CISSP Certification: What Is It? Requirements, Benefits, and Compensation (November

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential should be taken into consideration by IT security professionals who want to progress in their professions or learn more about cybersecurity. Businesses in all sectors must safeguard their confidential data from threats, which makes CISSP-certified experts an invaluable resource.

Who Needs to Become Certified as a CISSP?

If you’re an early-career IT security expert, you might be tempted to work in entry-level cybersecurity employment for a short while after earning your bachelor degree and then immediately begin the CISSP certification process. Nevertheless, there are requirements you must fulfill in order to be eligible to become a CISSP.

The Body of Knowledge (CBK), which contains almost all of the knowledge a seasoned cybersecurity expert should possess, was also developed by (ISC)2. The eight core domains listed by the CBK include software development security and asset security. Your prior job experience must have been in one or more of these eight fields in order to become a CISSP.

Obtaining CISSP certification is a difficult undertaking. Time, effort, and money must be invested in obtaining this certification, from passing the test to paying annual fees. However, one of the most popular cybersecurity qualifications that businesses want is the CISSP certification.

No matter what your career goals are—chief information officer or independent security consultant—having a clear understanding of your “why” can keep you motivated while you pursue CISSP certification.

Candidates must have either completed five years of full-time employment or four years of employment plus an undergraduate degree (such as a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity) or another recognized certificate, according to (ISC)², the organization that administers the CISSP certification.

CISSP Certification Advantages

One of the most prestigious certifications for IT and cybersecurity specialists is the CISSP. Possessing this certification can help you get better jobs, earn more money, and stay up to date on industry developments.

Raise Your Prospect of Earning

Pay for those with CISSP certification varies depending on their position and region. According to Payscale, these workers in North America make an average of $128,000 annually.

Those with CISSP certification rank among the highest paid IT specialists in the business. This is due to the fact that CISSP certification is globally recognized and companies are aware of the demanding training needed to obtain it.

Develop Into a More Competitive Job Seeker

A cybersecurity resume that highlights your CISSP certification tells recruiters and companies that you are one of the best applicants in the field of information security. Additionally, having at least four or five years of practical experience is guaranteed by this degree.

In order to pursue positions outside of their present firms, several professionals intend to get certification. According to (ISC)2’s 2023 workforce research, 17% of participants sought qualifications in order to secure a job with a different organization, and 15% thought that certification would help them advance in their careers.

Develop Cybersecurity Knowledge

Gaining a thorough understanding of all pertinent cybersecurity material is a necessary step in the CISSP certification process, which is required to pass the test and keep certification current.

CISSPs need to accrue a certain amount of continuing education credits in order to obtain their certification. By ensuring that CISSPs have up-to-date, applicable abilities, continuing education contributes to the development of competence.

The workforce research participants from (ISC)2 revealed that their teams are aware of the following advantages of hiring cybersecurity experts with certifications such as the CISSP.

These employees are more knowledgeable about important cybersecurity subjects.

The trust of certified personnel in their teams’ capacity to manage security concerns is increased.

Employing experts with cybersecurity certificates guarantees that information security trends are up to date and that they are practicing them.

Organizations may acquire top-tier employees with proven cybersecurity competence thanks to certification.

Connect with Additional CISSPs

It is mandatory for all CISSPs to become (ISC)2 members, which opens up networking possibilities. (ISC)2 has over 168,000 cybersecurity experts as members.

How Much Demand Is There Right Now for Cybersecurity Experts?

Cyberattacks and data breaches rose by 41.5% in 2022 compared to 2021. The increase in cyberattacks targeting businesses of all stripes emphasizes the shortage of qualified cybersecurity specialists as well as the necessity for them.

According to the (ISC)2 workforce report, 67% of cybersecurity professionals believe that a lack of qualified candidates is endangering their firms, despite the field’s growing popularity. By 2023, there will be 3.9 million fewer cybersecurity workers worldwide, according to (ISC)2.

The fact that the majority of cybersecurity jobs require certifications like the CISSP is one possible explanation for this labor shortage. It takes a lot of time and effort to become certified, which makes closing this employment gap more difficult. Malicious actors’ use of technology is advancing faster than the rate at which IT and cybersecurity specialists are hired and acquire the skills required to protect data from these kinds of attacks.

The Demand for CISSPs

Because of their extensive knowledge, capacity to protect against data breaches, and ability to enhance security procedures, CISSP specialists are highly sought after across sectors.

Out of all the cybersecurity job vacancies that need certification, CyberSeek reports that the biggest demand is for CISSP credentials. More than 85,000 cybersecurity job postings as of December 2023 ask for CISSP certification.