CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)

CompTIA

Behavioral-analytics focused defensive analyst certification. Sits at the Advanced level for the Cyber Defense Analyst (511) and Cyber Defense Incident Responder (531) work roles.

We have a course for this

Built from this exam's published objectives. The first module is free.

CompTIA CySA+

Advanced · 7 hrs

Baseline certification levels

This certification satisfies these DoD baseline levels — the IAT / IAM / IASAE / CSSP requirement many contracts still state. It's a separate question from the 8140 work roles above, and there is no official mapping between the two.

IAT Level II CSSP Analyst CSSP Infrastructure Support CSSP Incident Responder CSSP Auditor

What this qualifies you for

Listed specifically for 6 work roles — up to Advanced proficiency. Because options cascade downward, a cert listed at Advanced also satisfies Intermediate and Basic for that role.

212Cyber Defense Forensics AnalystAnalyzes digital evidence and investigates computer security incidents to derive useful information in support of system/network vulnerability mitigation.Advanced 511Cyber Defense AnalystUses data collected from a variety of cyber defense tools (e.g., IDS alerts, firewalls, network traffic logs.) to analyze events that occur within their environments for the purposes of mitigating threats.Advanced 521Cyber Defense Infrastructure Support SpecialistTests, implements, deploys, maintains, and administers the infrastructure hardware and software.Intermediate 531Cyber Defense Incident ResponderInvestigates, analyzes, and responds to cyber incidents within the network environment or enclave.Advanced 541Vulnerability Assessment AnalystPerforms assessments of systems and networks within the NE or enclave and identifies where those systems/networks deviate from acceptable configurations, enclave policy, or local policy. Measures effectiveness of defense-in-depth architecture against known vulnerabilities.Advanced 612Security Control AssessorConducts independent comprehensive assessments of the management, operational, and technical security controls and control enhancements employed within or inherited by an information technology (IT) system to determine the overall effectiveness of the controls (as defined in NIST 800-37).Advanced

Also listed for 14 Cyberspace Enablers roles — but so is every other certification

The Enablers matrix isn’t role-differentiated: the same certification options are listed for all 14 roles at every proficiency level. We verified that across all 14. So this is true, and it carries no information about this credential specifically — which is why it isn’t in the count above.

211 Forensics Analyst 221 Cyber Crime Investigator 711 Cyber Instructional Curriculum Developer 712 Cyber Instructor 731 Cyber Legal Advisor 732 Privacy Compliance Manager 751 Cyber Workforce Developer and Manager 752 Cyber Policy and Strategy Planner 801 Program Manager 802 IT Project Manager 803 Product Support Manager 804 IT Investment/Portfolio Manager 805 IT Program Auditor 901 Executive Cyber Leader

Renewal

3year cycle60CEU per cycle

This is the issuer’s clock. 8140 runs a second one — 20 hours of CPD a year, at every proficiency level, which applies even if you hold no certification at all. How that works

Source: CompTIA Continuing Education — renewal requirements · checked 2026-07-16

Verifying it

CompTIA has no public lookup a third party can use on their own — verification depends on a badge URL you share.

A badge URL the holder shares. Credly proves a badge exists, not who holds it.

Track this credential

Source: CompTIA Continuing Education — renewal requirements · checked 2026-07-16

Exam blueprint

Verified against CompTIA’s published outline.

CS0-004 · V4

Current

Max 85 questions · 165 minutes · passing score 750 (scale 100–900)

Security operations34%

Vulnerability management26%

Incident response and management24%

Reporting and communication16%

The V4 page does not state which question types are included, so we make no claim about performance-based questions on this version.

Source: CompTIA CySA+ V4 certification page · dated 2026-06-23 · checked 2026-07-16

CS0-003 · V3

Retires 2026-12-22

Max 85 questions · 165 minutes · passing score 750 (scale 100–900)

Security operations33%

Vulnerability management30%

Incident response management20%

Reporting and communication17%

Retires in English on 2026-12-22; Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish on 2027-03-23. Learners already studying V3 can still sit it until then.

Source: CompTIA CySA+ V3 certification page · checked 2026-07-16