7 Step Guide to Pass the CISSP Exam

7 -Step Guide to Pass the CISSP Exam l Phoenix IEEE Computer Society l February 11, 2003 l l l Debbie Christofferson, CISSP, CISM Sapphire-Security Services Debbie. Christofferson@earthliink. net 480 -9884194

“ 31 percent of the certificants in a 2002 study received a job promotion within the first year after receiving their primary technical certification. ” - Cert. Mag. com © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 2

Key Points l l l l Defining the value of a CISSP certification Meeting the criteria to become a CISSP Learning exactly what the CISSP exam includes Saving time and stress when preparing to pass the exam Finding out what works and what doesn’t Applying methods that work best for you Finding out what to expect after passing the exam © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 3

Certified Information Systems Security Professional l Recognized industry credential for security professionals l International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, or ISC(2) administers it © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 4

Certification Value l Professions often require it l Sets national standards in proficiency l Provides career recognition l Creates a perception of worth and quality for the profession l Confirms a working knowledge of information security © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 5

Certification Value l For the individual – Highlights value to a potential employer, recognizes career achievements and provides credentials based on requirements and evaluations. – Enhances career – Opens doors l To the employer – Provides effective, meaningful and objective measure to determine qualifications of job candidates. – Guarantees specific skills & knowledge of the field – Raises employee morale for companies paying for certification © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 6

Beachfront Quizzer CISSP Benefits l l Wide-spread acceptance of certification credentials. Simplified recruiting and hiring - assures a minimum knowledge level in applicants, higher quality candidates, & minimizes applicant screening. Validated technical knowledge without being tied to a particular vendor's products. Gives substantial advantage in the fast-changing technology marketplace. Competitive advantage in highly competitive technology markets, for certificate holder and hiring organization. © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 7

Security Demand l Specialized certifications could cinch IT applicant job deal l Pay raises and bonuses based on certifications dropped with economy l Demand for some coveted certifications has been rising, and the value of those certifications is predicted to increase. “Specialty Certifications Carry Clout in 2003”, By Ellen O'Brien, News Editor, 20 Dec 2002, Search. Database. com © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 8

Security Demand l "People are scanning resumes for certifications and tossing aside ones that don't have any. ” "Employers have to start somewhere. " • David Foote, president of Foote Partners, a New Canaan, Conn. , research firm that specializes in tracking certification. l l Security topped the list of certifications that increased in value in 2002, according to several surveys. By most accounts, the prestigious Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP) should retain its celebrity status in the coming year. “Specialty certifications carry clout in 2003” Ellen O'Brien, News Editor, 20 Dec 2002, Search. Database. com © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 9

The average certificant earns $55, 577 annually. … 37 percent of respondents received a promotion within a year of attaining their primary certification, and 53 percent received an average 19. 3 percent salary increase in that same first year. Reported in December 2001 Cert. Mag © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 10

Top Certification Salaries l l l l l HP/Compaq Master ASE $81, 131 (ISC)2 CISSP $80, 195 Novell Master CNE $77, 568 Oracle DBA $75, 941 HP/Compaq Accredited Professional $72, 285 HP/Compaq API $71, 961 Lotus CLP $69, 835 Citrix CCEA $68, 578 Novell CNE $68, 095 HP/Compaq APS $67, 721 http: //www. certmag. com/issues/dec 02/feature_gabelhous. cfm l l l Average certification provides 3. 2 -to-1 ROI. For every dollar invested in a certification, the certificant realizes a $3. 20 return in the form of a pay raise. Up from 2001 study (2. 3 -to-1 in 2001). Vendors offering lowcost certifications provide best ROIs. Top quartile with regard to vendors’ certification ROI also includes (ISC)2, Lotus, Citrix and Cisco. © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 11

CISSP Price/Value High l l Price/value of a certification is one of the most important factors candidates consider when choosing a program IBM’s certifications rated as providing best price/value Overall and against all attributes of vendors’ certification programs, (ISC)2 was rated the highest *The more years a certificant has been in IT, the more money he or she makes Source: Certification Magazine, December 2002, “Certification, Salaries & the IT Market” By Gary Gabelhouse © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 12

