CySA+ vs CASP+: How to Choose Your Cybersecurity Path
As cyber threat levels increase, vigilant enterprises are staffing up to protect themselves. Many are looking to add both security analysts and risk managers to their cybersecurity workforce. Maybe you’re looking to win one of these cybersecurity jobs? If so, what certifications will you need?
In their cybersecurity certification roadmap, CompTIA set out a certification pathway from their baseline Security+ certification to the Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) and then to the Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+).
Do you need both CySA+ and CASP+, or can you fast-track your cybersecurity career by skipping the CySA+ certification step and going straight for the CASP+? In this article, we'll explore the two certifications and help you decide if skipping the CySA+ step is a wise choice.
Understanding CySA+ vs CASP+
Before we discuss whether it's worth skipping a step, let’s examine these two cybersecurity certifications in detail.
What is CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst CySA+?
If you’re currently in—or planning to get—a job involved in the day-to-day identification of organizational threats, vulnerabilities, and risks, then the CySA+ is the right cybersecurity certification for you!
This technical accreditation is directly relevant to the work you’ll do as an IT security analyst or in related jobs such as threat intelligence analyst, vulnerability analyst, or security engineer.
In these roles, you will routinely:
Monitor security operations and identify process improvements,
Analyze vulnerability assessments and recommend mitigations,
Undertake incident response and management, and
Provide timely stakeholder reports on security incidents, actions taken, and results.
Before you try for CySA+ certification, you need to be an early career security technician with a baseline of three or more years of experience in network administration and security operations.
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
While the CySA+ certification is for security technicians, the CASP+ is an advanced-level certification for security practitioners such as security architects, cybersecurity engineers, and risk managers.
Before attempting the CASP+, you’ll need to have 10 years of experience in IT, including 5 years of experience using CySA+ cybersecurity skills!
The CASP+ certification is directed to professionals who design and implement cybersecurity policies and frameworks. To this end, CASP+ covers both the architectural and engineering aspects of cybersecurity frameworks and will validate your ability to:
Analyze security requirements and design an enterprise-wide, zero-trust security architecture,
Undertake cyber threat management, vulnerability assessment and risk mitigation, incident response, and digital forensics analysis,
Design and manage enterprise metrics for cybersecurity resilience and regulatory compliance, and
Design and implement security configurations for endpoint control, enterprise mobility, hybrid cloud networks, public key infrastructure (PKI), and other cryptographic solutions.
As of December 2024, CompTIA will rename CASP+ to the CompTIA SecurityX certification, with the “X” denoting expert!
CySA+ vs CASP+: Which Should You Choose?
CompTIA recommends earning both certifications. But can you skip the CySA+ and go straight for CASP+ accreditation? Should you choose? CySA+, CASP+, or both?
When making your decision, consider your level of experience, your career goals, and your immediate job role.
Current Experience Level: If you are in the early stages of your cybersecurity career, you probably need to bolster your cyber analytical skills. In that case, you should definitely go for the CySA+. The CASP+ is directed to professionals with at least 5 years of cybersecurity experience who should already have the skills embodied in the CySA+.
Current or Next Step Job Role: The CySA+ is the best choice if you are currently—or looking to become—a security analyst, vulnerability analyst, threat intelligence analyst, or similar position. The CASP+ is appropriate if you are looking at an advanced, decision-making position, such as a security architect, cybersecurity analyst, cybersecurity risk analyst, or risk manager.
Long-term Career Goals: If you want to move into a leadership position and you already have technical skills, you would pursue the CASP+ certification. If you are looking to validate your technical, hands-on cybersecurity analytical skills, CySA+ should be your first step!
Is It Wise to Skip CySA+?
Certifications like the CySA+ and CASP+ validate your cybersecurity skills and expertise related to particular positions. To that end, the CySA+ represents skills that are prerequisites to the CASP+ certification. So, should you follow CompTIA’s cybersecurity pathway and earn both certifications or should you skip the CySA+ and go directly for the CASP+?
If you are planning a cybersecurity career, then it makes sense to develop and validate your cyber analytics skills embodied in the CySA+, before moving to the management positions envisioned by the CASP+. You’ll need those foundational skills if you are to direct the work of cybersecurity analysts. Once you have earned the CASP+, those CySA+ skills will be valuable for certifications such as the ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP),
Study Materials for CySA+ and CASP+
If you’re planning to study for either of these cybersecurity certifications, then you can begin with the official CompTIA study guide:
Your next step should be to take a CBT Nuggets online training course:
Each course includes a practice exam for the relevant CySA+ or CASP+ certification exam.
Final Thoughts
When you are deciding whether to study for the CySA+ and/or CASP+ certifications, be sure to consider your cybersecurity career trajectory. As you make your study plans, it’s important that you combine self-study and formal learning with hands-on experiences that reinforce your learning.
So, CySA+, CASP+, or both?
It’s your choice, but whatever your final decision, CBT Nuggets has the online security training you’ll need! Want to try a CBT Nuggets course? Get a free 7-day trial.
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