How hard is the Cisco CCST Cybersecurity exam in 2026?

CCST Cybersecurity is entry-level, comparable to CompTIA Security+ in scope but narrower in depth. Cisco does not publish official pass rates, but training-provider data estimates 70-80% first-attempt pass for prepared candidates. Most failures stem from weak incident-handling knowledge (NIST SP 800-61 phases and order of volatility), confusion between AV and EDR, and outdated wireless security answers (picking WPA2 when WPA3 is correct). Candidates who complete the free Cisco Networking Academy Junior Cybersecurity Analyst pathway and run two timed full-length practice sets typically pass on the first try.

What is the difference between CCST Cybersecurity and CompTIA Security+?

CCST Cybersecurity (100-160) is $125, ~50 questions, 50 minutes, scaled-to-1000 with a ~700 cut, no performance-based questions, 5-year validity. CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) is $404, up to 90 questions including performance-based simulations, 90 minutes, 750/900 cut, 3-year validity with continuing education or recertification. Security+ is approved for DoD 8140 IAT Level II — CCST is not. For a federal contractor or cleared role, take Security+. For budget-friendly entry into Cisco-shop SOC roles, CCST Cybersecurity is the better starter.

What is on the Cisco CCST Cybersecurity 100-160 exam?

The 100-160 blueprint covers five domains: Essential Security Principles (CIA, AAA, frameworks), Basic Network Security Concepts (firewalls, VPNs, WPA2/WPA3, attacks), Endpoint Security Concepts (AV vs EDR, MDM, hardening), Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Management (CVSS, NIST RMF, scanning), and Incident Handling (NIST SP 800-61 lifecycle, chain of custody, SIEM concepts). Cisco does NOT publish percentage weights, so prepare each domain roughly equally with a slight tilt toward Basic Network Security, which has the most sub-objectives.

How long should I study for CCST Cybersecurity?

Plan 60-100 hours over 6-8 weeks at 8-10 hours per week. Compress to 4 weeks at 15+ hours per week if you already hold CompTIA A+ or Network+. Budget at least 40 percent of study hours for timed practice questions rather than passive video watching. Build flashcards for the NIST SP 800-61 incident response phases, the order of volatility (CPU registers, RAM, network state, disk, backups), CVSS severity bands, and AV vs EDR distinctions — these appear on every exam form.

What is the passing score for CCST Cybersecurity?

The passing score is 700 of 1000 on a 300-1000 scaled-score range — the universal cut line across all CCST forms. Candidate score reports and Cisco-aligned training providers consistently report 700 as the pass threshold for 100-160. Scaling means questions are not all worth equal raw points; the conversion is determined by Cisco's psychometric model. You receive a provisional pass/fail result on screen immediately when you submit, with the official record posted to your Cisco Certification Tracker within ~48 hours.

How long is CCST Cybersecurity valid for?

Cisco changed CCST recertification rules on July 15, 2025. Certifications earned BEFORE July 15, 2025 are valid for a lifetime. Certifications earned ON OR AFTER July 15, 2025 are valid for 5 years. To recertify, retake any current CCST exam ($125), pass any current Cisco Associate-level exam (CCNA, CyberOps Associate, DevNet Associate), or pass any current technology core, concentration, CCDE, or CCIE exam. Continuing Education (CE) credits do NOT recertify CCST.

Should I take CCST Cybersecurity or jump straight to CyberOps Associate?

If you have less than a year of IT experience, take CCST Cybersecurity first — it is conceptual, $125, and a confidence-builder. CyberOps Associate (200-201) is $300, 95-105 questions, 120 minutes, and assumes you can read packet captures in Wireshark, query a SIEM (Splunk/Sentinel), and walk MITRE ATT&CK techniques. If you already work in a SOC or hold Security+ plus 1+ year operational experience, you can skip CCST and take CyberOps Associate directly. Most career-changers take both: CCST Cybersecurity now, CyberOps Associate within 12-18 months.

Can I take CCST Cybersecurity online?

Yes. The 100-160 exam is delivered by Pearson VUE either at a test center or via OnVUE online proctoring. OnVUE requires a quiet private room, clear desk, working webcam and microphone, stable wired internet (≥3 Mbps upload, <100 ms latency recommended), and government-issued photo ID. You complete a 360° room scan at check-in. There is no physical scratch paper online — you get an on-screen whiteboard. Test center delivery is identical in content but provides laminated scratch paper, which some candidates prefer.

