CDSA vs CySA+
| CDSA Hack The Box | CySA+ CompTIA | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Defensive · Intermediate | Defensive · Intermediate |
| Price | $210 Voucher with 2 attempts. You must first finish 100% of the HTB Academy SOC Analyst path (15 modules, subscription extra); the Silver Annual plan (USD 550/year) includes it along with the CJCA one. | $425 Exam voucher only. |
| Study hours | 150–300 h | 100–150 h |
| Real difficulty | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ |
| Exam | Hands-on Length: 168 h | Multiple choice Length: 2.8 h |
| Validity | Does not expire | 3 years (continuing education) |
| Job ads in United States | 39 | 3,669 |
| Avg. salary | $100,350 | $126,779 |
| Index | 40 | 67 |
| Summary | For SOC analysts: SIEM detection, log and traffic analysis, forensics and incident investigation. A 7-day hands-on exam where you deliver incident reports. | The defensive next step after Security+: detection, threat analysis and vulnerability management. |
Highlighted: the best in that row.