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EC-Council Certified Incident Handler ECIH Quick Facts
The EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (ECIH) certification empowers cybersecurity professionals to take efficient, confident action when managing and mitigating security incidents. This overview equips you with a clear understanding of the exam focus areas and how each domain builds the hands‑on expertise needed to handle and recover from diverse security events.
How does the ECIH certification strengthen your incident response expertise?
The ECIH certification validates practical skills for identifying, managing, and responding to modern cybersecurity incidents across enterprise environments. It prepares professionals to implement structured incident response processes, leverage industry frameworks, and coordinate defense strategies across networks, applications, cloud systems, endpoints, and human factors. Whether you are part of a security operations team or leading organizational risk response, earning the ECIH demonstrates your ability to minimize impact and restore systems effectively through proven methodologies.
Who Should Pursue the EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (E|CIH) Certification?
The EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (E|CIH) certification is ideal for cybersecurity professionals who want to master the art of defending organizations against digital threats and managing incidents effectively. Whether you are an incident responder, SOC analyst, cyber defense consultant, or network security engineer, this certification will help you develop a structured response strategy to deal with cybersecurity incidents.
Professionals with at least one year of experience in the cybersecurity or IT security domain will benefit the most, especially those focused on incident handling, incident response, and risk mitigation. It’s also a great fit for technology managers, forensic investigators, and information security specialists who want to boost their credibility in the field of cyber resilience.
What Career Opportunities Open Up After E|CIH Certification?
Earning the E|CIH certification positions you as a trusted specialist in incident response and cybersecurity. It qualifies you for a variety of high-demand roles such as:
- Incident Handler or Incident Response Analyst
- Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst or Engineer
- Cyber Forensics Investigator or Digital Forensics Specialist
- Cyber Defense Incident Responder
- CSIRT Analyst or Cyber Threat Intelligence Specialist
- Cybersecurity Manager or Consultant
According to Salary.com, the average salary for an Incident Handler in the United States is around $97,000 per year, making this certification a strong investment in your career growth and earning potential.
What Is the Exam Code and Format for the E|CIH Certification?
The current version of the EC-Council Certified Incident Handler exam is Exam Code 212-89. The test is designed to measure your ability to detect, respond to, and mitigate security incidents across multiple domains. The exam format includes:
- Multiple-choice and multi-select questions
- 100 total questions
- 3-hour exam duration (180 minutes)
- Administered through the EC-Council Exam Portal
This structure ensures a well-balanced assessment of both theoretical knowledge and practical incident handling understanding.
How Much Does the E|CIH Exam Cost?
The ECIH exam costs $450 USD, which grants you access to the EC-Council testing portal. Additional training options, such as online self-paced courses (iLearn) or live instructor-led sessions (iWeek), may vary in price. EC-Council’s learning platforms often bundle the course materials and exam voucher together for added value.
What’s the Passing Score for the 212-89 E|CIH Exam?
To become E|CIH certified, you need to achieve a minimum passing score of 70%. The exam is designed to validate real-world readiness, meaning it rewards candidates who not only memorize cybersecurity concepts but truly understand the end-to-end process of incident response. Thorough preparation across all domains is key to meeting and exceeding the passing threshold.
What Topics and Domains Are Covered on the E|CIH Exam?
The E|CIH certification exam blueprint covers nine critical domains, representing the complete lifecycle of incident handling and response. Each domain emphasizes a unique skill set essential for managing real-world cyber events:
- Incident Response and Handling Process
- First Response
- Malware Incidents
- Email Security Incidents
- Network Level Incidents
- Application Level Incidents
- Cloud Security Incidents
- Insider Threats
- Endpoint Security Incidents
Each domain ensures that candidates gain a holistic understanding of how to identify, record, triage, notify, contain, and recover from different types of incidents.
How Long Should You Expect to Study for the E|CIH?
While EC-Council officially lists the course duration as three days (24 hours) of instructor-led training, most professionals spend 4–6 weeks preparing for the exam through hands-on labs, reading the course manual, and practicing with simulated environments. The recommended preparation time depends on your prior experience and your familiarity with cybersecurity tools, frameworks, and best practices.
What Are the Available Training Options?
EC-Council provides a variety of delivery modes to accommodate different learning styles:
- iLearn (On-Demand) – Self-paced video-based training, ideal for flexible scheduling
- iWeek (Live Online) – Interactive instructor-led sessions in a virtual classroom environment
- Training Partner (In Person) – Classroom-based instruction through EC-Council Accredited Training Centers (ATCs)
Each option includes access to EC-Council’s hands-on incident response labs, which simulate real organizational attack scenarios using environments like Ubuntu, Windows, Parrot Security OS, and OSSIM.
