It could just take a few short years before cybersecurity professionals find themselves trapped with very little room for professional career advancement. No matter how brilliant they are, hitting the glass ceiling is destined to happen without obtaining certifications.
Many choose to take the CISSP exam and once they become certified, the many doors in the world of cybersecurity swing right open.
Destination Certification provides IT professionals with the expert training and knowledge required to pass the challenging CISSP exam even on the first try. They hold valuable resources and materials to help students improve upon their weaknesses and increase their chances of gaining certification in the shortest amount of time.
The CISSP exam is tough. Attempting it without proper preparation and study is never a good idea.
The 8 Domains of the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge
The CISSP exam tests the candidate’s overall knowledge and skill of the eight domains of the CISSP CBK.
This covers an enormous amount of material and therefore applicants should not only have a good understanding of each domain but also have knowledge of how the domains are interrelated before attempting to pass the exam.
To help those interested in understanding them all, we’ll break them down and give a brief explanation of each domain.
1. Security and Risk Management
Security and Risk Management is the largest of the CISSP domains and will comprise approximately 15% of the exam. It covers everything that deals with information system management such as:
- The integrity and confidentiality of information
- Compliance management
- IT policies and procedures
- Principles of security governance
Mastering Security and Risk Management not only bolsters your chances of success in the CISSP exam but also equips you with essential insights to excel in the realm of cybersecurity.
2. Asset Security
This domain covers the physical requirements of information security. Typical topics can include:
- The ownership and classification of information
- Data security controls
- The retention periods of information
- Information Privacy
This domain is essential for safeguarding the physical aspects of information security, encompassing ownership, data controls, retention, and privacy, thereby ensuring the integrity and protection of critical assets.
3. Security Architecture and Engineering
The Security Architecture and Engineering domain covers concepts of information security. Topics can include the following:
- Cryptography
- Engineering processes
- Assessing system vulnerabilities
- The design and implementation of physical security
This domain delves into the architectural and engineering aspects of information security. It covers designing secure systems, implementing cryptography, evaluating system vulnerabilities, and ensuring the integration of security measures into the overall system architecture.
4. Communications and Network Security
This domain covers how a network is designed and protected from threats. Topics can include:
- Network architecture
- Securing communication channels
- Network security components
Communication and Network Security revolve around securing the network infrastructure and communication channels.
This domain encompasses concepts related to network protocols, securing network devices, and ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and availability during transmission.
5. Identity and Access Management
The Identity and Access Management domain covers the controlling of how users can access data. Topics covered include:
- Identification and authorization
- Integrating third-party identity services
- Physical access to assets
- Authorization mechanisms
IAM deals with managing user identities, their authentication, and controlling access to resources. It includes user authentication methods, authorization mechanisms, single sign-on (SSO), and identity federation to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to critical assets.
6. Security Assessment and Testing
This domain covers the design and performance of security testing. Security Assessment and Testing topics can focus on:
- The design and validation of test strategies
- Security control testing
- The collection of security data
Security Assessment and Testing involves evaluating the effectiveness of security controls and identifying vulnerabilities. This domain covers various testing methodologies, including vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and security auditing, to proactively detect and address security weaknesses.
7. Security Operations
The Security Operations domain focuses on how plans are put into action. Typical areas of focus include:
- Logging and monitoring of activities
- Supporting security investigations
- Disaster recovery
- Security operations concepts
Software Development Security
The Software Development Security domain focuses on applying and enforcing software security systems. Areas of focus include:
- How effective software security is
- The enforcement of safe coding guidelines and standards
- The security of software from development to implementation
Security Operations focuses on the day-to-day management of security processes and activities.
It includes monitoring security events, incident response, disaster recovery, and maintaining an effective security posture through proactive measures such as threat hunting and security information and event management (SIEM).
How To Tackle the 8 Domains of the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge
To receive a passing grade on the challenging CISSP exam, candidates will have to have a strong overall knowledge of all eight of them.
This is an enormous amount of information and can be tackled by sheer memorization techniques. To achieve CISSP certification, test takers will have to use the skills of critical thinking while incorporating the principles of all eight domains.
A smart way to prepare for the exam is to take a CISSP masterclass. These in-depth courses allow you to study at your own pace while providing accurate feedback as you learn from the comfort of your home.
Masterclasses use a variety of different teaching techniques like informative course materials, video explanations, and flashcards. They also offer sample CISSP exams that will explain why you answered a question incorrectly.
The sample tests are offered in the same format as the actual exam, so there won’t be any surprises on test day.