CISSP Application Criteria l 3 -4 years direct IS experience in these or other related fields – – – l l Practitioner Auditor Consultant Vendor Investigator Instructor ISC)2) Code of Ethics College degree or equivalent life experience Pass the CISSP exam Renewed in 3 -year increments – Annual maintenance fee – Continuous education © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 13

CISSP Exam Structure l l 250 Multiple choice questions 6 hours to complete Ten domains—you must pass them all Exam questions based on ISC(2) Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) – The foundation for an experienced security professional © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 14

10 Test Domains 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Access Control Applications & Systems Development Business Continuity Planning Cryptography Law, Investigation & Ethics Operations Security Physical Security Architecture Security Management Practices Telecommunications, Network & Internet Security © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 15

Exam Preparation Strategies That Work l Practice tests l Self-study l Study groups l Review seminar or course © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 16

Study Methods Certification Magazine, Tim Sosbe “Certification Training: Real Results, Real Value” © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 17

CISSP Review Seminar l l (ISC)² CISSP CBK Register online at – https: //www. isc 2. org l l l Investment discounted for early registration and professional security group members ($2245 -$2695) Offered at some industry conferences in condensed format and reduced cost Government rates available © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 18

What Doesn’t Work Reading a big stack of books l Studying in groups l Taking the test cold turkey l © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 19

After the Exam l Receive written test results l Complete and submit CISSP application – CISSP application endorsement by qualified third party before credential is awarded – Candidate’s employer – Any licensed, certified or commissioned professional may endorse a CISSP candidate l Annual maintenance fee $85 © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 20

After Passing the Exam Receive certificate and ID with CISSP designation & # l Optional l – CISSP directory listing – Speakers’ Bureau participation – Serve on committees – Participate in annual ISC(2) elections © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 21

Re-Certification Every 3 Years l Earn 120 hours continuing professional education (CPE) credit over 3 year period – 80 -120 A-Credit hours. 80 must be earned in activities directly related to profession – 40 B-Credit hours. Up to 40 CPEs may be earned in other educational activities that enhance the CISSP’s overall professional skills, knowledge, and competency. – Some carry-over permitted if you earn more than 120 hours in a 3 -year period l l OR retake and pass the exam every three years Random audits © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 22

Earning Certification Credit – Educate others on security – Write on security – Author CISSP exam questions – Participate in security forums – Serve on professional security group boards and committees – Attend security training © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 23

SSCP System Security Certified Practitioner l l l International standard for practitioners of information security and understanding of a Common Body of Knowledge (CBK). Sponsored and administered by ISC(2) Covers seven domains Focuses on practices, roles and responsibilities as defined by experts from major IS industries. Includes 125 multiple-choice questions, on exam with up to 3 hours given for completion © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 24

SSCP l Seven domains: 1. Access Controls 2. Administration 3. Audit and Monitoring 4. Risk, Response and Recovery 5. Cryptography 6. Data Communications 7. Malicious Code/Malware © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 25

Other Security Certifications l l l ISACA CISM - Certified Information Security Manager ITAA ISA – Information Security Awareness CWSP – Certified Wireless Security Professional (secure your wireless LAN) – http: //www. certz. com/certztop 50/index. html © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 26

ISACA CISA - Certified Information System Auditor l ISACA lists 29, 000 worldwide l Geared to information assurance and business processes. l Beginning of competence in auditing and IT auditing Auditing is biggest component Common in IT auditing with audit firms, banking, and finance l l © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 27

SANS Security Institute l Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) – GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA) – GIAC Certified Firewall Analyst (GCFW) – GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC) Additional certifications will follow shortly, with the GIAC Certified UNIX Security Administrator (GCUX) next on the list for release © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 28

CISCO Security Certifications l CCSP - Cisco® Certified Security Professional – For network professionals who design and implement secure CISCO networks. l l l MCNS - Managing Cisco Network Security CSPFA - Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Advanced CSIDS - Secure Intrusion Detection System CSVPN - Cisco Secure VPN CSI - Cisco SAFE Implementation © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 29

NSA ISSEP Certification l l l ISC 2 selected by the NSA to develop new ISSEP (Information Systems Security Engineering Professional) certification Likely to become a best practice for people who want to do highly sophisticated information security work within the national security sector, and throughout government and private sector. (ISC)2 plans to offer the new certification to all federal agencies and private-sector companies that do business with the federal government © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 30

