3in1

Network defense, ethical hacking and digital forensics in one exam. Explore all three before you pick a specialization.

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (212-83) certification

Defend. Hack. Investigate.

Not sure which side of cybersecurity is yours? Try all three in one course, then prove it with an EC-Council credential.

HRD Corp claimableYayasan Peneraju: may be eligibleNo IT background needed

Exam

212-83

Course

5 days

Course fee

RM5,000

Exam fee

Included

Next intake

14 Dec 2026

Quick answer

What is ECSS?

The EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (ECSS) is an entry-level certification that covers network defence, ethical hacking and digital forensics in one exam. It needs no prior IT or security background, so it is a low-risk way to find out which side of cybersecurity suits you before committing to CND, CEH or CHFI.

Exam facts verified against cert.eccouncil.org on 22 Oct 2026

FOR

Students, fresh graduates, career switchers and non-technical staff

LEADS TO

CND, CEH or CHFI, depending on the path you prefer

SKIP IF

You already work in networking or security. Go straight to CND or CEH

01

The Credential

What you study, practise and sit to earn it.

Pass one exam, 212-83, and you hold the EC-Council Certified Security Specialist credential. It brings EC-Council’s three essentials programmes together, so you cover defence, attack and investigation before you specialise.

COURSE

5 days, 36 modules

HANDS-ON

114 labs

EXAM

212-83, 100 questions, 3 hrs

CREDENTIAL

ECSS

Awarded by

EC-Council

Level

Foundation

Prerequisites

None required

Renewal

Outside the ECE scheme

Exam blueprint

v2

Built from

Network Defense, Ethical Hacking and Digital Forensics Essentials

02

Decide in 60 Seconds

Four starting points people compare before their first security certification.

If you want to

Choose

Why

Try defence, hacking and forensics before specialising

→

ECSS

One beginner exam across all three disciplines

A vendor-neutral security baseline employers often list

→

CompTIA Security+

Broad security concepts, not tied to one vendor’s programme

Work in a SOC on Cisco-heavy networks

→

CCNA Cybersecurity

Focused on monitoring, analysis and incident response

Go straight into ethical hacking with some experience

→

Certified Ethical Hacker (312-50)

EC-Council’s ethical hacking certification

Is ECSS your starting point?
0/4

Tick what applies. 3 or 4: ECSS is a strong first step. Fewer: you may be ready for CND or CEH directly.

03

What the Exam Covers

Twelve domains from EC-Council’s ECSS blueprint v2. Bars to scale.

12 domainsLargest: Information Security Threats and Countermeasures, 28%Defence 32%Ethical hacking 34%Forensics 34%

Information Security Threats and Countermeasures (Hacking) 28%
Network Security Controls (Defence) 10%
Cloud Computing and Wireless Device Security (Defence) 10%
OS and Network Forensics (Forensics) 10%
Computer Forensics Fundamentals (Forensics) 8%
Data Security and Network Monitoring (Defence) 7%
Email and Malware Forensics (Forensics) 6%
Network Security Fundamentals (Defence) 5%
Data Acquisition Techniques (Forensics) 5%
Web Forensics (Forensics) 5%
Information Security Fundamentals (Hacking) 4%
Penetration Testing (Hacking) 2%

Source: EC-Council ECSS Exam Blueprint v2.

04

What the Course Covers

36 modules in three parts, plus the labs that put them into practice.

Five days of instructor-led training on EC-Council’s official ECSS course. You start with how networks are defended, switch sides to see how attackers work, then learn how investigators piece the evidence together.

12 modules

Network Defence

  • Network Security Fundamentals
  • Identification, Authentication and Authorisation
  • Network Security Controls: Administrative
  • Network Security Controls: Physical
  • Network Security Controls: Technical
  • Virtualisation and Cloud Computing
  • Wireless Network Security
  • Mobile Device Security
  • IoT Device Security
  • Cryptography and PKI
  • Data Security
  • Network Traffic Monitoring

12 modules

Ethical Hacking

  • Information Security Fundamentals
  • Ethical Hacking Fundamentals
  • Malware Threats and Countermeasures
  • Ethical Hacking Phases
  • Password Cracking Techniques
  • Social Engineering Techniques
  • Network Level Attacks
  • Web Application Attacks
  • Wireless Attacks
  • Mobile, IoT and OT Attacks
  • Cloud Computing Threats
  • Penetration Testing Fundamentals

12 modules

Digital Forensics

  • Computer Forensics Fundamentals
  • Computer Forensics Investigation Process
  • Hard Disks and File Systems
  • Data Acquisition and Duplication
  • Defeating Anti-forensics Techniques
  • Windows Forensics
  • Linux and Mac Forensics
  • Network Forensics
  • Investigating Web Attacks
  • Dark Web Forensics
  • Investigating Email Crimes
  • Malware Forensics

114

hands-on labs across network defence, ethical hacking and digital forensics.

