Cisco Certified

CyberOps
Certification Guide
Top Cisco resources to plan and prepare
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Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Table of Contents

02 Overview

04 Certifications path

06 Vocabulary

07 Training options

09 Exam overview

10 Resources

11 Next steps

CyberOps Associate Guide | Public ©2024 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 01
Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate is

about preparing you for the SOC

Today, every organization needs security of security solutions and certifications. And it
expertise, before, during, and after an attack. validates the day-to-day, tactical knowledge
Which is why the demand for cybersecurity and skills that Security Operations Center
operations (CyberOps) personnel keeps (SOC) teams need to detect and respond to
skyrocketing. Worldwide spending on cyber cybersecurity threats.

security is expected to hit a not-so-modest

$215 billion in 2024, a 14.3% jump from the This certification gives you a deep
previous year1. CyberOps teams guard understanding of the fundamentals of
business-critical infrastructure and cybersecurity operations, skills, and
applications. In real time, they protect digital procedures. And the process couldn’t be
assets, defend against threats, and respond simpler: Take one training course and pass
to attacks.

one exam—and you’re on your way to

associate-level job roles with SOC teams
How do you get started in a career in this worldwide.
exciting, high-energy field? Earn your Cisco
Certified CyberOps Associate certification. It’s
from Cisco, a leading, recognized provider

CYBERSECURITY DIVE, Cyber investments on pace to reach $215B in 2024: Gartner.,

https://www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/cyber-spending-gartner-moodys/695343/,
November 14, 2023.

CyberOps Associate Guide | Public ©2024 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 02
Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

The Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Training and certifications pay off— and
certification might be the one for you if organizations know it. Over 35% of
You know you want to specialize in respondents listed a boost in productivity as
cybersecurit the top benefit of a certified staff. Even more,
You like working in a high-stakes 34% of respondents believe that certifications
environment and responding to challenges close organizational skill gaps2. That makes
in real tim certified candidates stand out in a pool of
You like games where you can apply your applicants during the hiring process.

analytical skills to stay a step ahead of

your opponents

The network is under constant assault—and it

needs you. Cybersecurity is full of rewarding,
Here are some job titles that CyberOps meaningful, challenging work. Earning your
certification can help prepare you for Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate
certification can help your résumé stand out
Security Operations Center (SOC) analys and give you a foot in the door.

Cybersecurity enginee
IT security operations specialist

And while you build your skills, you’re also

building your income. Here’s proof. Skillsoft’s
Global Knowledge 2023 IT Skills and Salary
Report examined data from thousands of IT
professionals. Eighteen percent estimated
that the annual value of being certified is
$30,000 or more.

Skillsoft, The 20 top-paying certifications going into 2024. , https://www.skillsoft.com/

blog/top-paying-it-certifications, November 14, 2023.

CyberOps Associate Guide | Public ©2024 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 03
Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Look ahead - certification tracks

As you can see, a Cisco

Certified CyberOps
Associate certification is
one of many steps you
can take on your learning
journey. With each step,
you build your knowledge
base—and your reputation
—to become increasingly
valuable to any IT
organization.

Download poster

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Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Cisco certifications are available in

multiple levels of expertise and various
professional areas.

Earning the Cisco CyberOps certifications you Here are the different levels of Cisco
need can lead you to the career you want. certifications you can earn:
And you’ll be more competitive in a field
where 92 percent of IT professionals hold
certifications.

Associate

Cisco’s certification portfolio offers more Proof that you’ve mastered the
options than ever, empowering you to essentials to build your IT career

customize your learning path to your career,

interests, and aspirations. Since every Cisco
exam you pass earns you a certification, each Professional

milestone tells a new chapter in your story. Focus on a core technology track to
sharpen your specialized expertise

CyberOps Associate Guide | Public ©2024 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 05
Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Vocabulary

f you’re just starting out on your Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate certification journey, get to
I
know these key terms:

Authentication 
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) 

Verifying the identity of a user, device, or other A device or software application that monitors
entity in a computer system, often as a a network or systems for malicious activity or
prerequisite to allowing access to resources in policy violations.

a system.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Authorization 
A form of network security that works to
The process of giving someone permission to detect and prevent identified threats. 

do or have something in a network. 

