400+ Free CySA+ Practice Questions

Pass your CompTIA CySA+ Cybersecurity Analyst (CS0-003) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

~70-75% Pass Rate

400+ Questions

100% Free

1 / 400

Question 1

Score: 0/0

What type of threat intelligence focuses on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors?

Strategic intelligence

Tactical intelligence

Operational intelligence

Technical intelligence

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CySA+ Exam

~70-75%

Estimated Pass Rate

Industry estimate

750/900

Passing Score

CompTIA

60-80 hrs

Study Time

Recommended

DoD 8570

Approved

CSSP Analyst/IR

$404

Exam Fee

CompTIA

165 min

Exam Duration

CompTIA

CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003) is an intermediate-level cybersecurity certification for security analysts and SOC professionals. The exam has up to 85 questions in 165 minutes, requiring 750/900 to pass. Domain 1: Security Operations (33%) is the largest, followed by Domain 2: Vulnerability Management (30%), Domain 3: Incident Response (20%), and Domain 4: Reporting and Communication (17%). The estimated pass rate is 70-75% for well-prepared candidates. CySA+ is DoD 8570/8140 approved for CSSP Analyst and CSSP Incident Responder roles.

Sample CySA+ Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CySA+ exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 400+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What type of threat intelligence focuses on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors?

A.Strategic intelligence

B.Tactical intelligence

C.Operational intelligence

D.Technical intelligence

Explanation: Tactical intelligence focuses on TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) used by threat actors. Strategic intelligence focuses on high-level trends and motivations, operational intelligence focuses on specific campaigns or attacks, and technical intelligence includes IOCs (Indicators of Compromise) like IP addresses and file hashes.

2Which SIEM component is responsible for collecting and normalizing log data from various sources?

A.Correlation engine

B.Log collector

C.Dashboard

D.Alert manager

Explanation: The log collector (also called log aggregator or forwarder) is responsible for collecting log data from various sources and normalizing it into a common format. The correlation engine analyzes patterns across logs, dashboards visualize data, and alert managers handle notification workflows.

3What is the primary purpose of an IOC (Indicator of Compromise)?

A.To encrypt sensitive data

B.To identify potential malicious activity

C.To patch vulnerabilities

D.To authenticate users

Explanation: IOCs (Indicators of Compromise) are forensic artifacts that indicate potential malicious activity or security breaches. They include file hashes, IP addresses, domain names, registry keys, and other artifacts that help identify compromised systems.

4Which log format is commonly used for network device logging and follows a standardized structure?

A.CSV

B.XML

C.Syslog

D.JSON

Explanation: Syslog is a standardized protocol for logging network device events. It uses a standard format with priority, timestamp, hostname, and message fields. While JSON and XML can be used, syslog remains the most common standard for network devices.

5What is threat hunting?

A.Waiting for alerts to trigger

B.Proactively searching for threats that evade detection

C.Installing antivirus software

D.Creating firewall rules

Explanation: Threat hunting is the proactive process of searching for threats that have evaded existing security controls and detection mechanisms. Unlike reactive monitoring that waits for alerts, threat hunting actively seeks out adversaries using hypotheses and analysis.

6A security analyst notices multiple failed login attempts from various IP addresses targeting a single user account, followed by a successful login from an unusual location. Which type of attack is most likely occurring?

A.Phishing campaign

B.Password spraying attack

C.Credential stuffing attack

D.Brute force attack

Explanation: This pattern indicates a brute force attack, where attackers systematically try different passwords against a single account. The multiple failed attempts followed by success suggests the password was eventually guessed. Password spraying uses common passwords across many accounts, while credential stuffing uses breached credentials.

7Which MITRE ATT&CK tactic represents the initial phase where an adversary tries to gain entry into the network?

A.Execution

B.Persistence

C.Initial Access

D.Discovery

Explanation: Initial Access is the MITRE ATT&CK tactic that represents techniques used by adversaries to gain an initial foothold in a network. This includes techniques like phishing, exploiting public-facing applications, and external remote services.

8An analyst is investigating network traffic and notices DNS queries to domains with high entropy names like "x8j2k9m3p.cloud-domain.net." What should the analyst suspect?

A.Legitimate CDN traffic

B.DNS tunneling or DGA activity

C.Normal web browsing

D.Email server communication

Explanation: High-entropy domain names are characteristic of Domain Generation Algorithms (DGAs) used by malware to communicate with C2 servers, or DNS tunneling to exfiltrate data. The randomized names help evade domain blacklisting.

9Which Windows Event Log ID would be most relevant for tracking successful user logins?

