Check Point CCSA exam Information

There aren't really any other legit exam prep guides available other than the official CheckPoint course material. I have gathered this information from various sources. Note that there may be errors I have not been able to find.

Definition

(see here)
Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA)

• Overview
  The CCSA certification validates an individual’s ability to install, configure, and manage Check Point Security Gateway and Management Software Blade systems on the GAiA operating system, covering basic concepts and essential skills for administering IT security.
• Advantages:  This certification is beneficial in validating one’s ability to implement the latest network security technologies, preparing individuals for roles such as supporting or installing new Check Point products, or managing existing security infrastructure.
• Prerequisites:  6 months to 1 year of experience with Check Point products is recommended, along with general knowledge of networking and TCP/IP, Windows, UNIX, network technology, and the internet.

Latest CCSA R81.20 Exam Information (2025)

Exam Details:

• Exam Code: 156-215.81.20
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Questions: 100 multiple choice questions (some sources mention 90)
• Passing Score: 70%
• Language: English

Updated Exam Topics for 2025:

The latest exam topics include:

1. Check Point Technology Overview (10%)
   Understanding the architecture, components, and security solutions of Check Point
2. Security Policy Management (20%)
   Creating, modifying, and managing security policies effectively
3. Traffic Monitoring and Log Analysis (15%)
   Analyzing logs and network traffic using monitoring tools
4. Network Address Translation (NAT) (10%)
   Configuring manual and automatic NAT for IP address translation
5. User Authentication and Identity Awareness (10%)
   Implementing authentication mechanisms and identity awareness features
6. VPN Configuration (15%)
   Setting up and managing secure Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
7. Licensing and System Maintenance (10%)
   Managing licenses, performing backups, and maintaining systems efficiently
8. High Availability and Clustering (10%)
   Configuring ClusterXL for redundancy and load balancing purposes

Key Updates in R81.20 vs R81.10:

Based on expert analysis, new topics in R81.20 include:

• SmartWorkflow/Session Approval Cycle feature
• Ordered vs. Inline Layers (more heavily covered)
• External Network Feed SmartConsole object
• Accelerated Policy Installs (heavily emphasized)
• IoT and SSH Deep Packet Inspection features
• Domain-based vs. route-based VPNs (VTIs)
• Hyperflow feature (pipeline paths)
• SmartEvent view/report customization
• Central Deployment Tool options

Study Resources

Unfortunately, there aren't really any legitimate exam prep guides available other than the official course material. The courses are based on portions of the official documentation administration guide PDFs, which can be accessed for free at the Check Point Support Center.
Recommended Study Materials:

1. Check Point Support Center Documentation - Free access to administration guides
2. Check Point R81.20 Administration Guide
3. Hands-on lab practice with Check Point systems

Online Resources:

• Check Point Support Center (supportcenter.checkpoint.com)
• Check Point CheckMates Community Forum (you can join for free)
• Official Check Point training materials

Exam tips from experienced instructors:

• You have 90 minutes to complete 100 multiple choice questions with one correct answer each
• Fill-in-the-blank questions have been removed from recent exams
• Online proctoring options are available if you prefer not to visit a Pearson VUE testing center .