👨‍💻 CompTIA Security Awareness Training Certificate

🧠 1. Certification Name and Issuing Body

• Full certification name: CompTIA Security Awareness Training Certificate

• Issuing organization: CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association)

• Official website: https://www.comptia.org/content/lp/security-awareness-training

🧩 2. Certification Level and Type

• Level: Basic to Intermediate (non-technical)

• Type: Awareness / Compliance / Behavioral

📜 3. Purpose and Goals

• What skills does it certify?
  Recognizing and responding to social engineering, phishing, password risks, insider threats, and common cybersecurity hygiene principles

• Target roles or profiles:
  End users, managers, HR, finance, legal, and non-IT staff in organizations requiring compliance and basic cyber hygiene

• Practical applications:
  Identifying suspicious emails, using secure passwords, recognizing common scams, supporting compliance with cybersecurity policies (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, PCI-DSS)

🎓 4. Prerequisites

• Recommended prior certifications:
  None

• Suggested experience:
  None; designed for broad employee audiences

• Required technical knowledge:
  None; all technical concepts are explained in a business-friendly, non-technical format

📚 5. Content and Curriculum

• Key domains/modules:

  1. Introduction to Cybersecurity Awareness

  2. Phishing and Social Engineering

  3. Password Safety and Authentication

  4. Physical Security and Mobile Device Use

  5. Safe Browsing and Data Handling

  6. Incident Reporting Procedures

• Technologies/tools:
  Not tool-specific; focuses on best practices and human behavior

• Framework mapping:
  NIST NICE Framework (PR.AC, PR.AT), ISO/IEC 27001 (A.7.2.2 – Information security awareness)

🧪 6. Learning Approach

• Style: Self-paced, interactive training

• Labs/environments: Scenario-based simulations and real-life examples

• Materials:

  • Online modules and videos

  • End-of-module quizzes

  • Printable quick reference sheets

• Recommended platforms: CompTIA training portal or enterprise LMS integration

📝 7. Exam Format and Details

• Mode: Online, integrated into the course

• Duration: ~1–2 hours total content

• Format: Multiple choice quizzes at the end of modules

• Languages: English

• Passing score: Typically 80% per module

• Certification validity: 1–2 years (recommended refresh based on organization policy)

💰 8. Estimated Cost

• Individual license: ~$30–$50 USD

• Enterprise pricing: Based on number of seats (volume discounts available)

• Renewal cost: Same as original (course re-enrollment)

🌍 9. Industry Recognition

• Demand/popularity: Widely used in regulated sectors (finance, healthcare, education, government)

• Organizations that value it: SMBs and enterprises aiming for NIST, HIPAA, or ISO compliance

• Comparison:

  • Less technical than certifications like Security+

  • Equivalent to KnowBe4 and Proofpoint user training in scope

  • Ideal starting point for creating a culture of security

💼 10. Career Opportunities

• Job roles:
  Not intended for career advancement, but valuable for:

  • IT Compliance roles

  • Security Champions within departments

  • Risk managers and HR involved in security awareness programs

• Suggested paths:
  → CompTIA Awareness → Security+ (for technical path)
  → CompTIA Awareness + CISA = business/governance specialization

💵 11. Average Salary

• Not applicable individually — awareness certificates are generally part of internal training programs and not salary-impacting on their own

• Salary impact: Indirect; improves compliance readiness and user behavior which supports broader security programs

📅 12. Renewal and Maintenance

• Validity: 1–2 years (based on internal policy)

• Renewal options:
  Retake the latest version of the training or a refresher module annually

🧭 13. Final Recommendations

• Ideal for:
  All employees in an organization, especially non-technical roles with access to sensitive data or systems

• When to pursue:
  At onboarding and as part of annual compliance training

• Tips:
  Integrate into broader security awareness initiatives (e.g., phishing simulations). Reinforce with regular refreshers and department-specific scenarios.