A.Event ID 4624

B.Event ID 4625

C.Event ID 4648

D.Event ID 4672

Explanation: Event ID 4624 indicates a successful account logon. Event ID 4625 indicates failed logon attempts, Event ID 4648 indicates explicit credential logon, and Event ID 4672 indicates special privileges assigned to a new logon.

10What is the primary benefit of using SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response) platforms?

A.Replacing all security analysts

B.Automating repetitive tasks and orchestrating incident response

C.Eliminating the need for firewalls

D.Creating threat intelligence feeds

Explanation: SOAR platforms automate repetitive security tasks, orchestrate workflows between different security tools, and help coordinate incident response activities. They augment analyst capabilities rather than replacing analysts entirely.

About the CySA+ Exam

The CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) CS0-003 certification validates intermediate-level security analytics skills focusing on security operations, threat detection, vulnerability management, incident response, and security reporting. Updated for 2025/2026 with cloud security analytics, SOAR/XDR automation, threat hunting, and Zero Trust concepts.

Questions

85 scored questions

Time Limit

165 minutes

Passing Score

750/900 (approx 83%)

Exam Fee

$404 USD (CompTIA / Pearson VUE)

CySA+ Exam Content Outline

33%

Security Operations

Threat intelligence, SIEM, log analysis, indicators of compromise (IOCs), threat hunting, behavioral analytics, SOAR/XDR, network/host analysis, cloud monitoring

30%

Vulnerability Management

Vulnerability scanning, CVSS v3.1 scoring, risk prioritization, patch management, configuration assessment, cloud/container security, attack surface management

20%

Incident Response and Management

MITRE ATT&CK framework, kill chain, containment/eradication/recovery, digital forensics, memory analysis, root cause analysis, post-incident activities

17%

Reporting and Communication

Stakeholder communications, vulnerability reports, metrics/KPIs, executive/board reporting, regulatory compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS), lessons learned

How to Pass the CySA+ Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 750/900 (approx 83%)
Exam length: 85 questions
Time limit: 165 minutes
Exam fee: $404 USD

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CySA+ Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus on Security Operations (33%) and Vulnerability Management (30%) — together they make up nearly two-thirds of the exam

2Master the MITRE ATT&CK framework and understand how to map TTPs to detection strategies

3Practice log analysis from common sources: Windows Event Logs, syslog, firewall logs, DNS logs, and cloud trail logs

4Understand vulnerability scanning concepts: authenticated vs unauthenticated scans, scan scope, and credential requirements

5Know the incident response lifecycle from NIST SP 800-61: preparation, detection/analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident

6Familiarize yourself with CVSS v3.1 scoring and how to interpret vulnerability severity ratings

7Study SOAR/XDR concepts: automation playbooks, orchestration, and extended detection and response capabilities

8Complete 200+ practice questions and score 80%+ consistently before scheduling your exam

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CySA+ CS0-003 exam format?

The CySA+ CS0-003 exam has up to 85 questions with a 165-minute time limit. Question types include multiple choice and performance-based questions (PBQs). You need a score of 750 on a scale of 100-900 to pass. The exam fee is $404 USD.

What are the prerequisites for CySA+?

CompTIA recommends 4 years of hands-on experience in security analytics or related roles, along with Security+ or equivalent knowledge. However, many candidates with 2-3 years of SOC, incident response, or security operations experience successfully pass with dedicated study. Network+ and Security+ are recommended but not required.

What changed in CS0-003 vs CS0-002?

CS0-003 (released June 2023) emphasizes threat hunting, cloud security analytics, SOAR/XDR automation, and modern detection methodologies. The exam includes expanded coverage of MITRE ATT&CK and D3FEND frameworks, threat intelligence platforms, container/Kubernetes security, and cloud-native security monitoring. CS0-002 retired on July 31, 2024.

Is CySA+ DoD approved?

Yes, CompTIA CySA+ is approved under DoD Directive 8570/8140 for CSSP Analyst and CSSP Incident Responder positions. This makes it valuable for government and defense contractor roles requiring security analytics expertise.

How long should I study for CySA+?

Plan for 60-80 hours of study over 6-10 weeks. Focus on Security Operations (33% of exam) and Vulnerability Management (30%) — together they make up nearly two-thirds of the exam. Complete 200+ practice questions and score 80%+ consistently before scheduling. Hands-on experience with SIEM, vulnerability scanners, and incident response tools significantly helps.

What jobs does CySA+ qualify me for?

CySA+ prepares candidates for roles including SOC Analyst (Levels I-III), Security Analyst, Threat Intelligence Analyst, Incident Response Analyst, Vulnerability Analyst, Cybersecurity Specialist, and Junior Security Engineer. Average salaries range from $75,000-$95,000 for entry-level to $110,000-$145,000+ for experienced analysts.