To ensure a smooth experience while maintaining the integrity of all Certified CyberDefender certifications, all exam participants must follow these guidelines:
Technical Requirements
Use Google Chrome in Incognito mode with no extensions installed for the best exam experience.
Ensure you have a stable internet connection throughout the exam
A wired connection is recommended when possible
Make sure your device's clock/system time is set correctly (enable auto-sync if possible) to avoid an inaccurate remaining-time display or authentication errors in cloud labs.
Issue Reporting
If you encounter technical issues, use the Reset Labs button in the exam environment first.
If you're seeing an inaccurate remaining-time display or an authentication error like "Signature expired," double-check that your device's clock/system time is set correctly before resetting.
If the issue persists, follow the Lab Troubleshooting Guide to rule out browser or connection problems.
If the problem remains unresolved, please follow the steps outlined in the Contacting CyberDefenders Support guide to reach our team.
Exam Conduct
To maintain fairness and the integrity of certification, all candidates are expected to complete the exam independently and honestly.
Please note:
Receiving help from another person during the exam is considered cheating
Sessions flagged by our anti-cheating systems may be automatically disqualified and may result in restrictions on future attempts
Exam notes, answers, and materials must remain private
Sharing, distributing, or selling exam content, including after completing the exam, is considered a violation of policy and may lead to certification revocation
Prohibited AI Usage
AI Usage
Using interactive AI chatbots, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, Copilot, and similar AI assistants, is strictly prohibited during any exam
Using an AI chatbot or LLM for exam-related assistance is treated the same as receiving help from a third party
Providing exam questions, content, or other exam information to an AI tool counts as disclosure to a third party and violates the non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
Non-interactive AI tools are permitted if they are not prompted with exam content or asked for exam-related help; for example, Google Search's automatic AI Overview summarizing general search results is fine, as long as you don't feed it any exam content or ask it to solve or interpret exam material
Answering Questions (for CCDL2 only)
Clearly explain your investigation approach for each question
Partial points may be awarded where applicable
If you do not know an answer, enter "N/A" instead of leaving the response blank
Reporting Exam Misconduct or Cheating
Maintaining the value and integrity of CyberDefenders certifications is a shared responsibility.
If you become aware of individuals attempting to buy, sell, distribute, or solicit exam materials, we encourage you to report it.
Examples include:
Soliciting, purchasing, or selling exam questions, answers, or notes
Sharing exam content in written, verbal, or digital form
Attempting to impersonate another candidate
Taking an exam on behalf of someone else
Receiving assistance during an exam
Discussing specific exam questions publicly
To report a violation, contact [email protected] and include:
Relevant profile links
Screenshots or supporting evidence
All reports are reviewed by our certification and security teams, and confidentiality will be maintained whenever possible.
Consequences of Policy Violations
Possible consequences may include:
Immediate or pending exam attempt/exam disqualification
Revocation of previous CyberDefenders certifications
Permanent restrictions from future CyberDefenders exams and platform access
Legal action, where applicable
We appreciate community members who help us preserve the value of our certifications for everyone who earns them honestly.
Following these rules ensures a smooth and fair exam experience for everyone.