Study plan
How to Pass the Registered Intrusion Analyst Exam
A study plan for the Registered Intrusion Analyst certification exam, built from the official domain weights instead of a generic template. A structured 3-4 month study plan is recommended, combining 60% hands-on lab work and 40% theoretical study. Focus on building a home lab using VirtualBox or VMware to practice disk and memory forensics on Windows and Linux systems. Regularly solve challenges on platforms like TryHackMe, HackTheBox (specifically DFIR and SOC tracks), and Blue Team Labs Online. Study official CREST resources and follow syllabi from CREST-approved training providers. Join study groups or forums to discuss scenario-based questions. Practice writing concise incident reports and documenting evidence chains. Simulate exam conditions by timing yourself on sample questions. Review MITRE ATT&CK techniques and practice mapping observed behaviors to tactics.
- 5 domains
- 150 questions
- 180 min
- 60% to pass
certilumStudy in weight order, not topic order
The plan below follows the official blueprint weights, so the order of study is the order that returns the most points.
- 1
Incident Response
25%- Understand and apply incident response methodologies (e.g., SANS PICERL, NIST SP 800-61).
- Identify, triage, and prioritize security incidents based on severity and impact.
- Conduct initial containment, eradication, and recovery procedures.
- Document and report incident findings and actions taken.
- +1 more topics in the blueprint
38 practice questions tagged to this domain.
- 2
Forensic Analysis and Investigation
25%- Acquire and preserve digital evidence from various sources (disk, memory, network).
- Perform forensic analysis of Windows and Linux systems to identify Indicators of Compromise (IoCs).
- Analyze volatile and non-volatile data using appropriate tools (e.g., Velociraptor, FTK Imager, Autopsy).
- Conduct network forensics by analyzing packet captures (PCAP) and logs.
- +1 more topics in the blueprint
38 practice questions tagged to this domain.
- 3
Malware Analysis
20%- Perform static analysis of malware samples (file properties, strings, hashes).
- Conduct dynamic analysis of malware in a sandboxed environment.
- Identify malware characteristics such as persistence mechanisms, C2 communications, and payloads.
- Understand common malware types (e.g., trojans, worms, ransomware, rootkits).
- +1 more topics in the blueprint
31 practice questions tagged to this domain.
- 4
Network Security Monitoring
15%- Analyze network traffic logs from firewalls, IDS/IPS, and proxies.
- Interpret alerts from Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems.
- Identify anomalous network patterns and potential threats (e.g., port scans, data exfiltration).
- Understand common network protocols and their security implications.
- +1 more topics in the blueprint
22 practice questions tagged to this domain.
- 5
SOC Processes and Operations
15%- Understand SOC tiers and escalation procedures.
- Apply knowledge of the Cyber Kill Chain and MITRE ATT&CK framework.
- Perform threat hunting based on hypotheses and IoCs.
- Maintain situational awareness of current threats and vulnerabilities.
- +1 more topics in the blueprint
21 practice questions tagged to this domain.
Three phases, in order
Most failures are process failures, not knowledge failures.
Phase 1 — Learn the high-weight domains
Start where the points are. The first domains on this plan carry the most weight, so a gap there costs the most. Cover the objectives, then close each topic with practice questions you actually get wrong.
Phase 2 — Close the mid-weight domains
The middle of the blueprint is where most candidates plateau. These domains are worth less per topic than the first phase, but they add up fast, and they are the usual difference between a near miss and a clear pass.
Phase 3 — Timed full mocks
Stop reading new material at this point. Run full-length exams under the real time limit and the real format, and use the per-domain breakdown to find which domain is still costing you the pass.
Where we put the emphasis
For Registered Intrusion Analyst, Certilum bridges theory and practice via immersive practice questions that replicate real‑world incident response scenarios. Interactive quizzes on forensic analysis, malware dissection, and network traffic interpretation – all aligned with official CREST syllabi, with simulated exam environments.
The order matters less than the loop. Every domain you finish should end with questions you got wrong, because the mistake is the only thing you actually needed to study. On the Registered Intrusion Analyst that loop is worth 20% of the exam in the first block alone.
More about the Registered Intrusion Analyst exam
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Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the Registered Intrusion Analyst exam.