topic Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19 in Exams

Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

RichM — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 07:24:10 GMT

I am almost ready to write the CISSP exam. My challenge is that I am based in South Africa & yesterday our government announced a 21 day lockdown to try "flatten the Covid 19 infection curve". Question is are there any plans from ISC2 to allow for online proctors to monitor an online CISSP examination? I have checked with Pearson vue and SA is not listed as we use 3rd party testing centers.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

CraginS — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:38:43 GMT

@RichM wrote:
I am almost ready to write the CISSP exam. My challenge is that I am based in South Africa & yesterday our government announced a 21 day lockdown to try "flatten the Covid 19 infection curve". Question is are there any plans from ISC2 to allow for online proctors to monitor an online CISSP examination? I have checked with Pearson vue and SA is not listed as we use 3rd party testing centers.

Rich,

I recommend you repeat this same post over in the Member Support area of the Community.

I think (ISC) team members like @AndreaMoore keep closer watch in that area.

Good luck!

Craig

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

denbesten — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:52:02 GMT

(ISC)²'s exclusive test provider, Pearson VUE does offer proctored online test delivery, which makes it seem like this would be a fairly low-effort service to add. @amandavanceISC2, is this something that you could suggest to the powers-that-be?

Even if it could not be implemented on @RichM's presumed timeline, the bigger thought is to solve problems cited by others on the community regarding the nearest testing center being across international borders and sometimes many hours distant.

My guess is that this will all come down to Person VUE's ability to convince the (ISC)² test committee and the board that it would not compromise test integrity nor confidentiality.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

AppDefects — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 01:21:06 GMT

@RichM wrote:
I am almost ready to write the CISSP exam. My challenge is that I am based in South Africa & yesterday our government announced a 21 day lockdown to try "flatten the Covid 19 infection curve". Question is are there any plans from ISC2 to allow for online proctors to monitor an online CISSP examination? I have checked with Pearson vue and SA is not listed as we use 3rd party testing centers.

This is not the first time that Pearson VUE coverage for the African continent in general has being questioned as being deficient. Only member services can push the provider to providing more locations.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

AndreaMoore — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:08:06 GMT

Regarding Online Testing:

Online testing for (ISC)² certification exams is not currently available. Unlike many IT certifications that most candidates are familiar with, balancing reliability, validity, security and psychometric demands of (ISC)² professional cybersecurity examinations is significantly complex and time consuming endeavor. As a developer of ANSI accredited certifications, we need to ensure our exams continue to adhere to the same rigorous standards regardless of the administration method. We understand the challenges the health crisis is placing on test takers, and we are aggressively exploring solutions that ensure the integrity of the certification process while making our exams more accessible. As (ISC)² negotiates the significant challenges in exploring additional administration pathways, we appreciate your patience.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Admarnelson — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 20:29:04 GMT

We deeply ask to ISC2 with Pearson Vue to review their policies and requirements to help people around of world due corona virus problems to open the system "Control Remote" mean exam Home like others vendor as CompTia, EC-Council, ISACA.

In april they begin Exam home mean "Remote Control". this inovate system due corona virus. we non-member have desire to take CISSP deeply ask to ISC2.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Subnetwork — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 17:28:40 GMT

EC-Council has also had issues with people cheating, which has tarnished their reputation.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Jacques01 — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 04:59:07 GMT

Coming from a person that has written multiple online vue exams the institutionalized fear of online exam delivery is a bit of a mystery to me. The experience and security controls for me personally has been a lot more effective that going out to a exam center. I also reside in South Africa as rich and we have only 1 exam center in cape town as an example. I have to admit ISC has to move with the times and provide test takers the level of access that's required. Where this fear is coming from I cannot say but the perception that taking online exams is somehow a gateway drug to cheating is as an unfactual statement as me being related to the loch ness monster. One should not allow perception to dictate strategic decisions and the facts dont speak towards the online exam delivery system being compromised in any form of fashion.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Jacques01 — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 05:01:55 GMT

I am very sorry that's a opinionated comment. There is no facts to support your claim. Coming from a person that has written multiple online vue exams the institutionalized fear of online exam delivery is a bit of a mystery to me. The experience and security controls for me personally has been a lot more effective that going out to a exam center. I also reside in South Africa as rich and we have only 1 exam center in cape town as an example. I have to admit ISC has to move with the times and provide test takers the level of access that's required. Where this fear is coming from I cannot say but the perception. One should not allow perception to dictate strategic decisions and the facts dont speak towards the online exam delivery system being compromised in any form of fashion.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Subnetwork — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 12:55:56 GMT

I have taken both Pearson Vue certification exams and online proctored exams. My closest test center isn’t even in the same city as me, it’s around two and a half hours away. Fact of the matter is (ISC)2 is most concerned with keeping the integrity of their exams, and online proctoring even at a small level increases the risk of compromise of the integrity of their exams. This is evident in the fact they don’t allow testing to be done at any Authorized Pearson Vue center, such as community colleges or training organizations. But instead have to be done at Official Pearson Vue locations. Maybe in the future they will decide to offer this, we will just have to wait and see.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Admarnelson — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 13:25:10 GMT

