A Complete Guide For Cybersecurity (CISSP)

06-Apr-2021

What is the best Cissp study guide?

In this article, we will provide a complete guide for cybersecurity along with the CISSP certification.

Table of Content:-

1. What is cybersecurity and how it works? 
2. Where do I start in cybersecurity? 
3. What is the first thing to learn in cybersecurity? 
4. Which language is best for cybersecurity? 
5. Does cybersecurity require coding? 
6. What type of coding is needed for cybersecurity? 
7. How long does it take to learn cybersecurity? 
8. How do I get a job in cybersecurity with no experience?
9. How can I get CISSP fast?
10. Can I self-study for CISSP?
11. What is the pass rate for the CISSP exam?
12. Can you pass CISSP without experience?
13. How much is the CISSP exam fee?
14. Why is CISSP so expensive?
15. Which is better, CISSP or CISM?
16. Is the CISSP certification worth it?
17. Is Cissp certification difficult?
18. How long does it take to get a CISSP? 
19. What is a CISSP certification salary?
20. Does CISSP increase salary?
21. Is CISSP prestigious? 

What is Cybersecurity And How It Works?

The retail industry, the medicine industry, the banking and finance industry, the construction industry, the transportation industry, the communications, media, and entertainment industry, the education industry, the manufacturing, and natural resources industry, the various industries related to the government, the energy and utilities industry, and the outsourcing industry all make heavy use of technology.

What we are trying to point out by showing our heavy reliance and usage of technology is that we as human beings have become completely dependent on technology, to the point that technology has started to shape our lives to a large extent.

Now let us consider a hypothetical scenario – a terrorist organization has invented a computer virus that is capable of scrambling all of our existing technological systems into an unusable and uncontrollable mess. If this terrorist organization is able to spread such a computer virus around the world, it would cause absolute chaos and mayhem in the lives of all human beings present on this planet.

This scenario is not entirely hypothetical. After all, several terrorist organizations and even several secret agencies, and other security organizations have already made several attempts to create and spread such computer viruses throughout the technology systems of the world. This opens up several opportunities for lucrative Cybersecurity Careers.

There is a well-known sabotage attempt made by the Central Intelligence Agency of the US in which they attempted to and succeeded in sabotaging the nuclear power plants of the country of Iran.

Some of their covert operatives infiltrated the nuclear power plants of Iran and spread the Stuxnet virus throughout the technology systems of the nuclear power plants of Iran and completely disrupted and destroyed the technological systems on the basis of which these nuclear power plants were operating.

From these instances of sabotage and outright cyber warfare, we can easily see the need for stable and secure technological systems, the emphasis being on the keyword ‘secure’ here. Without an adequate amount of research and planning going into providing safety and security to the technological systems which are so prevalent in the modern world, there is little chance of ever achieving stability in their functioning. So the need of the hour is people with Cybersecurity skills.

This is because there will always be unscrupulous elements present in human society and they will always try to disrupt and disturb the functioning of these technological systems. They know that human society is largely dependent on these technological systems to lead peaceful and active lives and they want to disturb this state of affairs and cause agitation in human society on a large scale.

So cybersecurity is the art and science of protecting technological systems against these unscrupulous elements with the help of security best practices and specially written and specially targeted software applications. These software applications are usually called antivirus software or antimalware software. One can learn how to write such applications by getting a CISSP certification online.

They are usually very complex and sophisticated pieces of software and usually require large teams of programmers and software developers to create. They are then fed large lists of computer viruses, trojan horses, worms, and other miscellaneous malware as inputs.

With the help of these large data sets of inputs, they can easily detect any computer viruses, trojan horses, worms, and other miscellaneous malware if it is present on any computer system. In this way, software developers and computer programmers can guard technological systems against the presence of foreign elements and against attacks made by unscrupulous elements who mean to do them harm.

Where Do I Start in Cybersecurity?

There are 8 main areas or fields of specialization in cybersecurity. They are discussed in CISSP training. They are -

• Architecture and Policy

• Data Loss Prevention

• Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Identity and Access Management

• Incident Response and Forensic Analysis

• Penetration Testing

• Secure DevOps

• Secure Software Development

For a beginner, the best area or field of specialization to start studying in the field of Incident Response and Forensic Analysis. There are several good reasons to start by studying this field. One very big reason is that this field is considered to be one of the, if not the most important fields of cybersecurity.

