CISSP: If I were to do this again... Some tips that should help candidates!
Greg DARTHOIT
?? Cyber security consulting ? Global Accounts EMEA ?? Franco-Australian
I passed successfully the CISSP earlier in 2024, and if you are a candidate, here are some things that I wish I knew right from the start, and maximize your chances of passing successfully
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First, disclosure…
Since graduating, I worked most of my life in tech sales. So my roles have never really been technical in nature.
While French born, I have spent enough time overseas (10 years down-under to be precise) to be feeling really comfortable with an English exam. Some of the questions on the exam I had to read three times. Any sentence on the exam, ie, could be using using double, if not triple negatives
These two points are to me essential, because they represent from what I have seen two major roadblocks:
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Saying all this, I have REALLY enjoyed the journey, you’ll be learning a great amount to get that base line in security… But remember, while content and learning is great, it’s all about getting the exam in the end: Knowledge base with the right strategy on learning, and mindset on the day
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So if I were to start all over again, and some things I wish I had done:
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1/ Content studying:
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a) Start with ThorTeaches
I would suggest to start with the excellent free video done by Thor Teaches how to study, listen and apply the great tips offered
This will help you finetune your approach on studying, decide on how long this whole thing is gonna take you, time you can put aside to study, etc…
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b) Then look for Kelley’s content
This 16 mins video ?will force you to have the right mindset, straight from the beginning of your studies
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c) DestCert videos
An absolute must to get all domain and concepts explained
I have taken the habit to re-building them based on knowledge and adding info I would find relevant later on
This helps also with the logic of all chapters built for
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d) Complete on-line course
Another free content, with the excellent CRAM study video When you have your strategy, and understand the frame, time to go deeper into the content
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e) Consider, for those less technical or slower in learning like me, paying for complete course. $$ Budget needed…
I have personally chosen the excellent and detailed content of Boris Motylewski (French)
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In the end, this is all about finding a teacher that works for you, and in a format that you can afford
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f) Flash cards never really worked for me, I have just built very few for 802.11, crypto, … Where I was really struggling
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2/ Practice questions:
While 50% of your time should be in training by practicing questionnaires, you’re going to find yourself going back and forth studying and practicing from that point on
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a) If not done by then, you should do an initial assessment
This should help you narrow down where you lack in knowledge
Most on-line courses will give you access to one, you can also find one in the official study guide below:
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b) Book study
I have chosen the no-brainer well known study guide, as you also get on-line questions included
This is also a time when you want to go deeper into your knowledge, once you have started to narrow down your area of weakness, and start reading entire chapters and coming back to notions you missed on
领英推荐
I have read on-line many times “you should read the entire study guides from cover to cover”… Well… Good luck with that, unless you’re insomniac or like to read dictionaries, this is going to be a real challenge !
c) Some test banks I have used
Here are a list of questions I have used to help prepare for the exam:
Search also for Facebook support groups for ThorTeaches and Luke Ahmed where you will find daily new questions posted
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d) Two additional question banks I have found really usefull
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e) Practice exam:
I did find the Boson test bank helped me a lot, as you’ll find yourself in real conditions
There is a charge to it, however, well worth it
On Boson specifically, I have read on forums that “You should score 85% or more in all of them before on taking the exam”
Well.. I have never scored more than 75%, including on my last blank exam the Monday before sitting down for the CISSP
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f) Last great resource: Learnzapp
Download it on your mobile, I was using it every where, every time I had a few minutes to spare
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3/ Mind set
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You might, like I did, feel a little in doubt at stage
So, when you’re stuck, ask those questions on Facebook and Reddit support groups
You’re gonna find you re usually not the first one asking the question or have a moment down ???
There is a $ budget allocated to some of the tools I have used... And I was prepared to pay more upfront, rather paying again for passing the exam (close to $700 USD) in case I did not pass on the first time?
?For those passing the exam, I hope this helped !?
BIG SHOUT FOR THEIR GREAT CONTENT / Their help towards the journey:
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Cybersecurity Consultant (Presales & Post Sales) | Author | CISSP, CISM, CISA, PMP, CCISO, MS Cybersecurity, ISO 27001, CHFI, CEH, Security+, CCNP, CCDP, ITIL, Doctorate in Progress
2 个月Congrats dear
Congratulations Greg and thank you for the "excellent and detailed content" rating.
Insightful!
Freelancer
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Regional Sales Manager - Australia Southern Region & New Zealand
3 个月Congratulations mate, thanks for sharing ????