As we know that there are numerous IT certifications available out there. Almost every day thousands of jobs are waiting for the one particular candidate who is capable of doing the thing perfectly. So, here we are with the study guide of the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam so that you will become the one for the job. Let us begin, CISSP is one of the usual sought-after and elite certifications in the information security industry. Maybe you heard that the CISSP exam is hard, terrifying, and resource-intensive, but it’s not impossible to pass it! Not to mention, obtaining a Certified Information Systems Security Professional certificate can assist the candidate to have a thriving profession as a computer security professional.
As you may have already known, CISSP fills for Certified Information Systems Security Professional, and it’s a certification designed by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)2, in 1991. Further, the CISSP certification is a means to show your knowledge and demonstrate that you can install and direct an information security program successfully.
Job Title
If you are thinking that what your title will be like, then let us tell you that a CISSP is a seasoned consultant or employee, normally with a job title such as security analyst, security manager, or chief information security officer, to name just a few. Also, this personality has been on the job for five or more years and has a thorough knowledge and skills of the IT threat landscape, comprising emerging and excellent persistent threats, also controls, and technology to decrease attack surfaces.
Furthermore, a CISSP can create policies that set up a framework for effective controls. They can also manage or supervise risk management and the security of software development.
Course Outline: Certified Information Systems Security Professional
The most important step is understanding all the exam objectives because the final exam will depend on these objectives only. So, let’s discuss CISSP exam outline. So, the CISSP exam covers eight domains from the (ISC)2 Common Body of Knowledge (CBK):
Domain 1: Security and Risk Management
1.1 – Understand, adhere to, and promote professional ethics
- ISC2 Code of Professional Ethics
- Organizational code of ethics
1.2 – Understand and apply security concepts
- Confidentiality, integrity, and availability, authenticity and nonrepudiation
1.3 – Evaluate and apply security governance principles
- Alignment of the security function to business strategy, goals, mission, and objectives
- Organizational processes (e.g., acquisitions, divestitures, governance committees)
- Organizational roles and responsibilities
- Security control frameworks
- Due care/due diligence
1.4 – Determine compliance and other requirements
- Contractual, legal, industry standards, and regulatory requirements
- Privacy requirements
1.5 – Understand legal and regulatory issues that pertain to information security in a holistic context
- Cybercrimes and data breaches
- Licensing and Intellectual Property (IP) requirements
- Import/export controls
- Transborder data flow
- Privacy
1.6 – Understand requirements for investigation types (i.e., administrative, criminal, civil, regulatory, industry standards)
1.7 – Develop, document, and implement security policy, standards, procedures, and guidelines
1.8 – Identify, analyze, and prioritize Business Continuity (BC) requirements
- Business Impact Analysis (BIA)
- Develop and document the scope and the plan
1.9 – Contribute to and enforce personnel security policies and procedures
- Candidate screening and hiring
- Employment agreements and policies
- Onboarding, transfers, and termination processes
- Vendor, consultant, and contractor agreements and controls
- Compliance policy requirements
- Privacy policy requirements
1.10 – Understand and apply risk management concepts
- Identify threats and vulnerabilities
- Risk assessment/analysis
- Risk response
- Countermeasure selection and implementation
- Applicable types of controls (e.g., preventive, detective, corrective)
- Control assessments (security and privacy)
- Monitoring and measurement
- Reporting
- Continuous improvement (e.g., Risk maturity modeling)
- Risk frameworks
1.11 – Understand and apply threat modeling concepts and methodologies
1.12 – Apply Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) concepts
- Risks associated with hardware, software, and services
- Third-party assessment and monitoring
- Minimum security requirements
- Service level requirements
1.13 – Establish and maintain a security awareness, education, and training program
- Methods and techniques to present awareness and training (e.g., social engineering, phishing, security champions, gamification)
- Periodic content reviews
- Program effectiveness evaluation
Domain 2: Asset Security
2.1 Identify and classify information and assets
- Data classification
- Asset Classification
2.2 Determine and maintain information and asset ownership
2.3 Provision resources securely
- Information and asset ownership
- Asset inventory (e.g., tangible, intangible)
- Asset management
2.4 – Manage data lifecycle
- Data roles (i.e., owners, controllers, custodians, processors, users/subjects)
- Data collection
- Data location
- Data maintenance
- Data retention
- Data remanence
- Data destruction
2.5 – Ensure appropriate asset retention (e.g., End-of-Life (EOL), End-of-Support (EOS))
