CISSP Guides
Complete, free guides to prepare for the CISSP certification: how to earn it, a revision schedule and how the exam works. The CISSP demystified, step by step.
How to pass the CISSP: the complete guide
Requirements, experience, exam, endorsement, ethics, maintenance: the step-by-step method to earn the certification on the first try.
CISSP study plan (8 to 12 weeks)
A week-by-week schedule, based on the PDCA method, to cover the 8 domains, practice quizzes and aim for 700/1000.
The CISSP exam explained: CAT format, length, score
Adaptive testing (CAT), number of questions, duration, 700/1000 scoring, question types and test-day strategy.
CISSP salary worldwide and in Europe
How much does a CISSP earn? Ranges by role and seniority, the certification pay premium and the factors that move it.
CISSP vs CISM: which certification to choose?
Full comparison: domains, exam, experience, technical vs governance focus, salary and target profiles.
CISSP mnemonics
OSI, CIA/DAD, IAAA, risk treatment, ISC2 ethics canons: the mnemonics to memorize the essentials.
CISSP requirements and experience
5 years across 2 domains, the one-year waiver, what counts (part-time, internships) and the Associate path.
CISSP without experience (Associate)
Take the exam with no experience: the Associate of ISC2 status and 6 years to earn the required 5.
CISSP CPE and maintenance
120 CPEs over 3 years, Group A and B, the Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF) and how to avoid expiration.
Concentrations: ISSAP, ISSEP, ISSMP
The three CISSP concentrations (architecture, engineering, management): prerequisites and who they are for.
See also: per-domain courses, the 8-domain overview and practice quizzes.