Passing the CISSP: Tips and Tricks

The CISSP will open doors to more opportunity and prove to you and the world that you really do know your stuff. How do you get there? Read on for the steps I took to reach certification. Including cost in both time and money.

Key Must-Haves to Pass the Exam:

1. Knowledge

You have to study key domains you haven't had hands-on experience with. My hardest areas were IAM and Encryption, but yours could be Software Development and SOC. Whatever you struggle with, ensure you take double the time in those areas to understand the key concepts. You don't have to know all the small details, but at least categorize items you are learning into "Best Practices" and "It exists, or existed in the past".

2. Mindset

You need to think like a manager. Ok, everyone says this, but what does it mean? I've posted a few videos and books below that get to the heart of this one. Generally, you want to think about how security and risk impact the business. Cost matters, usability matters. The MOST secure or technical answer isn't always right. If you are very technical, ask yourself what would my CEO answer on this question? That is probably the correct answer.

The Study Plan and Process

Total Cost: $1,584

Total Time: 100 hours over 3 months

This was my plan for CISSP studying. I had 10 years of experience in the field, including teaching the Security+. I’d highly recommend taking the Security+ prior to this exam as the knowledge-based questions are mostly covered in the Security+ exam.

Step 1 - Join

It's important to start with the organization you are getting your cert and read what is required to get the certification. Joining ISC2 is a must for the CISSP, but it also gives you discounts for the exam and study material. DON'T SKIP THIS STEP!

• Join the ISC2 as a Candidate (free)
• Ensure you have 5 years of full-time experience across at least 2 of the 8 domains the CISSP tests on. Don't worry if you don't have the experience. You can still take the test and get your full certification afterwards.

Step 2 - Choose Your Main Study Materials

Now pick the material that you will use to learn the main body of knowledge for the test. You have many options between books, online lessons, and material directly from ISC2. I went with the:

• Self-Paced Adaptive Online Class – 90 day access ($595 - with 20% off for being an ISC2 Candidate)

Step 3 - Choose Supplemental Materials

• LearnZ?CISSP app on my phone

?????? i.????? Cost: $40

????????????ii.????? Time: 10 minutes a day (15-20 hours total)

• Youtube series refresher: CISSP Exam Cram Full Course (All 8 Domains) - Good for 2024 exam!

??????? ???? i.????? Cost: Free

????????? ??ii.????? Time: 8 hours

• Choose more from this awesome Reddit Thread .
• More Practices Quizzes at Certprep (free)
• Additional Practice quiz here (free)
• Prep Question Video (1.5 hours) - 50 Practice Questions by Andrew Ramdayal: ????

• Testing Tips (12 minutes) - CISSP Testing Tips Secrets All Students Should Know by Andrew Ramdayal:

• Plan your study time:

i.????? Cost: Free

ii.????? Time: 80-100 hours (combined from official and supplemental materials)

Step 4 - Books

It's always good to get a couple other study materials in book form. These are the best I'd recommend:

• How to Think Like a Manager by Luke Ahmed

i. ?????This book has 25 practice questions with a full 2 pages of explanation and study tips for the exam. Well worth it.

• Destination CISSP

i. ?????I skimmed this book, but it was easier reading than the official study guide.

Step 5 - Bring Home The Cert

• Set a date for your exam

a.????? Cost: $749 (with 20% off for being an ISC2 Candidate)

c.????? Time: 5 minutes

• Reserve a hotel

Consider how far away the exam location is from you. I would have had to drive 2 hours before my 8am test. I decided a night? in a hotel would work better for me.

a.????? Cost: $200

c.????? Time: 5 minutes

• Pass the exam

a.????? Cost: Prepaid when you set your date for the exam

b.????? Time: 3 hours

• Get endorsed by a current CISSP that can vouch for your experience and expertise.

a.????? Cost: Free

b.????? Time: 20 minutes

• Earn 40 CPE credits each year.

a.????? Cost: Varies

b.????? Time: 40+ hours a year

You Got This!

Good luck on your prep for the CISSP. I hope this guide works as well for you as it did for me!

If you have other resources you have used and liked, post them in the comments. This will help others as they try to find their way to CISSP success!