Splunk Certified Cybersecurity Defense Analyst
Grow your skills to start as a SOC analyst using Splunk analytics, threat-hunting, risk-based alerting, and industry best practices. Learn to protect businesses and mitigate risk while managing vulnerabilities and threats using common cyber defense systems for continual security monitoring.
Certification Roadmap
1Module 1-2: SOC Analyst Foundations (Weeks 1-2)
Build the operational mindset and technical foundation for day-to-day cyber defense monitoring.
SOC Workflows
Roles, Triage & Escalation
SOC roles, tiers, and analyst responsibilities · Alert triage and investigation flow · Using Splunk in day-to-day monitoring · Escalation and documentation discipline
Security Data Fundamentals
Log Sources & Baselines
Common security log sources and telemetry · Authentication, endpoint, network, and cloud logs · Understanding baselines and abnormal behavior · Field quality and investigation context
Analyst Best Practices
Investigation & Communication
Time management in active investigations · Reducing false positives with disciplined review · Evidence handling and case notes · Communicating findings clearly
2Module 3-4: Splunk Analytics & Threat Hunting (Weeks 3-4)
Use Splunk analytics to investigate threats and proactively hunt for suspicious behavior.
Security Analytics
Search, Pivot & Correlation
Search patterns for security investigations · Pivoting across users, hosts, IPs, and processes · Correlation of events across data sources · Using dashboards and reports for investigations
Threat Hunting Techniques
Hypothesis-Driven Hunting
Hypothesis-driven hunting workflows · Hunting for lateral movement and persistence · Behavioral search strategies · Tracking attacker patterns through telemetry
Investigation Efficiency
Reusable Queries & Documentation
Using saved searches and reusable hunt queries · Reducing noise with filtering and scoping · Documenting hunts and outcomes · Turning hunts into operational detections
3Module 5-6: Risk-Based Alerting & Detection (Weeks 5-6)
Develop practical alerting strategies that help analysts prioritize the right threats quickly.
Risk-Based Alerting
RBA Concepts & Prioritization
RBA concepts and security value · Risk objects, scores, and prioritization · Using risk context for investigation decisions · Tuning alerts for operational relevance
Detection Workflows
Building & Refining Detections
Building and refining useful detections · Alert validation and triage readiness · Mapping detections to common attack patterns · Balancing coverage and alert fatigue
Continuous Monitoring
Dashboards & Feedback Loops
Monitoring strategy across key environments · Using dashboards and reports for oversight · Tracking recurring patterns and exposures · Operational feedback loops for tuning
4Module 7-8: Vulnerabilities, Threats & Defense Systems (Weeks 7-8)
Work with the kinds of controls and systems analysts use to reduce risk and respond to threats.
Vulnerability Management
Lifecycle & Prioritization
Vulnerability lifecycle and prioritization · Using scanner and asset context in Splunk · Relating exposure to active threats · Driving remediation insights from telemetry
Threat Management
Indicators & Escalation
Tracking indicators and suspicious behaviors · Using threat intel context in investigations · Threat validation and escalation decisions · Mitigation-oriented analysis workflows
Cyber Defense Systems
Cross-Tool Visibility in Splunk
Common defense tools and telemetry types · Endpoint, firewall, proxy, and identity systems · Using cross-tool visibility in Splunk · Building context across multiple controls
5Module 9-10: Capstone & Exam Prep (Weeks 9-10)
Bring together monitoring, threat hunting, and analyst decision-making in realistic defense scenarios.
Cyber Defense Capstone
End-to-End Analyst Scenario
Triage and investigate a realistic alert queue · Hunt for suspicious behavior across multiple sources · Use risk context to prioritize cases · Produce actionable defense recommendations
Practice Exams
Mock Tests & Gap Analysis
Full-length defense analyst mock tests · Scenario-based SOC investigation questions · Topic-level review and gap analysis · Detailed answer explanation sessions
Final Review
Recap & Expert Q&A
Analytics, hunting, and alerting recap · Detection and monitoring review workshop · Analyst workflow pitfalls and guidance · Final expert Q&A
Ready to Master this Track?
Get training schedules, role-based pathways, and expert guidance for your certification journey. Our industry-recognized mentors will guide you from fundamentals to professional level.
Program Details
Duration
6-10 Weeks
Mode
Online (Online)
Experience Level
Intermediate