The word ‘incident’ is a very neutral word to describe the attacks on technological systems made by unscrupulous elements in society who happen to possess skills related to computers, technology, and programming. A cybersecurity specialist and especially an Incident Response and Forensic Analysis expert have the responsibility of assuming that these attacks will occur.

Having assumed this they set about the task of planning adequate responses and preventive measures which they will execute in the event of an attack. So they have to spend a lot of time, energy, mental power, and other resources in planning adequate and sufficient countermeasures which they can bring into play in the event of an attack

What Is The First Thing to Learn in Cybersecurity?

Contrary to what most people may think, the first thing one should learn if one wants to become a cybersecurity expert is how the hardware of computer functions. Most people jump straight to learning how to program and learning how the software part of the computing world works, and next they may even dabble in how the internet and networking works, but before all of that, they should build a strong fundamental understanding of how the hardware of computers works.

This is because the most malicious hackers and crackers attempt to sabotage a computer system by attacking and wreaking havoc on its hardware components. The process they follow to do this is called ‘bricking’ a computer system. This process is discussed in CISSP Certification.

Their line of reasoning, however uncomfortable it is to admit it, is solid and very well thought out. If the software component of a computer system is attacked and infected, it can be fixed very easily. In the eventuality that it has been damaged beyond repair, it can simply be replaced by a fresh and clean software installation of the same software components.

These days most businesses and organizations around the world back up all the data on their software applications very frequently so even the data in the affected software components can be restored relatively easily.

But when it comes to repairing affected hardware components the story is completely different. Repairing hardware components of technological systems requires actual physical intervention by technicians and hardware manufacturers. This can prove to be very expensive indeed.

In the eventuality that the hardware components are damaged beyond repair, they have to be replaced partially or completely. This is much more difficult to accomplish than repairing or replacing the software components of a technological system. Even though, this art is taught in the CISSP Certification.

So because of the high costs and a large amount of time it takes to repair and replace hardware components, malicious attackers most often target them only. So it is best for an aspiring cybersecurity expert to learn the fundamentals of the functioning and working of the hardware aspect of technological systems first.

Which Language Is Best For Cybersecurity?

The C programming language is the best programming language for cybersecurity. It is used in a lot of domains of cybersecurity such as cryptography, image processing, and socket networking. It is a very low-level language, just one step above assembly language and other machine-level languages. The C programming language is taught in CISSP Certification.

It is a very lean, fast, and quick to compile, and quick to execute programming language which carries a lot of benefits which are directly applicable to cybersecurity. It allows the programmer to access the internals of the hardware components of the technological systems such as the RAM, the system resources, and the system processes.

By making these parts of the computer system safe and secure by writing code and programs for their protection, the cybersecurity expert can ensure that the technological system is protected from the ground up and has solid and safe fundamentals.

Does Cybersecurity Require Coding?

The answer to this question is that yes, cybersecurity definitely requires coding. There are two aspects of any technological system – the software aspect and the hardware aspect. If a cybersecurity expert wants to ensure the safety and security of the hardware aspect he can take a lot of steps and implement a lot of safety measures and mechanisms which do not require one to learn coding.

But when the cybersecurity expert has to deal with deciding who can control the various hardware components and other miscellaneous system resources and when he has to establish a proper access/control policy for the hardware components throughout the business or organization, he has to take the help of coding. The use cases for coding are discussed in CISSP Certification.

If coding is required to ensure the safety and security of the hardware components, then what to speak of the software components?

They require several complex and sophisticated computer programs and software applications to be written to protect them against computer viruses, trojan horses, worms, and other miscellaneous malware. In order to write these computer programs, the cybersecurity expert requires knowledge of coding and programming.

What Type of Coding is Needed For Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity requires a very low level of coding. The cybersecurity expert should know how to access the different hardware components of a technological system, such as the RAM, system processes, and system resources. He should also know how to write concise, fast, and efficient code so that he can keep the system resource usage to a minimum.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Cybersecurity?

It takes at least 7 years to learn Cybersecurity. We are saying this with complete confidence because the CISSP certification exam has an experience requirement which states that one must have worked for at least 5 years in any 2 of the 8 domains of knowledge tested on the CISSP certification exam.