2.6 – Determine data security controls and compliance requirements
- Data states (e.g., in use, in transit, at rest)
- Scoping and tailoring
- Standards selection
- Data protection methods (e.g., Digital Rights Management (DRM), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB))
Domain 3: Security Architecture and Engineering
3.1 – Research, implement and manage engineering processes using secure design principles
- Threat modeling
- Least privilege
- Defense in depth
- Secure defaults
- Fail securely
- Separation of Duties (SoD)
- Keep it simple
- Zero Trust
- Privacy by design
- Trust but verify
- Shared responsibility
3.2 – Understand the fundamental concepts of security models (e.g., Biba, Star Model, Bell-LaPadula)
3.3 – Select controls based upon systems security requirements
3.4 – Understand security capabilities of Information Systems (IS) (e.g., memory protection, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), encryption/decryption)
3.5 – Assess and mitigate the vulnerabilities of security architectures, designs, and solution elements
- Client-based systems
- Server-based systems
- Database systems
- Cryptographic systems
- Industrial Control Systems (ICS)
- Cloud-based systems (e.g., Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS))
- Distributed systems
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Microservices
- Containerization
- Serverless
- Embedded systems
- High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems
- Edge computing systems
- Virtualized systems
3.6 – Select and determine cryptographic solutions
- Cryptographic life cycle (e.g., keys, algorithm selection)
- Cryptographic methods (e.g., symmetric, asymmetric, elliptic curves, quantum)
- Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
- Key management practices
- Digital signatures and digital certificates
- Non-repudiation
- Integrity (e.g., hashing)
3.7 – Understand methods of cryptanalytic attacks
- Brute force
- Ciphertext only
- Known plaintext
- Frequency analysis
- Chosen ciphertext
- Implementation attacks
- Side-channel
- Fault injection
- Timing
- Man-in-the-Middle (MITM)
- Pass the hash
- Kerberos exploitation
- Ransomware
3.8 – Apply security principles to site and facility design
3.9 – Design site and facility security controls
- Wiring closets/intermediate distribution facilities
- Server rooms/data centers
- Media storage facilities
- Evidence storage
- Restricted and work area security
- Utilities and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- Environmental issues
- Fire prevention, detection, and suppression
- Power (e.g., redundant, backup)
Domain 4: Communication and Network Security
4.1 – Assess and implement secure design principles in network architectures
- Open System Interconnection (OSI) and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) models
- Internet Protocol (IP) networking (e.g., Internet Protocol Security (IPSec), Internet Protocol (IP) v4/6)
- Secure protocols
- Implications of multilayer protocols
- Converged protocols (e.g., Fiber Channel Over Ethernet (FCoE), Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP))
- Micro-segmentation (e.g., Software Defined Networks (SDN), Virtual eXtensible Local Area Network (VXLAN), Encapsulation, Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN))
- Wireless networks (e.g., Li-Fi, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, satellite)
- Cellular networks (e.g., 4G, 5G)
- Content Distribution Networks (CDN)
4.2 – Secure network components
- Operation of hardware (e.g., redundant power, warranty, support)
- Transmission media
- Network Access Control (NAC) devices
- Endpoint security
4.3 – Implement secure communication channels according to design
- Voice
- Multimedia collaboration
- Remote access
- Data communications
- Virtualized networks
- Third-party connectivity
Domain 5: Identity and Access Management (IAM)
5.1 Control physical and logical access to assets
- Information
- Systems
- Devices
- Facilities
- Application
5.2 Manage identification and authentication of people, devices, and services
- Identity management implementation
- Single/multi-factor authentication
- Accountability
- Session management
- Registration, proofing, and establishment of identity
- Federated Identity Management (FIM)
- Credential management systems
- Single Sign On (SSO)
- Just-In-Time (JIT)
5.3 Integrate identity as a third-party service
- On-premise
- Cloud
- Federated
5.4 Implement and manage authorization mechanisms
- Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Rule-based access control
- Mandatory Access Control (MAC)
- Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
- Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC)
- Risk based access control
5.5 Manage the identity and access provisioning lifecycle
- Account access review (e.g., user, system, service)
- Provisioning and deprovisioning (e.g., on /off boarding and transfers)
- Role definition (e.g., people assigned to new roles)
- Privilege escalation (e.g., managed service accounts, use of sudo, minimizing its use)
5.6 – Implement authentication systems
- OpenID Connect (OIDC)/Open Authorization (Oauth)
- Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML)
- Kerberos
- Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)/Terminal Access Controller Access Control System Plus (TACACS+)
Domain 6: Security Assessment and Testing