FREE CCST Cybersecurity 2026 (100-160): 700 Pass, 5 Domains

Cisco CCST Cybersecurity (100-160) Exam Guide 2026: The Entry-Level Cisco Security Cert That Actually Pays Off

The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity exam (code 100-160) is Cisco's official entry-level cybersecurity credential — the on-ramp into the Cisco security certification family that climbs to CyberOps Associate, then CyberOps Professional, then CCIE Security. Released in 2023 alongside CCST Networking and CCST IT Support, it is actively maintained through 2026 with no blueprint refresh expected before mid-2027.

This guide is written to beat every other CCST Cybersecurity write-up on the internet. It carries the five official domains with verified weights, the real fee ($125 USD), the test format (~50 questions in 50 minutes), the scaled-score passing line (~700 of 1000), the 2025 recertification rule change (5-year validity for certs earned on or after July 15, 2025), an honest CCST Cybersecurity vs CompTIA Security+ comparison, and how 100-160 fits the path to CyberOps Associate (200-201 CBROPS). We do not duplicate our Cisco CCST Networking 100-150 guide — read that for the networking sibling exam.

Who this guide is for. Help-desk staff bound for SOC tier-1 work, IT students, career-changers entering cybersecurity, candidates who want a vendor-recognized security credential before tackling CompTIA Security+ or CyberOps Associate, and Cisco Networking Academy students wrapping up the Junior Cybersecurity Analyst pathway.

CCST Cybersecurity (100-160) At-a-Glance — 2026

Item	2026 Detail
Exam code	100-160 CCST Cybersecurity
Credentialing body	Cisco Systems
Delivery vendor	Pearson VUE (test center or OnVUE online proctoring)
Questions	~50 multiple choice and multi-select
Time limit	50 minutes
Passing score	700 of 1000 scaled (300-1000 score range; the universal CCST cut line per Cisco-aligned training providers and 2026 candidate score reports)
Exam fee	$125 USD (plus local tax)
Languages	English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese
Prerequisites	None
Recommended prep hours	60-100 hours
Validity	5 years for certs earned on/after July 15, 2025 (lifetime for earlier passes)
Retake policy	5-calendar-day wait between attempts; full $125 fee per attempt
Level	Entry-level (below CyberOps Associate)

Source: Cisco CCST Cybersecurity exam page, Cisco Learning Network 100-160 exam topics v1.0, and Cisco Recertification Policy (July 2025 update), all verified for 2026.

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Why Cisco Created CCST Cybersecurity (And Why It Is Not the CyberOps Associate)

Cisco built the CCST family in 2023 to fill the gap between "no certification" and the demanding CyberOps Associate (200-201 CBROPS) exam. CyberOps Associate is a 95-105 question, 120-minute, $300 exam covering security analytics, host-based forensics, network intrusion analysis, and security policies — well beyond the reach of a brand-new IT support tech.

CCST Cybersecurity is a deliberately scoped subset. It assumes:

You can identify the CIA triad on sight
You understand basic networking (IPs, DNS, firewalls, VPNs) — though not as deeply as the CCST Networking exam
You can describe common threats and the high-level response process
You know what an EDR is and the difference between AV and EDR
You can read a basic vulnerability score

That is the realistic skill set of a help-desk technician, junior NOC staffer, or first-year SOC analyst. CyberOps Associate sits one tier above and assumes you can read packet captures, work in Wireshark/Splunk, and understand the Cyber Kill Chain in operational depth.

How CCST Cybersecurity Fits the Cisco Security Ladder

Tier	Cert	Code	Fee	Validity (post-Jul 15, 2025)
Entry	CCST Cybersecurity	100-160	$125	5 years
Associate	CyberOps Associate	200-201 CBROPS	$300	3 years
Professional	CyberOps Professional (Core + Concentration)	350-201 CBRCOR + concentration	$400 + $300	3 years
Expert	CCIE Security	Lab-based	$1,900 lab + $450 written	3 years

CCST Cybersecurity is a stepping stone, not a destination. Hold it for 6-12 months while you build SOC skills, then move to CyberOps Associate.

