CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 Preparation Details
This CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 study guide covers all four exam domains, from security operations to reporting and communication. Each objective links to official documentation and standards so you can prepare with confidence. You can also explore more CompTIA certification study guides on the CompTIA category to keep building your skills.
CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 Materials
| Coursera | CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) CS0-003 |
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| Whizlabs | CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) CS0-003 |
1.0 Security Operations (33%)
1.1 Explain the importance of system and network architecture concepts in security operations.
Log ingestion
SP 800-92, Guide to Computer Security Log Management
RFC 5905: Network Time Protocol Version 4: Protocol and Algorithms Specification
SP 800-61 Rev. 3, Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cyber
Operating system (OS) concepts
SP 800-190, Application Container Security Guide
SP 800-125, Guide to Security for Full Virtualization Technologies
SP 800-92, Guide to Computer Security Log Management
Infrastructure concepts
SP 800-125, Guide to Security for Full Virtualization Technologies
SP 800-190, Application Container Security Guide
SP 800-207, Zero Trust Architecture
Network architecture
SP 800-207, Zero Trust Architecture
RFC 7426: Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Layers and Architecture Terminology
SP 800-125, Guide to Security for Full Virtualization Technologies
SP 800-63-3, Digital Identity Guidelines
Identity and access management
What is single sign-on in Microsoft Entra ID? – Microsoft Entra ID
SP 800-63-3, Digital Identity Guidelines
Overview – Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Encryption
RFC 5280: Internet X.509 Public Key Infrastructure Certificate and Certificate R
Overview – Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
SP 800-207, Zero Trust Architecture
Sensitive data protection
SP 800-122, Guide to Protecting the Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable I
Overview – Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
SP 800-207, Zero Trust Architecture
1.2 Given a scenario, analyze indicators of potentially malicious activity.
Network-related
Application Layer Protocol, Technique T1071 – Enterprise
Network Service Discovery, Technique T1046 – Enterprise
Non-Standard Port, Technique T1571 – Enterprise
Exfiltration, Tactic TA0010 – Enterprise
SP 800-207, Zero Trust Architecture
Host-related
Scheduled Task/Job, Technique T1053 – Enterprise
Modify Registry, Technique T1112 – Enterprise
Exfiltration, Tactic TA0010 – Enterprise
Overview of endpoint detection and response capabilities – Microsoft Defender fo
Application-related
Application Layer Protocol, Technique T1071 – Enterprise
Phishing, Technique T1566 – Enterprise
SP 800-92, Guide to Computer Security Log Management
Other
Phishing, Technique T1566 – Enterprise
RFC 7489: Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC
RFC 7208: Sender Policy Framework (SPF) for Authorizing Use of Domains in Email,
1.3 Given a scenario, use appropriate tools or techniques to determine malicious activity.
Tools
Overview of endpoint detection and response capabilities – Microsoft Defender fo
Automation in Microsoft Sentinel
Common techniques
Application Layer Protocol, Technique T1071 – Enterprise
RFC 7489: Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC
RFC 7208: Sender Policy Framework (SPF) for Authorizing Use of Domains in Email,
RFC 6376: STD 76: DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) Signatures
What is PowerShell? – PowerShell
Programming languages/scripting
What is PowerShell? – PowerShell
re — Regular expression operations
RFC 8259: STD 90: The JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Data Interchange Format
Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0 (Fifth Edition)
1.4 Compare and contrast threat-intelligence and threat-hunting concepts.
Threat actors
SP 800-161 Rev. 1, Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management Practices for Syst
Tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP)
Application Layer Protocol, Technique T1071 – Enterprise
Phishing, Technique T1566 – Enterprise
Confidence levels
SP 800-150, Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing
Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS)
Collection methods and sources
SP 800-150, Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing
Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS)
Threat intelligence sharing
SP 800-150, Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing
Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS)
