ICDL Cyber Security (ICDL)

The source material reviewed does not state the test format, question count or duration. ICDL directs individuals who want to get certified to first find an ICDL Accredited Test Centre near them, so the practical details of sitting the test should be confirmed with your local centre.

ICDL does not publish a duration or pass mark for this module on the pages reviewed here, so neither can be confirmed. Ask your Accredited Test Centre for the current test length and the score required before you book, and plan your preparation around what they tell you.

No fee is stated in the source material. Pricing is set locally by Accredited Test Centres rather than published centrally on the module page, so contact a centre in your country for current costs, including any re-sit charges, before committing to a test date.

The source does not describe a retake policy. Because retake rules, waiting periods and any additional fees are handled at the test centre level, ask your centre directly about their policy before sitting the test so you know your options in advance.

The syllabus is pitched at everyday, practical competence rather than deep technical specialism: it covers good practice for securing connections, devices and data, plus concepts such as data threats, malware, social engineering and identity theft. Candidates comfortable with routine safe computing habits and willing to learn the terminology should find it manageable.

Start with Security concepts, since it establishes the vocabulary of data threats, the value of information, personal and file security that the later skill sets build on. Then work through Malware and Network security before moving to Secure Web Use and Communications, finishing with Secure Data Management, which draws on backup, restore and safe deletion practice.

ICDL states that the detailed syllabus for the Cyber Security module is publicly available and can be downloaded from the module page, along with a module fact sheet. Use that document as your checklist, since it sets out the specific skills and knowledge against which you will be certified.

The areas that reward careful reading are the distinctions between threat types, the practical browser settings behind secure and private browsing, and the difference between backing up data and securely deleting it. Candidates who only memorise definitions without understanding why each practice matters tend to struggle with scenario-style questions.

ICDL and ECDL are both registered business names and trademarks of the ICDL Foundation, and the module is offered under the ICDL CORE programme. If a centre advertises it under either name, confirm with them that it is the current Cyber Security module syllabus before enrolling.

ICDL advises individuals wishing to get certified to first find an ICDL Accredited Test Centre near them; institutions interested in offering ICDL to students or employees can approach ICDL about becoming a centre. Registration, scheduling and payment are then handled through that accredited centre.