The Certified Information Systems Security Professional or the CISSP certification is considered by many to be the premier cyber security certification for the professionals involved in IT Security. According to the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC) 2, this certification is going to validate an information security professional’s technical as well as managerial knowledge and experience to effectively design, manage, and engineer the overall security posture of an organization.

1. Qualifications Review for Taking the Exam
(ISC) 2 suggests that you have reviewed the candidate background qualifications that would be needed to ensure you meet the standards needed to become a CISSP. You should also make sure that you have the job experience needed to qualify to take the exam. You would need at least five years of cumulative, paid work experience in two or more of the eight domains that are presented by the (ISC) 2 CISSP Common Body of Knowledge or CBK. If you meet these requirements, you would be eligible to go on to the next step.

2. Obtain Your Study Materials
The first study resource that you need is the exam outline, which can be obtained on many platforms. As with any exam, you would then obtain your study materials. If you are able to take a course, you would utilize the courseware that is provided to you. However, we have found that because of the breadth of topics in the exam, most examinees would require about at least two study resources. Finally, purchasing a practice test is also suggested, but you need to make sure to purchase from a reputable practice test vendor.

3. Schedule the Exam
When you are two months out from your project date, you would need to schedule the exam. We encourage the candidates to use this time-frame so that it helps them keep the end goal in mind. Otherwise, it is too much tempting to procrastinate. Scheduling the exam would also be encouraging you to buckle down and follow your study plan.

In order to take the exam, you would be registered with Pearson VUE. If you have not already done so, you would be needed to create a Pearson VUE user account. You will then have to pay the examination fee of about $699 at the time of registration. You would also need to complete the Examination Agreement and to review the Candidate Background Questions.

4. Taking and Passing the Exam.
As with any test, you are supposed to be sure to get plenty of sleep and arrive at the test center at least about15 minutes prior to the scheduled time. You need to take time to review any flashcards and charts that you may also have immediately prior to the exam. your answers. Any breaks that you take will count toward the three hours of exam time.

5. Post-Exam Requirements
So as to become a full CISSP holder, just passing the exam isn’t going to be your the final step. You would be just needed for you to also need to subscribe to the (ISC)2 Code of Ethics and have your CISSP application endorsed by a CISSP-certified individual or (ISC)2.

Even after becoming a full CISSP, your job still remains incomplete. Now you would be needed to work on those continuing professional education (CPE) units. The CISSP certification has both annual and three-year overall requirements on CPE. You are required to pay $85 each year of your three-year certification cycle. Your payment is going to be due before your certification. or recertification annual anniversary date. Over the three-year CISSP certification cycle, you are required to earn and post a minimum of 120 CPE credits.