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Encryption
A service that allows you to connect to the
The process of converting data into a coded internet via a server run by a VPN provider,
form to prevent unauthorized access.
creating a secure connection.

Decryption
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

The process of converting encrypted 
 A set of roles, policies, hardware, 


data back into its original form so it can 
 software, and procedures needed to 

be understood.
create, manage, distribute, use, store, 

Firewall 
and revoke digital certificates and 

manage public-key encryption.
A network security device that monitors and
filters incoming and outgoing network traffic
based on an organization's previously
established security policies.
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Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Digital certificate
Phishing

An electronic document used to prove the A cybercrime in which a target or targets are
ownership of a public key.
contacted by email, telephone, or text
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer message by someone posing as a legitimate
Security (TLS) 
institution to lure individuals into providing
sensitive data.

Protocols for establishing authenticated 


and encrypted links between networked Malware

computers.
Software designed to disrupt, damage, 

Access Control List (ACL) 
or gain unauthorized access to a 

computer system.

A list of permissions attached to an object

specifying which users or system processes Ransomware 

are granted access to objects, as well as what A type of malicious software designed to
operations are allowed on given objects.
block access to a computer system until a
Security Information and Event 
 sum of money is paid.

Management (SIEM)
Denial-of-Service Attack (DoS) 

Solutions that provide real-time analysis of An interruption of an authorized user's access

security alerts generated by applications and to any system or network, typically one
network hardware.
caused with malicious intent.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) 

Distributed Denial-of-Service 

A security process in which the user 
 Attack (DDoS)  

provides two different authentication 
 A type of attack where multiple compromised

factors to verify themselves. systems are used to target a single system
causing a Denial of Service (DoS) attack.

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Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Vulnerability 
Security Operations Center (SOC)

A weakness in a system that can be exploited A centralized unit that deals with 

by a threat actor, such as an attacker, to security issues on an organizational 

perform unauthorized actions within a and technical level.

computer system.
Incident response 

Penetration testing 
The methodology an organization uses to
A simulated cyber attack against your respond to and manage a cyber attack. An
computer system to check for exploitable incident response plan includes a policy that
vulnerabilities.
defines in specific terms what constitutes an
incident and provides a step-by-step process
Zero-day exploit 
to be followed during an incident.
A cyber attack that occurs on the same day a
weakness is discovered in software. At that
point, it's exploited before a fix becomes
available from its creator. 

Patch management

The process of managing a network of

computers by regularly performing system
patches and updates to improve security 

and functionality. 

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Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Training options

This is where the real work happens. You’ll There are no formal prerequisites for the
need two things: the exam topics, and a Cisco CyberOps Associate certification, but
strategy for learning, studying, and practicing.

you should understand the exam topics

before taking the exam—and develop a
The Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate strategy for how you’re going to master them.
certification exam topics is the basis for the
exam. They define the contents of both the
exam and the official training course, and it Keep in mind: When the verb for a
should be your roadmap for studying. If you topic area is “describe,” you won’t
can successfully complete the tasks defined need the same depth of knowledge
for each topic, you’re ready for the exam. for that topic as when the verbs 

are “configure,” “troubleshoot,” 

and “design.”

CyberOps Associate Guide | Public ©2024 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 09
Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Here are several training options to help

you prepare:
The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity taking the exam—and develop a strategy for
Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) how you’re going to master them.

Learning Path teaches you what you need the following options to help you
to know to become a contributing member
Check out

get started
of a Cybersecurity Operations Center
(SOC) team—all while preparing you for the Validate your skills and knowledge of
Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity entry-level cybersecurity concepts and
Operations Fundamentals (200-201 topics with the Cisco Certified Support

CBROPS) exam.
 Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity

Add the CyberOps Associate practice exam certification exam . t’s a great first step
I

to identify any knowledge gaps or toward the Cisco Certified CyberOps

weakness that you should focus on before Associate certification
taking the live exam and you’ve got the Learn the skills you need to prepare for
perfect exam prep pairing CCST with the Junior Cybersecurity

Use the to find

Cisco Learning Locator
Analyst Career Path . t’s free.
I

instructor-led courses, both in-person 


and virtual Regardless of how you prepare for
If books are your thing, check out the Cisco the exam, it’s crucial for you to get
Press Cisco CyberOps Associate CBROPS your hands on the gear to practice.
200-201 Official Cert Guide, a perfect This is called labbing, as in
“ ”

addition to your self-study plan.

