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Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

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Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)


The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is widely known as the top certification in the field of information security worldwide. It confirms that a person has extensive technical and managerial expertise to properly plan, create, and oversee an organization's overall security measures. The wide range of subjects covered in the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK®) ensures that it remains important in all areas of information security.

Who should take the exam?

The CISSP is suitable for experienced security practitioners, managers, and executives interested in proving their knowledge across a wide array of security practices and principles, including those working as:
  • Chief Information Security Officer
  • Chief Information Officer
  • Director of Security
  • IT Director/Manager
  • Security Systems Engineer
  • Security Analyst
  • Security Manager
  • Security Auditor
  • Security Architect
  • Security Consultant
  • Network Architect


Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Exam Topics

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam covers the following topics:

  • Domain 1: Understand Security and Risk Management 15%
  • Domain 2: Learn about Asset Security 10%
  • Domain 3: Understand Security Architecture and Engineering 13%
  • Domain 4: Understand Communication and Network Security 13%
  • Domain 5: Identity and Access Management (IAM) 13%
  • Domain 6: Learn about Security Assessment and Testing 12%
  • Domain 7: Understand Security Operations 13%
  • Domain 8: Software Development Security 11%

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) FAQs

Various resources are available:

  • Official (ISC)² study guide: Provides detailed coverage of the exam content.
  • Practice tests
  • Training courses
  • CISSP books and articles: Focus on specific topics or offer different learning styles.

Earning the CISSP certification demonstrates your expertise in cybersecurity leadership and management. It can benefit your career in various ways:

  • Increased job opportunities
  • Enhanced credibility
  • Higher earning potential
  • Global recognition

To qualify, candidates need at least five years of paid work experience in two or more of the eight CISSP CBK domains. Having a four-year college degree or an approved credential from ISC2 can substitute for one year of experience, but education credit only counts for one year.

The CISSP exam is now only available in Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) format with 125-175 multiple-choice questions. The number of questions varies based on individual performance. You have 4 hours to complete the exam.

The passing score is considered to be around 700 points. The CAT format dynamically adjusts the difficulty level based on your responses, making it harder to estimate the exact score needed.

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam covers the following topics:

  • Domain 1: Understand Security and Risk Management 15%
  • Domain 2: Learn about Asset Security 10%
  • Domain 3: Understand Security Architecture and Engineering 13%
  • Domain 4: Understand Communication and Network Security 13%
  • Domain 5: Identity and Access Management (IAM) 13%
  • Domain 6: Learn about Security Assessment and Testing 12%
  • Domain 7: Understand Security Operations 13%
  • Domain 8: Software Development Security 11%