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MartinB
Newcomer I

Officially CISSP now!

Offically CISSP now!

 

I passed the (ISC)² CISSP exam on my first attempt on april 12 2018!
Sooo happy to finally bring this to a succesfull ending.

 

The exam was what they say it is … HARD … had to answer all 150 questions before i received the end screen and then you walk to the front desk, printer makes the rumbling noise … congratulations!

 

Experience

Currently i have been in the IT field for 18 years, for which almost 10 years in networking and security.

After taking a bootcamp in 2016 (Citbit Academy) i wasn't sure to be ready for this.
In january 2018 i made myself a promise to pass the 2016 cbk and the deadline of april 14 2018.

 

Study materials

Allthough i received the official ISC² CBK bible i never used it again. The reading was too hard and it just didn’t feel ok. As a replacement i ordered the following books to help me study:

  1. Sybex CISSP (ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Study Guide 7th Edition
  2. Eleventh Hour CISSP®, Third Edition: Study Guide 3rd Edition
  3. CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition 7th Edition
  4. Sunflower 2.0 pdf

The Sybex CISSP Official Study Guide was my main studybook to read. I started off reading it front to back to refresh my memory and use the practice questions to see where i needed extra attention.

The Shon Harris (RIP) helped me to get some deeper info on specific subjects.

The Eleventh Hour is an excellent book read, repeat, repeat and read again cover to cover, along with the sunflower pdf.

 

CBT

As mentioned above i also used several videos to keep all info fresh:

  1. Pluralsight
  2. CBT Nuggets
  3. Cybrary

When you’re read a complete domain, just watch the videos of Kelly Handerhan from Cybrary. She keeps the content really simple and has a great explanation of the Kerberos ‘fancy fair’. Great learning!

 

Practice tests

The CISSP is bit different compared to other vendor exams. Sure you need to give the answer, but with the (ISC)² CISSP exam they sometimes give you 4 correct answers and you’ll have to provide the Best answer is the given situation which makes it more challenging. You’ll need to practice to get familiair with this type of questioning.
1.Sybex chapter tests
2.Sybex CISSP Official (ISC)² Practice Tests 1st Edition
3.Boson CISSP ExSim

Last but not least i watched a great Exam tips video on YouTube: Larry Greenblatt CISSP exam tips

 

Examday

Not too much to say here. Was really nervous for the exam and my hands we’re cold. The exam is in CAT format with at least 100 questions and maximum 150. It took me 2 hours to complete all 150 questions (yes i had them all) to reach my goal.

 

Examtips

As a CISSP learner you probably know that i can only give tips and no exam questions (NDA).

  1. Just learning won’t get you certified, you have to really understand it.
  2. Think like a manager and don’t try to solve it technically.
  3. Read every question/answer slowly and at least twice.
  4. After picking the right answer, verify your answer.
  5. Keep it calm!

Hopefully it helps you with your study towards the (ISC)² CISSP exam, Good luck!!

 

My weekend couldn't start better Smiley Very Happy

17 Replies
Thalpius
Newcomer III

Congratulations!

 

"Although i received the official ISC² CBK bible i never used it again"

 

I've heard this before. I had some difficulties with the questions on the exam as well. As a non-english native speaker most of the questions didn't make sense to me, let alone answering them.

 

I think giving credits to Kelly Handerhan is the less you can do. I really liked her video's as well. Good to hear you passed and thanks for posting all this.

 

Welcome to the club 🙂

Chuxing
Community Champion

Congrats!

 

CBK is not well written and very dry, thru its many iterations ...

 

 


____________________________________
Chuxing Chen, Ph.D., CISSP, PMP
Radioteacher
Community Champion

@MartinB Congratulations! 

 

Great write up on your study materials and tips.

 

My exam list starts with "Keep calm" but I rarely achieve it. 

 

Paul

Radioteacher
Community Champion

@MartinB,

 

Just curious, you posted this on 6-2-2018.  When does your CPE cycle start?  Is it mid-month or 7-1-2018?

 

Paul

MartinB
Newcomer I

Hi Paul,

had to look that one up !