SP 800-61 Rev. 3, Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cyber
Threat hunting
Application Layer Protocol, Technique T1071 – Enterprise
Overview of endpoint detection and response capabilities – Microsoft Defender fo
SP 800-150, Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing
1.5 Explain the importance of efficiency and process improvement in security operations.
Standardize processes
Automation in Microsoft Sentinel
SP 800-61 Rev. 3, Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cyber
Streamline operations
Automation in Microsoft Sentinel
SP 800-150, Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing
Technology and tool integration
Automation in Microsoft Sentinel
Single pane of glass
Automation in Microsoft Sentinel
Overview of endpoint detection and response capabilities – Microsoft Defender fo
SP 800-61 Rev. 3, Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cyber
2.0 Vulnerability Management (30%)
2.1 Given a scenario, implement vulnerability scanning methods and concepts.
Asset discovery
Understanding an Nmap Fingerprint
Chapter 12. Zenmap GUI Users’ Guide
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint device discovery overview
Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment
Special considerations
Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment
Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint device discovery overview
Guide to Operational Technology (OT) Security
Internal vs. external scanning
Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment
Agent vs. agentless
Agentless machine scanning in Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Set up authenticated network scans in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management
Credentialed vs. non-credentialed
Tenable Nessus Credentialed Checks
Set up authenticated network scans in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management
Passive vs. active
Welcome to Tenable Network Monitor
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint device discovery overview
Static vs. dynamic
Ghidra Software Reverse Engineering Framework
Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) Version 1.1
Critical infrastructure
Guide to Operational Technology (OT) Security
ISA/IEC 62443 Series of Standards
operational technology – Glossary
industrial control system (ICS) – Glossary
supervisory control and data acquisition – Glossary
Security baseline scanning
Security Content Automation Protocol SCAP
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Industry frameworks
PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
The 18 CIS Critical Security Controls
OWASP Application Security Verification Standard
2.2 Given a scenario, analyze output from vulnerability assessment tools.
Tools
Angry IP Scanner – Documentation
Running a full crawl and audit
ZAP by Checkmarx Desktop User Guide
GitHub – Arachni/arachni: Web Application Security Scanner Framework
Basic Testing · sullo/nikto Wiki
Welcome to Tenable Nessus 10.12.x
Tenable Nessus Credentialed Checks
Ghidra Software Reverse Engineering Framework
Chapter 15. Nmap Reference Guide
Chapter 9. Nmap Scripting Engine
Home · lanmaster53/recon-ng Wiki
GitHub – nccgroup/ScoutSuite: Multi-Cloud Security Auditing Tool
Home · RhinoSecurityLabs/pacu Wiki
2.3 Given a scenario, analyze data to prioritize vulnerabilities.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) interpretation
CVSS v3.1 Specification Document
Common Vulnerability Scoring System v3.1: User Guide
Common Vulnerability Scoring System Version 3.1 Calculator
CVSS v4.0 Specification Document
Validation
Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment
Context awareness
Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments
Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning
BOD 22-01: Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (Rev
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC)
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Exploitability/weaponization
Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC)
CVSS v3.1 Specification Document
BOD 22-01: Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (Rev
Asset value
Standards for Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information Sys
Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC)
Zero-day
Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)
Common vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC)
2.4 Given a scenario, recommend controls to mitigate attacks and software vulnerabilities.
Cross-site scripting
Cross Site Scripting Prevention Cheat Sheet
CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation
Overflow vulnerabilities
CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow
CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
CWE-190: Integer Overflow or Wraparound
CWE-120: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input
Data poisoning
LLM04:2025 Data and Model Poisoning
Adversarial Machine Learning: A Taxonomy and Terminology of Attacks and Mitigati
ML02:2023 Data Poisoning Attack
Broken access control
A01:2021 – Broken Access Control
Access control vulnerabilities and privilege escalation
Cryptographic failures
A02:2021 – Cryptographic Failures
Cryptographic Storage Cheat Sheet
Transport Layer Security Cheat Sheet
Injection flaws
Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet
Query Parameterization Cheat Sheet
Cross-site request forgery
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery Prevention Cheat Sheet
CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery
Directory traversal
CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
Insecure design
Secure Product Design Cheat Sheet
Security misconfiguration
A05:2021 – Security Misconfiguration
Attack Surface Analysis Cheat Sheet
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
End-of-life or outdated components
A06:2021 – Vulnerable and Outdated Components
CWE-1395: Dependency on Vulnerable Third-Party Component
Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning: Preventive Maintenance for Techno
Identification and authentication failures
A07:2021 – Identification and Authentication Failures
Session Management Cheat Sheet
Server-side request forgery
A10:2021 – Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
Server-side request forgery (SSRF)
Server-Side Request Forgery Prevention Cheat Sheet
CWE-918: Server-Side Request Forgery
Remote code execution
CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code
CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
Privilege escalation
Access control vulnerabilities and privilege escalation
CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management
Local file inclusion (LFI)/remote file inclusion (RFI)
Testing for Local File Inclusion
CWE-98: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Progra
2.5 Explain concepts related to vulnerability response, handling, and management.
Compensating control
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments
Control types
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Managing Information Security Risk: Organization, Mission, and Information Syste
Risk Management Framework for Information Systems and Organizations: A System Li
Patching and configuration management
Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning: Preventive Maintenance for Techno
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment
Maintenance windows
Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning: Preventive Maintenance for Techno
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Exceptions
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Managing Information Security Risk: Organization, Mission, and Information Syste
Risk management principles
Managing Information Security Risk: Organization, Mission, and Information Syste
Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments
Risk Management Framework for Information Systems and Organizations: A System Li
Policies, governance, and service-level objectives (SLOs)
Managing Information Security Risk: Organization, Mission, and Information Syste
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning: Preventive Maintenance for Techno
Prioritization and escalation
Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC)
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: Specification Document
Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments
Attack surface management
Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment
Attack Surface Analysis Cheat Sheet
Secure coding best practices
Cross Site Scripting Prevention Cheat Sheet
Session Management Cheat Sheet
Cryptographic Storage Cheat Sheet
Query Parameterization Cheat Sheet
Secure software development life cycle (SDLC)
Secure Software Development Framework SSDF
Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) Version 1.1: Recommendations for Mi
