Certifications have always been the first choice of professionals to brush up on their knowledge and scale up in their professional careers. Like every other field, system security also has specialized certifications that people do to prove their worth to the employer and grab the best job opportunities. The International Information System Security Certification Consortium offers some certifications to the professionals like CISSP ISSMP.
The certified information security systems professionals are a suite of certifications, with different programs for experts from different backgrounds and job roles. Information Security System Management Professional is one such certification course that trains the aspirants to implement and manage the information security program of an organization. Let us discuss this certification in detail and see how a professional working in this industry can get it.
What is the CISSP ISSMP?
As the name itself signifies, ISSMP is the training program for security managers. Under this, they learn to plan, establish, implement, and manage the security operations of an organization’s network or systems. Any professional working in system security operations should have this certification to have hands-on experience in the best techniques to handle the security issues.
They keep a closer eye on the security management and make necessary changes whenever required. The idea is to ensure that the system, web applications, or the entire online environment remains safe and smooth to work. Every professional in this field already has this certification or plans to do it soon. If you are also planning to complete this certification, read to know the eligibility and how you can get certified.
Pre-requisites
Before enrolling for the certification course, there are some pre-requisites that the expert needs to qualify. One of the primary requirements is that the candidate should have a minimum of two years of full-time working experience in the security management field. It ensures that they have a fundamental knowledge of the domain and can grasp the latest techniques and tactics with utmost convenience. The work experience should be in one of the six domains associated with the ISSMP certification.
Who Should Earn the ISSMP?
It is apt for the people working at the higher management ranks in an organization, as this certification is all about managerial work. The certification is good for chief technical officers or information security officers who directly manage the teams working in the IT security domain. It is essentially a part of moving up the ladder. A professional can complete a fundamental certification to start their career, and once they are ready for the leap, they can opt for a security management certification. Some of the professionals who should pursue it are:
- Chief Technical Officer
- Chief Information Officer
- Senior Security Executive
- Information Security Officer in Chief
Any professional working in one of these positions should make use of this certification course. It will help them handle the challenges with a better approach and with utmost efficiency.
What are The ISSMP Domains?
The latest version of this certification has six domains, covering different topics from business management to security compliance management. It is fruitful to learn all of them to figure out the domain or concept that would work best to meet your organization's security requirements. The below-mentioned are the domains.
- Leadership and Business Management
- Systems Lifecycle Management
- Risk Management
- Threat Intelligence and Incident Management
- Contingency Management
- Law, Ethics, and Security Compliance Management
Previously, there were only five domains with no place for threat intelligence and incident management. However, there was a need for this domain, as the intruders get more active and efficient. You can enrol for certified information systems security professional course, where you will be trained in all these domains.
ISSMP Exam Details
It is a certification exam, similar to other exams in this domain. Clearing the exam is essential to getting certified, which will add value to your CV. Some of the details you should know about this exam are listed below:
- It is a three-hour long exam with 125 questions.
- The questions are multiple-choice, and you must score 700 out of 1000 to get certified.
- You can book a test at a Pearson Testing Center in your area.
- An exam fee of about $599 must be paid while booking the test.
These are the basic details of the exam that anyone aspiring to get the certification should know. If you fail to clear the exam in your first attempt, there is a provision to reappear for the same after 30 days.
What are The Best ISSMP Study Resources?
As it is essential to clear the exam, people sign up for the best cyber security courses online for preparation. These are the professional courses run by industry experts. These trainers understand the nerve of the exam and prepare the candidates to clear it in the first attempt. They provide enough study material and resources to every candidate, covering all the domains and ensures a successful first attempt.
Moreover, as this certification is popular and most opted for, you can also find enough data on the web. Dig a little deeper, and you will find plethora of platforms from which you can source the data. Some of the trusted study resources are:
- Official flashcards by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium.
- CISSP ISSMP book by an official (ISC)² ISSMP
You can explore all the options and choose whichever you feel is the most comfortable. It is better to seek suggestions from your trainer and get your hands on something that is apt for you.
Obtaining Your ISSMP Certification
Getting certified with this security management program can benefit the professionals in plenty of ways. Firstly, it will help gain expertise in managing the challenging security requirements. Secondly, it proves the worth of a professional and verifies that they are capable to handle any security issues.
Once you have completed the certification, you can expect better job opportunities with attractive salary packages. Moreover, this certification secures your professional career and ensures that you never face a lack of opportunity.
Recertification
As technology is ever-evolving, new security techniques keep coming up every other day. Hence, there is a need to keep up with the changing technologies and update the certification exam. By the rule, the certification is only valid for three years, and after that, every candidate must re-take the exam. Two ways to re-take the exam are:
- Earn continuing professional education credits every year and use these credits to apply for the certification exam.
- Pay the annual maintenance fee along with the fee you need to pay for CISSP.
Hence, it must be noted that you must get certified by clearing the exam every three years.
Conclusion
Certifications in any field are a way to proceed further in your career and grab better job opportunities. Any professional working in the security system management field should consider appearing for the ISSMP certification exam. This way, they can perform better in their current job and keep their role secured. Moreover, it will also help them grab better job opportunities from the market and get attractive salary packages. Therefore, if you are also planning to get certified, enrol for the knowledge hut certified information systems security professional course to prepare well and clear the exam on your first attempt.
