You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
LINUX PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTELPIC-3 Security
The LPIC-3 Security certification validates your ability to secure and harden Linux-based servers, services, and networks enterprise-wide. It is designed for senior Linux professionals who are responsible for implementing robust security measures across complex environments. Earning this credential demonstrates advanced expertise in cryptography, host security, access control, and network security, positioning you as a trusted security specialist in the open source ecosystem.
Exam formatMultiple choice and fill-in-the-blank
Duration90 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
Free questions459
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What LPIC-3-SECURITY 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.
4domains
15objectives
164concepts
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The LPIC-3 Security certification is the highest level of LPI's Linux Professional track, focusing specifically on enterprise security. It validates your ability to secure and harden Linux-based servers, services, and networks across the entire organization. This certification goes beyond basic administration, covering advanced topics such as X.509 certificates and public key infrastructures, encrypted file systems, host intrusion detection, mandatory access control, and virtual private networks.
Earning the LPIC-3 Security credential demonstrates that you have the deep technical knowledge and practical skills to design, implement, and maintain robust security measures in complex Linux environments. It is ideal for experienced Linux administrators, security engineers, and enterprise architects who are responsible for protecting critical infrastructure. With this certification, you prove your capability to handle real-world security challenges, from configuring OpenSSL and managing DNSSEC to deploying SELinux and setting up OpenVPN and IPsec.
The certification is valid for five years, after which you must recertify or achieve a higher-level certification to maintain your credential. It is part of LPI's comprehensive certification program, which is recognized globally as the standard for vendor-neutral Linux and open source certification.
Who it’s for
This certification is for experienced Linux professionals who are responsible for securing enterprise Linux environments. It is ideal for senior Linux administrators, security engineers, and system architects who need to implement and manage comprehensive security measures across servers, services, and networks. Candidates should have a strong background in Linux system administration and a deep understanding of security concepts. They are expected to be comfortable with command-line tools, configuration files, and security best practices. The certification is designed for those who want to validate their advanced skills in cryptography, host security, access control, and network security.
Recommended experience
Candidates should have a solid understanding of Linux system administration and security concepts, typically gained through several years of hands-on experience. Experience with Linux system administration, including user management, file permissions, and system configuration; Familiarity with networking concepts and common network services; Knowledge of basic security principles, such as encryption, authentication, and access control; Practical experience with command-line tools and scripting
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective Linux Professional Institute measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official Linux Professional Institute exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
Topic 325: Cryptography
- 325.1 X.509 Certificates and Public Key Infrastructures (weight: 5)
- 325.2 X.509 Certificates for Encryption, Signing and Authentication (weight: 4)
- 325.3 Encrypted File Systems (weight: 3)
- 325.4 DNS and Cryptography (weight: 5)
Topic 326: Host Security
- 326.1 Host Hardening (weight: 3)
- 326.2 Host Intrusion Detection (weight: 4)
- 326.3 User Management and Authentication (weight: 5)
- 326.4 FreeIPA Installation and Samba Integration (weight: 4)
Topic 327: Access Control
- 327.1 Discretionary Access Control (weight: 3)
- 327.2 Mandatory Access Control (weight: 4)
- 327.3 Network File Systems (weight: 3)
Topic 328: Network Security
- 328.1 Network Hardening (weight: 4)
- 328.2 Network Intrusion Detection (weight: 4)
- 328.3 Packet Filtering (weight: 5)
- 328.4 Virtual Private Networks (weight: 4)
On the day
The exam itself
Everything Linux Professional Institute publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
An active LPIC-2 certification is required.
Exam codeLPIC-3-SECURITY
CertificationLPIC-3 Security
Exam formatMultiple choice and fill-in-the-blank
Duration90 minutes
Questions60 questions
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish, Japanese
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path Linux Professional Institute lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to LPIC-3 Security
PrerequisiteAn active LPIC-2 certification is required.
Credential earnedLPIC-3 Security Certification Renewal and maintenance
LPIC-3 Security certification is valid for 5 years. To maintain it, you must retake the exam or achieve a higher-level certification. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. Linux Professional Institute maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by Linux Professional Institute
Exam registration
Register for the exam through Pearson VUE, Linux Professional Institute’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official Linux Professional Institute 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 does the LPIC-3 Security exam relate to the previous version 1.x objectives?
The current exam is based on version 2.0.0 of the objectives. Version 1.x objectives are available for reference, but the exam now covers updated topics such as FreeIPA, DNSSEC, and nftables.
Do I need to earn LPIC-1 and LPIC-2 before attempting LPIC-3 Security?
Yes, an active LPIC-2 certification is required to be awarded the LPIC-3 Security credential. While you may take the exam in any order, the certification will only be issued once you hold an active LPIC-2.
Is there a hands-on or lab component in the LPIC-3 Security exam?
No, the exam consists of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions only. There is no hands-on lab section.
What is the retake policy if I fail the LPIC-3 Security exam?
LPI requires a waiting period of at least 24 hours before retaking a failed exam. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but each attempt requires a new exam voucher.
What job roles does the LPIC-3 Security certification align with?
It is designed for senior Linux administrators, security engineers, and enterprise architects responsible for securing Linux-based infrastructure.
Can I recertify by passing a different LPIC-3 exam?
Yes, achieving any higher-level LPIC certification (such as LPIC-3 Virtualization and Containerization or LPIC-3 High Availability and Storage Clusters) will renew your LPIC-3 Security certification.
Are there any regional restrictions for taking the LPIC-3 Security exam?
The exam is available globally through Pearson VUE test centers and online proctoring. However, language availability may vary by region.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 459 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept Linux Professional Institute measures — each one written out.
4domains
15objectives
164concepts
97free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official Linux Professional Institute exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1Topic 325: Cryptography128 questions
325.1 X.509 Certificates and Public Key Infrastructures (weight: 5)12 concepts · 8 pagesOpen →325.2 X.509 Certificates for Encryption, Signing and Authentication (weight: 4)9 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →325.3 Encrypted File Systems (weight: 3)6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →325.4 DNS and Cryptography (weight: 5)9 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →
2Topic 326: Host Security121 questions
3Topic 327: Access Control85 questions
4Topic 328: Network Security125 questions
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
325.1 X.509 Certificates and Public Key Infrastructures (weight: 5)8 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
38 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
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.
Free questions
459 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
459questions
97pages
15objectives
Freealways
Start anywhere325.1 X.509 Certificates and Public Key Infrastructures (weight: 5) 38 questions · 8 pages
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Topic 325: Cryptography128 questions
2Topic 326: Host Security121 questions
3Topic 327: Access Control85 questions
4Topic 328: Network Security125 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
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.
164concepts
459free questions
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 Linux Professional Institute
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
3official links
164concepts mapped
The source
Linux Professional Institute’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official Linux Professional Institute outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 15 objectives, 164 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When Linux Professional Institute changes the outline, this page changes with it.
15objectives on the outline→164concepts written→459free questions
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.