropriate response to these threats is taught. The next skill developed in this certification is vulnerability management, which looks at areas that may be ripe for cyberattack and figures out how to scan systems to determine possible threats and deter them.

CySA Certification

Fighting against hackers is an important part of the CySA+ certification.

 Security architecture and tools that can mediate threats and vulnerabilities go beyond the response to breaches that have already occurred and teach ways to prevent potential future attacks. And if an attack does occur, the CySA+ certification prepares students to implement tools and best practices for an effective response.

A number of companies, some of which have experienced high-profile data breaches, helped to develop the CySA+ certification so that it would reflect the real-world needs of today’s companies.  RICOH, Dell, Target, Northrop Grumman, Integra and Linux Professional Institute are some of these companies.

Earning the CySA+ certification may qualify you for positions like IT security analyst, security engineer, cybersecurity specialist, or threat intelligence analyst. In the current climate of increasing cyber threats, many companies are looking to hire cybersecurity personnel to evaluate their vulnerabilities or respond to breaches that have already occurred.

PC AGE offers courses that aim to provide skills IT professionals need to find jobs in the ever-growing field of cybersecurity. Request info to find out all of the skills and certifications you can earn through PC AGE.