Ten years ago, you could never have imagined that a small device that fits into your palm would become so powerful one day. Smartphones are no more a luxury for people; they have become a need for our day-to-day activities. From ordering food online, arranging a cab, finding any store through Google maps, getting medical assistance, planning your next travel, or even banking, endless activities can be performed through smartphones. So far, the situation seems so convenient for end-users.
But, do you think twice before signing up for any mobile application or any website? Is your personal data safe on the cloud?
These headlines may compel you to rethink:
Fortnite, an online video game, got into the trap of data breach, where the scammers asked the users to log in and share their credit card details to get free ‘V-bucks’ (game’s virtual currency).
Cultura Colectiva, a Mexican digital media company, left over 540 million records collected from Facebook on a publicly accessible server.
Canva, a graphic-design tool website, managed to deal with a cyber-attack midway, that had unauthorized access to the personal details (names, email ids, residence) of 139 million users.
This has left no choice for companies but to pay more attention to cyber security to make their systems secured from cyber attacks. As such, the demand for skilled cyber security professionals has increased over the past few years.
One of the most relevant and industry-recognized credentials is the CCSP certification that individuals can take to demonstrate their skills in cloud security. This article gives you all the details regarding CCSP, CCSP certification requirements, and tips to pass the CCSP exam in your first attempt.
What is CCSP Certification?
CCSP refers to Certified Cloud Security Professional, a renowned certification offered by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)². The CCSP certification ensures that the candidate has a clear understanding of the best practices and procedures followed by cyber security experts at (ISC)². Candidates can validate their skills in designing, managing, and securing data in the cloud through this credential.
CCSP Certification Requirements
There are certain eligibility requirements that you need to fulfill to get the CCSP certification. You also need to pass the CCSP certification exam.
CCSP Exam
The CCSP is conducted for three hours in which aspirants need to attempt a total of 125 multiple-choice questions. The passing score of the exam is 700 points out of the total 1000 points. The exam can be taken at any Pearson VUE Testing Center.
The CCSP exam is based on the candidate’s competency in six domains included in the CCSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK). Following are those domains along with their percentage weight in the exam:
- Cloud Concepts, Architecture and Design – 17%
- Cloud Data Security – 19%
- Cloud Platform & Infrastructure Security – 17%
- Cloud Application Security – 17%
- Cloud Security Operations – 17%
- Legal, Risk, and Compliance – 13%
Experience Requirements
Aspirants should have at least five years of work experience in information technology, of which three years of work experience should be in information security and one year in at least one of the six domains of the CBK.
For a detailed description of the experience requirements, you can visit:
www.isc2.org/Certifications/CCSP/experience-requirements
Tips to crack the CCSP Exam
Passing any certification exam can be a bit tricky, but with proper dedication and hard work, you can achieve the desired results. Here are some of the useful tips you can follow to pass the CCSP exam.
Create a study schedule
(ISC)² provides a clear exam outline where you can find details regarding the important topics covered under each domain. As your knowledge will be tested on those very topics, you can create a study schedule accordingly. Analyze how much time will it take for preparation and finalize the exam date. Stick to the schedule and learn the topics as planned.
Be thorough with the (ISC)² CCSP Official Study Guide
This study guide is ideal for getting a clear understanding of the fundamental concepts covered in the CCSP exam. Take advantage of this self-study resource by making concise notes while reading this guide so that it can be used for future reference.
Take the CCSP Self-Paced Training Course
Once you have completed the basics through self-study, enhance your knowledge by taking up the CCSP training course offered by (ISC)². Its video modules cover the six domains of the CCSP CBK, case studies, quizzes, learning activities, real-life scenarios, as well as post-course assessment questions. Moreover, it offers interactive flashcards that aid your learning.
Test your preparation with mock tests
Mock tests are a great way to test your level of understanding. There are online mock tests that you can attempt to learn how to manage time for each question and analyze your strengths and weaknesses. You can also take the help of the official (ISC)² CCSP practice tests, a book that contains around 1000 practice questions and answers with detailed explanations.
Use the CCSP Study App
Download the official CCSP Study App designed by (ISC)². It consists of multiple practice tests, bookmarks, flashcards, and a variety of study questions that you can attempt anytime and prepare for the exam.
Final Words
Now that you know all there is to know about the CCSP certification, you can start your preparation and open the doors to a great cyber security career. If you feel self-study might not be enough for clearing the CCSP exam, you can also consider taking online CCSP course from reputed training providers. Their curriculum is aligned with the latest (ISC)² guidelines, and you can learn from industry experts. Getting (ISC)² certified increases your credibility in front of the employers and demonstrates that your skills match the high standards set by the cyber security experts at the renowned (ISC)².
