CompTIA
Entry
CompTIA Security+
Vendor-neutral proof of core security administration skills, tested partly through performance-based tasks and mapped by CompTIA to DoD 8140 work roles
- Exam
- $439
- Study
- 3-6 months
Skill
Security Operations
Security Operations maintains day-to-day security activities. You'll manage security tools, respond to alerts, and keep systems secure.
Operations
Learning path
Start with security basics, learn SOC operations, practice incident handling.
Career relevance
Essential for SOC analysts, security engineers, operations staff.
Practice projects
Automate a routine security check
Write a Python or PowerShell script that checks lab machines for missing updates or disabled logging and writes a daily summary.
What you'll have: A script with a README another analyst could run.
Practice shift handovers
During a week of lab monitoring, log alerts, actions and open items, and write a handover note at the end of each day.
What you'll have: Handover notes that show clear, concise operational writing.
Certifications teaching Security Operations
Entry1
Intermediate2
CompTIA
Intermediate
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst+
Tests a security analyst's ability to detect threats, prioritize vulnerabilities and handle incidents using real tool output, now on the CS0-004 exam
- Exam
- $439
- Study
- 3-6 months
Microsoft
Intermediate
Microsoft Security Operations Analyst Associate
Tests SOC analyst work in Microsoft Defender XDR and Sentinel, from detection rules and incident response to KQL threat hunting
- Exam
- $165
- Study
- 2-4 months