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About CISSP
Issued by ISC2 and approved by DoD 8570, the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) is now considered an industry-standard certification in foundational cybersecurity. As certified cybersecurity professionals are in high demand across so many organizations, PayScale indicates that holding a CISSP certification can help someone secure a salary over $110,000 a year.
This article highlights the four steps you need to take to master the exam.
Understand the Exam
The CISSP exam is known for its difficulty and intensity. The CISSP was first created in 1991 and has been a sought after qualification ever since, both by industry professionals and employers. It is essential to understand that there is a specific set of criteria you need to meet before even taking the exam.
A minimum of five years of relevant work experience in at least 2 of the domains related to the examYou need to pass a criminal background check and agree to the CISSP code of ethicsYou need to reveal any association with BlackHat hackers
The exam itself is six hours long and consists of 250 questions. You need to get a minimum standard of 70% to get your certification.
Know each and every domain
The CISSP exam requires the takers to master eight different domains, and each domain is weighted by level of importance. Here are the eight domains you will need to prove your knowledge to pass the exam successfully.
- Domain 1: Security and Risk Management - 15%
- Domain 2: Asset Security - 10%
- Domain 3: Security Architecture and Engineer - 13%
- Domain 4: Communication and Network Security - 14%
- Domain 5: Identity and Access Management (IAM) - 13%
- Domain 6: Security Assessment and Testing - 12%
- Domain 7: Security Operations - 13%
- Domain 8: Software Development Security - 10%
The tried and tested method to cover all these domains, is to start with the domains you are weakest at and look for help with those. Remember, the threshold for success is only 70%. You will find as you set out your study plan that many of the domains contain overlapping topics and information. This is why outlining the contents of each domain in advance reduces the possibility of duplicate study sessions. Before you move onto a new domain you should be confident that you know at least 85-90% of the information contained. As the domains change every year, you must get the most relevant information directly from the website.
Practice makes perfect
Taking as many practice tests as you can is the best way to know you are prepared for the exam. If you are barely getting over 70%, this standard may not be good enough on the day as you will be operating under pressure and this causes most people to underperform. Udemy is a great study tool. They appear to have many different sources of practice tests. Our portal also has many different practice questions for the exam, and all our registered students can access these anytime they wish.
Get some rest and stay focused
This may seem straightforward. Statistically, the majority of people do not get a good night's rest before a big exam. They are either awake all night cramming, or they struggle to sleep because of stress or anxiety. Because of this we always recommend our students get to bed early at least three to four nights in advance of the exam. If you find yourself struggling to focus during the exam, studies indicate that drinking water, stretching and taking deep breaths help people remain or retain their focus during exams and has proven to generate higher results.
We hope you have found this information useful. These four steps may appear to be straightforward, but they will undoubtedly help you as you prepare to take the CISSP. We understand that no two people learn in the same fashion or at the same speed. What we do know is that our classroom-based sessions have proven to be more successful than people trying to prepare for the test on their own. Our classes are full of people taking the test for the second time after failing to pass it the first time on their own. We can even get you certified. Our award-winning training centre has helped students not only pass the exam but go on to secure Fortune 100 and Government positions. For more information on how we can help you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
