Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) equips cybersecurity professionals with the practical knowledge and skills to monitor security operations, detect cyber threats, investigate incidents, and prepare for the CSA certification.
Duration 5 Days – 35 hrs.
Overview
The Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) Training Course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to operate effectively within a Security Operations Center (SOC) environment. The course focuses on security monitoring, threat detection, incident identification, log analysis, SIEM operations, threat intelligence, incident response, and security operations processes.
Participants will learn how SOC teams detect, investigate, analyze, escalate, and respond to cybersecurity incidents using industry-standard methodologies, frameworks, and security tools. The program combines theoretical knowledge with practical hands-on exercises to simulate real-world SOC analyst responsibilities.
This training serves as an ideal preparation course for individuals pursuing the EC-Council Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) certification or those seeking to begin or advance a career in cybersecurity operations.
Objectives
- Understand the role and functions of a Security Operations Center (SOC).
- Explain SOC processes, workflows, and operational procedures.
- Monitor and analyze security events and alerts.
- Identify indicators of compromise (IOCs) and indicators of attack (IOAs).
- Utilize Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms effectively.
- Perform log collection, correlation, and analysis activities.
- Apply threat intelligence concepts to security monitoring.
- Investigate phishing, malware, ransomware, and network-based attacks.
- Conduct basic incident triage and escalation procedures.
- Support incident response and remediation activities.
- Understand security monitoring use cases and detection methodologies.
- Prepare security incident reports and documentation.
- Strengthen organizational cyber defense capabilities through proactive monitoring.
Target Audience
- SOC Analysts (Tier 1 and Tier 2)
- Security Analysts
- Cybersecurity Professionals
- Incident Response Team Members
- Security Operations Personnel
- Network Administrators
- System Administrators
- Security Engineers
- IT Security Staff
- Threat Intelligence Analysts
- Security Monitoring Personnel
- IT Professionals transitioning into Cybersecurity
- Individuals preparing for CSA certification
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts
- Familiarity with networking fundamentals
- Basic knowledge of Windows and Linux operating systems
- Understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, and common network protocols
- Familiarity with system administration concepts is beneficial
- Prior SOC experience is not required
Course Outline
Day 1 – Security Operations Center Fundamentals
Module 1: Introduction to Cybersecurity Operations
- Current Cyber Threat Landscape
- Cyber Kill Chain
- MITRE ATT&CK Framework Overview
- Security Monitoring Concepts
- Security Operations Principles
- Defense-in-Depth Strategy
Module 2: Understanding the Security Operations Center
- SOC Functions and Responsibilities
- SOC Team Structure
- Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 Analysts
- SOC Metrics and KPIs
- SOC Workflows and Processes
- SOC Maturity Models
Module 3: Security Event Management
- Security Events vs Incidents
- Event Lifecycle
- Alert Generation and Prioritization
- Incident Classification
- Event Correlation Fundamentals
Module 4: Security Infrastructure Overview
- Firewalls
- IDS/IPS
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
- Web Application Firewalls
- Email Security Solutions
- Network Security Monitoring Tools
Hands-On Lab
- SOC Workflow Simulation
- Security Event Identification Exercise
Day 2 – Log Management and SIEM Operations
Module 5: Log Management Fundamentals
- Importance of Log Collection
- Log Sources and Types
- Windows Event Logs
- Linux Syslogs
- Network Device Logs
- Cloud Security Logs
Module 6: Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- SIEM Architecture
- Data Collection Methods
- Log Aggregation
- Correlation Rules
- Alert Management
- Dashboard Monitoring
Module 7: SIEM Investigation Techniques
- Event Correlation
- Threat Hunting Basics
- Alert Validation
- Noise Reduction Techniques
- False Positive Analysis
- Incident Prioritization
Module 8: Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
- IOC Identification
- Behavioral Indicators
- File Hash Analysis
- Malicious Domains
- Suspicious IP Addresses
- Registry and Process Indicators
Hands-On Lab
- SIEM Monitoring Exercise
- Log Analysis Workshop
- Alert Investigation Scenarios
Day 3 – Threat Intelligence and Threat Detection
Module 9: Cyber Threat Intelligence Fundamentals
- Threat Intelligence Lifecycle
- Strategic Intelligence
- Tactical Intelligence
- Operational Intelligence
- Technical Intelligence
Module 10: Threat Intelligence Sources
- Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
- Commercial Intelligence Feeds
- Industry Sharing Communities
- Threat Databases
- Malware Repositories
Module 11: Threat Detection Methodologies
- Signature-Based Detection
- Behavior-Based Detection
- Anomaly Detection
- Threat Hunting Fundamentals
- Detection Engineering Concepts
Module 12: Common Cyber Attacks
- Malware Analysis Fundamentals
- Ransomware Detection
- Phishing Detection
- Credential Attacks
- Insider Threats
- Web Application Attacks
Hands-On Lab
- IOC Analysis
- Threat Intelligence Correlation
- Threat Detection Exercises
Day 4 – Incident Response and SOC Operations
Module 13: Incident Response Fundamentals
- Incident Response Lifecycle
- NIST Incident Response Framework
- Incident Classification
- Incident Prioritization
- Escalation Procedures
Module 14: Incident Investigation
- Evidence Collection
- Timeline Analysis
- Root Cause Analysis
- Impact Assessment
- Documentation Best Practices
Module 15: Security Monitoring Use Cases
- Endpoint Security Monitoring
- Network Traffic Analysis
- User Behavior Monitoring
- Privileged Account Monitoring
- Cloud Security Monitoring
Module 16: SOC Incident Handling
- Incident Triage
- Initial Response Actions
- Containment Support
- Communication Procedures
- Lessons Learned Activities
Hands-On Lab
- Incident Investigation Scenario
- Incident Escalation Exercise
- SOC Case Management Workshop
Day 5 – Advanced SOC Operations and Certification Preparation
Module 17: Advanced Threat Monitoring
- Advanced Persistent Threats (APT)
- Lateral Movement Detection
- Privilege Escalation Detection
- Data Exfiltration Detection
- Command and Control (C2) Activity Detection
Module 18: SOC Reporting and Metrics
- Incident Reporting
- Executive Reporting
- SOC Dashboards
- Security Metrics
- Operational KPIs
Module 19: SOC Best Practices
- Continuous Monitoring
- Security Automation Overview
- Threat Hunting Integration
- Purple Team Concepts
- SOC Optimization
Module 20: CSA Certification Preparation
- CSA Exam Domains Review
- Practice Questions
- Exam Strategies
- Common Exam Scenarios
- Certification Success Tips
Capstone Exercise
- End-to-End SOC Incident Investigation
- Threat Detection and Analysis
- Incident Response Simulation
- Presentation of Findings
