​The SPLK-5001, officially known as the Splunk Certified Cybersecurity Defense Analyst exam, is an intermediate-level certification designed for individuals aiming to demonstrate their proficiency in detecting, analyzing, and combating cyber threats using Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Enterprise Security.

Splunk Certified Cybersecurity Defense Analyst Exam Details

  • Level: Intermediate​
  • Prerequisites: None​
  • Length: 75 minutes​
  • Format: 66 multiple-choice questions
  • Pricing: $130 USD per attempt​
  • Delivery: Administered by Pearson VUE

SPLK 5001 Domains

This cert is all about using Splunk for cyber defense. Key focus areas include:

  • Core SIEM functions in Splunk Enterprise Security
  • Security content analysis and detection logic
  • Using threat intelligence and risk-based alerts
  • Investigating incidents and writing notable event stories
  • Analyzing raw logs for attacker behavior
  • Basic risk scoring and correlation logic
  • Applying MITRE ATT&CK framework in Splunk

This isn’t just about knowing Splunk syntax — it’s about operationalizing Splunk as a defense tool.

Who It’s For

  • SOC analysts, detection engineers, or incident responders using Splunk
  • IT/security pros who want to shift into cyber defense roles
  • Teams using Splunk ES looking to level up skillsets
  • Learners who want a certification that’s practical and tool-based

How to Prepare For SPLK 5001 Exam

Understand the Exam Structure and Objectives

  • Exam Details: The exam consists of 66 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 75 minutes.
  • Focus Areas: The exam assesses your knowledge in using Splunk Enterprise and Enterprise Security for detecting, analyzing, and combating cyber threats.
  • Official Resources: Review the Splunk Certified Cybersecurity Defense Analyst track for detailed information.

Engage in Recommended Training

  • Splunk Courses: Splunk offers specific courses designed to prepare candidates for this certification. While some courses are free, others may require a fee. For instance, the “Using Splunk Enterprise Security” course is highly recommended, though it has an associated cost. As discussed in the Splunk Community, hands-on experience with Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) is invaluable.

Gain Practical Experience

  • Hands-On Practice: Setting up a Splunk environment and practicing with real data can solidify your understanding. Engaging in labs and practical exercises enhances retention and application skills.

Review the Exam Blueprint

  1. Splunk’s Official Blueprint: This document outlines the topics covered in the exam, helping you focus your study efforts. Access it through the Splunk Certification Exams Study Guide.

SPLK 5001 Study Notes & Guide

The SPLK-5001 study guide & notes is designed to prepare individuals for the Splunk Certified Cybersecurity Defense Analyst certification. It covers essential cybersecurity principles, risk management, SOC operations, and Splunk’s role in threat detection and incident response. The guide includes detailed explanations of SIEM (Security Information and Event Management), SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response), and practical Splunk use cases. It also features practice tests to reinforce learning and exam preparation.

Table of contents:

  • About SPLK-5001
  • Preparation Tips
  • Basics in Cyber Security
  • SOC Definition
  • What does the SOC do?
  • Building a SOC
  • SOC Analyst Skills
  • SOC Roles
  • SOC Maturity Frameworks
  • Key Cybersecurity Controls, Standards, andFrameworks
  • How Splunk Integrates Cybersecurity Frameworks
  • SIEM Deployment Checklist
  • SOAR
  • SOC Analyst Performance Metrics
  • Splunk Security Solutions
  • Security Use Cases and Solutions
  • Definitions in Splunk & Its Components
  • Creating Dashboards in Splunk
  • Splunk Alerts
  • Splunk Event Dispositions & Assignment Guidelines
  • Log Monitoring
  • Log Collection
  • Common Splunk Sourcetypes for On-Premises andCloud-Based Deployments
  • Splunk Threat Intelligence Management (TIM) Overviewand Extended Insights
  • Annotations in Splunk Enterprise Security (ES)
  • TTPs
  • Evaluating Data Sources with Splunk Security Essentialsand Splunk Enterprise Security
  • The Cyber Kill Chain
  • Five Key Stages of Investigation According to Splunk
  • Risk-Based Alerting (RBA) and Risk Framework
  • Common SPL Terms and Their Applications in Security Analysis
  • Splunk BOTSV1 Scenario
  • Best Practices for Crafting Efficient Splunk Searches
  • Troubleshooting
  • Threat Hunting Techniques
  • Understanding Long Tail Analysis, Outlier Detection, andHypothesis Hunting with Splunk
  • SOAR Playbooks: Enhancing Security Through Automation
  • Practice Tests

Page count: 201

Format: PDF

Who Are These Notes For?

  • Cybersecurity students preparing for Splunk SIEM certification exam (SPLK 5001).
  • Professionals who are actively working in the field and need a set of ready and concise Splunk SIEM notes.
  • Savvy learners who want to quickly master Splunk SIEM without having to read hunderds of pages.

Testimonials (LinkedIn)

How to buy the booklet?

You can buy the booklet directly by clicking on the button below

After you buy the booklet, you will be able to download the PDF booklet along with the markup files if you want to import them to Obsidian software.

SPLK-5001 Certification Review

Pros

✅ Hands-on relevance – aligned with real SOC workflows
✅ Focused on Splunk ES, not just core Splunk
✅ Affordable compared to other industry certs
✅ Quick to prepare if you already use Splunk
✅ Backed by Splunk — a major player in the SIEM space

Cons

❌ Vendor-specific – limited value outside Splunk environments
❌ Still relatively new – not widely recognized yet
❌ Requires access to Splunk ES for real prep (not just core Splunk)
❌ No performance-based (lab-style) questions — all multiple-choice

The SPLK-5001 is a solid, practical cert if you work with or plan to work with Splunk Enterprise Security in a SOC environment. It’s not a general-purpose cyber cert like Security+ or CySA+, but it does validate real, job-relevant skills that companies value — especially if Splunk is part of their stack.

If you’re already in Splunk, or trying to break into a SOC role where Splunk is used, this cert is absolutely worth it. If you’re not working with Splunk at all, you may want to start with broader cybersecurity certs first.

What about the notes updates?

if you have been watching my YouTube Channel, you definitely know that those who subscribe to the second tier of my channel membership they instantly get access to a vast catalog of cybersecurity, penetration testing, digital marketing, system administration and data analytics notes catalog for 10$ along with the ability to receive all notes updates as long as they are subscribed so what does that mean?

This means if you want to stay up to date with the changes and updates to the notes and get access to other categories, I encourage to join the channel membership second tier instead. However, if you are fine with downloading the current version of this section of the notes then you can buy this booklet instead for a one-time payment.

Will the prices of this booklet change in the future?

Once another version of this booklet is released, which it will, the price will slightly change as the booklet will include more contents, notes and illustrations.

Free Splunk SIEM Training

Checkout the playlist below on my YouTube channel for Free Splunk SIEM Training