## LE No. 06: SOC100 Cert Unlocked, New Instructors? Holiday Break!

### Introduction  
Level Effect announces an exciting week with the official launch of SOC100-2 and two significant surprises for the community.

### 1. Brand Updates  
#### SOC100 Certifications Launch  
Due to community demand, Level Effect is rolling out individual course certifications for the SOC100 series alongside practical assessments. These certifications feature:

- Tightly timed assessments testing quick thinking and knowledge retention  
- Scenario-based questions with technical commands requiring contextual answers  
- Entry-level friendly yet challenging format

The SOC100-1 Certification went live on the announcement date, featuring 125 questions over 2.5 hours with an 80% passing threshold. Purchasers receive three attempts.  
  
#### New Instructors Joining  
Two additional instructors with extensive experience and teaching skills are joining the platform, focusing on DFIR and Security Engineering content areas.  
  
#### Holiday Schedule  
The Level Effect office closes December 18-26, with reduced activity December 27-January 1. Regular operations resume January 2nd.

### 2. Content Progress  
SOC100 coursework advanced through Classes 18-19, covering cybersecurity industry landscape, security controls, cyber threats, zero trust architecture, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) frameworks.

### 3. Community Feedback  
Early CDCP certification feedback highlights difficulty balanced with enjoyment. Students ByteBusterNikon and JacyHernandez showcased portfolio projects on GitHub.

### 4. Tools & Resources  
Shared community resources include Reddit discussions on 2025 cybersecurity study trends emphasizing DFIR and engineering.

### 5. Takeaway  
"People rarely remember the first draft, but everyone remembers the final draft."

## Ready to Start Training?  
Take the 5-minute discovery quiz and find your cybersecurity path.

[Take the Quiz](/content/quiz/index.html)