Becoming a CISSP

You have begun the journey to obtain the most prized cybersecurity certification in the world. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is said to be 10 miles wide and an inch deep. The eight domains of the CISSP cover a vast amount of information. However, despite the previous quote, you still need to understand the underlying concepts. This is because the exam does not just test your memory of concepts but also their application in scenarios to solve problems.

One of the reasons the CISSP is as broad and respected as it is is because it is built and maintained by experts from around the world and diverse industries. These experts (all of whom hold a CISSP certification) gather every three years to review and revise the exam outline during the job task analysis (JTA) portion of the certification’s life cycle. During the JTA process, experts ensure that the knowledge embodied by the outline represents what a cybersecurity practitioner needs to know to perform their job effectively. This chapter will discuss why this is so critical. You’ll review the CISSP exam itself, its structure, and the new CISSP Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) version of the exam. You’ll also be provided with the best exam tips and tricks. Finally, you’ll learn what it takes to become a CISSP.