What Is CISSP Certification and How Do You Get It?
CISSP certification is #1 on the list of the 8 most in-demand IT certifications, according to CIO.com.
And Burning Glass reported that “the demand for certified cybersecurity talent is outstripping supply. In the U.S., employers posted 49,493 jobs requesting a CISSP, recruiting from a pool of only 65,362 CISSP holders nationwide.”
This spells out huge opportunities for motivated IT professionals who want to work in the private sector and public sector because even the Department of Defense considers CISSP certification one of the lead qualifiers for getting hired in their department.
If you’re interested in earning this prestigious certification, let’s look at what CISSP is, how to get certified, and how to start preparing for the CISSP exam today.
What is CISSP Certification?
CISSP certification was developed by (ISC)² to be the world’s most-valued cybersecurity certification. According to (ISC)², employers prefer CISSP 3 to 1 over any other credential.
CISSP demonstrates that the certified holder can design, engineer, implement, and run an information security program.
It’s also one of the requirements for employment in IT Security roles at the DoD.
A wide array of IT professionals choose to get CISSP certified, including:
- CIOs.
- IT directors.
- Security systems engineers.
- And many more.
Once certified, (ISC)² provides a number of member benefits.
From digital badges that let you show off your newly acquired skill set to a free subscription to the bi-monthly newsletter InfoSecurity Professional Magazine. CISSP certification benefits extend beyond just a new job title.
But before you can access these benefits, you’ll have to pass the exam.
What is the CISSP Exam?
You take a look at the CISSP exam outline here.
The exam will take you 6 hours to complete and contains 250 questions. Some are in multiple choice, and some are in “advanced innovative” formats, which are drag-and-drop and “hotspot” type of questions. Here’s a preview of these types of questions from the InfoSec Institute.
There are 8 “domains” that you’ll be tested on, each carrying a different weight in the final score. For example, Security and Risk Management accounts for 15% of your final exam grade, as compared to Asset Security which only accounts for 10%. Knowing this will help you prioritize your study materials.
What Are the CISSP Requirements to Pass the Exam and Get Certified?
The CISSP Requirements to become certified are fairly straightforward.
Out of 1000 points, you have to pass the CISSP exam with a score of 700 or higher.
You also need at least 5 years of full-time work experience in at least 2 of these 8 domains:
- Security and Risk Management
- Asset Security
- Security Architecture and Engineering
- Communication and Network Security
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Security Assessment and Testing
- Security Operations
- Software Development Security
You can either receive this work experience prior to taking the exam or after. However, if you take the exam without meeting the required 5 years of work experience in at least 2 domains, you will NOT be certified.
Instead, you’ll receive the title Associate of (ISC)². You can leverage this title to gain greater employment and use it become a member of (ISC)² with all the benefits included. Then once you meet the other requirements, you’ll receive your certification.
How Much Does CISSP Cost?
The cost of the CISSP exam is $699.
Once you pass the exam, you have to maintain your membership. Every 3 years, you’ll be required to pay $85 and log 120 continuing professional education (CPE) credits.
How Can You Get Instant Access to CISSP Online Training and Start Preparing for the Exam Today?
If you want to prepare for the CISSP exam and get CISSP certified, then you need access to on-demand online training you can take anytime, anywhere.
To set yourself up for success, you need a whole suite of videos, courses, and ebooks you can use to upgrade your skills and knowledge.
Resources like:
- Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK Fourth Edition.
- CISSP: Communication & Network Security Design.
- CISSP: Identity and Access Management.
- And many more.
Here’s a preview of what these classes are like so you know what to expect.
And if you want to access all of the available CISSP resources, go ahead and start your free trial of Enterprise Training below.
Experience the proven, easy-to-use, and cost-effective benefits of online training by scheduling your free online training consultation today!
