ISSAP Study Material

[Action1]

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.

[OwnerOn]

Gostaria de receber o material... Obrigado 

[gunjanp123]

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

[Spirnia]

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!

[Narsil]

---

@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

[Narsil]

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:

• Official ISC2 ISSAP eTextbook - https://www.isc2.org/landing/issap-etextbook
  
  
• ISSAP Study Questions eBook - https://www.isc2.org/landing/issap-study-questions-ebook 
  
  

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.

[KimBoon]

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

[riffjim4069]

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...

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...
 
Cheers. 

[akkem]

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

[KimBoon]

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.

[riffjim4069]

@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.