CISSP Certification Cheat Sheet, Study Guides & Best Courses

A Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification can give your cybersecurity career a huge boost. This certificate has been around for more than two decades and attaining it is one of the best ways to prove your competency in information security.

However, passing the CISSP exam is no mean feat. With eight domains to study, each covering an array of complex topics, it’s easy to get overwhelmed before you’ve even begun studying. To ease the pressure and help you maximize the use of your time, we’ve got plenty of handy resources.

Below you’ll find links to comprehensive “cheat sheets” to help ensure you’re fully prepped come exam day. We also provide links to some of the best CISSP study guides and recommend some top courses to consider taking as part of your prep. Let’s get started!

Cheat sheets for studying for the CISSP exam

We’ve created the ultimate cheat sheets for helping you pass the exam. Follow the links below to see in-depth, and easy-to-navigate, sheets for each of the eight CISSP domains.

CISSP study guides and practice tests to help you prepare for the exam

If you’ve got the basic knowledge but you’re not quite at the level where all you need is a cheat sheet, there are some handy study guides available to help you with your preparation.

To start, there are the official study materials from (ISC)2. These include the Official (ISC)² CISSP Study Guide, the Official (ISC)² CISSP Practice Tests, CISSP For Dummies, Official CISSP Study and Practice Tests Apps, and Official CISSP Flash Cards.

However, if you’re looking for alternatives, there are some great resources available. Note that many publishers of the books below provide mobile apps to accompany study guides, so you can prepare for your exam while on the go.

Study guide textbooks:

Many of the study guides above and the courses below include practice tests and questions. However, if you want a little extra training, here are some sets of practice tests you may want to get your hands on.

Additional practice questions:

Other resources you may find useful in preparation for the exam are the CISSP reddit community and CISSP podcasts.

Best courses for the CISSP exam

The cheat sheets and study guides above can help you in your preparation for the exam. But you might need more in-depth courses that teach you the full content of the CISSP certification. Depending on where you’re located, you may have in-class training available to you. However, these programs aren’t accessible to everyone, and can often cost thousands of dollars for a seat.

The other option is to take an online course, and while many of these are also pricey, some won’t break the bank at all. With so many available, it can be hard to choose the right option for you. Here are our top recommendations for courses that have fully online options:

Let’s take a closer look at each of these and what they have to offer.

1. StationX: The Complete CISSP Bundle

The Complete CISSP Bundle from StationX is our top recommendation. It includes an introduction to CISSP certification, which is followed by 17.5 hours of training covering all eight CISSP Domains, and 578 pages of downloadable slides for all eight domains.

To keep your study on track, students have access to a downloadable CISSP study plan, and a CISSP CAT exam infographic. There are 1000 CISSP practice questions available, which cover all eight domains.

Students will learn how to study effectively, how to get free CPEs, and what to do when they pass or fail. They’ll learn how to answer questions from the “right point of view” i.e. how to understand IT Security and Cyber Security from a management-level perspective.

BEST COURSE FOR CISSP EXAM:StationX is our #1 choice This course usually retails for $400, but you can get it at an incredibly low price of $52.

2. Certified Information Security CISSP Exam Preparation

Certified Information Security offers a comprehensive program to get you prepped for the CISSP exam. It’s very reasonably priced considering what you get.

The course is produced and narrated by Allen Keele, an expert in (ISC)2 exam prep and is updated twice per year. It only includes content that is required for the exam, so you don’t have to waste time learning unnecessary topics.

This program is interactive and adaptive and includes:

More than 1,300 slides
16.5 hours of narrated content
54 domain and lesson exams
8 timed mock CISSP exams (with 1,200 unique questions)
40 CPE credits
A one-on-one session with course author Allen Keele

Certified Information Security also offers low-priced programs for other infosec certifications including CISA, CISM, and CRISC.

Price:The course costs $1,795 for six months of access. However, if you don’t pass your exam within the first month, you get a free six-month extension. So you’re essentially paying for a year of access.

3. Official (ISC)² CISSP Self-Paced Training

This is the official course offered by (ISC)2 itself. Obviously, the main bonus of this program is that you can be sure it’s one hundred percent relevant to the updated CISSP certification exam. It doesn’t have a huge price tag (compared to other courses), but might still be beyond the budget of many exam-takers.

Here’s what you can expect from this training program:

The Official (ISC)2 Student Training Guide
30 hours of video instruction, comprising more than 300 recordings
Earn 40 CPEs
Interactive flash cards
Activities for independent reading
Real-world example scenarios and case studies
Checks on knowledge once each domain is completed
Assessment questions once you’ve completed the course

Students are provided with real-time feedback on their progress and 24/7 technical support via live chat.

The course material is available for 180 days — approximately six months — after payment. Students who do not pass the exam after attending the ISC2 Training Seminar are allowed to attend a second Training Seminar — free of charge.

Price: This course costs $995, which is reasonable compared to many others on the list.

4. Simplilearn: CISSP Certification

Simiplilearn offers two options for its online course, both of which are large investments. One is to go with the Online Bootcamp, which involves attending online classes led by an instructor. This option includes 90 days of classes and lifetime access to the learning material. The only marginally less expensive Self-Paced Learning course provides you with unlimited access to course content but no classes.

Both options include:

67 hours worth of learning
24/7 support
30 CPEs
5 practice papers to help you prepare
A voucher for the CISSP exam

In most regions, Simplilearn offers an exam pass guarantee and will give you an additional exam voucher if you don’t pass the first time around.

