What is CISSP?
CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) is an independent information security certification granted by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, also known as (ISC)².
The CISSP curriculum breaks the subject matter down into a variety of Information Security topics referred to as domains.
The CISSP examination is based on what (ISC)² terms the Common Body of Knowledge (or CBK). According to (ISC)², “the CISSP CBK is a taxonomy – a collection of topics relevant to information security professionals around the world.
The CISSP CBK establishes a common framework of information security terms and principles that allow information security professionals worldwide to discuss, debate and resolve matters pertaining to the profession with a common understanding.”
the eight domains covered are :
- Security and Risk Management
- Asset Security
- Security Architecture and Engineering
- Communication and Network Security
- Identity and Access Management
- Security Assessment and Testing
- Security Operations
- Software Development Security
Before you Start to Prepare for Exam:
To acquire the CISSP certification you should have at least five years of professional information security experience and should be endorsed by another CISSP certified professional.
You can get a one-year waiver if you have a four-year degree or obtain (ISC)2 approved credentials.
The exam consists of 250 multiple-choice questions. You need to score 70% or above to pass the exam.
Key Points To Note Before You Start Building Your Library!
Should you use print edition, electronic edition, or online resources?
Paperback editions are put through a longer, more rigorous vetting and design process, and in our opinion, if it came to choosing one type over another, the paperback would win-any day!
Although freely available online resources are no match for a proper textbook, the following online CISSP resource is a must-read: Common Book of Knowledge (CBK) material is offered by the (ISC)².
Visit their website regularly for details and schedules of training programs, seminars and more.
Tips for Preparing for the CISSP Certification Exam
- When applying for the exam, proper sign-off on professional experience is important. Get a certificate or a letter of recommendation that serves as verification of relevant work experience.
- Beware: the CISSP exam is a grueling, 6+ hour affair! If you are not much of a sedentary person, you may need to train yourself to stay in top intellectual shape for several hours, with only 10-20 minute breaks in between.
- The CISSP exam is all about terminologies and trivia! Although experience is mandatory to take the exam, functional knowledge is rarely put to the test on the exam. Brush up on those terminologies, acronyms, and definitions to maximize your scores!
- Look into effective memorization tools such as brain dumps and mind-maps. They can be invaluable resources during prep.
How Much Time Should I Devote To CISSP Exam Prep?
A key point to note about the CISSP exam is that a tenuous mapping exists between the nature of the course material and the candidate’s professional background:
- Risk management professionals find 60-70 hours of time for preparation quite adequate to clear the CISSP exam
- IT professionals would need less time – 40-50 hours of study should suffice to clear the exam.
- ISC2 material is a must for professionals of all backgrounds.
And now, here are the top-recommended CISSP books, study guides and resources to tap into for your CISSP certification!
With an exam as prestigious at the CISSP, it is important to be well prepared. To ensure your path is on track CISSP books are your best assets to gain exam item knowledge and a complete understanding of the CBK and the eight domains covered in the CISSP exam.
To help you select the best texts, we asked CISSPs what books helped them prepare for the exam.
The Official (ISC)2 CISSP CBK Reference 6th Edition
This is the authoritative common body of knowledge (CBK) from (ISC)2for information security professionals charged with designing, engineering, implementing and managing the overall information security program to protect organizations from increasingly sophisticated attacks. Get your Copy.
(ISC)2 CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Study Guide 9th Edition
This bestselling Sybex Study Guide covers 100% of the exam objectives.
You’ll prepare for the exam smarter and faster with Sybex thanks to expert content, knowledge from our real-world experience, advice on mastering this adaptive exam, access to the Sybex online interactive learning environment and much more. Get your Copy.
(ISC)2 CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Practice Tests 3rd Edition
The (ISC)2 CISSP Official Practice Tests is a major resource for (ISC)2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) candidates, providing 1300 unique practice questions.
The first part of the book provides 100 questions per domain.
You also have access to four unique 125-question practice exams to help you master the material.
As the only official practice tests endorsed by (ISC)2, this book gives you the advantage of full and complete preparation. Get your Copy.
Eleventh Hour CISSP ®. Study Guide Third Edition
This text provides readers with a study guide on the most current version of the Certified Information Systems Security Professional exam.
This book is streamlined to include only core certification information and is presented for ease of last-minute studying.
Main objectives of the exam are covered concisely with key concepts highlighted. Get your Copy.
CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Ninth Edition 9th Edition
This text features learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter, exam tips, practice questions, and in-depth explanations.
Written by leading experts in information security certification and training, this completely up-to-date self-study system helps you pass the exam with ease and also serves as an essential on-the-job reference. Get your Copy.
CISSP For Dummies, 6th Edition
With a down-to-earth approach, this text provides all the information covered in the exam plus numerous self-assessment tools, quick assessment and prep tests to give you practice, a sample exam, and hundreds of randomly generated review questions on the Dummies Test Engine, available on the companion website. Get your Copy.
How To Think Like A Manager for the CISSP Exam
Using 25 CISSP practice questions with detailed explanations, this book will attempt to answer how to think like a member of a senior management team who has the goal of balancing risk, cost, and most of all, human life.
The questions will take you through how to resist thinking from a technical perspective to one that is more holistic. Get your Copy.