Introduction
In recent years, the demand for skilled security professionals has grown as more organizations recognize the importance of investing in cybersecurity operations. However, this increased demand, paired with a growing interest in breaking into cybersecurity, makes it challenging for individuals that want to stand out in a competitive field. As organizations look for the most qualified candidates, accredited certifications have become a powerful signifier, especially when paired with education and practical experience.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at the significance of SOC and defensive-oriented certifications, some of the most recognized certifications in the industry, and how they can shape your career in defensive operations. Whether you’re a newcomer looking to break into security, or an experienced professional up-skilling for advanced roles or promotions, certifications can be another tool to demonstrate your qualifications and set you apart.
What is a SOC Analyst?
Firstly, a SOC (Security Operations Center) Analyst is a cybersecurity professional responsible for monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to security incidents within an organization. This is often done by monitoring for events coming in from endpoints, servers, network traffic and various security appliances, analyzing and triaging alerts, and ultimately, assisting the team in responding to threats in real-time.
As suggested by the role’s title, SOC analysts typically work on a team within a Security Operations Center (SOC), where they use various tools and event management technologies to identify, investigate, and mitigate security incidents. If you want to learn more about the intricacies of working in a SOC and the roles and responsibilities of the typical SOC analyst, check out What Does A SOC Analyst Do?
Do You Need Certifications to be a SOC Analyst?
A common question is how important are certifications in securing a job as a SOC Analyst? And like many things in this field, the answer is not as straightforward as one might think.
Certifications can play a big role in your job search and career progression, but their importance often varies depending on the specific requirements of the job, how much the organization or hiring manager values them, and also any industry regulations, such as the case with the U.S. Department of Defense.
As a general guideline, certifications are often more valuable if you’re newer to the field, as they help demonstrate your technical skills and knowledge even if you lack real-world work experience. They help demonstrate proof of your capabilities and commitment to learning in the industry. However, as you gain more professional experience and practical skills, the emphasis on certifications typically lessens. Personally, I prefer certifications that pair with high quality training resources as they provide valuable learning experiences beyond just earning a credential. Focusing on practical certifications not only enhances your skillset but also gives you more to discuss in interviews and professional settings, rather than merely checking a box.
As a good tip, it’s recommended that you spend some time aggregating and researching the job listings with your ideal role on sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor. In doing so, you can start to identify patterns—not only for tools or technologies that are frequently mentioned in job roles, but also for commonly listed certification requirements. This will give you a better picture of what qualifications are most valued by employers and help you tailor your professional development goals to meet actual industry demands.
Top SOC Analyst Certifications
Below, we discuss five of the most popular SOC Analyst certifications. They offer a wide variety of learning options and exam formats.
CompTIA – Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
Beyond more foundational security certifications like the CompTIA Security+, the CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) is one of the most common certifications in the field for those working in or aspiring to roles in security operations, incident response, and threat analysis.
The exam is designed to verify that candidates have the knowledge and skills required to identify indicators of malicious activity, understand threat intelligence and threat management, respond to attacks and vulnerabilities, and communicate effectively.
In its current iteration, the exam measures the following domains:
Additionally, the exam allows 165 minutes to complete a maximum of 85 questions, which include both multiple-choice and (usually) 1-5 performance-based questions.
Like with all other CompTIA exams, the multiple-choice questions often involve selecting the correct answer from a list of options, identifying the best course of action in a given scenario, or choosing multiple correct answers. The performance-based questions attempt to simulate real-world situations, requiring you to interact with a simulated and limited environment, like configuring security settings, interpreting log files, or reviewing vulnerability scan results.
Security Blue Team – Blue Team Level 1
Alternatively, the Blue Team Level 1 (BTL1) certification offered by Security Blue Team is a combined course and certification that expands on some of the concepts in CySA+, but offers its training through a practical lens. The BTL1 course and certification specifically aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of key security concepts, tools, and the practical skills needed to apply them in real-world scenarios.
In addition to learning from written modules, you will also have the ability to apply what you’ve learned within several browser labs that focus on specific tasks or tooling.
One of the standout features of the BTL1 certification is its practical incident response exam. During the exam, students have access to a cloud lab via an in-browser session for up to 24 hours, during which they must complete and answer 20 task-based questions using different security tools to identify and analyze malicious activity across various systems or logs.
Another great aspect of the BTL1 exam is the rewards you receive upon passing, including lifetime accreditation with no periodic renewals, a digital and printed certificate, and a silver or gold challenge coin, depending on your exam score.
Although the BTL1 course offers high-quality training resources, it’s important to note that you are only granted access to the course materials and labs for four months, not for a lifetime. However, this duration should be sufficient to complete the course and earn the certification, especially if you stay focused and manage your time effectively.
Additionally, unlike other certifications that utilize video-based content, BTL1 is not primarily video-based, which is an important consideration based on your preferred learning style.
OffSec – Defense Analyst (OSDA)
Similarly, Offsec’s SOC-200 (Foundational Security Operations and Defensive Analysis) course, and its corresponding OffSec Defense Analyst (OSDA) certification is aimed to provide practical experience within a hands-on, self-paced environment designed to teach the principles of SOC operations. Although OffSec is best known for its offensive security and penetration testing certifications, the SOC-200 course represents their expansion into defensive security training as well.
