CompTIA CySA+ Full Course Part 02: How Difficult Is the CySA+ Exam?

Summary

In this video, Andrew from Certify Breakfast provides essential advice for preparing for the CompTIA CySA+ exam. He explains that while job experience can help, it's not required, and that understanding security principles and how to use security tools is crucial. Andrew emphasizes the importance of researching beyond basic training, warns about ambiguous and outdated exam questions, and advises against relying on unreliable practice questions found online. Overall, the CySA+ exam is challenging but manageable with the right preparation and attention to detail.

Takeaways

• 😀 Experience isn't a must for the CySA+ exam, but it can make things easier. You can still pass the exam without extensive hands-on job experience.
• 😀 The CySA+ exam focuses on two main skills: understanding basic security principles and being able to interpret outputs from security tools.
• 😀 You don't need fancy hardware for studying—your laptop is enough. Most security tools required for the exam are free and can be run on systems like Kali Linux.
• 😀 The CySA+ exam is vendor-neutral, meaning you don’t need experience with specific firewalls, antivirus software, or other security solutions. Understanding general security principles and tool outputs is what matters.
• 😀 Don’t rely on just one source for studying. Popular platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Pluralsight are helpful but often don’t cover everything you need. Conduct thorough research and supplement your studies with Google.
• 😀 The CySA+ exam often includes ambiguous questions, so make sure to understand the context and read questions carefully. Look for the most secure, cost-effective, or user-friendly solution based on the given context.
• 😀 Watch out for outdated questions in the exam. Technologies that are no longer in use, like old antivirus solutions, might still pop up. Stay current with industry trends to avoid being caught off guard.
• 😀 If you’ve passed exams like Network+ or Security+, you may find the CySA+ a bit more challenging. It goes into more depth and requires attention to detail in your answers.
• 😀 Don’t underestimate the difficulty of the CySA+ exam. Even though you may have breezed through earlier exams, the CySA+ will test your ability to focus on the details and understand complex scenarios.
• 😀 Be cautious with online practice exams. Many free CySA+ questions found online are inaccurate and can mislead you. Stick with reputable sources for your practice questions to avoid wasting time and energy.

Q & A

What is the most important thing to consider before starting your CySA+ exam preparation?

Setting the right expectations is crucial. Understand that the CySA+ exam is challenging but achievable. While on-the-job experience is beneficial, it’s not required to pass the exam, and you can succeed with focused study and practice.

What are the two main skills required for the CySA+ exam?

The two main skills required are: 1) Understanding basic security principles applicable to computers and networks, and 2) Being able to interpret outputs from security tools, including command-line results and graphical interfaces.

Do I need expensive hardware or complex setups to prepare for the CySA+ exam?

No, you don’t need additional expensive hardware. A basic laptop is enough, and many tools needed for the exam, such as those in Kali Linux, are free and can be used in your home setup.

How does the CySA+ exam approach vendor-specific tools and technologies?

The CySA+ exam is vendor-neutral, meaning it doesn’t focus on specific brands like Cisco or Check Point. It expects you to understand general concepts such as reading firewall rules or interpreting syslog entries, not the specifics of a particular vendor’s tools.

Why is it important to go beyond basic online training when preparing for the CySA+ exam?

Basic online training platforms like LinkedIn Learning or Pluralsight are helpful but often only cover surface-level content. To pass the CySA+ exam, you need to dive deeper into the material and conduct your own research to gain a comprehensive understanding.

What is the issue with ambiguous questions in the CySA+ exam?

CompTIA sometimes includes ambiguous questions that lack sufficient context. These questions might ask for the best solution without specifying criteria like security, cost, or convenience, which can make answering them difficult. It's important to carefully consider the question and context.

Are outdated technologies mentioned in the CySA+ exam, and how should candidates deal with this?

Yes, occasionally, outdated technologies like BlackBerry phones or old antivirus solutions may appear in the exam. While these questions are rare, it's essential to recognize them and not get confused by the historical context—they are not reflective of modern security practices.

How does the difficulty of the CySA+ exam compare to the Network+ and Security+ exams?

The CySA+ exam is more challenging than Network+ and Security+, especially as it delves deeper into security analysis and expects more attention to detail. You’ll need to pay close attention to context in questions, as details often make the difference between the correct and incorrect answers.

If I've already taken other certifications like Security+ or CISSP, will it help with the CySA+ exam?

Yes, there’s a significant overlap in content across certifications like Security+, CISSP, and CySA+. If you’ve already studied these topics, it will make the CySA+ exam easier, though CySA+ covers more in-depth topics related to security analysis and response.

Why should candidates avoid using practice questions found online?

Many practice exams available online contain incorrect answers or outdated content that can mislead you. Relying on these can give you a false sense of security, as the real exam questions often differ significantly from those found in unofficial practice tests.