CompTIA · Professional Certification · Associate
CompTIA CySA+
Crydd Score 70
Demand High
Career Value Strong
Recognition High
CySA+ at a glance
- Provider
- CompTIA
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- Security
- Level
- Associate
- Cost
- $439
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time to earn
- 2–3 months
- Validity
- 3 years (renewable via continuing education)
- Format
- Exam CS0-004 (V4, launched June 2026): up to 85 questions, 165 minutes; 750 to pass. The V3 English exam (CS0-003) retires on 22 December 2026
- Prerequisites
- None required; about 4 years in a SOC or vulnerability analyst role recommended
What is CySA+?
CompTIA's intermediate certification for security analysts, now on exam CS0-004: detecting and analysing threats, vulnerability management, incident response, and reporting findings to stakeholders.
Skills it covers
- Threat detection
- Log analysis
- Vulnerability management
- Incident response
Is CySA+ worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 70Choose it if
You work in, or are moving into, a security operations centre or a vulnerability management role.
Consider alternatives if
You are earlier on: CompTIA Security+ first. If your SOC runs on Microsoft tools, SC-200 is more specific.
Why we say so
A hands-on, vendor-neutral analyst credential approved for US Department of Defense roles, a clear step above Security+.
Market demand
SOC analyst roles are among the most common in security, and CySA+ is named often, particularly in government and defence hiring.
Where CySA+ takes you
- Cybersecurity Analyst
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to CySA+, so you know why it’s here.
Careers CySA+ leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where CySA+ sits on the path — build up, then step on.
Recommended next after CySA+
A step up on a shared path