Since it takes a minimum of 2 years to gather all the requisite skills and knowledge for any major job, we can safely assume that it takes 7 years overall to reach the position where one can call oneself a learned cybersecurity expert.

How Do I Get a Job in Cybersecurity With No Experience?

This is not possible because the CISSP certification exam has an experience requirement which states that one must have worked for at least 5 years in any 2 of the 8 domains of knowledge tested on the CISSP certification exam.

How can I get CISSP fast?

If you plan it correctly then you can get the certification done within about 30 days of preparation. If you are an experienced person or a working professional then this section is meant just for you. We are going to elaborate and set targets for each day in this section so sit tight and read on.

• Initial two days: Plan

Take two days out at the beginning for planning on how you are going to prepare. Go through the materials of CISSP carefully. This way you can have the whole picture in your mind and you will be able to allot time as per your needs. Set some time aside for study purposes and schedule the exam. 

• The next 8 days: Review

Chalk out what is more relevant from the exam point of view. What is more relevant and what are the chances of being asked in the exam. By doing so you can gain a good overview of the whole syllabus. Even if you don’t understand it thoroughly even then you should keep going strong. Remember you are yet to dive deeper and that will come in the next phase of the plan. In this phase, you do a slightly deeper overview that is all.

• The next 15 days (till 25th day): Practice a lot

This phase of the plan is the most prominent part of your preparation. If you learn by practicing then the learning should last long. You can take up questions that cover the topic in a more wholesome way. That is those questions that cover more concepts per question.

• Next 5 days: Test yourself

Test yourself for the rest of the days particularly when you are a week away from the exam. Test yourself and see that if you can answer the questions in time and how much perfectly

• Get some sound sleep too

If you follow this plan then probably you can prepare and successfully complete the exam within 30 to 35 days. That is probably the fastest way towards your CISSP certification.

Can I self-study for CISSP?

Of course yes, you can self-study for CISSP. If you are working in the same industry with years of experience and are ready to work hard towards the exam then you can certainly opt for self-study for CISSP.

However,  it is recommended to enroll in a training program. There will be some challenges to be met while self-studying like keeping yourself self-motivated. It is a lot harder to do it all by yourself and dedicate time and effort. If you are determined then you can go for self-study and attempt the exam.

What is the pass rate for the CISSP exam?

Well, the passing rate is about 20% only. The minimum mark required to pass the exam is 70%. That means you must score 700 out of 1000 marks to clear the exam. The exam requires you to attempt from 250 questions spanning 6 hours in duration. There are about 8 domains that these questions are asked from. 

Can you pass CISSP without experience?

It will be difficult to pass the CISSP without experience. However, you can always become an Associate of (ISC)2 if you don’t have the relevant experience. This certification is considered one of the most difficult certifications to clear and without enough hands-on, you cannot clear the exam. That is why (ISC)2 requires you to have relevant experience in the same field and apply for the exam. 

If you don’t have the relevant experience then there is nothing to worry about. As mentioned earlier, you can become an Associate, and then you will get 6 years to get the minimum 5 years of experience to qualify for the exam.

How much is the CISSP exam fee?

The CISSP exam fees region wise is listed below:

• For the Americas, it is $749

• For the Asia Pacific it is $749

• For Europe EUR 665

• For the UK GBP 585 

• In the Middle East US $749

• and Africa it is again $749

• For other regions not listed above it is $749

The CISSP exam is considered relatively costly so prepare for the exam really well and then attempt for the exam.

Why is CISSP so expensive?

The administrative part of the exam is getting costlier. The simple reason for that is the CISSP exam is now being conducted in more places than before. That incurs a huge expenditure on the part of (ISC)2. Besides that, the exam is now available in more languages than before. Conducting exams and evaluation of the same is also a cost-incurring aspect.

The above reasons are enough for the exam to be expensive, however, on top of the above reasons, the consistency and security of the exam is also a huge factor to be considered.

Which is better, CISSP or CISM?

If you are interested in a certification that is solely from the management point of view then you can go for CISM. However, if you are interested in both the technical as well as leadership-based certification then you must go for CISSP. 

