🛡️ IBM QRadar SIEM Certification

🧠 1. Certification Name and Issuing Body

• Full certification name:

  • IBM QRadar SIEM Fundamentals

  • IBM QRadar SIEM Intermediate Analyst

• Issuing organization: IBM SkillsBuild / IBM Security Learning Services

• Official website:

  • https://www.ibm.com/training

  • https://skillsbuild.org (for learning paths and digital credentials)

🧩 2. Certification Level and Type

• Level: Beginner to Intermediate (depending on module)

• Type: Technical (SIEM / Security Operations)

📜 3. Purpose and Goals

• What skills does it certify?

  • Fundamentals: Basic use of QRadar, interface navigation, and simple log analysis

  • Intermediate: Alert triage, offense investigation, rule tuning, AQL searches, and offense correlation logic

• Target roles or profiles:
  SOC Analyst (Tier I/II), SIEM Specialist, Detection Engineer, Security Engineer

• Practical applications:
  Monitoring and analyzing logs, managing offenses, creating correlation rules, and threat hunting using IBM QRadar

🎓 4. Prerequisites

• Recommended prior certifications:
  IBM Cybersecurity Fundamentals (or CompTIA Security+)

• Suggested experience:

  • Fundamentals: 0–1 year in SOC

  • Intermediate: 1–3 years in Blue Team/SIEM

• Required technical knowledge:
  Basic TCP/IP, log types (Windows, syslog, firewall), Linux CLI, SIEM concepts, regular expressions

📚 5. Content and Curriculum

• Key domains/modules:

  • QRadar Overview and Architecture

  • Log Source Onboarding and Parsing

  • Offense Management

  • AQL (Advanced Query Language)

  • Rule Creation and Tuning

  • Custom Properties and Building Use Cases

• Technologies/tools:
  QRadar Console, AQL, CRE (Custom Rule Engine), Log Activity Tab, Offense View, WinCollect

• Framework mapping:
  MITRE ATT&CK (Detection coverage), NIST CSF (DE/RS), NICE Framework (PR, DE)

🧪 6. Learning Approach

• Style: Guided labs + on-demand videos

• Labs/environments: IBM QRadar Cloud Labs (browser-based)

• Materials: IBM Security Learning Academy, Skillsoft content, IBM documentation, lab guides

• Recommended platforms: IBM Security Learning Academy, CyberDefenders (for QRadar labs), BlueTeamLabs

📝 7. Exam Format and Details

• Mode: Online, via IBM SkillsBuild or Pearson VUE (depending on version)

• Duration: 60–90 minutes

• Questions: ~30–45 (multiple choice, simulations, case-based)

• Languages: English

• Retake policy: Available after 1 week (or immediately for open-badge quizzes)

• Certification validity: 2–3 years (varies by format)

💰 8. Estimated Cost

• Fundamentals: Free via IBM Security Learning Academy or ~$200 USD for badge-certified track

• Intermediate: Free for learners (open badges) or $200–$300 USD if issued via proctored path

• Renewal cost: Often free if taken via SkillsBuild or re-certified through next-level content

🌍 9. Industry Recognition

• Demand/popularity: High in enterprise SOCs, MSSPs, and financial institutions using IBM infrastructure

• Organizations that value it: IBM partners, telecoms, government agencies, banking/insurance SOCs

• Comparison:

  • Comparable to Elastic Certified Analyst, Splunk Core Certified Power User

  • More platform-specific than CySA+, but deeper for QRadar-focused environments

  • Strong pairing with SC-200 or GCIA

💼 10. Career Opportunities

• Job roles:
  QRadar SOC Analyst, SIEM Engineer, Detection & Response Analyst, Security Monitoring Specialist

• Suggested paths:
  → IBM QRadar Fundamentals → QRadar Intermediate → IBM QRadar Admin / Threat Hunting Specialist
  → Combine with GCLD, SC-200, or Elastic Analyst for strong multi-SIEM profile

💵 11. Average Salary

• USA: $75,000–$100,000/year

• Europe: €50,000–€80,000/year

• Salary impact: Moderate to high in SOCs using IBM stacks

• (Sources: LinkedIn job listings, PayScale, IBM partner roles)

📅 12. Renewal and Maintenance

• Validity: 2–3 years depending on track (badge or proctored)

• Renewal options:

  • Take latest exam

  • Complete updated SkillsBuild track

  • Earn next-tier QRadar role certification (admin, content developer)

🧭 13. Final Recommendations

• Ideal for:
  SOC professionals working in or transitioning to IBM QRadar environments

• When to pursue:
  After gaining log analysis basics or completing Security+ / SC-200

• Tips:
  Practice with AQL and offense workflows. Use IBM Cloud Labs to simulate real alert triage. Study correlation logic and watch how different log types interact.