PECB ISO/IEC 27035 Foundation Exam Practice & Certification Guide

PECB ISO/IEC 27035 Foundation

More study resources

About this exam

The PECB ISO/IEC 27035 Foundation credential is an entry-level certificate that demonstrates you understand the fundamental methodologies, requirements, and management approach behind information security incident management. PECB's own description states that the training course enables you to learn the basic elements needed to implement an Incident Management Plan and manage information security incidents, and that holders of the certificate have shown they understand the fundamentals. The course is aimed at individuals interested in incident management process approaches, people seeking knowledge of the main principles and concepts of information security incident management, and those pursuing a career in the field. PECB lists basic knowledge of security incident management as preferred rather than mandatory. The exam covers two competency domains: fundamental principles and concepts of information security incident management, and information security incident management. The official course runs over two days: day one covers fundamental principles and concepts using ISO/IEC 27035, and day two covers process approaches plus the certificate exam. PECB states the exam fully meets the requirements of its Examination and Certificate Programme. Preparation combines the training material, practical exercises and discussions, and practice tests that PECB describes as similar to the certificate exam. This practice page is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by PECB or ISO.

What you'll study

Common questions

About PECB ISO/IEC 27035 Foundation Exam Practice & Certification Guide preparation

What does the PECB ISO/IEC 27035 Foundation certificate actually prove?

According to PECB, a Foundation certificate shows that you have understood the fundamental methodologies, requirements, and management approach of information security incident management. It is a knowledge-level credential, not an auditing or implementation qualification, and PECB lists no professional experience, audit experience, or project experience as certificate requirements.

What format is the exam?

PECB states that the exam fully meets the requirements of its Examination and Certificate Programme and lists two competency domains. The number of questions, the time limit, the passing score, and the exact item format are not given on the course page; PECB directs candidates to its List of PECB Exams and Examination Rules and Policies for exam type and language details.

How long is the training course?

The published agenda is two days. Day 1 introduces fundamental principles and concepts of information security incident management using ISO/IEC 27035. Day 2 covers information security incident management process approaches and includes the certificate exam. PECB states that an attestation of course completion worth 14 CPD credits is issued to participants who attend the training course.

What happens if I fail the exam?

PECB states: "In case of exam failure, you can retake the exam within 12 months for free." Plan your retake inside that 12-month window and use your score feedback to target the domain where you lost the most marks before rescheduling.

Do I need incident management experience before starting?

No. PECB lists basic knowledge of security incident management as preferred, not required, and the certificate requirements show no professional experience. That said, candidates with no exposure to security operations should read the ISO/IEC 27035 process stages before the course so the lectures and practical exercises land faster.

What do the two exam domains cover?

Domain 1 is fundamental principles and concepts of information security incident management, matching Day 1 of the course. Domain 2 is information security incident management, matching the process approaches taught on Day 2. PECB does not publish a per-domain weighting on the course page, so treat both domains as equally important when you plan study time.

How should I order my study?

Start with the concepts domain: incident, event, and incident management terminology, the principles behind the standard, and how ISO/IEC 27035 relates to other standards and regulatory frameworks, which PECB lists as a learning objective. Then move to process approaches, where you need to be able to describe the stages of managing an incident in sequence rather than just recognise terms.

What are the most common ways candidates lose marks?

Two patterns dominate. First, memorising definitions without being able to place a given activity in the correct process stage. Second, skipping the correlation objective: PECB explicitly expects you to acknowledge how ISO/IEC 27035 relates to other standards and regulatory frameworks, and questions built on that objective punish candidates who studied the standard in isolation.

Are the practice tests representative of the real exam?

PECB describes its course practice tests as similar to the Certificate Exam, so use them to check coverage rather than to predict a score. Work through each practice test untimed first, review every wrong answer against the course material, then repeat timed once your accuracy is stable across both domains.

Is this page or the practice material officially endorsed?

No. This is independent study material written for candidates preparing for the exam. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by PECB or ISO, and it does not reproduce any official question bank. Always confirm exam type, available languages, fees, and scheduling directly with PECB before you book.