About Certified Information Systems Security Professional or CISSP Salary

Global demand for information assurance professionals is on the rise and obtaining CISSP certification could be the key to unlocking better job opportunities. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional, or CISSP, is a globally recognized standard of excellence in security-related fields. Not only does this certification provide access to some of the most coveted jobs in IT, but it also offers an impressive salary!
This complete guide will provide you with all the information you need to know about CISSP so that you can be well-prepared for this increasingly important certification exam.

CISSP Certification in the IT Industry Overview

CISSP certification indicates that you have extensive experience with essential topics such as asset security, network security, compliance, and operations security. A Certified Information Systems Security Professional or CISSP Holder plans, designs and manages the controls that could keep IT and business systems could secure. CISSPs are policy-makers & thought leaders in today's hottest security domains, which is going to include mobile device security, cryptography, application development security, security architecture & operations, cloud security as well as risk management. Becoming certified requires at least four years of hands-on cybersecurity experience along with an endorsement from a current CISSP holder and ongoing professional education.

If you are willing to improve your information security career and you have at least five years of relevant experience, so CISSP certification should be the next step in your IT security program. Being certified can open doors to specialized concentrations and even government programs. Certified information systems security specialists or CISSP have needs in many public and private organizations, including wealth businesses, healthcare practices, government and military agencies, military contractors, and the Ministry of Defense. With its rigorous standards and a high degree of respectability among hiring managers worldwide, CISSP certification is sure to propel your career growth into top gear!

Skills Weighted by CISSP Certification:

CISSP training is going to cover eight different domains in order to guarantee that you and your business get the protection that you are being required. Take a closer look at the eight domains of CISSP to see how you would be benefitting from enrolling staff in CISSP training.

1. Security and Risk Management

This domain is going to cover all about setting expectations. This could include learning about government or workplace standards for information security and discussing business guidelines.

2. Asset Security

This domain deals with the more physical side of information protection and management. Asset security might include outlining clear physical ownership of computing devices, databases and data storage accounts.

3. Security Engineering

The domain of security engineering is considered to be an important element of CISSP training. This would be involving the creation of planning to keep data and business information safe. Security engineering can be involved in determining which method is best, whether encryption is necessary for all or part of the data, how to keep the physical site secure, and whether certain vulnerabilities require more advanced protection.

4. Communication and Network Security

Networks are among the most vulnerable elements of any business, primarily because they are often used and that too by the greatest number of people. The domain of communication and network security would be involving create secure communication channels over a secure network, which might be an in-house messaging system, emails or even phone faxes and calls.

5. Identity and Access Management

This domain would be focused on who should be able to gain access to business data and what requirements are in place before the access is granted. You may be creating a personal password for your employees, and you would need to create a protocol for off-site access should employees telecommute or is going to need to access networks when out of the office.

6. Security Assessment and Testing

In order to determine whether existing methods of security which could be effective, there needs to be testing in place to highlight and identifying any vulnerabilities. The domain of security assessment would be focused on just that.

7. Security Operations

This domain is all about putting the plans into action. Security teams are typically only given limited resources so as to secure information so that the security operations have to be planned well in order to be effective. Security operations might involve outlining recovery strategies or even determining the incidents.

8. Software Development Security

The eighth and the final domain of CISSP is software development security, which is going to be focused on identifying, using, buying and then analyzing the very best software so as to help keep information secure.

CISSP Certification Salary

The average annual wage for CISSP certified pros and related certification holders are as follows:

• Certified Authorization Professional (CAP): $102,292

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): $103,297

• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC): $122,954

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM): $122,291

• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA): $113,320

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): $121,923

• Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP): $129,859

• CISSP: Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (CISSP-ISSAP): $132,960

• Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP): $104,025

Factors Influencing Average Salary of CISSP Certified Professionals

There are many factors that come into play when calculating the average salary of a CISSP-certified professional.

● Work Experience

As experience in the cybersecurity field increases, salaries tend to rise. Employers seek professionals who have a deep understanding of security systems and practices, making workers with more years of experience typically more attractive candidates for positions. For example, Information Security Manager salaries in the USA can range from $84K to $127K depending on the candidate's number of years in the industry.