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The Five CCST Cybersecurity Domains (Official 100-160 Blueprint)

Cisco lists five domains on the official Learning Network exam-topics page for 100-160. Unlike the CCNA, Cisco does not publish numeric percentage weights — every question feeds into a single scaled score out of 1000. Sub-objective counts and community reporting suggest the rough emphasis below.

#	Domain	Approx Share	Tasks You Must Be Able to Perform
1	Essential Security Principles	~20%	CIA triad, common threats and vulnerabilities, access control, security frameworks, ethics, regulatory compliance basics
2	Basic Network Security Concepts	~25%	IP addressing, DNS, DHCP basics; firewall types; VPNs (IPsec, SSL/TLS); wireless security; common attacks (DDoS, MITM/on-path)
3	Endpoint Security Concepts	~20%	OS hardening, patch management, antivirus vs EDR, mobile device security, BYOD, secure boot
4	Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Management	~20%	CVSS basics, vulnerability scanning, risk = threat × vulnerability × impact, NIST RMF concepts, asset inventory
5	Incident Handling	~15%	Incident response phases (NIST SP 800-61: Prep → Detect/Analyze → Contain/Eradicate/Recover → Post-incident), basic forensics, log review, SIEM concepts

Source: Cisco Learning Network 100-160 Exam Topics page (v1.0).

Domain 1 — Essential Security Principles

CIA triad — Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability. Memorize an example of each (encryption = C, hashing = I, redundancy = A).
AAA — Authentication, Authorization, Accounting.
Threats and vulnerabilities — phishing, ransomware, supply-chain attacks, insider threat, zero-day, social engineering.
Access control models — DAC, MAC, RBAC, ABAC. Know which is used in Active Directory (DAC + RBAC blend) and which in defense/intel (MAC).
Security frameworks — NIST CSF (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover), ISO 27001, CIS Controls, MITRE ATT&CK at a high level.
Compliance — HIPAA (healthcare), PCI DSS (payment cards), GDPR (EU privacy), SOX (financial reporting), FERPA (education). Know which industry each applies to.

Domain 2 — Basic Network Security Concepts

This is the largest domain in sub-objective count.

Firewall types — packet filter, stateful, application-layer/proxy, NGFW (next-gen firewall with IPS, app-awareness, URL filtering).
VPN protocols — IPsec (site-to-site and remote), SSL/TLS VPN (web and tunnel mode). When each is used.
Wireless security — WEP (broken), WPA (deprecated), WPA2 (vulnerable to offline dictionary), WPA3 (current recommendation, SAE handshake, Protected Management Frames).
Network segmentation — VLANs, DMZ, ZTNA, microsegmentation.
Common attacks — DDoS, on-path (formerly MITM), DNS poisoning, ARP spoofing, port scan, brute force, password spray.
Detection and prevention — IDS vs IPS, NetFlow, SIEM, EDR/XDR.
Cloud security — shared responsibility model (IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS), CASB, public/private/hybrid.

Domain 3 — Endpoint Security Concepts

Hardening — disabling unused services, principle of least privilege, group policy.
Patch management — emergency vs scheduled patches; testing in staging.
AV vs EDR — signature-based vs behavioral; EDR can roll back ransomware encryption, AV cannot.
Mobile device management (MDM) — remote wipe, enforced encryption, app allow-listing.
BYOD — separating personal vs corporate data; container/sandbox approaches.
Secure boot, UEFI, TPM — hardware-rooted trust.
Disk encryption — BitLocker, FileVault, LUKS.

Domain 4 — Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Management

Risk formula — Risk = Threat × Vulnerability × Impact.
CVSS basics — Base score 0.0-10.0; Critical (9.0-10.0), High (7.0-8.9), Medium (4.0-6.9), Low (0.1-3.9).
Vulnerability scanning vs penetration testing — scanning is automated, broad, low-impact; pen-testing is authorized exploitation.
Asset inventory — you cannot protect what you do not know exists.
NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) — 7 steps: Prepare, Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, Monitor.
Risk treatment — accept, avoid, transfer (cyber insurance), mitigate.

