Certified CyberDefender (CCD) Review

This review won't delve into the intricate details about the labs and materials of CCD. Instead, I want to focus primarily on the pressing question most face when deciding on a certification which is 'why pick this certification over the myriad of others out there?' In this review, I will answer that question in detail and address as many points as I can from my point of view

Study Materials and Labs

The CyberDefenders platform is modern and easy to navigate. The course topics are well-organized and crafted in a straightforward manner, broken down into bite-sized segments, making the understanding of each topic more accessible.

One of the standout aspects of CCD for me is its emphasis on the 'defense in depth' strategy, guiding students on how to effectively implement and establish layered protections throughout their infrastructure. Moreover, I also liked and learned a ton from the digital forensics section as it goes in depth into memory, network and disk analysis.

as for the labs they are challenging with no hints or answers , it challenges you to find the answer and train your mind set to think smarter which is what you need in the real world, some labs took me 16+ hours to solve and I almost gave up on solving them but I always find my self coming back and keep trying till I complete it which was very fun and helped me master one of the most important skills which is the ability to find answers to difficult questions and situations. its also worth mentioning that lab machines are fast, smooth and I have never faced any technical issues with my labs or my exam. So, how does CCD compare to other similar certifications on the market? The closest competitor is BTL2 . Before choosing CCD, and just like any other cyber security nerd :) I did a lot of research on CCD and BTL2 and found that both offer excellent, high-quality materials and labs. CCD goes more in depth into forensics and email security while BTL2 covers malware analysis, however CyberDefenders has announced that they will soon be adding a cutting-edge malware analysis module to their training and given their SANS-equivalent material quality and at a significantly lower price than BTL2, CCD stands out as the superior choice.

Exam Overview

Now, let's talk about my favorite part of technical certifications: the exam. The CCD exam is an intense 48-hour hands-on practical test with absolutely no multiple choice questions. You're given lab machines, an environment architecture, and questions. From there, you're entirely on your own. You must detail your thought process, the tools or queries you employed to find the answers, as this exam is graded manually. You're assessed not just on the correct answer, but also on your approach and reasoning. The answers aren't immediately obvious and demand a deep understanding of the topics. You need to know what to search for, where to look, and which tool to employ. It's far from a breeze. Having taken other practical security exams of similar caliber, CCD is, without a doubt, the most enjoyable and challenging one I've taken.

Price

While price might not be the deciding factor for some, for others it's paramount. however, it's undeniably an important consideration, Let's face it, whether we're individuals or companies, we all aim to get the best training within our budget. Having extensively researched blue team certifications, CCD stands out uniquely. It's the ONLY blue team security certification that offers such a high level of material quality at its price point. While there are several top-tier blue team certs available, the least expensive among them still costs a lot more than CCD

Conclusion

In conclusion, I derived immense value from CCD and CyberDefenders even more than I initially anticipated. The team behind this company consists of expert individuals who are not only passionate about cybersecurity but are true masters of their crafts. This cert was a great boost for my confidence and helped me prove to my self that I've got what it takes to be a cyber defender :)

For those who are interested about CyberDefenders CCD, you can check their course here https://cyberdefenders.org/blue-team-training/courses/certified-cyberdefender-certification/