Information security management is a challenging portion for most companies because it involves an expertise that is still considered rare. With data security breaches increasing by the second, you need an expert that can navigate these issues. If you’re interested in obtaining a CISSP certification, read on to find out how to achieve the requirements necessary to do so.
What is CISSP?
CISSP is the abbreviation of Certified Information System Security Professional, which is an advanced level certification within the field of information security.
It’s a globally recognized certification offered by (ISC)2, specializing in certifications and training in the cybersecurity domain. To prepare for the test, plenty of people will get online training for the CISSP. IT professionals are the primary demographic because it trains people in this field to become information assurance professionals.
A CISSP certification will help you define the controls, architecture, and design of highly secure business environments. CISSP is a difficult certification to achieve, but worth it as you get a significant bump in pay and job prospects.
Certification Requirements
IT professionals who wish to take the exam need to understand the eight domains of the CISSP, which include: security and risk management, asset security, security engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, and software development security.
You’ll also need a four-year college degree or an advanced degree recognized by (ISC)2, which is the place you’ll take the test and receive certification. Work experience is also accepted without a degree. Still, you’ll need to prove that you have this knowledge via a test or another certificate such as the CCNA, CEH, CISM, CompTIA Security+, or CISA.
It is possible for those who do not have relevant work experience or a degree to take the test and receive certification, but the obtained label won’t be CISSP. Instead, you’ll receive an Associate of (ISC)2 certificate, which will become CISSP with the necessary work experience.
The CISSP Domains: Who Needs the CISSP?
Anyone can obtain a CISSP certification, but it’s the most beneficial to those already in the IT security field because it allows you to expand previous knowledge. You will learn more about the eight domains that deal with different aspects of information security of this knowledge.
Security and Risk Management
The first domain deals with compliance law, security policies, and risk management. There are multiple approaches to this, such as ad-hoc, risk-based, and compliance-based. You also need to learn how to protect information within the company with the CIA triad security model.
Asset Security
The second domain deals with the protection and collection of essential assets like devices and data. CISSP professionals will take steps like data classification, data management, data remanence, and data loss prevention to do so.
Security Engineering
This domain focuses on security models, security architecture, physical security, and cryptography. There is a common practice of analyzing the architecture of a specific domain while implementing an architecture that will improve the computing base within security.
Communication and Network Security
Network structures like OSI models, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems take center stage in this domain because it’s about transmission methods, network structures, and security measures to achieve CIA in a business or organization.
Identity and Access Management
The fifth domain includes authorization, identification, access controls, and attacks on that service. Countermeasures are put in place within this domain to prevent access from foreign bodies like hackers or other co-workers if necessary.
Security Assessment and Testing
In this domain, you’ll be testing as assessing security measures while also looking at control assessments, audits, and testing reports. This domain is necessary to view how useful and successful your security measures are on a weekly-monthly basis.
Security Operations
Similar to the sixth domain, except security operations are about logging, monitoring, and investigating change management and disaster recovery. You’ll focus on incident management, digital forensics, and perimeter security.
Software Development Security
The final domain looks at the entire software development lifecycle. This includes Malware, Application Program Interfaces, Spyware, social engineering attacks, adware, and SQL injections. You need to understand these attacks to handle them correctly.
Story by Ron Evans
