Certified Network Security Practitioner

Certified Cloud Pentesting eXpert-AWS

Certified Network Security Practitioner
(CNSP)

Certified Network Security Practitioner (CNSP) is an entry-level exam to test a candidate’s knowledge on the core concepts of network security.

  • MCQ
  • 1 Hour
  • Online
  • On-demand
  • Factual and Scenario based questions
£100

Our Candidates Say it Best

Douglas Rodrigues A de Oliveira

Douglas Rodrigues A de Oliveira

Ethical Hacker | Pentester | Information Security Analyst | CAPen | CAP | CNSP

I recently completed the Certified Network Security Practitioner (CNSP) exam from The SecOps Group. The exam tests knowledge in network security, covering key topics such as network protocols, security configurations in Linux and Windows, basic cryptography, the use of tools like Nmap and Wireshark for security analysis, security in Active Directory environments and social engineering attacks. I highly recommend this certification for its straightforward approach, which is particularly helpful for non-native English speakers. It’s also an entry-level international certification at an affordable price.

Miracle Komolafe

Miracle Komolafe

Cybersecurity | IT Support | ISC² CC, GCP ACE | CNSP

I'm thrilled to share that I've successfully passed the The SecOps Group Certified Network Security Practitioner exam! 🎉 This exam was no walk in the park. It was unexpectedly challenging and put my skills to the test across a wide range of topics. From Active Directory and DNS to network security tools and malware analysis like WireShark, it covered it all. I even tackled complex scenarios involving Linux, OSINT, and more. Navigating through the intricacies of each topic required not just theoretical knowledge but practical application, and I’m incredibly proud to have met that challenge head-on.

Erico Rahmad Darmanto

Erico Rahmad Darmanto

Penetration Tester Bulletproof (Cyber Security) | CNSP

Thanks to TheSecOps Group for allowing me to take the exam for free—it's a challenging yet rewarding experience that has significantly expanded my knowledge of network security. This journey wasn't easy; it required a lot of dedication and preparation. But I'm proud to say that this is just the beginning. I look forward to continuing my learning journey and hope to seize more opportunities to level up my skills in cybersecurity.

Who should take this exam?

CNSP is intended to be taken by security engineers, network architects, penetration testers, red and blue team members and any security enthusiast, who wants to evaluate and advance their knowledge.

What is the format of the exam?

The exam includes Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) covering the syllabus. The time duration of the exam is 60 minutes. The exam will be proctored but can be taken online, anytime (on-demand) and from anywhere. The exam will cover a variety of questions which are both factual and scenario based.

What is the pass criteria for the exam?

The pass criteria are as follows:

  • Candidates scoring over 60% marks will be deemed to have successfully passed the exam.
  • Candidates scoring over 75% marks will be deemed to have passed with merit.

What is the experience needed to take the exam?

This is an entry-level exam. It checks the understanding of core fundamentals in relation to network security topics. Candidates should have knowledge of common security misconfigurations, the best security practices, defense-in-depth measures as well as an overview of how vulnerabilities can be exploited in the real world scenario.

Note: Professional pentesting is not a requirement for this exam.

What will the candidates get?

On completing the exam, each candidate will receive:

  • A certificate with their pass/fail and merit status.
  • The certificate will contain a code/QR link, which can be used by anyone to validate the certificate.

What is the exam retake policy?

Candidates who fail the exam, must purchase a new exam voucher.

What are the benefits of this exam?

The exam will allow candidates to demonstrate their understanding of Network Security. This will help them to advance in their career.

How long is the certificate valid for?

The certificate does not have an expiration date. However, the passing certificate will mention the details of the exam such as the exam version and the date. As the exam is updated over time, candidates should retake the newer version as per their convenience.

Exam Syllabus

 

TCP/IP (Protocols and Networking Basics)

  • OSI Layer
  • IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
  • Router, Switch and Hub
 

Network Discovery Protocols

 

Network Architectures, Mapping and Target Identification

 

Network Scanning & Fingerprinting

 

Testing Network Services

 

Cryptography

 

Active Directory Security Basics

 

Linux and Windows Security Basics

 

Common vulnerabilities affecting Windows Services

 

Testing Web Servers and Frameworks

 

Basic Malware Analysis

 

Social Engineering attacks

 

Network Security Tools and Frameworks (such as Nmap, Wireshark etc)

 

Open-Source Intelligence Gathering (OSINT)

 

Database Security Basics

 

TLS Security Basics

 

Password Storage

Sample Question

What is the response from a closed UDP port which is not behind a firewall?

  • An ICMP message showing Destination Unreachable
  • A RST Flag Packet
  • A FIN Flag Packet
  • No response