● Job Role

The salary of a corporate role usually rises with the level up the ladder. For example, an entry-level position can expect to earn approximately $50k annually, while managerial roles can be remunerated at around $120k or higher depending on experience and region. Before making any career choices, it is important to consider what job roles a CISSP certification could afford you.

● Geographic Location

Geographic Location has a major influence on financial earnings within the IT industry. For instance, 2020 Glassdoor data reveals the average base annual salary for an Information Security Analyst is $73,135 USD in North America (US and Canada) compared to £33,000 in Europe.

Eligibility Criteria for CISSP Certification

In order to become CISSP certified, applicants must meet the following criteria:
● Possess a minimum of five years of professional experience in two or more of the eight CBK (Common Body of Knowledge) domains.
● Pass the CISSP examination.
● Complete the endorsement process and adhere to the (ISC)² Code of Ethics.
● Earn and maintain certification status by taking Continuing Professional Education (CPE) courses.

Exam Format and Duration

CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) exam formats:
● Certified in Cybersecurity: 2 hours, 100 multiple-choice items.
● CISSP (CAT): 4 hours, 125-175 multiple-choice and advanced innovative items.
● CISSP (CBT): 6 hours, 250 multiple-choice and advanced innovative items.
● SSCP: 4 hours, 150 multiple-choice items.
● CCSP: 4 hours, 150 multiple-choice items.
● CGRC: 3 hours, 125 multiple-choice items.
● CSSLP: 3 hours, 125 multiple-choice items.
● HCISPP: 3 hours, 125 multiple-choice items.
● CISSP-ISSAP: 3 hours, 125 multiple-choice items.
● CISSP-ISSEP: 3 hours, 125 multiple-choice items.
● CISSP-ISSMP: 3 hours, 125 multiple-choice items.
● Scenario-based items with multiple-choice options may be included.
● Languages available for the exam: English, Chinese, German, Spanish, Korean, Japanese.
● Passing score requirement: A scale score of at least 700 out of 1,000 points.

Overview of CISSP Exam Domains

● Security & Risk Management (15% of the exam)
This domain focuses on understanding security control principles for IT policies & methods, compliance requirements as well as risk-centered concepts such as threat vulnerability identification.
● Asset Security (10%)
This section focuses on managing asset restrictions such as data security & privacy safeguards, and document retention policies.
● Security Architecture & Engineering (13%)
Understand how to secure data systems through cryptography techniques comprised of encryption algorithms, key management schemes & digital signature techniques like hashing or MACs in addition to understanding task protection mechanisms such as memory protection systems, etc.
● Communications & Network Security (12%)
Learn about protecting network components from intruders with secure network protocols such IPsec/SSL/TLS using authentication methods like certificates. Moreover, protect communication channels via digital signatures or encrypted traffic for sensitive documents such as voice calls or emails.
● Identity & Access Management (13%)
Understand access control principles for physical access, logical access, detection & validation techniques used when granting access privileges based on certain criteria set forth by the organization’s authorization mechanism.
● Security Assessment & Testing (12%)
Covering topics related to vulnerability assessment penetration testing, disaster recovery plans assessment, and awareness training programs devised for clients against malicious attack vectors.
● Security Operations (13%)
Understanding incident management structure along with disaster recovery processes containing intrusion prevention measures alongside digital forensics implementation.

Strategies to Ace the CISSP Exam

Studying for the CISSP exam is an important task that requires careful planning and preparation. To ensure success, it is vital to understand each of the exam domains, review appropriate study materials, and take practice tests. Additionally, creating a comprehensive study plan and utilizing reputable resources can help set up a structure for your learning process. Finally, being aware of time constraints during the exam and managing complex scenarios effectively are essential skills needed to pass this test.

Benefits of CISSP Certification

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is a highly sought-after credential for professionals in the cybersecurity field. Along with providing recognition and credibility within the industry, gaining CISSP certification can lead to advantageous job prospects and increased earning potential.
Having this qualification allows professionals to demonstrate their knowledge and skills while building trust with employers, clients, and colleagues. These advantages position graduates of this program well as they pursue a career in cybersecurity.