The course and its labs aim to teach analysts how to recognize common methodologies and attack chains while dealing with common network noise. You’ll go through several modules, including:
- Attack Methodology
- Windows/Linux Server-Side Attacks
- Windows/Linux Client-Side Attacks
- Windows Privilege Escalation
- Windows Persistence
- Network Detections
- Antivirus Evasion
The course culminates in a 24-hour practical assessment known as the OSDA exam. Within the exam, you’ll be required to demonstrate your ability to identify, analyze, and respond to potential threats within a live lab environment. Following the exam, you‘ll have an additional 24 hours to submit an incident response report detailing your findings and recommendations.
HackTheBox – Certified Defensive Security Analyst (CDSA)
Likewise, the Certified Defensive Security Analyst (CDSA) offered by HackTheBox is a highly hands-on certification aimed to assess security analysis, SOC operations, and incident handling skills at an intermediate level. Similar to the previously discussed certifications, the CDSA aims to teach analysts to spot security incidents and identify avenues of malicious activity. HackTheBox’s training stands out as it emphasizes thinking outside the box, correlating various pieces of evidence, and pivoting to determine the maximum impact of an incident.
Unlike the other certifications, HackTheBox requires that a candidate completes the 15 module SOC Analyst job-role path hosted on HackTheBox Academy, each with their own hands-on exercises and assessments. The training consists of several knowledge domains, including:
- SOC Processes
- SIEM Operations
- Log Analysis
- Threat Hunting
- Active Directory Attacks
- Network Traffic Analysis
- Malware Analysis
- DFIR Operations
After completing the SOC Analyst job-role path and obtaining an exam voucher, the exam involves performing various security analysis, SOC operations, and incident handling activities, with candidates having seven days to complete and submit a report.
TCM Security – Practical Junior SOC Analyst (PJSA)
Lastly, the Practical Junior SOC Analyst (PJSA) is a practical exam and certification offered by TCM Security to pair with the Security Operations (SOC) 101 curriculum. The SOC 101 course is a 30+ hour curriculum that aims to equip students with all of the fundamental security operations knowledge and practical skills needed in order to achieve and excel in a T1 or T2 SOC Analyst position. By covering topics such as phishing analysis, incident response procedures, threat detection techniques, log analysis, SIEM management, and security tool utilization, students will gain the essential competencies required to effectively monitor, analyze, and respond to security incidents within a SOC environment.
The SOC 101 course materials include through bite-sized video demonstrations, written materials and references, quizzes to assess comprehension, and practical lab exercises that simulate real-world scenarios.
By the end of the course, participants will be proficient in using various common security tools, analyzing security events and artifacts, handling alert tickets, triaging, and responding effectively to incidents within a SOC. Additionally, the course aims to build critical thinking skills and encourages both proactive and reactive methodologies, which are pivotal for skilled analysts.
The PJSA exam resembles a unique real-world SOC scenario and puts each domain covered in the course to test in a fully practical way. Candidates who take the PJSA will have 48 hours to triage, investigate, and respond to a number of incidents, alerts, and tickets using a browser-based analyst workstation and connected network of endpoints. After which, candidates will be given an additional 48 hours to document their findings and actions from each scenario in a professional report.
With the PJSA certification in hand, participants can confidently enter the cybersecurity field, equipped with practical experience and an impressive foundation in security operations.
SOC Analyst Certification Comparison Infographic
Conclusion: Which Certification is Right for Me?
There is no single answer to determine which certification is right for you, as it depends on your career goals, current skill level, financial resources, and the direction you want to take in your professional journey. When choosing the right certification, it’s important to remember that not all certifications are required for every career path. Often, one or two well-chosen certifications can be sufficient early on to advance your career or demonstrate your expertise, allowing you to gain more experience before you take on a more advanced accreditation.
Certifications that come with training resources often provide previews of their content, which you can take advantage of to assess if their approach matches your learning preferences. Consider whether you prefer learning by doing practical exercises, watching video content, reading materials, or a particular instructor’s teaching style. Even though many certifications and courses covered in this blog overlap with each other in many areas, the learning experience can be vastly different. Finding a certification that aligns with how you learn best can make a big difference in your overall experience and success.
Another aspect is to consider the reputation of the certification and the value it holds within your industry. Some certifications are highly recognized or required as a baseline, while others might be more niche but offer specialized skills that align perfectly with your goals. Take the time to research, understand the requirements of the job roles you’re aiming for, and choose a certification that will help you grow in your desired field.
About the Author: Andrew Prince
Andrew is a seasoned and passionate security professional who brings a wealth of experience in areas such as security operations, incident response, threat hunting, vulnerability management, and cloud infrastructure security. With a professional background in development and system administration, Andrew offers a well-rounded perspective on his security strategy. Andrew also navigates both offensive and defensive operations to provide a holistic approach to keeping people, processes, and technology secure. He is also active in developing various Capture the Flag challenges, creating security training, and sharing knowledge through content creation. Andrew created the Security Operations (SOC) 101 course in TCM Security Academy and the Practical Junior Security Analyst certification.
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About TCM Security
TCM Security is a veteran-owned, cybersecurity services and education company founded in Charlotte, NC. Our services division has the mission of protecting people, sensitive data, and systems. With decades of combined experience, thousands of hours of practice, and core values from our time in service, we use our skill set to secure your environment. The TCM Security Academy is an educational platform dedicated to providing affordable, top-notch cybersecurity training to our individual students and corporate clients including both self-paced and instructor-led online courses as well as custom training solutions. We also provide several vendor-agnostic, practical hands-on certification exams to ensure proven job-ready skills to prospective employers.
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