What is CSOM?

The Certified Security Operations Manager (CSOM) is our advanced certification designed for security professionals ready to bridge the gap between technical expertise and strategic SOC management. Unlike theory-led certifications, CSOM challenges you to apply management frameworks in real-world security operations scenarios, so you finish the course able to apply what you've learned immediately.

Is This Course for You?

CSOM is designed for security professionals with 2 or more years of experience in security operations or a similar discipline. It's particularly well suited to:

• Aspiring SOC Managers: senior analysts or team leads ready to step into management
• Current Managers: leaders looking to validate their skills and improve SOC efficiency
• Security Consultants: professionals advising clients on SOC structure, governance, and maturity
• Heads or Directors of Security Operations: experienced leaders looking to formalise and benchmark their approach

Prerequisites

To get the most out of CSOM, we recommend:

• Experience: at least 2 years in cybersecurity, ideally within a SOC or incident response environment
• Knowledge: a solid understanding of SOC operations, incident response lifecycles, and risk management fundamentals

Important: While anyone can take the training, obtaining the official CSOM certification requires a verified professional background check. This is to maintain the integrity of the designation and ensure those holding the certification meet the experience standard it represents.

How CSOM Compares to CISM or CISSP

CISM and CISSP are well-regarded certifications focused on broad governance and high-level security leadership. CSOM is different: it's hyper-focused on the SOC. You won't just learn about policy in theory, you'll learn how to build a detection strategy, manage analyst burnout, conduct maturity assessments, and report metrics that actually matter to the board.

For a full breakdown, read CSOM vs Other Certifications: Which One Fits You Best?

Exam Format

The CSOM exam is split into two distinct parts to assess the full breadth of your skills:

• Theoretical Exam: a rigorous test of your knowledge across frameworks, legal considerations, and strategic management
• Practical Assessment: a hands-on "Management Lab" where you make executive decisions in a simulated SOC environment

Rewards on Passing

Once you've successfully passed both parts of the exam, you'll receive:

• A CSOM Digital Badge and Certificate, globally recognised via Credly
• A digital PDF certificate
• A printed physical certificate
• A CSOM challenge coin (Gold for 90%+ scores, Silver for 70%+)

Course Access

When you purchase CSOM, you'll receive:

• 6 months of on-demand access to over 200 lessons, tests, and labs
• A hybrid exam covering theoretical and practical components
• Approximately 30 hours of estimated study time, though pace varies based on your background and schedule

Ready to Take the Next Step?

You can explore the full details on the main CSOM certification page or try the free CSOM demo to get a feel for the content before committing.

Still need help?

Submit a support ticket and our team will be happy to help.