SentinelOne Threat Hunting Certification

Exam Facts

About

The SentinelOne Threat Hunting Certification (S1-301), also known as the IR 2 (Incident Response 2) certification, validates advanced expertise in proactive threat hunting, incident investigation, and sophisticated threat detection within the SentinelOne Singularity Platform.

This certification is designed for security analysts, detection engineers, and threat hunters who need to move beyond reactive incident response to proactively search for, identify, and eliminate threats within enterprise networks. The S1-301 demonstrates mastery of advanced query techniques, behavioral analysis, threat intelligence integration, and threat hunting methodologies.

Domain Context — XDR / EDR / Threat Hunting

S1-301 validates advanced capabilities in the threat hunting and detection engineering domain:

• Proactive Threat Hunting: Hypothesis-driven searches for indicators of compromise
• Threat Detection Engineering: Developing custom detection rules and alert strategies
• Behavioral Analysis: Identifying anomalous activities and attack patterns
• MITRE ATT&CK Application: Mapping threats to tactics, techniques, and procedures
• Deep Visibility: Leveraging SentinelOne's forensic data collection and analysis
• Threat Intelligence Integration: Correlating IOCs with internal data
• Advanced Querying: Using KQL and other query languages for complex investigations
• Incident Response: Connecting hunting discoveries to containment and remediation

Topics Covered

Threat Hunting Fundamentals

• Hypothesis-driven threat hunting methodology
• Intelligence-led hunting approaches
• Anomaly detection and baselining
• Adversary emulation and TTP-based hunting
• Hunt planning and execution
• Hunt metrics and effectiveness measurement

Advanced Querying & Analytics

• KQL (Kusto Query Language) for SentinelOne
• Deep Visibility query optimization
• Complex search and correlation queries
• Behavioral search patterns
• Timeline analysis and reconstruction
• Aggregation and statistical analysis

Behavioral Analysis & Detection

• Process behavior analysis
• Network behavior analysis
• File behavior analysis
• Registry activity monitoring
• Scheduled task and autorun analysis
• Service installation and modification detection

MITRE ATT&CK Framework

• Tactic and technique mapping
• Sub-technique identification
• Attack chain reconstruction
• Defensive tactic implementation
• Detection coverage assessment
• Threat group profiling

Threat Intelligence Integration

• IOC management and correlation
• Threat feed integration
• Custom IOC creation
• Contextual threat intelligence
• Threat actor research
• Vulnerability correlation

Advanced Incident Response

• Complex attack scenario investigation
• Multi-stage attack analysis
• Lateral movement detection
• Persistence mechanism discovery
• Data exfiltration detection
• Rootkit and fileless malware hunting

SentinelOne Advanced Features

• Deep Visibility and forensic mode
• Custom threat detection rules
• AI engine configuration and tuning
• Automated response rule creation
• Integration with SIEM/SOAR/EDR platforms
• API-driven automation

Specialized Hunt Scenarios

• Ransomware hunt campaigns
• Insider threat detection
• Supply chain compromise hunting
• Cryptojacking detection
• Command and control (C2) communication hunting
• Data exfiltration pattern recognition

Common Job-Ready Skills

Professionals certified with S1-301 are prepared for:

• Proactive threat hunting operations
• Detection engineering and rule creation
• Threat intelligence analysis
• Advanced incident investigation
• Threat actor profiling and attribution
• Security tool configuration and optimization
• SIEM/SOAR integration and automation
• Purple team exercise support
• Threat hunting program leadership

Recommended Courses

Note: SentinelOne University Premium subscription required for official training and exam access.

Practice Exams

• Official Practice Exam: Available through SentinelOne University (included with Premium)
• Threat Hunting Labs: Hands-on lab environments with realistic threat scenarios
• Query Sandbox: Dedicated environment for practicing KQL queries
• Case Studies: Real-world threat hunting case studies and walkthroughs
• Third-Party Providers: TrueCerts and ExamLab offer S1-301 practice exams

Books

While no official S1-301 certification books exist, the following resources support preparation:

Recommended Reading:

• "The Threat Hunting Project" — Security Blue Team
• "Threat Hunting: What It Is and Why It Matters" — SANS Institute
• "The Cyber Threat Hunting Handbook" — Jay Karambassis
• "MITRE ATT&CK Framework" — Practical applications guide
• "KQL Query Language Handbook" — Microsoft/SentinelOne resources
• "Incident Response in Depth" — Chris Nickerson
• SentinelOne technical documentation and whitepapers
• MITRE ATT&CK framework reference documentation

Job Titles

Professionals holding the S1-301 certification typically pursue:

• Threat Hunter — Proactively searches for threats and IOCs
• Detection Engineer — Designs and implements threat detection rules
• SOC Analyst Level 3 — Advanced alert investigation and threat hunting
• Threat Intelligence Analyst — Analyzes threats and informs hunting strategies
• Incident Response Analyst — Investigates complex incidents
• Security Analyst (Hunting Specialist) — Focused on proactive defense
• Threat Response Engineer — Develops detection and response automation
• Purple Team Lead — Conducts offensive and defensive team exercises

Salary (USD / Equivalent)

Based on role and location (2026 estimates):

Salary ranges vary by experience, location, industry, and company size.

Skills Validated

The S1-301 certification validates:

• ✓ Proactive threat hunting methodologies
• ✓ Advanced query development and optimization
• ✓ Behavioral analysis and detection logic
• ✓ MITRE ATT&CK framework application
• ✓ Threat intelligence integration and correlation
• ✓ Incident investigation and analysis
• ✓ Custom detection rule creation
• ✓ Complex attack scenario analysis
• ✓ Automation and orchestration
• ✓ Root cause analysis and attribution
• ✓ Leadership in threat hunting programs

Related Certifications

SentinelOne Ecosystem:

• S1-201 — SentinelOne Administrator Certification (often prerequisite)
• SIREN — SentinelOne IR Engineer (advanced, builds on S1-301)
• CSP — SentinelOne Certified Sales Professional

Complementary Certifications (Threat Hunting):

• CrowdStrike CCFR — CrowdStrike Certified Falcon Responder
• GIAC GCIH — Certified Incident Handler
• GIAC GCIA — Certified Intrusion Analyst
• Microsoft SC-200 — Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
• Splunk Core Certified User — Threat hunting with Splunk SIEM
• Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA) — Threat intelligence focus
• OSINT Certification — Open-source intelligence gathering

Sources

• Threat Hunting Learning Path on SentinelOne University
• SentinelOne IR 2 Threat Hunting Certification Prep
• Threat Hunting Part 1 - SentinelOne University
• SentinelOne University | Cybersecurity Training
• SentinelOne Training Certification Course Online
• SentinelOne University Catalog