You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
CROWDSTRIKECrowdStrike Certified Identity Specialist (CCIS)
The CrowdStrike Certified Identity Specialist (CCIS) certification validates your expertise in securing workforce identities with the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform. It is designed for identity and access management (IAM) professionals, analysts focused on identity-based threats, and policy and access administrators. Earning CCIS demonstrates your ability to defend your organization against sophisticated identity-based cyberattacks.
Exam formatMultiple choice
DeliveryPearson VUE
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What CrowdStrike Certified Identity Specialist (CCIS) proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
12domains
66objectives
284concepts
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The CrowdStrike Certified Identity Specialist (CCIS) certification validates the knowledge and skills required to secure workforce identities using the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform. This role-based certification is part of the CrowdStrike Falcon® Certification Program (CFCP) and is tailored for professionals who work in identity and access management (IAM), analyze identity-based threats, or administer policy and access controls.
Earning the CCIS demonstrates your proficiency in leveraging Falcon Identity Protection to defend against today's sophisticated cyberattacks. It confirms your ability to implement, manage, and use the platform effectively to protect your organization's identity infrastructure, making you a valuable asset to any security team.
Who it’s for
The CCIS certification is ideal for professionals working in identity and access management (IAM), analysts who focus on identity-based threats, and policy and access administrators. It is designed for those who are responsible for securing and managing workforce identities within their organization. This certification is for individuals who want to validate their specialized skills in using the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform to protect against identity-based attacks and ensure robust identity security.
Recommended experience
CrowdStrike recommends that candidates have experience with the Falcon platform and a background in identity and access management. Working knowledge of identity and access management (IAM) concepts; Experience with the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform; Familiarity with identity-based threat analysis and response
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective CrowdStrike measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official CrowdStrike exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
Zero Trust Architecture
- Describe what the NIST SP 800-207 framework for Zero Trust architecture defines
- Describe the security need and impetus for the Zero Trust architecture
- Describe the implementation of the Zero Trust architecture within Falcon Identity Protection
- Describe the fundamental principles of Zero Trust (continuous validation, etc.)
- Describe the difference between a traditional "wall-and-moat" security model and a modern Zero Trust model
- Describe some of the key use cases for Falcon Zero Trust
- Describe how a Falcon user's Zero Trust Assessment (ZTA) score is calculated
Identity Protection Tenets
- Describe the identity protection architecture employed at CrowdStrike as a part of the Falcon Identity Protection module
- Describe how Falcon Identity Protection inspects traffic in the domain
- Describe how Falcon Identity Protection complements traditional EDR solutions
- Describe how Falcon Identity Protection helps secure against the human elements of security vulnerability
- Describe how Falcon Identity Protection empowers the team to mitigate and prevent identity-based exploits and attacks
- Identify key differences between Falcon Identity Protection log-free detections and traditional EDR solutions
- Describe the threat landscape and the need for identity-based security solutions
Falcon Identity Protection Fundamentals
- Identify the menu categories (monitor, enforce, explore and configure) of Falcon Identity Protection
- Describe the contents of each menu category (monitor, enforce, explore and configure) within Falcon Identity Protection
- Identify the goal of each menu category (monitor, enforce, explore and configure)
- Recognize the availability of specific tools limited by product subscription for Identity Threat Detection vs. Identity Threat Protection (ITD vs. ITP)
- Describe the purpose of Falcon Identity Protection in general security terms
- Explain how Falcon Identity Protection works to mitigate threats that bypass traditional MITRE ATT&CK framework vectors
- Describe the Falcon roles working within Falcon Identity Protection and the features available to those roles
Domain Security Assessment
- Understanding Domain Risk Scores and Trends
- Interpreting Risk Matrix and Risk Factors
- Prioritizing and Addressing Risks
- Integrating Falcon Identity Protection
- Managing Domain Security Goals and Scope