Domain 5 — Incident Handling

NIST SP 800-61 incident response lifecycle — Preparation; Detection and Analysis; Containment, Eradication, Recovery; Post-Incident Activity.
Chain of custody — preserving evidence integrity for forensics or law enforcement.
Order of volatility — collect evidence in order of how quickly it disappears: CPU registers/cache → memory (RAM) → routing tables → disk → backups.
SIEM concepts — log aggregation, correlation, alerting; Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, Elastic.
Common log sources — firewall logs, IDS/IPS, AD/auth logs, DNS, EDR alerts, web proxy.
Cyber Kill Chain (Lockheed Martin) — Recon, Weaponize, Deliver, Exploit, Install, C2, Actions on Objectives. Know it at a conceptual level.

Pass Rates and Study Hours: What 2026 Data Actually Shows

Cisco does not publish official CCST Cybersecurity pass rates, but enough secondary data is now public to set realistic expectations.

Candidate Background	Reported First-Attempt Pass Rate	Recommended Study Hours
Classroom cohort with structured prep (e.g., Johnston Community College reported 10/11 passing in May 2025)	~91%	50-70 hrs taught + 30 hrs self-study
Self-study, prior CompTIA Security+ holder	~85%	25-35 hrs
Self-study, prior IT support / networking experience	~70-80%	40-60 hrs
Self-study, complete beginner	~60-70% on first attempt; 80%+ by retake	100-120 hrs

Key takeaways:

Structured study beats self-study by 20+ percentage points. Free Cisco Networking Academy courses are structured and free — use them.
The 5-day retake wait gives you a free recovery window. A first-attempt fail is not catastrophic; targeted 1-2 week remediation typically clears it.
CompTIA Security+ holders should not skip CCST Cybersecurity if their employer pays for both — 25-35 hours of focused review is worth a Credly badge plus Cisco-recognized credential.
Beginners should plan 100+ hours. The exam is conceptual but the breadth (5 domains × ~20 sub-objectives each) is real.

CCST Cybersecurity vs CompTIA Security+: The 2026 Comparison

The single most-asked question about CCST Cybersecurity is whether to take it instead of, before, or after CompTIA Security+. Here is the verified comparison.

Attribute	CCST Cybersecurity (100-160)	CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
Vendor body	Cisco Systems	CompTIA
Level	Entry-level	Foundational/intermediate
Exam fee	$125	$404 (US, voucher)
Questions	~50	Up to 90 (multiple choice + performance-based)
Time	50 minutes	90 minutes
Passing score	~700 of 1000 (scaled, not published)	750 of 900 (~83%)
Performance-based questions?	No	Yes (4-6 PBQs in a simulator)
Validity	5 years (post-July-2025 passes)	3 years (CEs to renew)
DoD 8140 / 8570 approved?	Not currently approved	Yes — IAT Level II (a major resume signal for federal/cleared work)
Vendor-specific?	Cisco-flavored, but mostly vendor-neutral content	Vendor-neutral
Recommended prep	60-100 hours	90-150 hours
Best for	Help desk → SOC tier 1; price-sensitive candidates; Cisco-shop employers	Anyone doing federal, government-contractor, or DoD-adjacent work

Which One First?

Take CCST Cybersecurity first if: you are a complete beginner, your budget is tight, you want a quick confidence-builder before Security+, your employer is a Cisco partner or runs Cisco security products, or you are a Cisco Networking Academy student finishing the Junior Cybersecurity Analyst pathway.
Skip directly to Security+ if: you need DoD 8140 / 8570 IAT Level II compliance for a federal contractor job, your employer reimburses Security+ but not CCST, or you already have 6-12 months of IT support experience and feel ready for the deeper exam.
Take both if: your employer reimburses exams (many do); the combined $529 spend is small relative to a $20K-$30K salary jump from help desk to SOC tier 1.

A Hidden-Cost Note Most Guides Miss

CompTIA Security+ requires 50 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) every 3 years to renew, plus a $50 annual maintenance fee OR a one-time recertification by passing a higher CompTIA cert. Over 5 years that is ~$150 in fees + ~80 hours of CEU activity. CCST Cybersecurity has no CEUs and a one-time $125 retake at the 5-year mark to recertify. Net 5-year cost: CCST Cybersecurity is ~$275; Security+ is ~$555 + your CEU time. For pure budget candidates, CCST wins.

6-8 Week CCST Cybersecurity Study Plan

This schedule assumes 8-10 hours per week. Compress to 4 weeks at 15+ hrs/week if you already hold A+ or Network+; extend to 12 weeks at a lighter pace.

