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Compare certifications Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
ISC2 · professional
SSCP (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner
The SSCP is ISC2's entry-level certification below the CISSP and targets technically active security professionals with initial work experience. Since October 2025, the exam uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), which customizes the exam experience individually and increases integrity. The SSCP covers seven technical domains, from access control through cryptography to network security, and positions itself as practical proof of operational security competence. It is less well-known than Security+ or GSEC, but benefits from ISC2's strong brand and serves well as an intermediate step toward the CISSP. The effort for annual certification maintenance (AMF + CPEs) is moderate.
Official page CompTIA · associate
CySA+ CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst+
SOC analyst skills: triage, log analysis, vulnerability management basics.
Official page Comparing
ISC2 SSCP
CompTIA CySA+
› Cost Annual maintenance fee
$125/yr
$50/yr
3-year cost of ownership
$624
$554
› Exam mechanics Pass mark
SSCP 700/1000 (scaled)
CySA+ 750/900 (~83%)
Pass mark
700/1000 (scaled)
750/900 (~83%)
Retake policy
SSCP $599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
CySA+ $404 fee · 0d wait
Retake policy
$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
$404 fee · 0d wait
Study time
SSCP 60–150 hrs
CySA+ 60–120 hrs
Study time
60–150 hrs
60–120 hrs
Delivery
SSCP test center
CySA+ test center
Delivery
test center
test center
› Salary signal (US base) Range
SSCP $75K – $115K
CySA+ $75K – $110K
Range
$75K – $115K
$75K – $110K
Role context
SSCP SOC analyst / hands-on security operator, US, 1-3 years experience required for cert.
CySA+ SOC analyst tier 2 / threat hunter, US, 2–5 years.
Role context
SOC analyst / hands-on security operator, US, 1-3 years experience required for cert.
SOC analyst tier 2 / threat hunter, US, 2–5 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10) › Recognition & lifecycle Recognition
SSCP Global
CySA+ Global · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK
Holders worldwide
10,000
50,000
Current version
SSCP 2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
CySA+ CS0-003 (2023-06)
Current version
2024 CBK refresh (2024-04)
CS0-003 (2023-06)
› Domain coverage A10 Security Operations
● core
● core
A11 Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
A11 Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
·
● core
A2 Network Security
● core
·
A24 Exposure Management & Attack Surface
A24 Exposure Management & Attack Surface
·
○ touched
A6 Identity & Access Management
A6 Identity & Access Management
● core
·
A7 Incident Response & Forensics
A7 Incident Response & Forensics
·
○ touched
A8 Threat Intelligence
·
● core
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