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Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
Hack The Box · professional
HTB CDSAHack the Box Certified Defensive Security Analyst
Hack the Box Certified Defensive Security Analyst
Official pageComparing
Hack The BoxHTB CDSA
› Cost
Exam fee
HTB CDSA$215
Exam fee
$215
Annual maintenance fee
HTB CDSA—
Annual maintenance fee
—
3-year cost of ownership
HTB CDSA$215
3-year cost of ownership
$215
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
HTB CDSA—
Pass mark
—
Retake policy
HTB CDSA—
Retake policy
—
Study time
HTB CDSA150–300 hrs
Study time
150–300 hrs
Validity
HTB CDSA—
Validity
—
CPE / yr
HTB CDSA—
CPE / yr
—
Delivery
HTB CDSA—
Delivery
—
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
HTB CDSA—
Range
—
Median
HTB CDSA—
Median
—
Premium %
HTB CDSA—
Premium %
—
Role context
HTB CDSA—
Role context
—
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
HTB CDSA7.5
Schema quality
7.5
Practice evidence
HTB CDSA8.0
Practice evidence
8.0
Maintenance
HTB CDSA7.5
Maintenance
7.5
Market recognition
HTB CDSA5.0
Market recognition
5.0
Average
HTB CDSA7.0
Average
7.0
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
HTB CDSAGlobal
Recognition
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
HTB CDSA—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
DoD 8140 baseline
HTB CDSA—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
Holders worldwide
HTB CDSA—
Holders worldwide
—
Current version
HTB CDSA—
Current version
—
› Domain coverage
A10Security Operations
HTB CDSA● core
A10Security Operations
● core
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
HTB CDSA● core
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
HTB CDSA● core
A7Incident Response & Forensics
● core
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