Product Description

Updated for 2009

Covers the critical information you’ll need to know to score higher on your CISSP exam!

• Build and manage an effective, integrated security architecture
• Systematically protect your physical facilities and the IT resources they contain
• Implement and administer access control
• Use cryptography to help guarantee data integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity
• Secure networks, Internet connections, and communications
• Make effective business continuity and disaster recovery plans, and execute them successfully
• Address today’s essential legal, regulatory, and compliance issues
• Master the basics of security forensics
• Develop more secure applications and systems from the ground up
• Use security best practices ranging from risk management to operations and auditing
• Understand and perform the crucial non-technical tasks associated with IT security

CD Features Test Engine Powered by MeasureUp!

• Detailed explanations of correct and incorrect answers
• Multiple test modes
• Random questions and order of answers
• Coverage of each CISSP exam domain

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73258 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 624 pages

About the Author
As the founder and president of Superior Solutions, Inc., a Houston-based IT security consulting, auditing, and training firm, Michael Gregg has more than15 years experience in information security and risk management. He holds two associate’s degrees, a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree. Some of the certifications he holds include the following: CISSP, CISA, CISM, MCSE, CTT+, A+, N+, Security+, CNA, CCNA, CIW Security Analyst, CCE, CEH, CHFI, CEI, DCNP, ES Dragon IDS, ES Advanced Dragon IDS, and SSCP.

Michael has experience not only in performing security audits and assessments, but also is the co-author of Build Your Own Security Lab by Wiley Publishing. Other publications he has authored include CISSP Practice Questions Exam Cram, CISA Exam Prep, and CEH Exam Prep 2. Michael is a site expert for TechTarget.com websites and also serves on their editorial advisory board. His articles have been published on IT websites including CertMag.com, CramSession.com, and GoCertify.com. Michael has created security, audit, and IT networking course material for various companies and universities. Although audits and assessments are where he spends the bulk of his time, teaching and contributing to the written body of IT security knowledge is how Michael believes he can give something back to the community that has given him so much.

He is a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. When not working, Michael enjoys traveling and restoring muscle cars.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Welcome to CISSP Exam Cram! This book covers the CISSP certification exam. Whether this is your first or your fifteenth Exam Cram, you’ll find information here and in Chapter 1 that will ensure your success as you pursue knowledge, experience, and certification. This introduction explains the ISC² certification programs in general and talks about how the Exam Cram series can help you prepare for the CISSP exam.

This book is one of the Exam Cram series of books and will help by getting you on you way to becoming an ISC² Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

This introduction discusses the basics of the CISSP exam. Included are sections covering preparation, how to take an exam, a description of this book’s contents, how this book is organized, and, finally, author contact information.

Each chapter in this book contains practice questions. There are also two full-length practice exams at the end of the book. Practice exams in this book should provide an accurate assessment of the level of expertise you need to obtain to pass the test. Answers and explanations are included for all test questions. It is best to obtain a level of understanding equivalent to a consistent pass rate of at least 95% or more on the practice questions and exams in this book before you attempt the real exam.

Let’s begin by looking at preparation for the exam.

How to Prepare for the Exam

Preparingfor the CISSP exam requires that you obtain and study materials designed to provide comprehensive information about security. The following list of materials will help you study and prepare:

• The ISC² website at http://www.ISC2.org
• The study guide available at the ISC² website
• The CISSP open study guide website at http://www.cccure.org

Many people form study groups, attend seminars, and training classes to help them study for and master the material needed to pass the CISSP exam.

Practice Tests

You don’t need to know much about practice tests, other than that they are a worthwhile expense for three reasons:

• They help you diagnose areas of weakness.
• They are useful for getting used to the format of questions.
• They help you to decide when you are ready to take the exam.

This book contains questions at the end of each chapter and includes two full-length practice tests. However, if you still want more, a related Exam Cram CISSP Practice Questions book has more than 500 additional questions. The questions are in paper form so that you can practice in an environment similar to the real exam; they are also available electronically as a practice test CD in the back of the book. Many other companies provide CISSP certification practice tests as well.

Taking a Certification Exam

When you have prepared for the exam, you must register with ISC² to take the exam. The CISSP exam is given throughout the year at various locations. You can find the latest schedule at https://http://www.ISC2.org/cgi-bin/exam_schedule.cgi?displaycategory=1182. Many people decide to travel to the exam location; others wait until it is given at a location closer to them. ISC² has implemented regional pricing: As an example, early registration is $499 in the United States, compared to standard registration of $599. Check the ISC² website at https://www.ISC2.org/uploadedFiles/Downloads/exam_pricing.pdf to get specific details.