In What Languages Is the Exam Offered?
The E|CIH certification exam is available in English, with additional language options potentially offered through regional EC-Council partners. However, English proficiency is strongly recommended, as course materials, labs, and exam content use standardized technical terminology.
How Long Is the EC-Council Incident Handler Certification Valid?
Once you earn the E|CIH certification, it remains valid for three years. To maintain your credential, you can recertify through continuing education credits (ECEs) or by retaking the updated version of the E|CIH exam. EC-Council also encourages certified professionals to stay active in the cybersecurity community to keep current with evolving threats and technologies.
What Type of Questions Can I Expect?
The exam includes realistic questions that assess not only theoretical understanding but also scenario-based decision-making. You may encounter questions on identifying incident indicators, prioritizing threat containment, or determining proper forensic procedures. Practicing with an authentic EC-Council Certified Incident Handler practice exam is a great way to build confidence and understand the question style before test day.
What Are the Prerequisites for Taking the E|CIH Exam?
To qualify, candidates must have at least one year of experience in the information security or cybersecurity domain. Familiarity with incident response procedures, network defense concepts, and system forensics is helpful. There is no formal educational prerequisite, making E|CIH accessible to security practitioners who have demonstrated practical experience in threat management.
What Skills Will You Gain from the E|CIH Course?
By completing this program, you’ll gain advanced knowledge across several core cybersecurity areas:
- Incident Response Methodology – From preparation to post-incident analysis
- Forensics and Evidence Handling – Securely collecting, preserving, and analyzing evidence
- Threat Containment Techniques – Preventing threat propagation during an attack
- Malware and Email Incident Handling – Detecting and eradicating malicious payloads
- Insider Threat Analysis – Identifying internal risks through behavioral cues
- Cloud and Endpoint Security Response – Managing incidents in distributed environments
These skills empower professionals to play a vital role in safeguarding organizations from both internal and external cyber threats.
Is the E|CIH Certification Hands-On?
Yes. The E|CIH program is designed as a lab-driven certification, with around 50% of training time dedicated to practical exercises. Students gain hands-on experience with 800+ cybersecurity tools, 95 different labs, and real-time attack simulations that mimic genuine organizational environments. This ensures you not only learn the concepts but also apply them effectively in incident response scenarios.
What Frameworks and Standards Does the E|CIH Follow?
The E|CIH program complies with several globally recognized frameworks and standards, including:
- NICE 2.0 Framework alignment
- CREST Certified Cyber Incident Manager (CCIM) compliance
- ANAB accreditation and DoD 8140 approval
This means your credential aligns with international cybersecurity requirements and can support eligibility for government and defense-related cyber roles.
How Important Is Incident Handling in Today’s Cybersecurity Landscape?
Incident handling is critical to preserving business continuity and limiting damage from cyberattacks. A proper incident response strategy ensures that breaches are detected quickly, contained efficiently, and eradicated completely. With the rise in ransomware, phishing attacks, and cloud vulnerabilities, certified incident handlers provide invaluable protection by maintaining operational resilience.
What Is the Average Study Path to Prepare for E|CIH?
Most candidates follow a simple yet structured three-step path:
- Complete EC-Council official training or a trusted partner program.
- Gain hands-on experience in a lab-based or sandbox environment to simulate real incidents.
- Reinforce your learning through practice exams, study guides, and group discussions.
This balanced approach ensures you develop both conceptual clarity and practical readiness.
What Tools and Resources Will You Work With During the Course?
The E|CIH course provides access to:
- Over 800 incident handling and response tools
- A 1,600-page comprehensive manual and 780+ instructor slides
- Realistic scenarios using threat detection platforms, forensic utilities, and monitoring solutions
These materials help bridge the gap between academic learning and practical incident resolution skills.
What Makes the EC-Council 212-89 Certification Globally Recognized?
The E|CIH certification is internationally acknowledged across industries including government, finance, healthcare, and IT due to its comprehensive, standards-aligned curriculum. Its recognition by the US Department of Defense (DoD) under Directive 8140, as well as accreditation by ANAB, adds significant credibility and global mobility to your cybersecurity profile.
How Do You Register for the E|CIH Exam?
To register for the exam, you can visit the official EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (E|CIH) certification page. From there, you can enroll in your preferred training format, purchase your exam voucher, and schedule your test through the EC-Council Exam Portal or one of their accredited training partners.
Achieving the EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (E|CIH) certification validates your expertise in managing cyber incidents and protecting organizations from evolving digital threats. With structured preparation, practical training, and the right study tools, you’ll be well-equipped to become a trusted cyber defense professional in an increasingly connected world.
