Cybersecurity is an area of focus that is in high demand. So much of our everyday activities are centered online, so having appropriate cybersecurity is vital. When planning for your future, becoming a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a great route to take.
By acquiring this certification and learning about the CISSP exam domains, not only will you be able to take care of your own security needs online, but you’ll also be able to serve others.
Having the ability to extend your skills to others and engage in countless employment opportunities can result in a lucrative income!
Why Would I Want to Become a CISSP?
The online world has been a source of extreme growth for many years now. There’s no sign of the increase in use dropping off anytime soon.
Today, all forms of employment have an online presence, and daily activities are performed using the internet. This realization is vastly different from the past, where cyber activities were few and far between.
With this change in online use comes security concerns. Individuals and companies want to know that their information and data are secure when they put it online. The possibility of devices being a victim of hacking is more prevalent than before as well.
A Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) helps those people and organizations feel more confident while completing their work and living their lives.
Taking the time and initiative to become a CISSP will pay off in spades. Not only will you have job security due to the continual and constant growth of the online world, but you’ll earn a substantial income in doing so.
Now here’s the best part: the average salary in the United States for a person that has a CISSP is $135,510.
There are also many different positions that you can fulfill with this skill set. Not only can you choose to work for yourself as a contractor or consultant, but you can also decide to work for a company.
In both circumstances, there are many growth ladders that you can scale as you acquire more experience in the field.
Therefore, if you’re looking to become part of a trade that will provide a significant income, job security, and copious opportunities, taking the step to become a CISSP will be worth it.
How Do I Become CISSP Certified?
You might be wondering: how do I become a CISSP?
Becoming a CISSP involves taking a cumulative test to account for your knowledge and skills. To prepare for this test, there are prep courses available.
As part of the course, you will learn about the eight different domains of cybersecurity. You can take Dooey’s CISSP training course to provide you with simulation exams to help you understand the format of the test.
What Are CISSP Exam Domains?
There are eight specific areas in cybersecurity, also known as CISSP exam domains, that you should focus on for certification. These CiSSP exam domains focus on different aspects of the cybersecurity world. Each domain is covered in the certification exam and will need to be studied thoroughly.
Without further ado, here are the top eight CiSSP exam domains:
1. Security and Risk Management
Concepts surrounding integrity, confidentiality, and availability Security governance Security management Security compliance Disaster recovery Legal issues Ethics in the professional world Regulatory issues Security policies, standards, and procedures Business continuity Identification and Authentication, Authorization and Auditing (IAAA) |
2. Asset Security
Roles within an organization System base-lining System hardening States of different data Classifying data |
3. Security Architecture and Engineering
Principles of secure design Security perimeters Cryptography Security kernel Security models Reference monitor Computer security architecture Security evaluation Trusted computer elements |
4. Communication and Network Security
OSI model Network protocols Network connectivity Network security threats Wireless communications Firewalls |
6. Security Assessment and Testing
Security assessments Penetration testing Vulnerability assessments Intrusion detection Audit logs Remediation Vulnerabilities |
7. Security Operations
Understanding investigations Supporting investigations Investigation requirements Monitoring activities Logging activities Incident responses Forensics Collecting evidence Admissibility Different evidence types Fault tolerance Recovery strategies Managing physical security |
8. Software Development Security
Flaws and errors in the software Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Software development Object-Oriented programming Databases Design Threats Vulnerabilities Malicious code |
What Can I Do With a CISSP?
Since that was a lot to take in, you might be wondering: is getting a CiSSP worth it?
There are many jobs available that need a CISSP. The career opportunities range from a consultant to a Chief Information Officer. With additional experience in the field, you can obtain a wide variety of opportunities in the realm of cybersecurity.
Want to get an idea of your options and their average salaries? Take a look at the table below:
Position Title | Salary – National Average |
Cyber Security Engineer | $114,000 |
Chief Information Security Officer | $173,000 |
Security Engineer | $106,000 |
Security Architect | $130,000 |
Information Technology Manager | $105,000 |
Security Analyst | $81,000 |
Chief Information Officer | $162,000 |
Security Consultant | $105,000 |
Vice President of Information Technology | $166,000 |
Director of Information Technology | $154,000 |
Information Security Specialist | $97,000 |
Conclusion
The constant online presence that we experience today makes cybersecurity an area of focus in high demand. Not only are our children doing school online, and our doctor visits have moved to virtual, but all workplaces have their place on the internet as well.
If you are planning for your future, becoming a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is an avenue that you want to look into being part of long-term.
As you navigate your prep courses and learn about the eight different CISSP exam domains, you can take care of your own security needs online, as well as those of others.
After passing the final exam and acquiring your certification, you will find that the opportunities available to you are endless. Not only will you find yourself in an area of high job security, but you will have the ability to make a lucrative income and grow within your field.
Do you want to make top dollar and have your choice of work opportunities?
Sign up for a prep course today and start on the path to certification!