The demand for cybersecurity professionals is growing for various roles with the increase in the amount of digital data and transactions. For both IT professionals and those making a lateral career move into a new industry, this has opened the doors to a lucrative career shift. If you are thinking about getting a cybersecurity certification to help you grow or change careers, SSCP and CISSP are two options. The Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) are well-known information security certifications that can help professionals advance in their careers. In this article, we have compared both the certifications offered by ISC2.
Difference Between SSCP and CISSP Certification
We compared the SSCP and CISSP certifications based on the following criteria:
1)
Primary Focus
The SSCP is aimed at technical professionals. It explains how to incorporate, build, design, and implement security in technology. The SSCP is a credential worth looking into if you are interested in infrastructure security. The CISSP, on the other hand, was developed with leaders in mind. It focuses on how to develop a program and apply security concepts to the workplace. Also, the SSCP focuses on the technical application, while the CISSP focuses on the business alignment of that application.
2)
Domains
SSCP Domains:
Domain 1: Access Controls
Domain 2: Security Operations and
Administration
Domain 3: Risk Identification,
Monitoring, and Analysis
Domain 4: Incident Response and Recovery
Domain 5: Cryptography
Domain 6: Network and Communications
Security
Domain 7: Systems and Application Security
CISSP Domains:
Domain 1: Security and Risk Management
Domain 2: Asset Security
Domain 3: Security Architecture and
Engineering
Domain 4: Communication and Network
Security
Domain 5: Identity and Access Management
(IAM)
Domain 6: Security Assessment and Testing
Domain 7: Security Operations
Domain 8: Software Development Security
3)
Roles
The SSCP is suited for those who work in
the following roles:
● Network Security
Engineer
● Systems
Administrator
● Security Analyst
● Systems Engineer
● Security
Consultant
● Security
Specialist
● Security
Administrator
● Systems/Network
Analyst
● Database Administrator
The CISSP is suited for those who work in
the following roles:
● Chief Information
Security Officer (CISO)
● Chief Information
Officer
● Director of
Security
● IT
Director/Manager
● Security Systems
Engineer
● Security Analyst
● Security Manager
● Security Auditor
● Security
Architect
● Security
Consultant
● Network Architect
4)
Experience
Requirements
SSCP certification requirements: Candidates must
have at least one year of cumulative work experience in one or more of the SSCP
CBK's seven domains.
CISSP certification requirements: For the CISSP exam, candidates must have a minimum of five years of paid work experience in at least two of the CISSP CBK's eight domains.
5) Exam Information Quick Comparison: CISSP vs SSCP
|
Certification |
SSCP |
CISSP CAT |
CISSP Linear |
|
Number of Questions |
125 |
100-150 |
250 |
|
Exam Format |
Multiple choice |
Multiple choice and advanced
innovative items |
Multiple choice and advanced
innovative items |
|
Exam Duration |
3 Hours |
3 Hours |
6 Hours |
|
Passing Score (out of 1000 points) |
700 |
700 |
700 |
|
Languages |
English, Japanese and Brazilian
Portuguese |
English |
French, German, Brazilian Portuguese,
Spanish-Modern, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean |
SSCP and CISSP with InfosecTrain
If the pandemic has left you with some free time, improving your professional skills is an excellent way to spend it. There's a steady demand for qualified IT Security experts, especially today when so many companies are dealing with new cybersecurity issues related to extensively scattered work environments. InfosecTrain offers both SSCP and CISSP certification training courses. If SSCP is your goal, our (ISC)2 SSCP certification training can help. And if your goal is CISSP, then you can opt for CISSP certification training. The training teaches you how to identify vulnerabilities, defend against attacks, and respond quickly in an emergency.