Threat modeling
Secure Product Design Cheat Sheet
3.0 Incident Response and Management (20%)
3.1 Explain concepts related to attack methodology frameworks.
Cyber kill chains
Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis
Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis
Using Honeynets and the Diamond Model for ICS Threat Analysis
MITRE ATT&CK
Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSS TMM)
ISECOM — Institute for Security and Open Methodologies
SP 800-115, Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment
OWASP Testing Guide
SP 800-115, Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment
3.2 Given a scenario, perform incident response activities.
Detection and analysis
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
SP 800-86, Guide to Integrating Forensic Techniques into Incident Response
SP 800-92, Guide to Computer Security Log Management
Indicator of Compromise – Glossary
Federal Government Cybersecurity Incident and Vulnerability Response Playbooks
SP 800-150, Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing
Containment, eradication, and recovery
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
Federal Government Cybersecurity Incident and Vulnerability Response Playbooks
Plan and run SecOps incident operations
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
3.3 Explain the preparation and post-incident activity phases of the incident management life cycle.
Preparation
Incident Response Plan (IRP) Basics
CISA Tabletop Exercise Packages
Guide to Test, Training, and Exercise Programs for IT Plans and Capabilities
SP 800-50 Rev. 1, Building a Cybersecurity and Privacy Learning Program
SP 800-34 Rev. 1, Contingency Planning Guide for Federal Information Systems
Post-incident activity
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
SP 800-86, Guide to Integrating Forensic Techniques into Incident Response
Root Cause Analysis – Glossary
Postmortem Culture: Learning from Failure
Plan and run SecOps incident operations
4.0 Reporting and Communication (17%)
4.1 Explain the importance of vulnerability management reporting and communication.
Vulnerability management reporting
Common Vulnerability Scoring System SIG
Common Vulnerability Scoring System version 4.0: Specification Document
Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)
Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management
Compliance reports
Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager
PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM) for Federal Information
Action plans
Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning
SP 800-50 Rev. 1, Building a Cybersecurity and Privacy Learning Program
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management
Inhibitors to remediation
Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning
SP 800-47 Rev. 1, Managing the Security of Information Exchanges
Managing Information Security Risk: Organization, Mission, and Information
SP 800-30 Rev. 1, Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments
Metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs)
Measurement Guide for Information Security: Volume 1
Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)
Manage your SOC Better with Incident Metrics in Microsoft Sentinel
Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM) for Federal Information
Stakeholder identification and communication
Managing Information Security Risk: Organization, Mission, and Information
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
SP 800-150, Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing
Incident Response Plan (IRP) Basics
4.2 Explain the importance of incident response reporting and communication.
Stakeholder identification and communication
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
Incident Response Plan (IRP) Basics
SP 800-150, Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing
Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA)
Managing Information Security Risk: Organization, Mission, and Information
Incident declaration and escalation
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
Federal Government Cybersecurity Incident and Vulnerability Response Playbooks
Incidents and alerts in the Microsoft Defender portal – Microsoft Defender XDR
Plan and run SecOps incident operations
What is AWS Security Incident Response?
Incident Response Plan (IRP) Basics
Incident response reporting
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
SP 800-86, Guide to Integrating Forensic Techniques into Incident Response
Federal Government Cybersecurity Incident and Vulnerability Response Playbooks
What is AWS Security Incident Response?
Incidents and alerts in the Microsoft Defender portal – Microsoft Defender XDR
Communications
Data Breach Response: A Guide for Business
Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA)
SEC Adopts Rules on Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance
Home Page – Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council
SP 800-150, Guide to Cyber Threat Information Sharing
Root cause analysis
Root Cause Analysis – Glossary
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
Postmortem Culture: Learning from Failure
SP 800-30 Rev. 1, Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments
Lessons learned
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
Postmortem Culture: Learning from Failure
Plan and run SecOps incident operations
What is AWS Security Incident Response?
Metrics and KPIs
Measurement Guide for Information Security: Volume 1
Manage your SOC Better with Incident Metrics in Microsoft Sentinel
Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM) for Federal Information
Incident Response Recommendations and Considerations for Cybersecurity Risk
Wrapping Up CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003
This CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 study guide gives you every domain, task and objective in one place, with official documentation behind each topic. Work through it steadily and you will be ready for exam day. You can also explore more CompTIA certification study guides on the CompTIA category to keep building your skills. Have a question or tip? Leave a comment below.
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