CISSP For Dummies

They say if you don’t use it, you lose it. So it goes with your CISSP certification, anyway. After you earn your CISSP certification, you must do a few things in order to maintain your hard-won CISSP certification:

• Keep your contact information current: As soon as you receive your certification, register on the (ISC) ² Web site immediately, and provide your contact information. (ISC) ² will inform you about your annual maintenance fee, board of director elections, annual meeting, and events, but only if you maintain your contact info.

• Pay your annual maintenance fee (AMF): You are required to pay the annual maintenance fee (AMF) each year in order to continue to hold your CISSP certification. You can easily pay the AMF online at the (ISC) ² Web site ( www.isc2.org).

• Attending training and conferences to earn CPEs: CPEs are Continuing Professional Education credits. You’re required to continue to earn CPEs through security-and professional-related education opportunities in order to maintain your CISSP certification. During each three-year certification cycle, you have to earn a minimum of 120 CPEs.

   Tip   To submit your CPEs, log in to the ISC Web site and register your training and other qualified events, one at a time.

  Conferences and training courses are great ways to earn lots of CPEs, but there are many more ways, too, such as by providing training, attending chapter meetings, or publishing articles or books.

   Warning   You must keep your CPE documentation with you. (ISC) ² randomly audits its members to verify that they have actually participated in educational events and have really earned those CPEs. You don’t want to be caught with your bytes down.