topic Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts in Exam Preparation

Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Simon_Johnson — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 13:01:41 GMT

I Passed the Certified Cloud Security Professional exam on Tuesday
https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CCSP

Key Learning Point: "Ensure whatever you deploy into the cloud is more secure than whatever you deploy in-house"

For anyone interested in doing this exam I recommend the following.

Do CISSP first (I was able to answer a lot of questions because of the research I did for CISSP)
Read the CCSP CBK book - ISBN 978-1-119-27672-2 (Twice)
Read the CSA - Security Guidance for critical Areas of focus in cloud computing v3.0 (Free Download)
Read the CSA - The Treacherous 12 (Free Download)
Read the CSA - Cloud Control Matrix (Including the New GDPR section) (Free Download)
Read the Jerico - Cloud Cube Model
Read - OWASP top 10
Ensure you understand encryption
Ensure you understand virtualization technologies
Ensure you understand the core difference between IAAS, PAAS, SAAS

Exam Prep:
Read all Of the above
Free Flash Cards from ISC2 (Downloadable to iPhone and I think android)

CCCure Exam Prep - Accessible from your desktop https://www.cccure.education/ (Paid about £50-60) Helps get into the frame of mind and question format. Not many questions found on actual exam, but still worth it.

Studied for six weeks (But CISSP helps a lot)

The Exam

125 questions in 240 Mins - Did mine in about 120 mins (70% Pass required)
Multiple Guess - straight questions but a lot of scenario based questions
More of a management approach than technical exam.
Yes I found it hard. Very broad questions (Alot of my knowledge came from doing CISSP)

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

nagarajan — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 13:06:12 GMT

Congratulations Simon.

Regards,

Raj

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Radioteacher — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 21:14:01 GMT

Simon,

Congratulations! Great job on your preparation and execution of the CCSP test. I completely agree that earning a CISSP helps prepare the candidate for many parts of this test.

What's next for you? Did you take the CCSK?

Paul

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

jrisner1 — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 21:32:03 GMT

Congratulations Simon. Seems like you did a lot to prepare for the cert.

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

jordanpw — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 00:11:24 GMT

Congratulations! And thanks for the very nice rundown of your prep methods. I have a number of things I want to work on next year, but this exam might fit in the schedule somewhere.

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

userblei — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 03:18:43 GMT

Cogrants!

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Bryiantan — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 02:08:39 GMT

Congratulations !

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

dswomley — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:56:45 GMT

Congratulations! Glad to hear about the CISSP as prep for CCSP!

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Bayshob — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 15:00:57 GMT

Well done. Bravo!

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Verma_Arvin — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 18:30:09 GMT

Thanks for the tips.

I just completed readying the Sybex and All in One books along with their online testing applications and have just begin reading the CSA and ENISA guides.

Fortunately, I do already have my CISSP, which has helped greatly in both question mindset and technical competence (in addition to my day to day job activities).

I guess we'll have to see how well my prep was once I take the test.

Thanks again for the great advice.

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Kwicks — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 20:37:04 GMT

Thank you for the summary Simon. I hope to take (and pass) the CCSP exam this year, the list of study materials is great.

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

IliaTiv — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 06:45:05 GMT

Congrats Simon!

All the materials are indeed useful, I had the pleasure to also be sent to a course led by Kevin Jackson which helped as well.
I took the exam around June/July 2016, and at the time I found the exam used some terms that were not discussed in the CCSP CBK.

I'd also note that CCSK v4 which is out is also a little more aligned now to CCSP than it was before.

All the best to test takers.

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

ChrisR-M — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 08:47:00 GMT

Simon

I would agree entirely completed my Exam in Oct 2017, the content is based on and was created in collaboration with the Cloud Security Alliance, so a good understating of their approach goes a long way.

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Richard_B — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 12:50:29 GMT

Congratulations. Great reading list. I passed CCSP about a year ago and have read your CSA references as background refresher. Completely agree that CISSP first is essential.

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

DavidSaylor — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 18:18:52 GMT

Congratulations and thanks for the report and advise.

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Hockeysec — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:55:36 GMT

Congratulations Simon and thanks for the information as it is the next thing on my list and I shall be using your list as a starting point - I am presuming that there is no app for your mobile as I found when I did my CISSP prep doing practice questions was invaluable.

Janice

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Rishalin — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 07:15:17 GMT

Thanks for sharing this 🙂

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

mbishaey — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 08:42:20 GMT

Congratulations Simon

Regards,

Michael

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

rsequeira_b — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 04:30:06 GMT

Thanks Simon for all the detailed inputs . I am starting to study now and I am sure all your inputs will come handy .. Cheers Roshan

Re: Passed the CCSP exam - My Thoughts

Romualds — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 09:11:06 GMT

Congratulations and welcome to the CCSP family!