"The U. S. government has a unique set of standards for information security, " said Patricia Moreno, chief of staff for NSA's Information Assurance Directorate. "We believe (ISC)2's longtime international expertise in professional certification best suits our training needs within NSA. " © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 31

ISSEP Certification Domains l Certification and accreditation l Government policy and regulation l Systems security engineering process l Protection needs determination © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 32

Security Certifications l l l l CISA (ISACA) CISSP® (ISC)² GIAC (SANS) CISM (ISACA) ISEB (ISMC) ISSAP (ISC)² ISSEP (ISC)² ISSMP (ISC)² ITPC (UK Gov't) SSCP® (ISC)² Security + (Comp. TIA) TICSA (Tru. Secure) Vendor Specific Certification: i. e. MCSE – Listed by Reed Surveys Feb/04 © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 33

ITAA Survey on Certifications & Hiring “Seventy-three percent said Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP) certifications carry the most weight. ” September 15, 2003 Press Release at www. itaa. org/news © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 34

Summary l Beef up your resume and career l Complete practice tests by domain l Study only the domains below 85% l Complete a review course for best rate of passing Allocate study time based on experience and practice test results l © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 35

Appendix © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 36

Terms & Definitions CBK – Common Body of Knowledge l CISA - Certified Information Systems Auditor l CISM – Certified Information Security Manager l CISSP - Certified Information Security System Professional l SANS Institute - Sys. Admin, Audit, Network, Security l SSCP – System Security Certified Practitioner l © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 37

Resources - CISSP l www. isc 2. org – Certifying body for CISSP, SSCP, and NSA’s ISSEP – Test & review seminar schedule, resources, jobs l CISSP Review Course schedule – https: //www. isc 2. org/cgi/course_schedule. cgi l www. cissp. com – Books, seminar & exam schedules, resources, jobs © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 38

Computer Security Institute 30 th Annual Security Conference l l Sponsored by (ISC)2 Review Seminar – November 5 -6, 8: 30 AM - 5: 00 PM l CISSP Exam: – Friday, November 7, 8: 00 AM to 3: 00 PM l CISSP Networking Reception – Tuesday, November 4, 6: 30 - 7: 30 PM http: //www. gocsi. com/events/cissp-exam. jhtml © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 39

Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP Exam l l Created by the exam's certifying organization (ISC)2. Based on the CISSP course Reviewed by past ISSA President and ISSA/(ISC)2 and Hal Tipton Retail Price: $69. 95 – Discounted at www. cissp. com to $60 USD l Rating at www. cissp. com © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 40

CISSP Exam Guide Books l The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security – by Ronald L. Krutz, Russell Dean Vines and Edward M. Stroz l CISSP Exam Cram – by Mandy Andress l CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide – by Shon Harris, for practice exams l Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems – by Ross J. Anderson. Covers most exam topics © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 41

CISSP Exam Guide Books l CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide – by Shon Harris. DVD training class also available. l The Total CISSP Exam Prep Book: Practice Questions, Answers, and Test Taking Tips and Techniques – by Thomas Peltier, Patrick D. Howard l CISSP for Dummies – by Lawrence C. Miller l Mike Meyers’ CISSP Certification Passport – by Shon Harris © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 42

CISSP Practice Tests l www. cissp. com – Exam Preparation Software – Flash. Card for the CISSP exam l www. boson. com l www. cccure. org l www. srvbooks. com l www. bfq. com © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 43

Certification Resources l Books – www. amazon. com – Information Security Management Handbook, 4 th Edition, Vol I and II – by Harold F. Tipton & Micki Krause SANS Institute www. sans. org l ISACA www. isaca. org l – CISA & CISM l Certification exam practice – http: //www. freepractice. com/default. htm – http: //www. skilldrill. com/ – http: //www. certificationzone. com © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 44

Bio Debbie Christofferson, CISSP, CISM l Practiced leading edge Fortune 500 security management and consulting for 14 years, with 20 overall years in the technology field. l Consultant, speaker, and published author l www. Sapphire-Security. com www. Career-Therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net l l © 2004 www. career-therapy. com Debbie. Christofferson@earthlink. net Page 45