100+ Free CCDL2 Practice Questions
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Key Facts: CCDL2 Exam
48 hours
Exam Duration
CyberDefenders
4 domains
Exam Domains
CyberDefenders
~£600
Exam Cost
CyberDefenders
1 retake
Free Retake Included
CyberDefenders
4 months
Course Access
CyberDefenders
25+
Hands-on Labs
CyberDefenders
The CCDL2 (formerly CCD) is CyberDefenders' flagship DFIR certification. The 48-hour practical exam requires investigating real-world incidents in a browser-based lab with a dedicated Elastic SIEM instance. Graders evaluate both correct answers and investigative methodology, with partial credit available. Course access (4 months, 25+ labs) and one free retake are included. The exam covers four domains: Threat Hunting, Disk Forensics, Memory Forensics, and Network Forensics.
Sample CCDL2 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CCDL2 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1In a SOC environment, a Tier 1 analyst receives an alert for a suspicious outbound connection on port 443 to an unknown IP. After verifying the IP is flagged as malicious in threat intelligence feeds, what is the MOST appropriate immediate next step?
2Which NIST SP 800-61 incident response phase focuses on stopping an attacker's foothold from spreading to additional systems?
3A threat hunter analyzing Elastic SIEM logs wants to identify processes that spawned cmd.exe from a browser process (e.g., chrome.exe). Which KQL query pattern correctly targets this parent-child relationship?
4During memory forensics with Volatility 3, which plugin is used to list all active network connections and listening sockets on a Windows memory image?
5An investigator examining a Windows disk image finds the file path C:\Users\victim\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations. What forensic artifact type is stored here?
6A malware sample communicates with its C2 over HTTPS but uses a self-signed certificate with an unusual Subject CN. Which network forensics technique is MOST effective for detecting this traffic pattern at scale?
7When performing static malware analysis on a suspected PE binary, which command extracts printable ASCII strings of at least 8 characters to look for hardcoded C2 addresses, registry keys, or encoded payloads?
8An incident responder identifies that an attacker used LLMNR/NBT-NS poisoning to capture NTLMv2 hashes. Which tool is commonly used to perform this network-based credential harvesting attack?
9In Elastic SIEM, a threat hunter wants to detect Kerberoasting activity. Which Windows Security Event ID, combined with a service ticket encryption type of RC4-HMAC (0x17), provides the strongest signal?
10During disk forensics on a Windows system, an examiner finds a file with a $DATA stream and a separate named stream, e.g., malware.exe:hidden_payload. What NTFS feature is being exploited?
About the CCDL2 Exam
The CCDL2 (Certified CyberDefender Level 2) is CyberDefenders' intermediate-to-advanced blue team certification targeting SOC analysts, DFIR professionals, and threat hunters. The 48-hour browser-based practical exam tests real investigation skills across multi-stage enterprise incidents covering threat hunting, disk forensics, memory forensics, and network forensics. This practice bank covers the theoretical knowledge underpinning those investigation skills.
Assessment
Performance-based assessment
Time Limit
48 hours
Passing Score
Not published; graded manually on answers and methodology
Exam Fee
~£600 (~$800 USD) (CyberDefenders)
CCDL2 Exam Content Outline
Threat Hunting
KQL and EQL queries in Elastic SIEM, Sysmon-based detection, MITRE ATT&CK TTP hunting (Kerberoasting, AS-REP Roasting, LOLBAS, beaconing), hunt hypothesis development
Disk Forensics
NTFS artifact analysis (MFT, ADS, timestamps, $LogFile), Windows Registry forensics (persistence, USB, ShellBags, UserAssist, AmCache), Prefetch, Eric Zimmerman tools (MFTECmd, PECmd, LECmd, JLECmd)
Memory Forensics
Volatility 3 plugins (pslist, pstree, psscan, netscan, malfind, cmdline, cmdscan, handles, dlllist, vadinfo, memmap), process injection detection, DKOM rootkits, reflective DLL injection
Network Forensics
PCAP analysis with Wireshark (TCP reassembly, display filters, stream analysis), NetworkMiner, Zeek log correlation, DNS tunneling, C2 beacon detection, JA3/JA3S fingerprinting
Incident Response and Malware Analysis
NIST SP 800-61 lifecycle, evidence acquisition (DumpIt, FTK Imager, Velociraptor), chain of custody, static and dynamic malware analysis, YARA rules, sandbox analysis, MITRE ATT&CK mapping
How to Pass the CCDL2 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Not published; graded manually on answers and methodology
- Assessment: Performance-based assessment
- Time limit: 48 hours
- Exam fee: ~£600 (~$800 USD)
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CCDL2 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CCDL2 exam format?
The CCDL2 is a 48-hour practical hands-on exam conducted entirely in a browser-based environment. No VPN, special software, or additional tools are required. Candidates investigate multi-stage realistic incidents using provided tools including a dedicated Elastic SIEM instance. The exam is open-book — you can reference course materials, notes, and the internet. Grading is manual and evaluates both your final answers and your documented investigative methodology.
What domains does the CCDL2 cover?
The CCDL2 exam covers four primary domains: Threat Hunting (Elastic SIEM, KQL/EQL, behavioral detection), Disk Forensics (Windows artifacts, NTFS, Registry, EZ-Tools), Memory Forensics (Volatility 3, process injection, network connections), and Network Forensics (Wireshark, Zeek, PCAP analysis, C2 detection). The course also includes SecOps Fundamentals, Incident Response, Email Security, and Malware Analysis modules.
How should I prepare for the CCDL2?
Complete the full CCDL2 course including all 25+ labs and bonus materials. Study Windows event IDs thoroughly and build reference checklists. Practice Volatility 3 plugins on real memory images. Get comfortable with Elastic KQL/EQL for threat hunting. Learn Eric Zimmerman's forensic tool suite (PECmd, MFTECmd, LECmd, JLECmd). Practice documenting your methodology clearly — CCDL2 graders award partial credit for correct investigative process even when final answers are imperfect.
How long does CCDL2 grading take?
Manual grading of the CCDL2 exam typically takes up to 14 business days after submission. Grading is performed by CyberDefenders staff who evaluate both the accuracy of findings and the quality of documented methodology. Delays can occur during organizational breaks. CyberDefenders provides feedback on exam performance.
Is the CCDL2 worth it for career advancement?
The CCDL2 is particularly valuable for SOC analysts (Tier 2-3), DFIR professionals, and threat hunters who want to demonstrate hands-on investigation skills. Unlike MCQ-only certifications, the practical format proves real capability to employers. It complements vendor-specific certifications and positions candidates for roles including Senior SOC Analyst ($90,000-130,000), DFIR Investigator ($95,000-140,000), and Threat Hunter ($100,000-150,000).
Is this practice exam similar to the real CCDL2?
No — this is a multiple-choice knowledge practice exam. The real CCDL2 is a hands-on practical investigation exam where you actively analyze evidence in a lab environment. This practice exam tests the theoretical knowledge that underpins those investigations: DFIR concepts, tool capabilities, Windows internals, network protocols, and MITRE ATT&CK TTPs. Pair this with hands-on lab practice on the CyberDefenders platform for complete preparation.