topic Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019 in Exam Preparation

CCSP - passed, December 2019

DMike — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:34:39 GMT

Provisionally passed today.

Quick advice for future participants in the game: know your stuff and take this exam seriously !

Previous ISC2 lingo experience counts a lot. Work experience counts the most.

My scenario:

- I had passed CCSK almost 6 moths ago, so I was familiar with CSA guidance and ENISA (don't be fooled, these are completely different exams, as it took me 45 min. to complete CCSK and almost 2.45h to go through CCSP )

- CISSP holder (& other tech certs)

My recipe:

- Official Study Guide: one in depth pass when I took notes, one final pass a day before exam, like a crammed session (7h cram read)

- Kelly's CCSP videos

- OWASP - read it thoroughly as it's a fantastic resource

- I tried to read some of the NIST materials, found them ok but not catchy...

- Some refresher sessions from the CISSP materials.

All this took me 1 month: 2-3h a day (including weekends).

You need to be able to place yourself in the right reference system when answering, everything is situational awareness.

Cheers and good luck !

Mike

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

Caute_cautim — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:07:54 GMT

@DMikeGood advice and well done too

It does take commitment and self development.

Regards

Caute_cautim

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

AlecTrevelyan — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 13:07:02 GMT

@DMike wrote:
Provisionally passed today.
Quick advice for future participants in the game: know your stuff and take this exam seriously !
Previous ISC2 lingo experience counts a lot. Work experience counts the most.

My scenario:
- I had passed CCSK almost 6 moths ago, so I was familiar with CSA guidance and ENISA (don't be fooled, these are completely different exams, as it took me 45 min. to complete CCSK and almost 2.45h to go through CCSP )
- CISSP holder (& other tech certs)

My recipe:
- Official Study Guide: one in depth pass when I took notes, one final pass a day before exam, like a crammed session (7h cram read)
- Kelly's CCSP videos
- OWASP - read it thoroughly as it's a fantastic resource
- I tried to read some of the NIST materials, found them ok but not catchy...
- Some refresher sessions from the CISSP materials.
All this took me 1 month: 2-3h a day (including weekends).

You need to be able to place yourself in the right reference system when answering, everything is situational awareness.

Cheers and good luck !
Mike

Many congratulations, and great write up!

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

DMike — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 13:50:28 GMT

Thanks.

I know it's so useful to find feedback about exam experiences before you take the exam. I find it motivating and full of clues of how things may end up, so I tried to pay it forward.

Basically it's simple: if you are not well prepared, say adios to 600 bucks.

And it's very easy to miss-interpret one question or to skip an essential word that messes up the answer. So please read the question as many times as you need to understand it.

Obviously each with it's own experience. I do hope the advice will serve well.

We need professional people in our game, so good luck again boys and girls.

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

Kaity — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:04:23 GMT

Congratulations! And thank you for sharing your advice with the Community!

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

Bruce — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 17:25:24 GMT

Congrats Mike! Sounds like a great study plan - thanks!

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

noaho — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 14:26:39 GMT

Appreciate your thoughts on this, Mike. The details on the study timeframe are particularly useful. Thanks.

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

Rossva — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 20:10:21 GMT

good post thanks. On my "to do" list this year is CISM & CCSP! congrats on your pass!

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

Rasha_ — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 13:41:18 GMT

Congrats! Did you study the first or second edition of Official Study Guide?

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

DMike — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 14:27:04 GMT

I used the first edition as I don't really think it matters...I can only assume they re-arranged some of the info, maybe added some legal and compliance stuff, etc. The thing is I purchased my book back in August last year and the second edition came out in December.

Aside from what they changed/added in the second edition, like I said before, I would focus on alternative sources to study: OWASP, SOC 2 type assessment reviews (you can easily find some on the internet; Microsoft has one for Azure), ENISA, CCSK materials (which are more technical I find...), etc.

Have fun ladies and gentlemen and good luck ! It is a doable exam if you focus on it.

Happy New Year,

Mike

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

Kaity — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 14:35:34 GMT

Hi all! We have a list of references (for each certification) if that is helpful!

Here is the CCSP one: https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/References#accordion-5885d75c57c140d282f289e8dfd1f586

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

DavidRiggs — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 15:11:03 GMT

Congratulations on the pass! I studied for this exam in its first year, but never took the exam (a co-worker's experience scared me off), looking back I should have at least attempted it. Thinking of ramping up to take it this year. When you say "Kelly's CCSP video's" are you referring to Kelly Handerhan from Cybrary - or another source? Thanks and congratulations again!

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

DMike — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 15:18:15 GMT

Yessir, Kelly Handerhan from Cybrary.

I find her style and charisma are unmatched in the online trainers world today ...

For me, her materials are top notch.

Advice: if you're targeting CCSP, either take CCSK first (more comfortable + you have 2 tokens) or take CCSK afterwards as it's a good addon to your knowledge and portfolio.

Best of luck David.

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

Rasha_ — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 00:28:14 GMT

Thank you Mike. What about CCSK materials? Can you please recommend any?

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

DMike — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 13:28:53 GMT

https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/artifacts/ccskv4-exam-prep-kit/

Everything you need is here.

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

Rasha_ — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 14:23:30 GMT

Thank you so much

Re: CCSP - passed, December 2019

mr_drumm — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 14:47:54 GMT

Congratulations! And great write up! I plan on taking this here in the near future. I went with the official study guide opposed to the all-in-one.