How current is the CompTIA CySA+ cheat sheet?

It's built from CompTIA's current CS0-003 exam objectives, the version in use now, and we review it against those objectives regularly so the domain weights and terminology stay accurate.

Can I pass CySA+ using only the cheat sheet?

No — the cheat sheet is a review and last-week cram aid, not a substitute for hands-on practice. CS0-003 is heavy on performance-based questions, so use the sheet to lock in facts and the practice test to build the applied analysis skills you need for a scaled score of 750.

How do I get the CompTIA CySA+ cheat sheet?

Click the download button (or the preview card) at the top of this page to open the PDF instantly. Bookmark this page so you can find it again in your final week before test day.

Free CompTIA CySA+ Cheat Sheet 2026

Q: What's on the CompTIA CySA+ cheat sheet?

It condenses the highest-yield CS0-003 facts into a fast reference: SIEM and log sources, detection methods, the threat-intel cycle, CVSS severity bands, the NIST incident-response lifecycle, and the metrics you report — organized by the four domains CompTIA weights the exam around.

This CompTIA CySA+ cheat sheet distills the CS0-003 exam objectives into a printable rundown of the facts examiners test most across all four security-analyst domains. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep — the one premium prep we trust — and it's yours free. Reinforce it with the rest of your free CySA+ toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.

CompTIA CySA+ exam at a glance

Questions: Maximum of 85 (multiple-choice + performance-based)
Time: 165 minutes
Passing score: 750 on a scale of 100–900 (scaled scoring)
Exam code: CS0-003 (current version)
Cost: About $392–$404 USD per voucher (verify current pricing with CompTIA)
Recertification: Valid 3 years; renew with 60 CEUs via CompTIA continuing education

What’s on the CompTIA CySA+ cheat sheet

Security Operations (33%) — system and network architecture, log and SIEM analysis, indicators of malicious activity, threat intelligence, and threat hunting — the largest domain.
Vulnerability Management (30%) — scan types (active/passive, credentialed, agent-based), analyzing scan output, CVSS prioritization, and mitigating controls.
Incident Response and Management (20%) — attack frameworks (Kill Chain, Diamond, MITRE ATT&CK), the NIST IR lifecycle, forensics, and chain of custody.
Reporting and Communication (17%) — vulnerability and incident reporting, KPIs like MTTD and MTTR, inhibitors to remediation, and stakeholder communication.

Highest-yield facts on the sheet

You need a scaled score of 750 on a 100–900 range — because it's scaled and PBQs weight heavier, there's no fixed percentage of questions you must answer correctly.
CVSS severity bands: None 0.0, Low 0.1–3.9, Medium 4.0–6.9, High 7.0–8.9, Critical 9.0–10.0 — but prioritize by asset value, exposure, and active exploitation, not the base score alone.
Signature-based detection is precise on known threats but blind to novel ones; behavioral and anomaly detection catch the unknown by flagging deviation from a baseline.
In a live incident the FIRST action is containment — isolate the host to stop the spread before you eradicate and recover; restore from tested backups and don't pay ransomware.
Read email headers in order: SPF (is the server authorized?), DKIM (was the message tampered with?), DMARC (do the domains align, and what happens on failure?).

How to use it in your final week

Front-load Security Operations (33%) and Vulnerability Management (30%) — together they're 63% of the exam, so if you master two areas from the sheet, make it these.
Memorize the CVSS severity bands cold: None 0.0, Low 0.1–3.9, Medium 4.0–6.9, High 7.0–8.9, Critical 9.0–10.0 — a common performance-based-question anchor.
Rehearse the NIST incident-response order — preparation, detection & analysis, containment/eradication/recovery, post-incident — and remember containment comes first in a live incident.
Read the sheet the morning of the test, then run one short timed set (85 questions in 165 minutes ≈ under 2 min each) to keep your PBQ pacing sharp.

The cheat sheet is your review layer — your CompTIA CySA+ practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.

CompTIA CySA+ cheat sheet FAQ

Yes — the CompTIA CySA+ cheat sheet is 100% free to download as a PDF, with no sign-up required. It's part of Career Employer's free CySA+ toolkit alongside the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.

References

1.CompTIA. “CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst) Certification.” CompTIA.org, 2026. ↑
2.CompTIA. “CySA+ CS0-003 Exam Objectives.” CompTIA.org, 2026. ↑
3.Pearson VUE. “CompTIA Exam Scheduling and Delivery.” Pearson VUE, 2026. ↑
4.Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams. “Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).” FIRST.org, 2026. ↑
5.National Institute of Standards and Technology. “SP 800-61, Computer Security Incident Handling Guide.” csrc.nist.gov, 2026. ↑

Career Employer

Career Employer is the ultimate resource to help you get started working the job of your dreams. We cover topics from general career information, career searching, exam preparation with free study materials, career interviewing, and becoming successful in your career of choice.

All Posts

Career Employer’s Editorial Process

Here at Career Employer, we focus a lot on providing factually accurate information that is always up to date. We strive to provide correct information using strict editorial processes, article editing, and fact-checking for all of the information found on our website. We only utilize trustworthy and relevant resources. To find out more, make sure to read our full editorial process page here.

Your Free CompTIA CySA+ Cheat Sheet 2026 — Downloadable PDF