The DISA Assured Compliance Assessment Solution (ACAS) is a critical suite of automated tools used throughout the Department of Defense (DoD) to assess vulnerability and secure DoD information networks. This essential solution, primarily built on Tenable's industry-leading software including Tenable.sc (formerly SecurityCenter) and Nessus, is mandated for use by all DoD components, including military departments, defense agencies, and contractor systems that connect to DoD networks.
An ACAS certification, often achieved through completion of official training courses and passing a final examination, validates a cybersecurity professional's proficiency in deploying, configuring, and managing these powerful scanners to maintain the ongoing security posture required for connecting to sensitive networks. This practice test is designed as a study aid for individuals preparing for the final exam associated with the DISA ACAS training, helping them to gauge their knowledge and build confidence before the official attempt.
The official DISA ACAS training course is comprehensive, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical, hands-on experience through virtual labs. It is a foundational requirement for individuals working in network security and vulnerability management within the DoD ecosystem.
The course is structured to provide a deep understanding of all core ACAS modules and how they work in concert to achieve the goal of continuous, automated compliance. The syllabus generally covers the following key domains, which are the basis for exam questions:
ACAS Architecture and Components: Understanding the role and deployment models of Tenable.sc, Nessus scanners (both active and passive), and Nessus Network Monitor (NNM).
Installation and Initial Configuration: Learning the step-by-step process of installing ACAS on a supported operating system and performing the necessary post-installation setup.
SecurityCenter Configuration and Administration: Mastering the central management console to manage user roles, organizations, repositories, and scanner connections.
Active Scanning with Nessus: Designing, configuring, and running active vulnerability scans using pre-defined and custom policies, targeting specific network assets.
Passive Scanning with Nessus Network Monitor: Deploying and configuring NNM to passively sniff network traffic, identifying assets and vulnerabilities in real-time without active probing.
Analysis and Reporting: Navigating the SecurityCenter interface to analyze scan results, create custom dashboards, and generate detailed, compliance-oriented reports suitable for different audiences, from technical staff to command leadership.
Plugin Management and CVEs: Understanding how the Nessus plugin library works, how to keep it updated daily with the latest Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), and how to manage the plugin update process in isolated or air-gapped networks.
DoD Compliance and STIGs: Learning how ACAS automates the auditing and assessment of network assets against Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and other specific DoD security requirements to provide a standardized measure of compliance.
While a practice test is a flexible tool for review, the actual final examination that you are preparing for has a specific, structured format to ensure a baseline of competency. When you have completed the official DISA ACAS training and are ready for the final, here is what you can typically expect:
Exam Format: The test is a Computer-Based Test (CBT), typically delivered in an eLearning format through DISA's own learning management system or an authorized partner. This makes it highly flexible, allowing students to take the exam from their assigned duty station or any computer with appropriate network access.
Question Type: The vast majority, if not all, of the questions are multiple-choice, though you may also encounter multi-select (choose all that apply), true/false, or perhaps a few matching or drag-and-drop questions based on specific scenario diagrams. It is designed to test recall of technical details, procedures, and conceptual understanding, rather than in-depth practical configuration during the exam itself.
Time Limit: The exam will have a strict time limit, typically in the range of 90 to 120 minutes. It is critical to manage your time effectively and not spend too long on any single difficult question.
Passing Score: The passing score for most DISA and CDSE eLearning final exams, including the one for ACAS, is commonly set at 70%. You will need to achieve this raw score to successfully complete the training requirement.
Specific Rules: As an unproctored eLearning exam, you are generally on your honor. However, use of unauthorized third-party brain dumps is considered misconduct and can invalidate your results. You may have a limited number of retry attempts for the exam, but this depends on the specific policy of the course and your command's training regulations.
Preparation is the absolute key to success, especially for a test that is so central to a critical DoD security program. Your ultimate goal is not just to pass but to possess a practical working knowledge of the solution.
Follow this actionable study strategy to maximize your chances of first-time success:
Engage Fully with the Official Training: The primary source for the exam is the official training. You must complete all modules of the DISA ACAS training on Cyber.mil's Cyber Exchange or the Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) STEPP learning management system. Go through every video, presentation, and text-based module, taking diligent notes.
Master the Labs: If the course includes hands-on virtual labs, do them multiple times. The exam will include practical, scenario-based questions that you will only feel confident answering if you have physically clicked through the interface to perform tasks like creating a user, setting up a scan policy, or generating a report. There is no substitute for this practical experience.
Review Official Tenable Documentation: The Tenable.sc and Nessus product documentation is public and incredibly detailed. If a topic in the course feels unclear, such as the difference between repository types or the syntax of advanced scan settings, look it up in the official user guides on the Tenable website. This will reinforce your learning with primary source material.
Use the Practice Test Wisely: A practice test, like this one, should not be your primary learning tool, but it is an invaluable tool for evaluation. When you feel ready, take the practice test under exam-like conditions. Do not look up answers. Once finished, analyze your performance. Do not just look at your score; review the questions you missed. These are the specific areas you need to focus on in your final, targeted review.
Study in Groups and Teach Others: If possible, study with colleagues. Quiz each other on definitions and procedures. Explaining a complex concept, like how ACAS correlates active and passive scan data, to someone else is one of the single best ways to solidify your own understanding.
Exam Center Details:
You will not find this exam at a public commercial test center like Pearson VUE. It is administered directly by the Department of Defense. Once you finish the official training course, you will be directed to the final exam section of the eLearning platform you are already using. Thus, your "exam center" is simply your current authorized workstation with an active connection to the required network (NIPRNet or SIPRNet, depending on the version and your role). For specific high-level ACAS roles or instructor-led courses, the exam could be proctored at a physical training facility within a major command, but the vast majority of students will experience it as an unproctored online final exam within the official training curriculum.
A strong understanding of ACAS, validated by successful completion of the training and final exam, is a must-have credential for almost any cybersecurity or advanced IT role within the Department of Defense. Because use of the solution is mandated, there is constant demand for professionals who can deploy and operate it effectively. This achievement can directly unlock career paths and lead to specific job titles such as:
Vulnerability Management Analyst
Cybersecurity Specialist
Information Assurance Manager (IAM)
Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO)
Network Security Engineer
Cybersecurity Engineer
IT Security Specialist
DoD Cybersecurity Contractor (supporting vulnerability programs)
Systems Administrator (with security focus)
Risk Management Framework (RMF) Assessor
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