--- description: What is CISSP? CISSP- full form Certified Information Systems Security Professional is considered as a quality standard in the field of information security. This Cyber certification is offered by (IS title: CISSP Certification Guide: Exam, Cost & Training image: https://www.guru99.com/images/cissp-certification-guide.png --- [Skip to content](#main) **โšก Smart Summary** CISSP, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional credential from ISC2, is the recognized quality standard for senior information security roles, covering eight knowledge domains, five years of verified experience, and a globally accredited exam. * ๐Ÿ… **Credential:** Introduced in 1994, accredited to ISO/IEC 17024 and approved under U.S. DoDM 8140.03. * ๐Ÿ“š **Eight domains:** The exam outline runs from Security and Risk Management through Software Development Security. * ๐Ÿงฎ **Exam format:** Adaptive testing, 100 to 150 items, three hours, and a passing score of 700 out of 1000. * ๐Ÿงพ **Eligibility:** Five years of paid work across two or more domains, reducible by one year with a degree or approved credential. * ๐Ÿ’ต **Cost:** Registration is US$749, plus an annual maintenance fee and continuing education to stay certified. * ๐Ÿ’ผ **Payoff:** Certified professionals command a clear salary premium and qualify for leadership security roles. [ Read More ](javascript:void%280%29;) ![CISSP Certification Guide](https://www.guru99.com/images/cissp-certification-guide.png) ## What is CISSP? CISSP, short for Certified Information Systems Security Professional, is regarded as a quality standard in the field of information security. The certification is offered by [ISC2](https://www.isc2.org/), an international non-profit organization whose community of members, associates and candidates passed half a million in 2023\. Introduced in 1994, CISSP remains one of the most requested security credentials in job listings. The exam is delivered worldwide through Pearson VUE test centres in English, Chinese, German, Japanese and Spanish. The certification is accredited to ISO/IEC Standard 17024 and is approved under U.S. Department of Defense manual DoDM 8140.03. Today, many IT security professionals prefer CISSP certification training. It gives an information security professional an objective measure of competence and a globally recognized standard of achievement. Note that the organization dropped the older (ISC)ยฒ styling in favour of ISC2 in 2023, so both spellings still appear across older study material. ## Important Domains of CISSP Certification A domain is a broad topic that you need to master to ace the CISSP certification exam. The eight domains below, together with the weight each carries on the exam, come from the current exam outline that took effect on 15 April 2024. | **Domain** | **Exam weight** | | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------- | | Domain 1\. Security and Risk Management | 16% | | Domain 2\. Asset Security | 10% | | Domain 3\. Security Architecture and Engineering | 13% | | Domain 4\. Communication and Network Security | 13% | | Domain 5\. Identity and Access Management (IAM) | 13% | | Domain 6\. Security Assessment and Testing | 12% | | Domain 7\. Security Operations | 12% | | Domain 8\. Software Development Security | 10% | The diagram below groups the same eight domains as they appear in the ISC2 Common Body of Knowledge. [](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/041519%5F1241%5FCISSPCertif1.png) ## Skills Developed After CISSP Certification By the end of the CISSP certification course you should be able to: * Define the architecture, design, and management of security across your organization. * Apply the knowledge and skills expected of a qualified CISSP professional. * Work confidently across the eight domains of the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK). * Design access control systems and apply secure software development methods. * Optimize day-to-day security operations, from monitoring to incident response. ## Who Should Do a CISSP Certification? CISSP certification training is aimed at experienced practitioners and managers, including: * Chief Information Security Officer * Director of Security * Network Architect * Security Consultant * Security Manager * Security Auditor * Security Analyst * IT Director/Manager * Cloud security manager * Security Systems Engineer ### RELATED ARTICLES * [Top 100+ Cyber Security Interview Questions and Answers ](https://www.guru99.com/cyber-security-interview-questions.html "Top 100+ Cyber Security Interview Questions and Answers") * [What is Cybercrime? Tools, Types & Examples ](https://www.guru99.com/cybercrime-types-tools-examples.html "What is Cybercrime? Tools, Types & Examples") * [8 BEST iPhone Monitoring Apps & Software (2026) ](https://www.guru99.com/best-iphone-spy-apps.html "8 BEST iPhone Monitoring Apps & Software (2026)") * [9 BEST Proxy Scraper for Web Scraping (2026) ](https://www.guru99.com/proxy-scraper.html "9 BEST Proxy Scraper for Web Scraping (2026)") ## How to Become CISSP Certified? Here are the steps you need to follow to become a CISSP certified professional. ### Step 1) Understand the Exam Format CISSP is a CAT (computerized adaptive test) of 100 to 150 questions, delivered in that format worldwide. You get three hours, and you need to score 700 out of 1000 to pass. Every exam includes 25 unscored pretest items, and answers cannot be reviewed or changed once submitted. ### Step 2) Match the Eligibility Criteria: Key Prerequisites * You need at least five years of cumulative, paid, full-time work experience in at least two of the eight domains of the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge. * A four-year college degree, a regional equivalent, or an approved credential from the ISC2 waiver list satisfies one year of that requirement. Only one waiver is allowed, and the waiver list was last revised on 1 April 2026. * If you do not yet have the experience, you can become an Associate of ISC2 by passing the exam. * An Associate of ISC2 then has six years to earn the five years of required experience. * Once certified, you recertify every three years by earning continuing professional education (CPE) credits and paying the annual maintenance fee. ### Step 3) Take the Training Next, enroll in a CISSP training program to get a comprehensive understanding of the course modules. It improves your odds of passing and takes some of the pressure out of preparation. A certified instructor will guide you through the exam expectations, and official self-study material is available if you prefer to work alone. ### Step 4) Create Your Pearson VUE Account ISC2 exams are delivered exclusively through Pearson Professional Centers and authorized test centres, so you need a [Pearson VUE](https://wsr.pearsonvue.com/testtaker/profile/create/SignUp/ISC2) account to book a seat. The Pearson VUE site lists testing locations, policies, and accommodation arrangements. ### Step 5) Register and Plan Your Exam Proceed with the registration, which requires you to complete the examination agreement. You must attest to the truth of your statements about your professional experience and legally commit to the ISC2 Code of Ethics. You also pay the exam fee at this point, which is US$749 in every region. ### Step 6) Take the Exam Sit the CISSP exam to have your knowledge and judgement assessed. Results are issued immediately, and candidates who do not pass receive domain-level feedback showing where they fell short. ### Step 7) Subscribe to the ISC2 Code of Ethics Once you have passed the exam, you must subscribe to the ISC2 Code of Ethics to receive your CISSP certification. ### Step 8) Get Yourself Endorsed Lastly, you need to have your application endorsed within nine months of your exam date. An endorsement form verifying your professional experience must be completed and signed by an active ISC2 certified professional. If you do not know one, ISC2 can act as your endorser. ## Why Become CISSP Certified? Here are the main reasons to enroll for the CISSP certification course: * CISSP is an international credential, not specific to any country, which gives you global recognition. * The training gives you the technical knowledge and skills to build a holistic security program. * It helps you stand out from other candidates for information security roles. * You gain access to career resources, peer networking, and the exchange of ideas with other members. * It validates the skills and competence you have gained through years of work in cyber security. * The certification confirms that you are capable of developing information security policies, standards, and procedures. * Membership brings perks such as a subscription to InfoSecurity Professional magazine, discounted ISC2 textbooks, webinars, and a digital badge. ## Course Objectives of CISSP Certification Here are the objectives of the certification course: * Become familiar with the ISC2 Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) and its terms, principles, and categories. * Understand the CISSP exam process and build a study plan for passing it. * Widen your knowledge of software security concepts and practices. * Become more marketable in a competitive workforce and show your commitment to the discipline. * Increase credibility and goodwill for your organization when