Chapter 1

(ISC)2 and the CISSP Certification

In This Chapter

Finding out about (ISC)2 and the CISSP certification

Understanding CISSP certification requirements

Registering for the exam

Developing a study plan

Taking the CISSP exam and waiting for results

Some say that the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) candidate requires a breadth of knowledge 50 miles across and 2 inches deep. To embellish on this statement, we believe that the CISSP candidate is more like the Great Wall of China, with a knowledge base extending over 3,500 miles — maybe a few holes here and there, stronger in some areas than others, but nonetheless one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

The problem with many currently available CISSP preparation materials is in defining how high the Great Wall actually is: Some material overwhelms and intimidates CISSP candidates, leading them to believe that the wall is as high as it is long. Other study materials are perilously brief and shallow, giving the unsuspecting candidate a false sense of confidence while he or she merely attempts to step over the Great Wall, careful not to stub a toe. To help you avoid either misstep, CISSP For Dummies answers the question, “What level of knowledge must a CISSP candidate possess to succeed on the CISSP exam?”