“practicing in a lab environment. ”

There are no formal prerequisites for the Cisco Your ability to execute critical tasks
CyberOps Associate certification, but you will be tested on the exam, so you
should understand the exam topics before need to practice. Lab early. Lab
often. Then lab some more.
CyberOps Associate Guide | Public ©2024 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 10
Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Exam overview

Cisco certification exams are all administered as proctored exams by our testing partner, Pearson
VUE When you take the exam, you’ll be in a controlled environment to ensure fairness and to give you
the best, most consistent experience.

During the exam, it will be just you and your

knowledge and experience versus the test. Perform a system check before
Keep track of the time, read each question taking your exam.
carefully, answer each one (and if you don’t
know the answer, try to eliminate one or more
options and then guess), and keep moving to To view a walk-through demonstration
the end.

of the various exam question types and

After you pass the exam, you can link your how they function, check out the Cisco
digital certification badge to all your social Certification Exam Tutorial Videos page.

media profiles to tell the world what you’ve

achieved.

And, you can take certification exams online, 200-201 CBROPS v1.1 Exam Topics 

so you can stay on track, even when you can’t

travel to a testing center.

CyberOps Associate Guide | Public ©2024 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 11
Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Resources
CyberOps Associate CyberOps 


Essentials
Associate Prep

Still thinking about getting certified? A lread decided to get certified and
y , 


Select CyberOps Associate Essentials want to start studying? Select CyberOps

for more details about the program. It Associate Prep to find the ultimate

will help you make the best decision.

reso rces to e elop yo r sel st y plan
u d v u f- ud .

Other CyberOps resources include:

Stay connected through:

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate 
 LinkedIn

Training Videos

Facebook

Cisco Learning Blog

X, formerly known as Twitter


Cisco Certification Blogs

Cisco Learning Network

CyberOps Associate Certification

Instagram

Download 200-301CBROPS v1.1. 


Cisco YouTube Channel
Exam Topics

CyberOps Certifications Community

Use code C ROP 40 to save 40

B S

percent on your purchase of th e

Cisco CyberOps Associate CBROPS

200-201 Official Cert Guide or
Premium Edition eBook at
ciscopress.com/CBROPS

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Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Now's the perfect time

The complexity of cyberthreats has evolved. With the Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate
Cybercriminals are weaponizing data. certification, you can secure your position in
Ransomware is on the rise. And security this new, fast-paced era of cybersecurity. It
breaches are increasing operating expenses at prepares you to begin a career working as a
companies large and small.

highly in-demand associate-level
cybersecurity analysts within SOCs.
These organizations all rely on SOC teams to
vigilantly watch security systems, rapidly
detect breaches, and respond quickly and If you’re starting your cybersecurity
effectively. To succeed, SOCs desperately journey with a CCNA certification, we
need qualified cybersecurity professionals.

have great news for you! As a

Which is why right now is the perfect 
 foundational cert, CCNA establishes a
time for you to launch your career in 
 solid baseline for IT pros who want to
cybersecurity operations. build upon their knowledge with new
security skills. In fact, most of your
skills and knowledge already overlap.

CyberOps Associate Guide | Public ©2024 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 13
Overview Certifications path Vocabulary Training options Exam overview Resources Next steps

Next steps

Use this email template to let your manager

know why training and certification is so Ask your manager to sponsor your
beneficial for you—and for them. Get the help training. Once they understand the
you need to transform your career, your benefits to your organization, they will
income, and your skill set.

be eager to learn more and support you

with next steps.

Next, get help on your CyberOps Associate

Certification self-study plan directly from Cisco
for FREE. Sign up for the CyberOps Associate
Prep On Demand program. You’ll gain access Download eBook
to all kinds of resources to help you succeed,
including webinars focused on exam topics, a Download e-book
learning map, a practice quiz, access to Cisco
subject matter experts, and more.

Take these important next steps to master the

essentials to prevent, detect, and respond to
cybersecurity threats and breaches. You’ll
upgrade your resume, with training and
certification on cybersecurity operations. And
you’ll boost your confidence by gaining real-
world knowledge.

CyberOps Associate Guide | Public ©2024 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 14