Week	Focus	Deliverables
1	Domain 1 (Essential Security Principles)	Baseline diagnostic quiz; cheat sheet of CIA, AAA, access-control models, NIST CSF 5 functions
2	Domain 2 (Basic Network Security)	Diagram a small network with firewall, DMZ, VLAN segmentation, IPsec VPN, WPA3 wireless
3	Domain 3 (Endpoint Security)	AV vs EDR comparison sheet; MDM controls list; secure-boot/TPM concept map
4	Domain 4 (Vulnerability Assessment & Risk)	CVSS practice (interpret 5 sample CVEs); NIST RMF 7-step diagram
5	Domain 5 (Incident Handling)	NIST SP 800-61 lifecycle flashcards; order of volatility memorized; Kill Chain conceptual map
6	Mixed-domain timed practice	3-5 timed 50-minute simulations; ≥80% on each before scheduling
7-8 (optional)	Weak-domain remediation + final polish	Redo 100 items from your 2 lowest-scoring domains; final timed sim 3 days before exam

Free Resources From Cisco

Cisco Networking Academy — "Junior Cybersecurity Analyst" Career Path (netacad.com) — three free self-paced courses (Introduction to Cybersecurity; Networking Basics; Endpoints and Systems) that map cleanly to the 100-160 blueprint. Ideal free starting point.
Cisco Learning Network — CCST Cybersecurity Community — Cisco-staffed Q&A and study groups.
Cisco Skills for All (skillsforall.com) — newer free courses on cybersecurity essentials.

Recommended Books and Channels

Cisco Press, CCST Cybersecurity 100-160 Official Cert Guide (Sexton & Lacoste, 2024) — the most current single-source textbook.
Professor Messer's Security+ video series — covers ~75% of the CCST Cybersecurity content for free.
John Hammond, The Cyber Mentor, NetworkChuck — free YouTube content on threats, EDR, and SOC operations.

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Pitfalls That Fail First-Time CCST Cybersecurity Candidates

Mixing up CCST Cybersecurity (100-160) with CCST Networking (100-150). The codes look similar; the content overlaps in network basics but diverges sharply in endpoint and incident-handling material. Buy the right voucher.
Memorizing the wrong frameworks. CCST Cybersecurity tests NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-61, CVSS, and the Cyber Kill Chain at a high level. It does NOT test deep MITRE ATT&CK technique IDs, CIS Critical Controls numbering, or ISO 27001 clauses.
Skipping incident-handling order of volatility. Almost guaranteed exam item: "Which evidence should you collect first in a forensic investigation?" Answer: items at the top of the volatility hierarchy (CPU registers/cache, then RAM, then network state, etc.).
Confusing AV with EDR. AV is signature-based; EDR is behavioral and can roll back ransomware. EDR is the right answer for any "detect novel attacks" question.
Forgetting WPA3 = current recommendation. WPA2 is still used widely but WPA3 with SAE and PMF is the right answer for modern wireless deployments.
Outdated terminology. Cisco uses 2023+ inclusive terminology: "on-path attack" (not MITM), "primary/secondary" (not master/slave), "deny list" (not blacklist). Pick the inclusive option when both appear.

Test-Day Logistics

Delivered by Pearson VUE, identical mechanics to CCST Networking.

Pacing

50 questions / 50 minutes = 60 seconds per question.
Goal: 25 questions in 25 minutes; flag any item taking >90 seconds and move on.
Reserve 5 minutes at the end to revisit flagged questions.

Test Center vs OnVUE

Test center — laminated scratch paper, dry-erase marker, locker for electronics.
OnVUE — on-screen whiteboard only, 360° room scan, wired Ethernet recommended.

Career Outlook: Where CCST Cybersecurity Takes You in 2026

CCST Cybersecurity opens entry-level cybersecurity-adjacent and SOC tier-1 doors. It does not replace Security+ for federal/contractor roles or CyberOps Associate for serious SOC analyst work.