working with vendors and contractors. * Speak a universal security language built on industry-accepted terms and practices. ## Guide to Ace CISSP Certification [](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/041519%5F1241%5FCISSPCertif2.png) The checklist above summarizes the preparation habits that work; the tips below expand on them. * Decide how many days you need to prepare, then form a local study group and work through difficult topics together. * Focus on the domains you know least well, and weight your time toward the heavier domains in the table above. * Practise a minimum of 50 questions per domain. * Push your practice scores to a consistent 80%. * Expect two to three months of study to cover the CISSP course material. * Use multiple study resources: reference books, learning materials, online eLearning, and free practice tests. * Prepare for the endorsement process before you sit the exam, not after. * Read each question carefully and answer the ones you know first. * Watch the clock. The adaptive exam gives you three hours for 100 to 150 items, so aim for roughly a minute and a half per question. * Remember that the exam tests principles, so some questions will feel removed from day-to-day practice. ## Salary of CISSP Certified Professionals Salary studies consistently show a premium for CISSP holders over non-certified peers in comparable roles. Recent 2026 surveys put the median United States salary for CISSP holders around US$150,000, with most roles falling between US$120,000 and US$170,000 depending on seniority and location. [](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/041519%5F1241%5FCISSPCertif3.png) As the chart shows, pay scales differ by region and by country, so treat any single figure as a benchmark rather than a promise. If you are still mapping out a route into the field, compare CISSP with the other options in this guide to [cyber security certifications](https://www.guru99.com/cyber-security-certifications-courses.html) and the [CompTIA certification guide](https://www.guru99.com/comptia-certification-guide.html). ## FAQs ๐Ÿ†š How does CISSP compare with CISM and Security+? [CompTIA Security+](https://www.guru99.com/comptia-certification-guide.html) is an entry-level credential with no experience requirement. CISM focuses narrowly on security management. CISSP sits between them in scope โ€” broad technical coverage plus management, backed by a five-year experience rule. ๐Ÿ”„ How many CPE credits keep a CISSP active? You need 120 CPE credits across the three-year cycle, with a minimum of 40 each year. At least 90 must be Group A credits tied to the eight domains. An annual maintenance fee of US$135 also applies. ๐Ÿค– How is AI changing the skills a CISSP needs? Machine learning now sits inside detection, access analytics and risk scoring, so security leaders are expected to govern models, data and vendor claims. ISC2 covers AI risk and accountability directly in its member guidance. ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Can GitHub Copilot help you prepare for CISSP? Indirectly. [GitHub Copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot) helps with the secure-coding side of Domain 8, and general AI assistants are useful for explaining concepts. Neither replaces the official exam outline, and neither should be trusted for factual exam detail. ๐ŸŒ Is CISSP recognized by governments and regulators? Yes. The credential is ANAB accredited against ISO/IEC 17024 and is approved for U.S. Department of Defense cyber workforce roles under DoDM 8140.03, which is why it appears so often in public-sector job requirements. ๐Ÿ” What is the CISSP exam retake policy? You may retest 30 test-free days after a first attempt, 60 days after a second, and 90 days after a third or later attempt. A maximum of four attempts is allowed in any 12-month period. ๐ŸŽฏ Is CISSP worth taking early in a career? The exam can be attempted at any time, but the certification is only granted once five years of experience are verified. Early-career candidates usually gain more from a foundational credential first and CISSP later. ๐Ÿงญ Which ISC2 certification comes before CISSP? Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) suits newcomers with no experience requirement, while SSCP fits hands-on security administrators. Both build domain familiarity and count toward the ISC2 ecosystem before you attempt CISSP. #### Summarize this post with: ChatGPT Perplexity Grok Google AI **Stay Updated on AI** **Get Weekly AI Skills, Trends, Actionable Advice.** ##### Sign up for the newsletter Subscribe for Free You have successfully subscribed. 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