Assessing Exam Readiness
Before you rush out and sign up for the CISSP exam, check out the ISC2.org website and review the CISSP Certification requirements. To be eligible to become a CISSP, you must qualify for and meet two separate requirements:
- Examination This portion of the process requires that you submit the examination fee, assert that you possess a minimum of 4 years of professional experience in the information security field or 3 years plus a college degree (this is subject to audit and verification), review and sign the Candidate Agreement stating that you will legally commit to adhere to the CISSP Code of Ethics, and answer four questions regarding criminal history and background.
- Certification This second step of the process requires that the candidate pass the exam with a score of 700 points or greater, submit a completed and executed Endorsement Form, and, in some cases, pass a verification audit regarding professional experience.
When you are confident that you meet these requirements, you can continue with your studies. To be fully prepared for the exam, I recommend that you read the entire text, review the practice questions, and review the additional resources identified in each chapter. After you read the book and test yourself with the questions and practice exams, you will have a good idea of whether you are ready to take the real exam.
Be aware that the CISSP exam is difficult and challenging; therefore, this book shouldn't be your only vehicle for CISSP study. Because of the breadth and depth of knowledge needed to successfully pass the CISSP exam, be sure to use plenty of study materials and use this book to help you gauge your strengths and weaknesses. The ISC2 website is a good place to find additional study material, and so are the "Need to Know More?" sections at the end of the chapters in this book. The study guide pages on the ISC2 website include 70 publications that are helpful when preparing for the exam.