Tips and Tricks on how to become a CISSP
Certification: ISC CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Do you want to become a CISSP without stress, delay or problems? Some people have trouble passing the CISSP exam; others have trouble completing the endorsement process while others lose their rights for endorsement and have to sit for the exam again despite having passed in the first attempt. It could be a waste of money and time. Here are tips and tricks that will see you become a CISSP in a short time without encountering numerous obstacles
Acquire hands-on experience
Any person looking forward to becoming a CISSP must possess a minimum experience of at least three to four years of full-time work depending on an individual's educational background. Hand-on experience enables an individual to gain knowledge concerning computer security.
Nonetheless, if you do not have any experience, you can still sit for the CISSP exam offered by (ISC)2. If you pass the exam, you become an associate of the ISC. You can then work to gain the required experience and on completion, (ISC)2 will award you the CISSP certificate.
Most people learn better through practical than through theories in lectures. In order to learn and retain as much knowledge as possible, practice what you hear in lectures, seminars and what you read from books. If you transfer the theories into practicality, you stand a better chance of remembering what you learn than if you just learnt the theory.
Another tip that will enable you to become a CISSP faster is if you become keen on your work. It would be prudent of you to set up a lab in order to concentrate better. In your lab, use virtual or old computers to experiment with security configuration as well as different types of operating systems.
Study in Advance
The CISSP certification is for individuals who have a bit of knowledge about the different domains of information security. It is difficult for an individual to focus on all the ten domains, usually, people focus on the area of their specialization. Thus, you could know a lot about two domains have limited knowledge in other domains and not have a clue about others. You should start reading about the domains you hardly know a thing about as well as domains that you know very little about. The CISSP covers all the ten domains, and you have to know them in details if you are going to pass the exam.
Do not wait until it is one week to the exam date for you to study. You will be in for a shock because the content is huge. You need enough time to go through each domain and understand it in details. You should start studying for the exam at least six months before the exam date. Prepare a schedule that is convenient for you. If possible, dedicate enough time to every domain and ensure that you grasp the main points before moving to the next domain.
Use the study guide
Although there are numerous books, you could use to study, make use of study guides and exam preparation books. You will be able to realize the most relevant information and the most tested parts of the CISSP course by following the study guide or exam preparation books enables. It will save you a lot of time, as you will not waste time reading rarely tested content.
The information security content is very wide, and it may be tedious to go through all the content with the same level of emphasis. A study guide is useful in guiding you through the content that is most important and the one that the exam questions will ask.
Although the CISSP preparation books will not turn you into an expert overnight, it will give you a lot of information in areas you hardly know a thing about. It enables you to concentrate on topics that are relevant and included in the exam. Most candidates claim that Shon Harris' "CISSP All-In-One Exam Guide" is full of tips and guidance on what is important from the wide content that enables candidates to pass the CISSP exam.
Practice
You should do as many questions that appear in the CISSP exam as possible. You will find these questions on the study guides and preparation books. As you practice, recognize your weak areas and work to improve on them. You will also realize that almost all the answers are correct. You should always pick the most correct answer. You should also strive to finish your paper in four hours. If you are well prepared, you will have an extra two hours to concentrate on areas you need to double-check. If you follow the above steps, you will pass your exam.
Complete the Endorsement Process
Immediately the (ISC)2 informs you that you have passed, you should download an endorsement form, fill the details properly and submit it promptly. In case they inform you that you should provide additional information, please add the information and resubmit the form promptly. In the event that you receive an email informing you that they will audit you, respond immediately and cooperate with the auditors. If you had experience before sitting for the CISSP exam, you would become a CISPP once your endorsement is successful.
Maintain the status of associate of the (ISC)2
After passing the exam, you immediately become an associate of the ISC. You should sign that you will abide by the code of Ethics, pay Annual Maintenance Fees (AMFs) upon receiving receipts, obtain and submit Continuing Primary Education (CPE) credits and remain in good standing. For those with no experience, it is time for you to get that experience. Upon gaining the experience and receiving the endorsement, you will become a CISSP.