05

Why Now

The readiness gap, the skills gap, and why train with us.

3%

of Malaysian organisations reach a Mature level of cyber readiness

Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index 2025

88%

of cybersecurity professionals have seen at least one significant consequence of a skills shortfall

ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study 2025

59%

describe their team’s skills needs as critical or significant, up from 44% in 2024

ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study 2025

6 hrs

Six Hours to Report. Who’s Watching the Alerts?

Malaysia’s Cyber Security Act 2024 (Act 854) came into force on 26 August 2024. Critical infrastructure entities must report a cyber security incident within six hours, and managed SOC monitoring services now need a licence. Every one of those duties needs people who understand defence, attacks and evidence.

NACSA; Cyber Security (Notification of Cyber Security Incident) Regulations 2024

EC-Council partner

Delivering EC-Council’s official ECSS course

Exam included

One fee covers training and your exam attempt

HRD Corp registered

This course is HRD Corp claimable

KL or online

Instructor-led in class or live online

06

The Cost, All In

Every figure per person, in ringgit.

Fees

Five-day courseIncluded

ECSS exam (212-83)Included

Funding

HRD Corp claim for employersClaimable

Yayasan Peneraju financing (Bumiputera)May be eligible

Course with exam

RM5,000

Dates

Where

Fee

14 to 18 Dec 2026

Kuala Lumpur or online

RM5,000 incl. exam

15 to 19 Feb 2027

Kuala Lumpur or online

RM5,000 incl. exam

26 to 30 Apr 2027

Kuala Lumpur or online

RM5,000 incl. exam

21 to 25 Jun 2027

Kuala Lumpur or online

RM5,000 incl. exam

Training a team? We run private intakes on dates that suit your organisation, with HRD Corp claims handled alongside you.

07

Exam and Renewal

What exam day looks like, and what happens after you pass.

Certification

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (ECSS)

Exam code

212-83

Questions

100

Duration

3 hours

Passing score

70%

Delivery

EC-Council Exam Portal

Exam fee

Included in the Trainocate course fee

AFTER YOU PASS

No ECE cycle

ECSS sits outside EC-Council’s ECE renewal scheme, so there is no 120-credit cycle to maintain.

NEXT MOVE

Build on it

Use ECSS as the base for CND, CEH or CHFI, covered in chapter 08.

FAQ

Questions People Ask

What is the EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (ECSS)?

ECSS is EC-Council’s entry-level cybersecurity certification. One exam (212-83) covers three disciplines: network defence, ethical hacking and digital forensics. It suits people starting out who want to try all three before choosing a specialism.

No. EC-Council designed ECSS for students and career starters with no prior IT or cybersecurity background. Basic computer skills are enough to start the course.

At Trainocate Malaysia the five-day ECSS course is RM5,000 per person, and the exam is included. The course is HRD Corp claimable, and Malaysian Bumiputera learners may be eligible for Yayasan Peneraju funding.

The 212-83 exam has 100 questions in three hours, and EC-Council lists a 70% passing score. It covers 12 domains. Information Security Threats and Countermeasures carries the most weight at 28%.

Take ECSS if you are new to IT or security and want a broad base first. Go straight to CEH if you already have networking or security experience and know you want ethical hacking.

ECSS points to three EC-Council specialisms: Certified Network Defender (CND) for defence, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) for offence, and Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) for investigation.

ECSS sits outside EC-Council’s ECE renewal scheme, so there is no 120-credit cycle to maintain. Ask us to confirm EC-Council’s current terms before you rely on them.

Find Your Side of Security

Pick an intake. An advisor confirms your seat, HRD Corp claims and Yayasan Peneraju eligibility with you.

  • Next intake: 14 to 18 Dec 2026
  • RM5,000, exam included

Sources

  1. EC-Council: Certified Security Specialist (ECSS)
  2. EC-Council certification: ECSS exam information
  3. EC-Council: ECSS Exam Blueprint v2 (PDF)
  4. EC-Council: ECE policy
  5. EC-Council: Certified Network Defender
  6. EC-Council: Certified Ethical Hacker
  7. EC-Council: Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator
  8. Trainocate: ECSS course outline
  9. Cisco 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, Malaysia findings (via Cybersecurity Asia)
  10. ISC2: 2025 Cybersecurity Workforce Study
  11. NACSA: Cyber Security Act 2024 (Act 854)
  12. MAICSA: Act 854 regulations summary