Risk Assessment
- Risk Fundamentals
- Risk Analysis and Dashboards
- Custom Insights and Reports
- Risk Remediation
User Assessment
- User Fundamentals
- User Risk Assessment
- Risk Mitigation and Special Accounts
Threat Hunting and Investigation
- Identity-Based Detection and Incident Fundamentals
- Investigating Identity-Based Incidents
- Managing Detection Exclusions and Types
- Understanding Risk in Detection and Analysis
Risk Management with Policy Rules
- Describe the purpose of policy rules and policy groups
- Demonstrate the policy rule creation process
- Explain the purpose of the various triggers and conditions within a policy rule
- Explain how to enable and disable policy rules
- Explain how to group, ungroup and manage groups of rules
- Describe how to apply any changes made to policy rules
- Describe the Falcon role(s) necessary to write and manage policy rules
Configuration and Connectors
- Domain Monitoring and Configuration
- Subnet Management and Policy Enforcement
- Risk Configuration and Exceptions
- Connector Types and Setup
- Business Privileges and Country Controls
Multifactor Authentication (MFA) and Identity-as-a-service (IDaaS) Configuration Basics
- Explain how to access the IDaaS and MFA configuration settings
- Explain the configuration fields associated with the various connectors
- Describe how to configure the settings for MFA connectors
- Describe how to enable third-party MFA for Falcon Identity Protection
- Describe how Falcon Identity Protection extends on capabilities of existing MFA providers and does not intend to replace it
Falcon Fusion SOAR for Identity Protection
- Describe the building blocks of a Falcon Fusion SOAR workflow
- Explain how to define triggers
- Explain how to add conditions
- Explain what various conditions do and how to combine them to limit the scope of a workflow
- Describe how to create custom, templated, scheduled and on-demand workflows
- Describe how to create branching workflows and loops
- Create workflows in Falcon Fusion SOAR to accomplish specific goals
GraphQL API
- Describe where you can find Identity API (GraphQL) documentation
- Create an API key specific to Falcon Identity Protection
- Describe the differences between the different Falcon Identity Protection API permissions
- Pivot from a Threat Hunter search into GraphQL
- Build a simple query that returns all privileged users with high risk
On the day
The exam itself
Everything CrowdStrike publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
No mandatory prerequisites — this certification has no required predecessor exam or credential.
CertificationCrowdStrike Certified Identity Specialist (CCIS)
Exam formatMultiple choice
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path CrowdStrike lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to CrowdStrike Certified Identity Specialist (CCIS)
Credential earnedCrowdStrike Certified Identity Specialist (CCIS) Certification Renewal and maintenance
CrowdStrike certifications are valid for 3 years. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. CrowdStrike maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by CrowdStrike
Exam registration
Register for the exam through Pearson VUE, CrowdStrike’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official CrowdStrike certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How do I schedule the CCIS exam?
You can schedule your CCIS exam by purchasing or redeeming an exam voucher and then visiting the Pearson VUE website to select an online exam or a test at a Pearson Test Center.
What are the identification requirements for taking the CCIS exam?
You must review the Pearson Identification (ID) Requirements before your exam. A valid, government-issued photo ID that matches the name on your registration is required for check-in.
Is there a hands-on or lab component to the CCIS exam?
The official CrowdStrike materials do not specify a hands-on or lab component for the CCIS exam. The exam is designed to validate knowledge and skills across the Falcon platform.
What job roles does the CCIS certification map to?
The CCIS certification is ideal for professionals working in identity and access management (IAM), analysts focusing on identity-based threats, and policy and access administrators.
How can I prepare for the CCIS exam?
CrowdStrike recommends learning the Falcon platform through CrowdStrike University, building technical skills with recommended training, and reviewing the official Exam Guide for detailed objectives and preparation resources.
What is the CrowdStrike Falcon Certification Program?
The CrowdStrike Falcon Certification Program (CFCP) is a role-based certification program that validates knowledge and skills across the Falcon platform, covering roles such as Practitioners, Administrators, Responders, Hunters, SIEM Analysts, SIEM Engineers, and Specialists in Identity and Cloud Security.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept CrowdStrike measures — each one written out.
12domains
66objectives
284concepts
The domains, and what sits inside them
The objectives below with practice pages open right away, without an account.