After doing CISSP you will be much more enabled as compared to a CISM. After completing CISSP you will be able to be a security leader who can design and implement security solutions and also manage the whole organization’s security stance. 

CISSP is much more widely attempted by aspirants as compared to CISM. So, CISSP is far better than CISM. 

The CISSM course, as you may have already figured out, is much more difficult to clear than the CISM exam. The CISM, on the other hand, is easier to clear with a 50 to 60% first-time clearing percentage as compared to only 20% passing percentage for the CISSM exam.

Do not worry about the passing percentage. You also have more CISSP online training institutions to help you out in clearing the exam. So, if you are planning to get some help then you can get training online as well. 

Is the CISSP certification worth it?

CISSP certification is every bit worth it. It is a standard on its own in the world today. If you want to be a professional in information security or cybersecurity as a whole then this certification is indispensable. 

This certification is considered a little expensive, however, if you consider the salary that you get once you clear the certification is also superb. 

The LinkedIn community of 90,000 strong members has also given it the highest weightage. They compared it with 50 other certifications and concluded that CISSP is the best. 

CISSP is one of the oldest certifications in cybersecurity and the evolution to meet the current challenges within this certification has made it the most valuable certification in the entire industry.

The subject matter of the source is also highly complex. There is a whole set of threats that keep coming up. For example, the threat of Ransomware is relatively new. To thwart the threat immediate action must be taken. For those reasons, it is quite necessary for CISSP to evolve rapidly. And CISSP has done it quite well.

Due to its continuous evolution, a CISSP professional is a highly sought professional for the security and safety of any organization, making it absolutely worth it and necessary. So, having CISSP certification is completely worth it.

Is Cissp certification difficult?

The CISSP exam is highly demanding and is one of the most difficult certifications that are available on our planet.

Many threats loom over our digital world. To be one step ahead of offenders you need to grind it harder. Therefore, it is important to be thorough with your concepts and the application of those concepts.

There are about eight domains in CISSP and to clear the exam you need to be thorough in all of them, making it one of the hardest of exams. It is impossible to clear the exam without a full 5 years of industry experience. The exam is so much hard that it requires you to have a practical sense of the domain of security. 

If you want to clear it then don’t just cram it up. You need to study and apply the concepts while working and develop a sense that could help you clear the exam. That itself is the hardest part of any profession. You need to be good in applied part rather than mere theory. So, it's all about "Is CISSP certification hard?"

How long does it take to get a CISSP? 

It takes anywhere between five and a half years to six years to be a full-fledged CISSM professional. However, you can shorten the span by about 6 months time you take up a CISSP certification online training program. 

If you take up any training program then you can have considerable leverage in understanding the concepts necessary for this certification.

You must take care that the training program that you choose must provide you ample hands-on with the concepts that you must learn in order to clear the exam.

Entirely basing it on self-study and industry exposure will definitely take more time as compared to enrolling in a training program. Over the other factors, another factor is that ISC squared keeps changing the pattern making it more difficult to clear. Without a training program, it might be difficult to clear the exam. 

It is always in favor to be taking some guidance from a competent CISSP online training institute to get the math right, particularly if you are a working professional. 

What is a CISSP certification salary?

The average annual salary of a CISSP certified professional is a whopping $116,573 globally (source: Global Knowledge). 

The CISSP certified professionals are the third-highest paid professionals in the world. A Security analyst makes about $87,000/- in the US on an average annually. 

Does CISSP increase salary?

Yes, it does increase salary and that too significantly.

Quoting the same source(i.e. Global knowledge), the CISSP professionals make:

• 9% more than non-certified professionals in North America

• 6% more in Asia-Pacific

• 8% more in Europe

• And 12% more in Latin America

These figures are huge and CISSP does increase the salary of a professional substantially.

Is CISSP prestigious? 

The CISSP is one of the most prestigious certifications in the world currently. It has a proven track record since its very inception. It has been 25 years since then and CISSP professionals are at the top both in terms of knowledge and performance.

They handle the security of the organization from various positions and are at the base of it. The security has to be strong and the CISSP professionals deliver it pretty well.

So, if you are aspiring to go for the prestigious CISSP Certification then you can prepare well and don’t mind getting some help from the online CISSP training to gain some hands-on concepts quickly.

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