How to Pass the CISSP Exam: A Developer‘s Guide
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is one of the most respected and in-demand cybersecurity certifications you can earn. It validates your expertise across eight comprehensive domains of security and is required for many government/DOD security positions.
For developers and programmers looking to advance their careers and take on more security-focused roles, earning the CISSP can be a great move. According to PayScale, the average salary for a CISSP holder in a technical role like software developer or systems engineer is $118,000. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11% job growth for information security analysts through 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.
In this guide, we‘ll break down everything developers need to know about the CISSP exam, including what‘s covered in each domain, the exam format and question types, study strategies and resources, what to expect on exam day, and tips for maintaining your certification long-term. We‘ll also hear from real developers who have earned their CISSP on why it‘s worthwhile and how they prepared. Let‘s jump in!
CISSP Exam Overview
The CISSP exam is a grueling 6-hour, 250-question exam offered by (ISC)², the International Information System Security Certification Consortium. It covers 8 domains of security:
- Security and Risk Management (15%)
- Asset Security (10%)
- Security Architecture and Engineering (13%)
- Communication and Network Security (14%)
- Identity and Access Management (13%)
- Security Assessment and Testing (12%)
- Security Operations (13%)
- Software Development Security (10%)
As a developer, you likely have the most experience with the Software Development Security domain, but to pass the CISSP, you‘ll need to demonstrate mastery of concepts across all 8 domains. Let‘s take a closer look at what each domain entails:
Domain 1: Security and Risk Management
This domain covers key concepts like confidentiality, integrity, availability, security governance, compliance, risk assessment and mitigation. You‘ll need to understand laws and regulations like HIPAA, SOX, GDPR, and PCI-DSS.
Domain 2: Asset Security
Asset security is all about data and how to protect information assets through data classification, labeling, handling rules, data retention and destruction. Developers should be especially well-versed in secure coding techniques to protect software assets.
Domain 3: Security Architecture and Engineering
This is a dense domain spanning security models and architectures, systems design, virtualizations, trusted computing, cryptography, site planning, and physical security. A Computer Science degree helps a lot with this domain.
Domain 4: Communication and Network Security
Most developers interact with networks on a daily basis. This domain tests your knowledge of secure network design, components, protocols and services, as well as network attacks and countermeasures.
Domain 5: Identity and Access Management
IAM is a crucial part of security. It encompasses identification, authentication, authorization, user provisioning, role-based access control, SSO, and more. As a developer, you need to build security into your apps from the start.
Domain 6: Security Assessment and Testing
This domain covers all types of security testing from vulnerability scanning to penetration testing to log reviews. Developers should be familiar with security testing tools and techniques, and bake them into the SDLC.
Domain 7: Security Operations
SecOps involves incident handling, disaster recovery, forensics, logging, monitoring, resource protection, patch management, change management, and much more. Again, developers play a key role in properly handling incidents in applications.
Domain 8: Software Development Security
And finally, the domain most near and dear to developers. It spans security in the SDLC, environment security, software security effectiveness, acquired software security, and more. Ultimately, it‘s up to developers to properly incorporate security into software.
CISSP Exam Format
The CISSP is offered via computer-based adaptive testing (CAT) in English. After each question, the CAT algorithm re-estimates your ability based on previous answers and selects the next question to narrow in on your skill level. You‘ll face anywhere from 100 to 150 questions and have 3 hours to complete the exam.
Question formats include multiple choice and advanced innovative items. For multiple choice, you‘ll select the best answer from the choices listed. Innovative items may require you to drag and drop the correct answer, select from a drop-down list, or fill in the blank. Be prepared for scenario-based questions that test your ability to apply concepts to real-world situations.
The CISSP is scored on a scale of 100-1000 points, with 700 as the minimum passing score. You won‘t see your actual score, just a preliminary pass/fail reported at the end of the exam. Official results are sent within 7-10 days.
CISSP Study Strategies for Developers
With the sheer breadth of material covered on the CISSP exam, preparing can seem overwhelming, especially for developers who don‘t touch certain domains frequently. But with the proper study plan and discipline, you can get yourself ready to succeed. Here are some of the top prep strategies recommended by developers who passed the CISSP:
Take a training course: While self-study is necessary, taking a reputable CISSP training course can ensure you cover all the core material efficiently. Look for courses offered by (ISC)², SANS, InfoSec Institute, or Kaplan IT Training that include plenty of hands-on labs and practice questions.
Get the official study guides: Make the (ISC)² Official CISSP Study Guide and CISSP Official Practice Tests your go-to resources. Read them cover to cover, answer the practice questions, and take notes on key concepts. The Sybex CISSP Study Guide is also highly regarded.
Make flashcards: As a developer, you‘re used to mentally processing a lot of information. Making flashcards is a great way to distill concepts down to the key points. Use an app like Quizlet or Anki to make flashcards. Quiz yourself daily to make sure you‘re retaining information.
