Welcome to your CCDL1 Study Schedule, your roadmap to gain the most from the course and make sure you ace your exam.
Over the next 12 weeks, leading up to your first attempt, scheduled three months after enrollment, this 12-week plan outlines weekly study goals and helps you track your progress through your Exam Readiness score.
Follow the weekly goals, complete the investigations, and watch your readiness score grow.
How the Study Plan Works
The course is organized into 6 modules spread across 11 weeks, with the 12th week reserved for review. Expect to dedicate 6–9 hours per week, depending on your experience and familiarity with the content.
Your weeks are calculated in 7-day intervals from your enrollment date. For example, if you start on a Sunday, each new week begins on Sunday. This schedule ensures you maintain steady progress while balancing your learning with other responsibilities.
Understanding Your Exam Readiness Score
The Exam Readiness score on your dashboard shows how prepared you are for the exam. Scores are based on content completion, with labs and especially investigations carrying the most weight, reflecting their importance in developing practical, real-world skills.
Why Investigations Matter
Module Investigations are capstone exercises that bring together everything you’ve learned. They mirror the final exam’s structure and challenge, making them the most effective way to prepare.
Our metrics show a 30% improvement in exam performance among students who complete all capstone investigations.
Weekly Goals
Each week comes with a target Exam Readiness score, representing the progress you should achieve to stay on track.
Your dashboard widget uses colors to show your status:
Green: On track or ahead of your weekly goal
Yellow: 1–2 weeks behind
Red: More than 2 weeks behind
Weeks behind means your current score is below the goal for recent weeks. Staying green ensures you are on track, and if you fall behind, it’s a signal to focus on catching up before moving on to new content.
Taking the Exam Early
You don’t need to wait the full three months. If you finish the course early and feel confident, you can attempt the exam at any time.
For full access periods and attempt policies, see the Course and Certification Access Policy
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week | Topics | Goal |
1 | Module 1: SOC & Threat Intelligence Foundations
Topic 1.1: SOC Operations & Security Fundamentals Topic 1.2: Threat Intelligence Essentials Topic 1.3: Threat Landscape & Actors Investigation Lab 1: OpenCTI & OSINT |
15% |
2
| Module 2: Network & Endpoint Essentials
Topic 2.1: Endpoint Monitoring & Hardening Topic 2.2: Network Fundamentals and Threat Detection |
20% |
3 | Module 2: Network & Endpoint Essentials
Topic 2.3: Active Directory Security & Monitoring Investigation Lab: Network & AD Basics |
33% |
4 | Module 3: SIEM Basics - Splunk & Sentinel
Topic 3.1: SIEM Fundamentals Topic 3.2: Splunk Essentials |
40% |
5 | Module 3: SIEM Basics - Splunk & Sentinel
Topic 3.3: Microsoft Sentinel Essentials Topic 3.4: Alert Triage & Investigation Investigation Lab 3: SIEM Basics |
54% |
6 | Module 4: Phishing & Email Security
Topic 4.1: Building Blocks of Email Security Topic 4.2: Common Email Attacks & How They Work Topic 4.3: Email Threat Detection Tactics |
59% |
7 | Module 4: Phishing & Email Security Topic 4.4: Responding to Email Attacks Investigation Lab 4: Phishing & Email Security
Module 5: Digital Forensics & Incident Response Topic 5.1: DFIR Foundations & Evidence Handling |
74% |
8
| Module 5: Digital Forensics & Incident Response
Topic 5.2: Windows Host Forensics & Analysis Topic 5.3: Linux Host Forensics & Investigation |
83% |
9 | Module 5: Digital Forensics & Incident Response
Topic 5.4: Live Response & Digital Evidence Collection Investigation Lab 5: DFIR |
94% |
10 | Module 6: Cloud Security & AI
Topic 6.1: Cloud Security Fundamentals |
97% |
11 | Module 6: Cloud Security & AI
Topic 6.2: Cloud Threats & Defense Topic 6.3: Forensics & Incident Response in the Cloud Topic 6.4: AI-Enhanced Security Operations |
100% |
12 | Review Week • Consolidate and organize your notes • Review topics you found challenging • Rest up before your exam |
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