It looks like at the first of the month, so 7-1-2018

j_M007
Community Champion

Congratulations!

 

I passed (provisionally) last Friday, and I am in the endorsement process. I posted some tips and tricks that helped me, as well; but I concur with what you said. It's not a cake walk, and in no way should it be. It's mean to call on experience and critical-thinking skills. One thing that helped me was using the scratch pad to figure things out.

PlannerKSH
Newcomer I

Congrats to you all who have passed the test. 

I passed the test in April, and I also am in the endorsement process.  I am concerned that I don't have things from the companies on letterhead, for the most part.  I have W-2s and pay stubs that I have redacted, and a couple of emails sent from the company email domains by me.  Does anyone have any idea what info is acceptable or not these days?

Thanks!

azadsarker
Viewer

hi buddy,

 

congrat!!  you have passed. want to take the exam for CISSP. Collecting materials for 08 domains. also working as a cyber security specialist over Bangladesh.  Could you please refer some links to get the exam materials.

 

 Want to know more about you and your working area.


@MartinB wrote:

Offically CISSP now!

 

I passed the (ISC)² CISSP exam on my first attempt on april 12 2018!
Sooo happy to finally bring this to a succesfull ending.

 

The exam was what they say it is … HARD … had to answer all 150 questions before i received the end screen and then you walk to the front desk, printer makes the rumbling noise … congratulations!

 

Experience

Currently i have been in the IT field for 18 years, for which almost 10 years in networking and security.

After taking a bootcamp in 2016 (Citbit Academy) i wasn't sure to be ready for this.
In january 2018 i made myself a promise to pass the 2016 cbk and the deadline of april 14 2018.

 

Study materials

Allthough i received the official ISC² CBK bible i never used it again. The reading was too hard and it just didn’t feel ok. As a replacement i ordered the following books to help me study:

  1. Sybex CISSP (ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Study Guide 7th Edition
  2. Eleventh Hour CISSP®, Third Edition: Study Guide 3rd Edition
  3. CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition 7th Edition
  4. Sunflower 2.0 pdf

The Sybex CISSP Official Study Guide was my main studybook to read. I started off reading it front to back to refresh my memory and use the practice questions to see where i needed extra attention.

The Shon Harris (RIP) helped me to get some deeper info on specific subjects.

The Eleventh Hour is an excellent book read, repeat, repeat and read again cover to cover, along with the sunflower pdf.

 

CBT

As mentioned above i also used several videos to keep all info fresh:

  1. Pluralsight
  2. CBT Nuggets
  3. Cybrary

When you’re read a complete domain, just watch the videos of Kelly Handerhan from Cybrary. She keeps the content really simple and has a great explanation of the Kerberos ‘fancy fair’. Great learning!

 

Practice tests

The CISSP is bit different compared to other vendor exams. Sure you need to give the answer, but with the (ISC)² CISSP exam they sometimes give you 4 correct answers and you’ll have to provide the Best answer is the given situation which makes it more challenging. You’ll need to practice to get familiair with this type of questioning.
1.Sybex chapter tests
2.Sybex CISSP Official (ISC)² Practice Tests 1st Edition
3.Boson CISSP ExSim

Last but not least i watched a great Exam tips video on YouTube: Larry Greenblatt CISSP exam tips

 

Examday

Not too much to say here. Was really nervous for the exam and my hands we’re cold. The exam is in CAT format with at least 100 questions and maximum 150. It took me 2 hours to complete all 150 questions (yes i had them all) to reach my goal.

 

Examtips

As a CISSP learner you probably know that i can only give tips and no exam questions (NDA).

  1. Just learning won’t get you certified, you have to really understand it.
  2. Think like a manager and don’t try to solve it technically.
  3. Read every question/answer slowly and at least twice.
  4. After picking the right answer, verify your answer.
  5. Keep it calm!

Hopefully it helps you with your study towards the (ISC)² CISSP exam, Good luck!!

 

My weekend couldn't start better Smiley Very Happy


 

fyzaan
Newcomer II

Congrats.. and thank you for sharing your experience... i am on way and hopefully will have exam in august.