I have been wanting to get this certification for several years. I finally had some time to enroll in an on line bootcamp given by SimpliLearn which did a fair job in covering the material and providing additional info for studying for the exam.
The old saying for the CISSP is that it's a mile wide and an inch deep! Well I agree with that when looking over all of the areas and material you need to learn and review to be able to pass the exam.
I have a good amount of experience in networking, configuring firewalls, and writing security processes and procedures. I have also deployed disaster recovery solutions and products for a number of companies, but the BCP DRP info in the class and study guides went way deeper!!
The CISSP is made up of 8 Domains:
1.Security and Risk Management15%
2.Asset Security10%
3.Security Architecture and Engineering13%
4.Communications and Network Security14%
5. Identify and Access Management13%
6.Security Assessment and Testing12%
7.Security Operations13%
8.Software Development Security10%
So, with that, I felt I basically needed to study all of the information in each domain!!
Here is the things I used to prepare for the exam after completing my bootcamp:
The old saying for the CISSP is that it's a mile wide and an inch deep! Well I agree with that when looking over all of the areas and material you need to learn and review to be able to pass the exam.
I have a good amount of experience in networking, configuring firewalls, and writing security processes and procedures. I have also deployed disaster recovery solutions and products for a number of companies, but the BCP DRP info in the class and study guides went way deeper!!
The CISSP is made up of 8 Domains:
- Security And Risk Management.
- Asset Security.
- Security Architecture And Engineering.
- Communications and Network Security.
- Identity and Access Management.
- Security Assessment and Testing.
- Security Operations.
- Software Development Security.
1.Security and Risk Management15%
2.Asset Security10%
3.Security Architecture and Engineering13%
4.Communications and Network Security14%
5. Identify and Access Management13%
6.Security Assessment and Testing12%
7.Security Operations13%
8.Software Development Security10%
So, with that, I felt I basically needed to study all of the information in each domain!!
Here is the things I used to prepare for the exam after completing my bootcamp:
- Cybrary.it CISSP training videos and labs. This is a monthly subscription, and I ended up renewing the videos several times. Kelly is a great instructor and adds some comedy in the training too, so it's enjoyable, as best it can be.
- I read the complete ISC CISSP Official Study Guide, 9th Edition, from Amazon
- The Study Guide includes practice exams and flash cards, and I think I took all of the 900 available questions
- I read several of the documents that Kelly provided at the end of the Cybrary.it CISSP class.
- Here is the Dropbox link to the documents
- Watched these You Tube videos to get more clarity on the topics-
- Kerberos: https://youtu.be/kp5d8Yv3-0c?t=23
- Identity management: https://youtu.be/Tcvsefz5DmA?t=18
- Cryptography: https://youtu.be/jhXCTbFnK8o?t=6
- Cybersecurity: https://youtu.be/fSErHToV8IU
My Exam Experience
One issue I faced was the bootcamp included vouchers for the exam. However SimpliLearn had to schedule the exam on my behalf. So I first had to find a few opening at the local Pearson Vue test center.
Well, I could not find any available opening for the next two months, even at other Pearson test centers in my state!
I selected a few possible openings that were a month out and provided them to the scheduler.
Finally after a couple of weeks I got a confirmation email for my exam date, in 2 weeks!
OK on to cramming for the exam!!
One of the tips I read suggested to take the day before the exam off and not study, I tried my best to not study and felt that maybe I would be ok.
Bright and early Monday morning, I arrive at the test center. Finally get seated for the exam after 30 minutes.
The exam is adaptive, and you may get up to 175 questions. Reading some blogs from others who had recently passed stated if you get to 130 to 140 questions that should be enough for a pass.
I get to question 140, it keeps going, 150 keeps going, finally after question 156 and it says you have reached the end of your exam. Nothing else... I'm worried!!
I finally get out to the reception and they hand me my report-
Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have provisionally passed the CISSP examination.
Phew!!
For sure one of the hardest computer based exams I have taken!
I hope these tidbits help others in passing this exam!!
Well, I could not find any available opening for the next two months, even at other Pearson test centers in my state!
I selected a few possible openings that were a month out and provided them to the scheduler.
Finally after a couple of weeks I got a confirmation email for my exam date, in 2 weeks!
OK on to cramming for the exam!!
One of the tips I read suggested to take the day before the exam off and not study, I tried my best to not study and felt that maybe I would be ok.
Bright and early Monday morning, I arrive at the test center. Finally get seated for the exam after 30 minutes.
The exam is adaptive, and you may get up to 175 questions. Reading some blogs from others who had recently passed stated if you get to 130 to 140 questions that should be enough for a pass.
I get to question 140, it keeps going, 150 keeps going, finally after question 156 and it says you have reached the end of your exam. Nothing else... I'm worried!!
I finally get out to the reception and they hand me my report-
Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have provisionally passed the CISSP examination.
Phew!!
For sure one of the hardest computer based exams I have taken!
I hope these tidbits help others in passing this exam!!
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