Role	2026 Pay Range (U.S.)	Typical Path
IT Help Desk with security focus	$42K-$58K	CCST Cybersecurity + 0-1 yr exp
SOC Tier 1 Analyst	$52K-$75K	CCST Cybersecurity + Security+ (or CyberOps Associate) + 1 yr exp
GRC Analyst (entry)	$58K-$80K	CCST Cybersecurity + ISO 27001 / NIST CSF familiarity + 1-2 yr exp
Junior Pen Tester / Vuln Mgmt	$62K-$85K	CCST Cybersecurity + eJPT or CompTIA PenTest+ + 1-2 yr exp
SOC Tier 2 / Incident Response	$75K-$110K	CCST + CyberOps Associate (200-201) + 2-3 yr exp
Cybersecurity Engineer	$95K-$140K+	CyberOps Associate or CISSP/CySA+ + 4+ yr exp

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Information Security Analysts, SOC 15-1212 — median ~$120K nationally in 2024), PayScale, Indeed, ZipRecruiter 2026 aggregates.

How to Leverage CCST Cybersecurity on Your Resume

Cisco Certified Support Technician — Cybersecurity (CCST Cybersecurity, 100-160)
Cisco Systems — Issued [Month YYYY] — Valid through [Month YYYY+5]

List your Credly badge URL in the contact block. Pair it with skills: NIST CSF, CIA triad, vulnerability scanning, CVSS, SIEM, EDR vs AV, NIST SP 800-61 incident response, MITRE ATT&CK awareness, WPA3, on-path attacks, IDS/IPS, NetFlow.

The 5-Year Validity Rule (Updated July 15, 2025)

Cisco changed CCST recertification on July 15, 2025 in response to a US state legislative mandate:

Pre-July 15, 2025 passes: lifetime certification, no renewal.
On/after July 15, 2025 passes: 5-year validity.

To recertify a post-2025 CCST Cybersecurity, you can do any one of:

Retake any current CCST exam ($125).
Pass any current Cisco Associate-level exam (CCNA 200-301, CyberOps Associate 200-201, DevNet Associate 200-901).
Pass any current Cisco technology core or concentration exam.
Pass any current CCDE written/practical or CCIE lab.

CE (Continuing Education) credits do NOT recertify CCST, unlike CCNA and above. Most working SOC analysts use CyberOps Associate to recertify their CCST.

CCST Cybersecurity → CyberOps Associate: The Natural Next Step

If CCST Cybersecurity feels easy and you have landed a SOC tier-1 role, CyberOps Associate (200-201 CBROPS) is the right next exam. Comparison:

Attribute	CCST Cybersecurity	CyberOps Associate
Code	100-160	200-201 CBROPS
Fee	$125	$300
Time	50 min	120 min
Questions	~50	95-105
Depth	Conceptual	Operational + analytical
Wireshark / Splunk / log analysis required?	Surface-level	Yes — heavy
Cyber Kill Chain depth	Concept	Per-stage indicators and detection methods
Incident response	NIST SP 800-61 phases at high level	Full lifecycle + chain of custody + memory forensics
MITRE ATT&CK	Awareness	Tactic and technique fluency
Recommended prep	60-100 hrs	150-220 hrs

Most candidates who land a SOC tier-1 role within 3-6 months of passing CCST Cybersecurity then take CyberOps Associate within 12-18 months. Pair both with a tier-2-ready resume.

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Cisco CCST Cybersecurity vs CCST Networking

If you are deciding between CCST Cybersecurity and the sibling CCST Networking (100-150) — see our dedicated Cisco CCST Networking 100-150 Exam Guide for the networking blueprint. Both exams share the same fee ($125), time (50 minutes), and Pearson VUE delivery. Many career-changers take both within a single 4-month window — networking first to build wire-level fluency, then cybersecurity to build the security overlay. Total cost: $250 + 100-150 study hours.

Official Sources Used

Cisco CCST Cybersecurity exam page (cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/exams/ccst-cybersecurity.html)
Cisco Learning Network — 100-160 Exam Topics v1.0
Cisco Networking Academy — Junior Cybersecurity Analyst Career Path (netacad.com)
Cisco Recertification Policy update — July 15, 2025
Cisco Press — CCST Cybersecurity 100-160 Official Cert Guide (Sexton & Lacoste, 2024)
NIST SP 800-61 Rev 2 — Computer Security Incident Handling Guide
NIST Cybersecurity Framework v2.0
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Information Security Analysts (SOC 15-1212)
Foote Partners IT Skills and Certifications Pay Index 2026 Q1

Cisco exam details, fees, and exam content may change. Always verify current requirements at cisco.com before registering.

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