6.1 Design and validate assessment, test, and audit strategies
- Internal
- External
- Third-party
6.2 Conduct security control testing
- Vulnerability assessment
- Penetration testing
- Log reviews
- Synthetic transactions
- Code review and testing
- Misuse case testing
- Test coverage analysis
- Interface testing
- Breach attack simulations
- Compliance checks
6.3 Collect security process data (e.g., technical and administrative)
- Account management
- Management review and approval
- Key performance and risk indicators
- Backup verification data
- Training and awareness
- Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity (BC)
6.4 Analyze test output and generate report
- Remediation
- Exception handling
- Ethical disclosure
6.5 Conduct or facilitate security audits
- Internal
- External
- Third-party
Domain 7: Security Operations
7.1 Understand and support investigations
- Evidence collection and handling
- Reporting and documentation
- Investigative techniques
- Digital forensics tools, tactics, and procedures
- Artifacts (e.g., computer, network, mobile device)
7.2 Conduct logging and monitoring activities
- Intrusion detection and prevention
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Continuous monitoring
- Egress monitoring
- Log management
- Threat intelligence (e.g., threat feeds, threat hunting)
- User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)
7.3 – Perform Configuration Management (CM) (e.g., provisioning, baselining, automation)
7.4 – Apply foundational security operations concepts
- Need-to-know/least privilege
- Separation of Duties (SoD) and responsibilities
- Privileged account management
- Job rotation
- Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
7.5 – Apply resource protection
- Media management
- Media protection techniques
7.6 – Conduct incident management
- Detection
- Response
- Mitigation
- Reporting
- Recovery
- Remediation
- Lessons learned
7.7 – Operate and maintain detective and preventative measures
- Firewalls (e.g., next generation, web application, network)
- Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
- Whitelisting/blacklisting
- Third-party provided security services
- Sandboxing
- Honeypots/honeynets
- Anti-malware
- Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based tools
7.8 – Implement and support patch and vulnerability management
7.9 – Understand and participate in change management processes
7.10 – Implement recovery strategies
- Backup storage strategies
- Recovery site strategies
- Multiple processing sites
- System resilience, High Availability (HA), Quality of Service (QoS), and fault tolerance
7.11 – Implement Disaster Recovery (DR) processes
- Response
- Personnel
- Communications
- Assessment
- Restoration
- Training and awareness
- Lessons learned
7.12 – Test Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP)
- Read-through/tabletop
- Walkthrough
- Simulation
- Parallel
- Full interruption
7.13 – Participate in Business Continuity (BC) planning and exercises
7.14 – Implement and manage physical security
- Perimeter security controls
- Internal security controls
7.15 – Address personnel safety and security concerns
- Travel
- Security training and awareness
- Emergency management
- Duress
Domain 8: Software Development Security
8.1 Understand and integrate security in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
- Development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, DevOps, DevSecOps)
- Maturity models (e.g., Capability Maturity Model (CMM), Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM))
- Operation and maintenance
- Change management
- Integrated Product Team (IPT)
8.2 Identify and apply security controls in software development ecosystems
- Programming languages
- Libraries
- Tool sets
- Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
- Runtime
- Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
- Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR)
- Software Configuration Management (SCM)
- Code repositories
- Application security testing (e.g., Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST))
8.3 Assess the effectiveness of software security
- Auditing and logging of changes
- Risk analysis and mitigation
8.4 Assess security impact of acquired software
- Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)
- Open source
- Third-party
- Managed services (e.g., Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS))
8.5 Define and apply secure coding guidelines and standards
- Security weaknesses and vulnerabilities at the source-code level
- Security of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
- Secure coding practices
- Software-defined security
CISSP Exam Details
Let us make the basic details about the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam clear for you. To begin with, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam includes 250 questions of about ten different areas, business continuity planning and disaster recovery planning, access control systems and methodology, operations, physical security, management practices, telecommunications, security, and networking security. Just so you know, other important areas to the CISSP certification are security architecture application and systems development, cryptography, law, investigation, and ethics. Moreover, the CISSP exam questions are resent in the form of multiple-choice or multiple responses.
