OffSec Incident Responder (OSIR) Certification
The OffSec Incident Responder (OSIR) certification highlights your ability to detect, investigate, and respond to cyber security incidents effectively. It’s great for security professionals seeking to develop practical, hands-on skills in threat analysis and digital forensics.
What is OffSec Incident Responder (OSIR)?
The OffSec Incident Responder (OSIR) certification, earned through the IR-200 course, proves your ability to respond effectively to real-world cyber incidents. Developed by OffSec, the credential focuses on practical, technical response capabilities rather than theory. It teaches how to detect, contain, and remediate attacks using realistic lab environments that simulate enterprise breaches.
This certification guide was written by our team of cyber security experts.
What topics does an OSIR certification cover?
This certification provides covers the most important aspects of modern incident response techniques. Key topic areas include:
- Foundations of incident response and threat intelligence
- Evidence collection and forensic analysis
- Log analysis and data correlation
- Malware identification and triage
- Memory forensics and host investigation
- Network traffic analysis
- Incident containment and recovery procedures
How do I earn an OSIR certification?
To earn the OSIR certification, candidates must complete the IR-200: Incident Response course and pass the practical certification exam. The process involves:
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Completing OffSec’s IR-200 Incident Response course or an official preparation course like OSIR: Incident Response (QAOSIR90).
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Gaining hands-on experience in the provided OffSec lab environment.
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Taking the 24-hour proctored OSIR exam, where you’ll analyze real-world attack data and produce a professional incident report.
Successful candidates earn the OffSec Incident Responder (OSIR) certification, recognized for its practical emphasis and technical depth.
What are the pre-requisites of an OSIR certification?
There are no formal prerequisites for the OSIR certification, but candidates should have:
- Basic understanding of cybersecurity principles and common attack vectors.
- Familiarity with command-line tools and log analysis.
- Experience with Windows or Linux system administration.
Knowledge of networking and security operations (e.g., SIEMs, IDS/IPS, or EDR tools) is recommended for best results.
Which roles require an OSIR certification?
The OSIR certification is ideal for technical professionals in roles such as:
- Incident Responders and SOC Analysts detecting and responding to threats.
- Digital Forensics Specialists investigating compromised systems.
- Cyber Security Engineers maintaining enterprise defense mechanisms.
- Threat Hunters analyzing adversary behavior and attack patterns.
Employers value OSIR-certified professionals for their proven ability to manage real-world security incidents using methodical, evidence-based techniques.
Is OSIR worth it?
The OSIR certification is highly respected for its practical, real-world focus. OffSec’s credentials are known for their rigorous, hands-on exams that validate true technical ability.
In a growing global cybersecurity market, incident response remains one of the most critical and in-demand skill sets. According to Glassdoor, UK incident responders earn between £50,000 and £85,000, with senior roles often exceeding £100,000.
The OSIR certification provides a tangible measure of your ability to respond to attacks quickly and effectively, enhancing both credibility and career potential in cyber defense and digital forensics.
Prepare for OSIR with our course
OffSec’s Incident Response (IR-200) course provides cybersecurity professionals with practical training to prepare for, identify, and handle security incidents effectively.
OSIR exam preparation
What is the exam structure of OffSec Incident Responder?
The OSIR exam is a fully practical, hands-on assessment designed to test your ability to handle realistic cybersecurity incidents. It includes:
- 24-hour proctored exam simulating an enterprise breach scenario
- Access to multiple systems for investigation
- Requirement to identify indicators of compromise, analyze data, and produce a comprehensive incident report
The exam evaluates your technical accuracy, investigative thoroughness, and ability to communicate findings clearly. All key skills for any professional responder.
What study resources are available for OffSec Incident Responder?
You can prepare for this certification using:
Does an OffSec Incident Responder certification expire?
No, the OSIR certification does not currently expire. However, OffSec recommends continuous professional development to stay updated with evolving attack techniques and incident response methodologies. Many professionals progress to higher-level OffSec certifications such as OSDA (Defensive Analyst) or OSCP (Certified Professional) after achieving OSIR.
Why choose QA for OSIR training?
Proud partner of Off-Sec
QA are Offensive Security's longest-standing partner across the UK/EU and is proud to be a Learning Partner.
Training led by cyber security experts
This guide was written by our in-house cyber security experts, all of whom are recognized as having demonstrated excellence in the areas they teach.
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