The official CrowdStrike exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1Zero Trust Architecture
Describe what the NIST SP 800-207 framework for Zero Trust architecture defines5 concepts
Describe the security need and impetus for the Zero Trust architecture4 concepts
Describe the implementation of the Zero Trust architecture within Falcon Identity Protection7 concepts
Describe the fundamental principles of Zero Trust (continuous validation, etc.)4 concepts
Describe the difference between a traditional "wall-and-moat" security model and a modern Zero Trust model4 concepts
Describe some of the key use cases for Falcon Zero Trust6 concepts
Describe how a Falcon user's Zero Trust Assessment (ZTA) score is calculated4 concepts
2Identity Protection Tenets
Describe the identity protection architecture employed at CrowdStrike as a part of the Falcon Identity Protection module6 concepts
Describe how Falcon Identity Protection inspects traffic in the domain5 concepts
Describe how Falcon Identity Protection complements traditional EDR solutions4 concepts
Describe how Falcon Identity Protection helps secure against the human elements of security vulnerability2 concepts
Describe how Falcon Identity Protection empowers the team to mitigate and prevent identity-based exploits and attacks5 concepts
Identify key differences between Falcon Identity Protection log-free detections and traditional EDR solutions5 concepts
Describe the threat landscape and the need for identity-based security solutions4 concepts
3Falcon Identity Protection Fundamentals
Identify the menu categories (monitor, enforce, explore and configure) of Falcon Identity Protection5 concepts
Describe the contents of each menu category (monitor, enforce, explore and configure) within Falcon Identity Protection4 concepts
Identify the goal of each menu category (monitor, enforce, explore and configure)4 concepts
Recognize the availability of specific tools limited by product subscription for Identity Threat Detection vs. Identity Threat Protection (ITD vs. ITP)4 concepts
Describe the purpose of Falcon Identity Protection in general security terms3 concepts
Explain how Falcon Identity Protection works to mitigate threats that bypass traditional MITRE ATT&CK framework vectors4 concepts
Describe the Falcon roles working within Falcon Identity Protection and the features available to those roles5 concepts
4Domain Security Assessment
Understanding Domain Risk Scores and Trends5 concepts
Interpreting Risk Matrix and Risk Factors6 concepts
Prioritizing and Addressing Risks4 concepts
Integrating Falcon Identity Protection1 concepts
Managing Domain Security Goals and Scope5 concepts
5Risk Assessment
Risk Fundamentals2 concepts
Risk Analysis and Dashboards3 concepts
Custom Insights and Reports5 concepts
Risk Remediation3 concepts
6User Assessment
User Fundamentals4 concepts
User Risk Assessment5 concepts
Risk Mitigation and Special Accounts4 concepts
7Threat Hunting and Investigation
Identity-Based Detection and Incident Fundamentals6 concepts
Investigating Identity-Based Incidents5 concepts
Managing Detection Exclusions and Types5 concepts
Understanding Risk in Detection and Analysis3 concepts
8Risk Management with Policy Rules
Describe the purpose of policy rules and policy groups3 concepts
Demonstrate the policy rule creation process3 concepts
Explain the purpose of the various triggers and conditions within a policy rule5 concepts
Explain how to enable and disable policy rules3 concepts
Explain how to group, ungroup and manage groups of rules3 concepts
Describe how to apply any changes made to policy rules4 concepts
Describe the Falcon role(s) necessary to write and manage policy rules1 concepts
9Configuration and Connectors
Domain Monitoring and Configuration6 concepts
Subnet Management and Policy Enforcement3 concepts
Risk Configuration and Exceptions6 concepts
Connector Types and Setup4 concepts
Business Privileges and Country Controls4 concepts
10Multifactor Authentication (MFA) and Identity-as-a-service (IDaaS) Configuration Basics
Explain how to access the IDaaS and MFA configuration settings3 concepts
Explain the configuration fields associated with the various connectors6 concepts
Describe how to configure the settings for MFA connectors7 concepts
Describe how to enable third-party MFA for Falcon Identity Protection3 concepts
Describe how Falcon Identity Protection extends on capabilities of existing MFA providers and does not intend to replace it3 concepts
11Falcon Fusion SOAR for Identity Protection
Describe the building blocks of a Falcon Fusion SOAR workflow5 concepts
Explain how to define triggers5 concepts
Explain how to add conditions4 concepts
Explain what various conditions do and how to combine them to limit the scope of a workflow5 concepts
Describe how to create custom, templated, scheduled and on-demand workflows5 concepts
Describe how to create branching workflows and loops5 concepts
Create workflows in Falcon Fusion SOAR to accomplish specific goals8 concepts
12GraphQL API
Describe where you can find Identity API (GraphQL) documentation3 concepts
Create an API key specific to Falcon Identity Protection4 concepts
Describe the differences between the different Falcon Identity Protection API permissions3 concepts
Pivot from a Threat Hunter search into GraphQL5 concepts
Build a simple query that returns all privileged users with high risk5 concepts
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Practice questions are being prepared for CrowdStrike Certified Identity Specialist (CCIS).
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
284concepts
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from CrowdStrike
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
2official links
284concepts mapped
The source
CrowdStrike’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.