Not every Pearson Vue has permition to management the ISC2 exams. for example here in Angola we have 3 Pearson Vue officialy but for those you can not sit ISC2 exams. many times i emailed to ISC2 and Pearson Vue no successful. Travel to another country geting to be CISSP need to be not just a Challenge. very big Challenge. what do you think if you don't pass the first attempt? here we are talking about money for Travel, Hotel acomodations, foods, bus to go to center exam and voucher exam. for that I ask this chance to sit

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

chknight — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 00:49:09 GMT

Its crazy to think that some people will cheat on these exams. I've taken majority of my proctored exams online from my home and Pearson did not make it easy for me. They made me take the camera and point it in every direction of my room. I could only have one monitor, I couldn't have a watch on, couldn't have cell phone in same room and I wasn't even allowed to have a drink at my desk. I used Pearson for my CEH and CHFI exams and they were pretty rough exams but I don't think there would have been much of a difference in my experience by taking them in person or remotely.

I feel you must really want to cheat if you find a way to bypass all the security checks Pearson has to make sure that is not occurring.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Ekeller1984 — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 04:10:30 GMT

ISACA and CompTIA are offering their exams remotely now.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Ekeller1984 — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 22:51:16 GMT

Is ISC2 going to release any type of update on this?

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

AndreaMoore — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 22:58:31 GMT

@Ekeller1984 I do not have any further update other than this official statement below. Any further updates will be posted here: https://www.isc2.org/notice/COVID-19-Response

Regarding Online Testing:

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Landin_Comins — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:43:16 GMT

Nothing is more important than protecting the status of ISC2 and their exams. Reports of cheating, or rumors of fraud, will not come out right away, but they will. When they do, it will be in the minds of the HR and Tech folks for years to come. Furthermore, the loss regarding reputation (sound familiar) could leave you exposed to a competitor taking your place.

The lockdown will not last forever. ISC2— do not tarnish what many have worked so hard to accomplish. A simple risk analysis will provide all the answers you need to make a sound business decision in this matter.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Ekeller1984 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 13:49:11 GMT

How exactly do you cheat when you are being watched 24/7? They throughly check your ID to validate its you and they have you show the entire room in every angle. I just took one of these with AWS(passed), and it was more intrusive than the TSA.They got upset at me for leaning on while deep in thought even though I stayed on camera the whole time and had validated no materials were in the room in any direction. No cheating going on if they implement it right. ISC2 needs to get with the times like their competitors.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

chknight — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 17:19:00 GMT

At this point I've been studying for 6 months to prepare for the exam. I've read the 1000-page CISSP book, practiced probably around 3000+ questions. I still find areas where I need to build a better understanding but I'm probably like majority of the candidates who's probably starting to get burnt out studying every day, but we really don't have an option.

When it comes to potentially allowing remote testing for ISC exams, I understand the concern of some individuals who might be worrying about the reputation of ISC and the accreditation that comes with earning one of their certifications. Everyone I know who holds the CISSP have one thing in common, they conquered the beast of the exam and were required to go to a testing center. It makes sense that those individuals want the tradition to continue in that direction. Maybe its because how much of a pain it was to get it or maybe they want to help keep the integrity of obtaining the certification.

There are many different options available. For example, increase the number of cameras required for remote testing. I would not care if you had 4 cameras on me so you can see in every direction. ISC code of ethics says "act honorable, honestly, justly, responsibly and legally, which should be a mission for all test takers even if you don't currently hold any of ISC certificates. Something that should be noted is when you go to a test center, they make you empty your pockets and after you are cleared (ID Check, etc.) they escort you to a testing center room where they rarely come back. What is the difference doing this remotely? Just my opinion but I would say none and that you probably have more eyes on you with a camera(s). It still acts as a deterrent if someone was going to do something unethical like cheating.

Also, in the ISC Code of Ethics, there is "Advance and protect the profession". Yea we all can do seminars and self-study but a big part of this is obtaining certifications to prove you have gained the necessary knowledge to be a subject matter expert in the cybersecurity field (or any field). Last option is to have discussions with Pearson about opening shop again but limit the test centers to take no more than 5-10 people a day starting in May (if that is even possible).

Either way it looks like I’m stuck with studying on a regular basis until something is figured out.

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

Ekeller1984 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 17:25:08 GMT

What study materials are you using?

Re: Online Proctor for CISSP due to Covid 19

chknight — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 18:55:32 GMT

So I've currently completed the "Training Camp" Video training online (18hrs), Read Book : ISC2 CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Study Guide - 8 Edition and I study my questions from CISSP Offical ISC2 Practice Tests - 2nd edition by Mike Chapple & David Seidl. I've also printed out the study guide from: Sunflower CISSP Study Guide which has great material. Other than that I've created a study guide on items that i feel I need to have a better understanding. I think i'm currently trying to find good content for the Software Development Life Cycle since i'm probably only 60% comfortable with the material.