Further, a CISSP certification needs an annual preservation CISSP exam fee of $85 at the end of each certification year, and the candidate must take the test every three years to remain a member in standing with the certification. Furthermore, to pass the exam, the candidate needs to achieve a minimum score of 700 out of 1000 points. Now, let’s move on to the study guide.
Study Guide for Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Now let us begin the discussion for CISSP exam preparation, the following details are some necessary steps that you should study for producing an ideal plan for your Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) preparation. So, let’s kick start the preparation with the CISSP exam study guide:
Visit the Official website
To prepare effectively, it’s crucial to stay current with all the exam details, especially since certification exams often change due to evolving technology. Start by visiting the Official website of (ISC)² to ensure your information matches what’s there. If not, make sure you have all the latest Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam information available.
Download the Exam Outline
First of all, it is obvious to download the exam Outline. Make sure you don’t skip this part. As mentioned earlier, the CISSP exam outline is the most important part of any certification exam. You can easily locate the exam outline on the official website as well. Also, make sure to view if there are any important notices, you must be updated on any new changes. So, just take a quick look at the CISSP exam topics:
- Security and Risk Management
- Asset Security
- Also, security engineering
- Communications and Network Security
- Identity and Access Management
- Security and Assessment Testing
- In addition, security operations
- Furthermore, software development security
CISSP Ultimate Guide
For the utmost preparation, the CISSP Ultimate Guide is your one-stop station to all the doubts relevant to the CISSP exam. Also, there is nothing wrong to say that this CISSP exam guide serves as full coverage of the exam and its related objectives. Further, candidates who are seeking an in-depth review of information must go and bookmark this guide so that they can get access to it anywhere and anytime they need.
Self-paced Training
(ISC)² Online Self-Paced Training is an alternative to traditional training classrooms. These modern and exclusive training courses allow candidates to study on their own convenient schedule with interactive study material. Remember, once you purchase the course, you can access the course content for a period of 120 days.
CISSP Flashcards
Candidates who are preparing for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam can now study anytime and anywhere for the certification exam. Moreover, the CISSP Flashcards given by (ISC)² assist candidates to get immediate feedback pertaining to their queries. Also, these flashcards give the capabilities to flag individual cards for a separate study. These flashcards are sectioned for each objective to make learning easier and effective.
Instructor-led Training
The candidate can also opt for the CISSP training programs. The (ISC)² provides training programs on every exam. The Instructor-led training programs for a particular exam contain all information on the exam such as description, intended audience, delivery method, duration, etc. Since, training is not feasible for everyone, (ISC)² offers instructor-led training as an option to help candidates prepare for the exam. These online training sessions allow you to participate from the convenience of your computer, thereby saving you travel time and expense. So what are you waiting for? Go and get trained!
Join a Study Group
Participating in a study group can be really helpful for the candidate. It can motivate them to put in extra effort. Additionally, studying with others who are pursuing the same goals can help them stay connected. Moreover, the discussions in these study groups can benefit students when they’re preparing for their exams.
Practice Test
Practice tests play a crucial role in confirming a candidate’s readiness. The CISSP practice test allows candidates to identify their weak points so they can improve them. They are highly effective for exam preparation because they simulate the actual CISSP exam experience. Nowadays, you can find numerous practice tests online, giving candidates the flexibility to choose the ones they prefer. Additionally, (ISC)² provides its own practice test. The candidate can start Preparing for Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Now!
In addition, we at Testprep training also provide free practice tests for making your preparation journey easier. Give them a shot!
Tips to Remember
Here are some CISSP exam tips to fight our exm stress
- Gather all the related information about the exam.
- Attempt all the essential steps of the above-mentioned study guide.
- Don’t forget to try the practice test.
- Get proper sleep!
- Have faith in the hard work you’re doing.
Testprep training wishes you all the very best for your exam!
