Benefits Of A CISSP Certification: What Are The Biggest Benefits Of Earning A CISSP Certification

What are the biggest benefits of earning a CISSP certification?

The CISSP credential is one of the most coveted in the information security space. Certificate holders can expect better job opportunities and much more.

The certified information systems security professional (CISSP) accreditation demonstrates a high level of expertise across all of the major domains of cybersecurity. It requires four or five years of professional experience and a passing score of at least 700 out of 1,000 points when taking the CISSP exam. It is, however, the global gold standard of cybersecurity competence, making certificate holders among the most sought-after technical professionals.

Becoming a CISSP requires a lot of time and hard work- and involves much more than taking a CISSP course. Five years of professional experience are required just to enter the exam, although this can be reduced by one year under certain circumstances. Candidates will also need to sit through a three-hour exam, or six hours if they are taking the exam in a language other than English. It can take months of practice just to get ready for the exam, but the effort is undoubtedly worthwhile.

Here are some of the most noteworthy benefits of becoming a CISSP:

#1. Broad Career Opportunities

The global information security landscape currently faces an acute skills shortage as demand for professionals in the space continues to soar. Every organization needs robust security, but leaders and decision-makers, and other experts remain in short supply. A CISSP accreditation is a gold ticket into many high-value job placements worldwide, and hiring managers of large enterprises are constantly head-hunting for CISSPs. There are now around 150,000 certificate holders globally, but this is still not nearly enough to go around.

CISSPs can fulfil a wide range of job roles, such as security consultants, managers, analysts, and architects. Because the CISSP framework covers all the major domains of cybersecurity, certificate holders can enjoy great career flexibility and, in most cases, can expect to get hired quickly and easily.

#2. High Earning Potential

Most job placements requiring a CISSP accreditation are managerial positions, such as chief information security officer (CISO) or chief information officer (CIO). This means CISSPs can expect to earn very high salaries, which, in the US, average between $120,000 and $150,000 per year. Certified professionals earn significantly more than their non-certified counterparts, and CISSPs consistently rank as some of the highest-paid jobs in the tech sector.

While uncertified security professionals are less likely to find jobs in large enterprises, CISSPs can expect to find placements in major global companies with substantial financial resources and attractive career advancement opportunities. They can enjoy the prospects of significant pay raises or being promoted within companies that they work for.

#3. Worldwide Recognition

CISSP accreditations are provided and maintained by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2. It is one of the oldest established regulatory bodies in the space, having been founded in 1989. While based in Florida, the nonprofit organization is recognized throughout the world, with CISSP and other accreditations being sought-after in dozens of countries.

The CISSP exam itself can be taken in a range of languages. In addition to English, the latest refreshed exam is available in French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean. It should be noted, however, that non-English versions of the exam take twice as long due to their use of a different exam format. English-language exams use the computerized adaptive testing (CAT) format, while non-English ones use a standard linear testing format.

#4. Very Stable Profession

For many people, job stability is even more important than yearly income. Fortunately, there are few professions more stable than those in information security leadership. Cybersecurity is, after all, one of the most important professional areas of modern times, which will be even more so the case as more organizations digitally transform and the threat landscape continues to evolve. As such, becoming a CISSP ensures that certificate holders can look forward to a stable career for the rest of their professional lives, as well as a steady rise in their salaries.

It must be said, however, that a CISSP accreditation is only valid for a total of three years. To maintain the certification, holders must submit 120 continuing professional education (CPE) credits during those three years. This requirement can be fulfilled by attending ongoing training seminars and workshops, which are typically included as part of a CISSP’s normal duties. It is also possible to retake the exam if enough credits have not been accrued, but this requires paying the exam fee again.

#5. ISC2 Membership

Earning any certification provided by ISC2 comes with ISC2 membership, giving candidates access to a global community of accomplished professionals. Membership benefits include access to a full suite of resources to help certificate holders maintain their certifications and develop their professional networks and careers. This includes a range of CPE opportunities, such as webinars and publications, which offer an easy way to manage their digital certificates. These include immersive training materials provided at no extra cost to certificate holders.

As the global gold standard for security certifications around the world, the CISSP accreditation is one of the best available. While getting certified requires a great deal of hard work and time, certificate holders can enjoy many benefits, including more career opportunities and greater income. Enroll you and your team in CISSP training with Cybrary for Teams. Enroll today to experience workforce development that helps organizations develop stronger cybersecurity skills, prepare for new certifications, and track team progress.