topic Re: ISSAP Study Material in ISSAP Study Group

ISSAP Study Material

Action1 — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 10:18:31 GMT

Apologies if this question has been asked before but was curious on what everyone is using for study material for the ISSAP exam?

I have the CBK but I know that is not enough. Was thinking of buying the self-paced course as well.

Looking forward to hear some responses and good luck.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

gidyn — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 14:26:07 GMT

Suggested references (it's safe to ignore anything outdated)

Re: ISSAP Study Material

Steve-Wilme — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 13:36:52 GMT

There are about a page of references at the end of each chapter in the official CBK book. Quite a few of them are simply IETF RFCs so easily consulted.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

amnaresh — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 07:19:21 GMT

Hello Steve - Could you please point me to the most recently updated CBK Official curriculum book or any study material for ISSAP exam. What i see in the ISC2 point me to Amazon and the book is of 2013 Edition, completely outdated.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

Antinode — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 03:09:05 GMT

Bumping up this thread.

The CBK link on the ISC2 ISSAP reference redirects to Amazon which seems to have the second Ed dated 2013/14!

Whilst I haven't risked buying it yet, it seems to be inundated with bad reviews from being a decade old.

Grateful for any clues as to which edition and publish date are the latest, and credible avenues to get hands on a soft copy.

Thanks!

Re: ISSAP Study Material

gcanepab — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 13:41:15 GMT

At this point the CBK is no longer helpful. I passed the ISSAP by reading the relevant domains of the CISSP and CCSP books that matched the latest exam outline.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

igals — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 07:50:08 GMT

It was the only stuff you take for preparation ?

Re: ISSAP Study Material

gcanepab — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 02:39:56 GMT

Yes, for me those books were the only materials needed, in particular the CCSP books.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

mhyland — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:07:11 GMT

according to a webinar/interview, there is 60% relevancy still. i will still read it cover to cover.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

Narsil — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:56:56 GMT

@mhyland wrote:
according to a webinar/interview, there is 60% relevancy still. i will still read it cover to cover.

Are you referring to the interview on YouTube of the author of it? If so, I think he was being very overly generous with that percentage. If you look at the domains the book and exam covered back when it was written and compare it to today's domains it's quite different.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

OwnerOn — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:58:15 GMT

Gostaria de receber o material... Obrigado

Re: ISSAP Study Material

gunjanp123 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 08:14:13 GMT

I just have an ISC2's CISSP official guide and I have purchased the official study tests which has about 1000+ questions for CISSP. But, not very useful as the official guide covers almost all of them. I strongly feel this is not enough. But, I have seen people on Linkedin mentioning about the self-paced course and all some references.

What is CBK?

Best regards,

Gunjan Pandey

Re: ISSAP Study Material

Spirnia — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:57:05 GMT

ISSAP training through ISC2: https://www.isc2.org/training/online-self-paced/issap-online-self-paced

CBK is Common Body of Knowledge: https://www.isc2.org/certifications/cbk

Hope this helps!

Re: ISSAP Study Material

Narsil — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 13:41:02 GMT

@gunjanp123 wrote:

What is CBK?

Best regards,
Gunjan Pandey

This is the VERY DATED (and less useful for a long time) CISSP ISSAP CBK book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1466579005

As you will note by its publication date, and negative feedback on Amazon, it is too old, and for whatever reason ISC2 does not want to refresh it, but happily links to it here on the website. They also will not explain why since spinning out the 3x CISSP Concentrations as stand-alone why they still will not produce new materials other than reportedly, expensive and fairly average online course, claimed by others here or elsehwhere on the Internet. (https://www.isc2.org/certifications/issap/issap-self-study-resources#Textbooks)

You need to study the large magnitude of supplemental references as stated here:

https://www.isc2.org/certifications/References

Finally, here's a fairly recent interview with one of the authors of the now very old CBK, might be of value:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoDJPAKytFA

Re: ISSAP Study Material

Narsil — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 02:53:22 GMT

Well, well, well.

After a gap of 12 years since the release of "Official (ISC)2® Guide to the ISSAP® CBK - 2nd Edition" in 2013, ISC2 has quietly released the following:

Cannot help but notice a VERY disappointing detail that states "365-day access" for both of the items.

ISC2....what were you thinking with this? There is also no information regarding the depth of of the content, or as simple as the number of pages.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

KimBoon — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 03:06:20 GMT

Hi, i am also caught by surprised when I am gathering information on ISSAP examination. The effective date was 1 Aug 2025.

my concerns:

1. is Official (ISC)2® Guide to the ISSAP® CBK ((ISC)2 Press) 2nd Edition still relevant? I nearly purchase it yesterday. Should I buy?

2. is the eTextbook is on yearly subscription based (365 days Access)?

3. is the eTextbook domains aligned to the updated exam outline?

As for pt 2 and 3, I have emailed my queries to CSO, pending for their response.

any more tips on studying ISSAP?

TIA

Re: ISSAP Study Material

riffjim4069 — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:49:49 GMT

I can't speak about the 1 Aug 2025 updates, but I took/passed the ISSAP Exam last year and posted my study aids and strategy here: https://community.isc2.org/t5/ISSAP-Study-Group/Recently-Passed-the-ISSAP-my-thoughts-and-strategy/m-p/67092

I purchased the Official (ISC2) Guide to the ISSAP CBK back in 2015 with the hope of taking the ISSAP exam...but life happened, and I couldn't get an employer to pay the exam fee, so I put it off for a few years, Nothing wrong with the CBK, but it's dated (2013) and there are much better study options - so don't waste your money. as there is better, more updated, study resources IMO.

I hear the Official ISC2 ISSAP eTextbook is very good and on point, but you can only get by signing up for Online Self-Paced training. I actually signed-up for the CCSP Online Self-Paced training and, although the online training was adequate (I'm not a big of the online lecture format) the CCSP eTextbook was spot-on and mirrored the CCSP Exam Outline perfectly. So I wouldn't be surprised that the ISSAP eTextbook is the BEST study guide for preparing for the exam.

I noticed an ISSAP book and study guide (sample questions) are now available on Amazon, but the reviews aren't great...and I wasn't impressed. Your mileage may vary.

Anyway, checkout my post: https://community.isc2.org/t5/ISSAP-Study-Group/Recently-Passed-the-ISSAP-my-thoughts-and-strategy/m-p/67092

Cheers.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

akkem — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:01:48 GMT

Thank you, @riffjim4069 for sharing your experience and materials.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

KimBoon — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:07:21 GMT

Thank you for sharing. @riffjim4069

I have received CSO on their replies.

As for eTextbook: "Kindly be informed that eTextbooks are available for 365 days following date of purchase. This means that after the 365 days from date of purchase has passed, you will no longer have access to the eTextbook. Additionally, a total of 2 mobile and 2 desktop devices can access the eTextbook at any one point in time."

Currently i am in the mixed feeling as eTextbook is only valid 365 days, meaning I cannot refer back when I need guidance for my work, hence it may not the best investment. However, you mentioned that the eTextbook is on point and no newer official study book in the market now.

Re: ISSAP Study Material

riffjim4069 — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:45:42 GMT

@KimBoon I'm with you on the eTextbooks...if I buy it, I'd like to be able to refer to it - even well more than a year later. Plus, I'm not a fan of eTextbook study for myriad reasons. I spend too much time behind a wall of screens and prefer to study using hardcopy book read in natural sunlight. Reading books in sunlight is easy on my eyes, I find it much easier to focus my attention, and I absorb twice as much information in the same amount of time. Anecdotally, I find it to be a much better way to study. Cheers.