Side by side · CySA+ vs CISSP
CySA+ vs CISSP
CySA+ and CISSP certify different stages of a security career. CompTIA's CySA+ (CS0-004) tests whether you can work alerts, scans and incidents as an analyst, and it is awarded when you pass; ISC2's CISSP spans eight domains of security management and is granted only after ISC2 endorses five years of paid experience. CySA+ can also count as one of those five years.
Analyst desk versus security program
CySA+ goes deep on four domains, all from the security operations center (SOC) seat: Security Operations 34%, Vulnerability Management 26%, Incident Response and Management 24%, Reporting and Communication 16% (CS0-004 objectives, checked October 2026). The tasks are hands-on: read the alert, rank the vulnerability, contain the host, write the summary.
CISSP goes wide. Its 2024 outline weights eight domains between 10% and 16%, from risk management to software development security. The CISSP Security Operations domain (13%) is the closest overlap with CySA+, and it covers that ground from the side of the person who runs the function.
Exam and credential facts
| Point | CySA+ CS0-004 | CISSP |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | CompTIA | ISC2 |
| Format | Multiple-choice and performance-based | Computerized adaptive testing (CAT); multiple choice and advanced innovative items |
| Items | Maximum of 85 | 100–150, including 25 unscored pretest items |
| Time | 165 minutes | Up to 3 hours |
| Passing standard | 750 on a 100–900 scale | 700 out of 1000 |
| Where you test | Pearson VUE test center or OnVUE online | ISC2-authorized Pearson VUE test centers; no online proctoring |
| Experience | Recommended: about 4 years | Required: 5 years paid, full-time, in 2+ of 8 domains |
| US exam price | $425 (CompTIA, June 2026) | $749 (ISC2; Americas, APAC, Middle East, Africa) |
| Retake waits | None before attempt 2; 14 days before attempt 3+ | 30, 60, then 90 days; up to 4 attempts in 12 months |
| Renewal | 3 years: 60 CEUs, $150 per cycle | 3 years: 120 CPE credits, $135 annual fee |
| DoD 8140 | Approved under DoDM 8140.03; nine work roles (per CompTIA) | Aligned to 24 DCWF work roles (per ISC2, July 2024) |
CEU = continuing education unit; CPE = continuing professional education; DCWF = DoD Cyber Workforce Framework. CISSP rows: ISC2 exam outline, ISC2 CAT page, ISC2 exam pricing, ISC2 retake rules, ISC2 member policies.
Passing CISSP is not holding CISSPTrap
- After passing, ISC2 expects your endorsement within 9 months; processing typically takes 4–6 weeks (ISC2 FAQ, checked October 2026).
- Without the five years you become an Associate of ISC2 and have six years to earn them.
- CySA+ has no experience gate: the certification appears in your CompTIA account after you pass.
How each credential helps with the other
| Direction | What the issuer says | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| CySA+ toward CISSP | CySA+ is on ISC2's approved list: one credential from the list waives up to one year of the five (ISC2 experience requirements). | October 2026 |
| CISSP toward CySA+ | CompTIA lists CISSP among outside certifications worth the full 60 CEUs, so earning it renews CySA+; the list may change without notice (CompTIA CySA+ renewal options). | October 2026 |
| SecurityX toward CISSP | CASP+/SecurityX is on the same ISC2 list; see CySA+ vs SecurityX. | October 2026 |
A relevant bachelor's or master's degree can be used for the one-year waiver instead; the waiver is one year at most.
CISSP's eight domains
Which one fits your next year
- You triage alerts, run scans or handle incidents today: CySA+ matches the work.
- You have fewer than five years of paid security experience: CySA+ now, and it can count toward the CISSP waiver later.
- You own policy, risk or architecture decisions across several domains: CISSP matches the scope.
- You already hold CISSP: it renews CySA+ under CompTIA's current outside-certification list.
- You want the full map of analyst credentials: see cybersecurity analyst certifications.
Experience gates and test-day rules
Can I sit CISSP before I have five years of experience?
Yes. You can pass and become an Associate of ISC2, then earn the experience within six years (ISC2 experience requirements, checked October 2026).
Can I take CISSP online from home?
No. ISC2 delivers CISSP at authorized Pearson VUE test centers and states online proctoring is not available (ISC2 FAQ, checked October 2026). CySA+ CS0-004 can be taken at a test center or through Pearson OnVUE.
If I earn CISSP later, will it renew my CySA+?
Under the list CompTIA publishes (checked October 2026), yes: CISSP counts for the full 60 CEUs. The list may change; the CySA+ renewal page tracks the options.
Sources
- CompTIA CySA+ V4 (CS0-004) exam page (checked October 9, 2026)
- CompTIA CySA+ CS0-004 exam objectives, version 2.0 (PDF) · domain weights (checked October 9, 2026)
- CompTIA CySA+ single-activity renewal page · outside certifications worth 60 CEUs (checked October 9, 2026)
- ISC2, CISSP exam outline · domains, passing standard, delivery (checked October 7, 2026)
- ISC2, computerized adaptive testing · items, time (checked October 7, 2026)
- ISC2, CISSP experience requirements · five years, waiver, Associate path (checked October 7, 2026)
- ISC2, exam pricing (checked October 7, 2026)
- ISC2, DoDM 8140 work roles (checked October 7, 2026)
Facts checked. Now practice.
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