Price: The Online Bootcamp costs $2,299, while the Self-Paced Learning program is slightly less at $2,200. There is a seven-day money-back guarantee which is valid as long as you haven’t accessed more than 25 percent of the course content or attended more than one online class.

5. Cybrary: CISSP

Cybrary’s CISSP course comprises 19 hours worth of video instruction covering all CISSP domains. The video content for this course is free (you’ll need to sign up for a free account), but if you want to unlock additional features of Cybrary’s service, you need to purchase a subscription.

Extra features available to subscribers include virtual labs, which help you apply what you’ve learned and gain hands-on experience in your field, and practice tests to help you prepare for the exam.

This course advertises that it is worth !5 CPEs, although you may be able to check with (ISC)2 to see if you can claim 19 CPEs (one per hour). We discuss CPEs in more detail below.

Price: A Cybrary subscription gives you access to as many courses as you like, and costs $59 per month on a monthly basis, with the first month billed at $29.

6. SANS: MGT414: SANS Training Program for CISSP® Certification

The SANS Institute offers its CISSP course in several formats, including live in-class or on-demand online. This is the most expensive option on the list, so not a good solution if you’re on a budget. However, if you’re looking for a solid and comprehensive course, and maybe have an employer willing to foot the bill, this one will deliver. The SANS Institute is renown in the information security industry and has provided education and research programs for more than thirty years.

The course counts as 46 CPEs and aside from the lessons includes:

A coursebook for each domain
Over 300 knowledge testing and preparation questions for each domain
Audio files of the course content

MGT414 dissects each of the eight CISSP domains into its core components and explains how they relate to each other and other facets of cybersecurity. If you find the CISSP content dry (which many people do), then this could be a good option for you. One of the authors’ goals in creating the course was to bring the CISSP content to life using case studies, examples, and stories.

Price: This is a pricey course at $8.275.

7. Global Knowledge: CISSP Certification Prep Course

Global Knowledge provides a CISSP Certification Prep Course in a virtual classroom. The course lasts five consecutive days and provides a comprehensive review of the CISSP content, focusing on the eight main domains.

Students receive a textbook, and access to practice test questions with complete answer explanations and flashcards. Classes last from 8am to 5.30pm on each of the five days.

The consecutive classes mean that this course isn’t suitable for those who prefer to work at their own pace. According to a company representative, students should be able to claim 40 CPEs for studying this program.

Price: The CISSP certification prep course costs $2,995.

8. Infosec: CISSP Certification Boot Camp

Infosec courses are hailed for their content and the quality of the instructors. You can either take this seven-day course in-person or in a virtual classroom setting. The in-person option involves live instruction at a physical location, which includes course materials, catered lunches, and community forum access.

Infosec also offers a — lower-priced — self-paced CISSP training program. This comes comes with a dedicated student advising team, an exam voucher, and six-month access to course materials.

You may have to confirm with (ISC)² how many CPEs you can claim for this course, but you should be able to claim one per hour of class.

Price: You have to fill out a form to access pricing. We were quoted $4,299 for Boot Camp Training and $2,999 for Self-Paced Training.

CISSP exam FAQs

You’re almost ready to get studying and tackle the CISSP certification exam. But first, here are the answers to a few common questions:

What are the prerequisites for the CISSP exam?

To receive a CISSP certification, candidates must hold at least five years of work experience in multiple (two or more) CISSP domains. Paid and unpaid internships are acceptable forms of work experience. Relevant education may substitute a maximum of one year of experience, but there are limitations. A four-year college degree or equivalent can count as one year of work experience. Alternatively, a relevant (ISC)2-approved credential, such as Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN) or Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA Security) can count as one year of work experience.

If you’re wondering which certifications you should aim for before CISSP, there are actually many pathways you can take. That said, one popular route is to obtain the CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ before pursuing (ISC)2 SSCP and finally (ISC)2 CISSP.

What is the format of the CISSP exam?

The CISSP exam uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT). With CAT, the exam is adapted to the examinee’s ability level during the test. Each subsequent question or set of questions is selected based on how you’ve performed on previous questions.

A bonus of this style of test is that you can prove your ability in less time. Before 2017, the CISSP exam took six hours to complete and comprised 250 questions. Nowadays, the exam lasts just three hours. Candidates are given a minimum of 100 questions and a maximum of 150 questions.

What are CPEs and how does the system work?

Continuing Professional Education credits, referred to as CPEs, are awarded for education and training related to your field. They are required for maintaining your CISSP certification. You should earn 40 CPEs each year for a total of 120 in your three-year certification cycle.

You can earn CPEs by studying for the CISSP exam, including by taking the training programs above. (ISC)2 says that members can claim up to “40 CPE credits for the preparation or self-study work they did.” In addition, CPE credits associated with obtaining additional professional certifications are awarded for the time spent preparing for obtaining the additional credential “but not for achieving the certification.”

Once you’ve passed the CISSP exam, to keep up your certification, you’ll need to continuously earn CPEs. These may be earned in various ways, such as attending training and conferences related to your field.

CPE credits associated with obtaining additional professional certifications are awarded for the time spent preparing for obtaining the additional credential “but not for achieving the certification.” Typically, one CPE is credited for each hour of a given activity, but there are exceptions. You can learn more about CPEs in the (ISC)2 CPE handbook.

CISSP certification study guides, cheatsheet + best courses for the exam