Overview
The ISACA Certified Cybersecurity Operations Analyst (CCOA) certification is designed for professionals seeking to develop critical cybersecurity skills in evaluating threats, identifying vulnerabilities, and implementing countermeasures. As AI-driven automated systems continue to evolve, the role of cybersecurity analysts becomes increasingly vital in securing digital ecosystems.
This self-paced e-learning course provides an accelerated pathway to mastering cybersecurity operations, equipping learners with the expertise to analyse, detect, and respond to cyber threats effectively. Through interactive modules, hands-on labs, and real-world case studies, participants will gain a strategic understanding of cybersecurity governance, threat intelligence, incident response, and proactive defence mechanisms.
Key focus areas include:
- Threat identification and risk assessment
- Adversarial tactics and techniques
- Incident detection, response, and mitigation strategies
- Securing digital assets through vulnerability management and risk-based approaches
Learners will receive 12 months of access to course materials, hands-on labs, and an exam voucher to sit the ISACA CCOA certification exam.
Prerequisites
Participants should ideally have:
- 2–3 years of experience in cybersecurity or a related IT field
- A foundational understanding of networking, systems, and cloud security
- Familiarity with security frameworks, risk management principles, and incident response methodologies
- We recommend the OffSec SEC-100 CyberCore as your pre-requisite course.
Target audience
This course is ideal for:
- Early-career cybersecurity professionals looking to advance their technical expertise
- Security analysts seeking hands-on training in cyber threat intelligence and response
- IT professionals transitioning into cybersecurity roles
- Professionals aiming to earn the ISACA CCOA certification
Job roles suited to this course include:
- Cybersecurity analysts
- Information security analysts
- SOC analysts
- Vulnerability analysts
- Incident response analysts
Objectives
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Identify and analyse cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities relevant to an organisation
- Monitor and interpret threat intelligence to detect potential cybersecurity incidents
- Apply security principles to manage risk and align cybersecurity strategies with business objectives
- Investigate and respond to security incidents using structured incident response frameworks
- Develop and implement security controls to protect digital assets and mitigate cyber threats
- Communicate cybersecurity risks and remediation strategies effectively within an organisation
Outline
Technology essentials
- Fundamentals of networking, systems, and cloud security
- Overview of database security, virtualisation, and containerisation
- Command-line interfaces, programming, and scripting for security operations
Cybersecurity principles and risk management
- Core cybersecurity concepts and risk frameworks
- Aligning cybersecurity with enterprise business drivers
- Cybersecurity governance, policies, and compliance
Adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)
- Understanding the evolving threat landscape
- Common attacker methodologies and tactics
- Recognising patterns, anomalies, and indicators of compromise
Incident detection and response
- Incident preparedness, detection, and mitigation
- Security monitoring and event triage
- Digital forensics and evidence collection
- Coordinating incident response across teams
Securing digital assets
- Designing countermeasures for critical infrastructure protection
- Security controls implementation and risk mitigation strategies
- Continuous improvement in cybersecurity operations
Exams and assessments
The ISACA CCOA certification exam evaluates candidates across five domains:
- Technology essentials – 25%
- Cybersecurity principles and risk management – 20%
- Adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures – 10%
- Incident detection and response – 34%
- Securing digital assets – 11%
Exam details:
- Duration: 4 hours (240 minutes)
- Format: 115 multiple-choice questions and 25 performance-based tasks
- Passing score: 450 or higher
- Language: English
Learners will have 12 months of access to an exam voucher to sit the certification exam.
Hands-on learning
This self-paced course includes:
- 12 months of access to course materials, hands-on labs, and exam preparation resources
- Scenario-based exercises simulating real-world cybersecurity incidents
- Interactive labs focused on threat detection, analysis, and mitigation strategies
- Practical use of security tools for monitoring and response
What's included
- Exam included
- Online exam voucher
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