Take practice exams: The CAT format takes some getting used to. Taking frequent practice exams will build your mental endurance and help you identify which domains you need to spend more time on. Aim to take 2-3 timed, 150-question practice tests in the weeks leading up to your exam.
Don‘t neglect your weak areas: It‘s tempting for developers to spend all their time on the fun, technical domains like Network Security and Software Development Security. But to pass, you need to be competent in all 8 domains. Be intentional about scheduling study time for the drier, unfamiliar topics.
Adopt a managerial mindset: The CISSP tests for a managerial perspective. As you study, continually ask yourself, "How does this concept relate to the bigger picture of the business?" Managers care about strategy, policy, and risk management over technical minutiae.
Join a study group: Preparing for a big exam is more bearable with moral support. Look for an online or in-person CISSP study group. If you can‘t find one, consider starting one yourself! Having people to discuss topics with and keep you accountable makes a huge difference.
Focus on the fundamentals: With so much to learn, it‘s crucial that you prioritize understanding the core concepts and models that underpin all the domains. Don‘t get hung up on memorizing facts – you can always look those up on the job. The CISSP tests your ability to reason through problems.
Exam Day Tips
You‘ve put in the hard work studying, and now it‘s exam day. It‘s natural to feel nervous, but if you‘ve prepared well, you‘re ready for this! Some final tips for the big day:
- Get plenty of sleep the night before. Resist the urge to cram last-minute.
- Eat a nutritious breakfast. Bring snacks and water to the test center.
- Arrive with plenty of time to spare in case of traffic or parking snafus.
- Read each question thoroughly. The CISSP loves to test you on tiny details.
- Skip questions that stump you and come back later. Don‘t waste time.
- Think like a manager. When in doubt, choose the option that mitigates risk best.
- Don‘t let impostor syndrome psych you out. You‘ve got this!
Maintaining your CISSP Certification
Congratulations, you passed! Now that you‘ve earned the CISSP, you need to maintain it through continuing professional education (CPE). You‘ll need to:
- Earn 40 CPE credits each year
- Pay an Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF) of $125
- Recertify every 3 years
Fortunately there are many ways to earn CPEs, including taking courses, reading white papers, teaching others, and volunteering. Track your CPEs through the (ISC)² dashboard to stay on top of your progress.
Real Talk: Is the CISSP Worth it for Developers?
There‘s no denying that preparing for the CISSP is a major commitment, especially for busy developers. But is it worth the effort? Let‘s look at some data:
| According to… | A CISSP can… |
|---|---|
| PayScale | Boost your salary by 25% |
| Burning Glass | Help you command a $15,000 salary premium |
| Certification Magazine | Increase your likelihood of being promoted |
| InfoSec Institute | Open up opportunities for leadership roles like Security Architect |
For many developers, dedicating the time to earn a CISSP has paid dividends in career advancement, higher pay, and increased job security. And beyond the tangible benefits, studying for the CISSP makes you a more well-rounded, sophisticated security thinker. You‘ll be better equipped to make software secure by design.
But you don‘t have to take our word for it. Here‘s what some real developers had to say about how the CISSP has impacted their careers:
"Pursuing the CISSP exposed me to security topics I wasn‘t encountering as a web developer. It‘s made me better at proactively identifying and preventing flaws in applications. I‘m not gunning for a security specialist role, but having the knowledge base helps me incorporate security best practices into everything I build." – James N.
"I credit earning my CISSP 5 years ago with catapulting my career forward. I was able to transition internally from a senior developer role to a security engineer position. Since then, I‘ve progressed to an application security architect. I‘m now guiding security for the whole development organization, which wouldn‘t have happened without the CISSP." – Lindsey M.
"As a full-stack developer, I wasn‘t sure the CISSP was relevant for me, but I had an opportunity to attend a boot camp through my employer. While much of the material was review, I did gain a deeper understanding of security principles and a new lens for viewing my work. It‘s also been a nice feather in my cap – I think it garners respect from colleagues and clients." – Damien R.
Ultimately, whether pursuing the CISSP makes sense depends on your career goals. It‘s certainly not mandatory for success as a developer. But if you aspire to be an architect, senior technologist, or take on more of a leadership role with security responsibilities, it‘s a well-respected credential to have.
Start Your CISSP Journey
Hopefully this guide has given you a comprehensive overview of what the CISSP entails and how to set yourself up for success on the exam. Remember, every expert was once a beginner. With hard work and dedication, you have what it takes to pass the CISSP and elevate your cybersecurity knowledge to the mastery level!
Looking to connect with other developers pursuing the CISSP? Join the conversation on Reddit at r/cissp and r/netsecstudents. You might also consider becoming a member of (ISC)² – they have local chapters worldwide for networking and peer support.
However you go about your CISSP journey, we wish you the best of luck. May your code be secure and your skills forever sharp!