You can register for an exam done online, by mail, or by fax. The online form is available at http://www.ISC2.org/certification-register-now.aspx. After you register, you will receive a confirmation notice.

Arriving at the Exam Location

As with any examination, arrive at the testing center early. Be prepared! You will need to bring the confirmation letter and identification such as a driver’s license, green card, or passport. Any photo ID will suffice. Two forms of ID are usually required. The testing center staff requires proof that you are who you say you are and that someone else is not taking the test for you. Arrive early as if you are late you will be barred from entry and will not receive a refund for the cost of the exam.

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Warning - You’ll be spending a lot of time in the exam room. The total test time is 6 hours, so eat a good breakfast and take a snack and bottle of water with you to the testing area. Policies differ—some locations might allow you to take the water and energy bar to your desk whereas others might make you place it at the back of the testing area.

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In the Exam Room

You will not be allowed to take study materials or anything else into the examination room with you that could raise suspicion that you’re cheating. This includes practice test material, books, exam prep guides, or other test aids.

After the Exam

Examination results are not available after the exam. You must wait up to 4–6 weeks to get your results by email or snail mail. Most individuals receive these rather quickly within 4 weeks or so. If you pass the exam, you will simply receive a passing grade—your exact score will not be provided.

Retaking a Test

If you fail the exam you must wait at least 90 days to retake a failed examination. Candidates that do not pass will receive a complete breakdown on their score. Each of the ten domains will be shown as will the candidates score. As an example, you may have received a 95% score in the telecommunications domain and only 12% in cryptography. Use this feedback to better understand what areas you were weak in and where to spend your time and effort in your studies. Additionally, invest in some practice tests if you have not already done so. There is much to be said for getting used to a testing format.

Tracking Your CISSP Status

When you pass the exam, you still need to attest to the CISSP code of ethics and have an existing CISSP complete an endorsement form for you.

When you receive notice of your passing grade, a blank endorsement form will be sent with it. The endorsement form must be completed by someone who can attest to your professional experience and who is an active CISSP in good standing. If you don’t know anyone who is CISSP certified, ISC² allows endorsements from other professionals who are certified, licensed, or commissioned, and an officer of the corporation where you are employed. You can review complete information on the endorsement form at the ISC² website.

About This Book

The ideal reader for an Exam Cram book is someone seeking certification. However, it should be noted that an Exam Cram book is a very easily readable, rapid presentation of facts. Therefore, an Exam Cram book is also extremely useful as a quick reference manual.

Most people seeking certification use multiple sources of information. Check out the links at the end of each chapter to get more information about subjects you’re weak in. Practice tests can help indicate when you are ready. Various security books from retailers also describe the topics in this book in much greater detail. Don’t forget that many have described the CISSP exam as being a “mile wide.”

This book includes other helpful elements in addition to the actual logical, step-by-step learning progression of the chapters themselves. Exam Cram books use elements such as exam alerts, tips, notes, and practice questions to make information easier to read and absorb.

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Note - Reading this book from start to finish is not necessary; this book is set up so that you can quickly jump back and forth to find sections you need to study.

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Use the Cram Sheet to remember last-minute facts immediately before the exam. Use the practice questions to test your knowledge. You can always brush up on specific topics in detail by referring to the table of contents and the index. Even after you achieve certification, you can use this book as a rapid-access reference manual.

The Chapter Elements

Each Exam Cram book has chapters that follow a predefined structure. This structure makes Exam Cram books easy to read and provides a familiar format for all Exam Cram books. The following elements typically are used:

• Opening hotlists
• Chapter topics
• Exam Alerts
• Notes
• Tips
• Sidebars
• Cautions
• Exam preparation practice questions and answers
• A “Need to Know More?” section at the end of each chapter

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Note - Bulleted lists, numbered lists, tables, and graphics are also used where appropriate. A picture can paint a thousand words sometimes, and tables can help to associate different elements with each other visually.

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Now let’s look at each of the elements in detail.

• Opening hotlists—The start of every chapter contains a list of terms you should understand. A second hotl...

Customer Reviews

Excellent book as an intro to CISSP
I have many years of first had experience with IT security and thought that studying for and taking the CISSP would take little effort. CISSP is a mile wide and an inch deep as far as how it covers material. A key is to get over how to read the question and give them exactly what they are looking for because there may be more than two correct answers; one is just more correct.

It is a great book that has questions in the style as they are asked on the CISSP. I answered a lot of questions, on material I knew very well, incorrectly. I was answering as a technician, not a manager. This book taught me how to "READ" the question and give them the "BEST" answer from a manager perspective. For the material, I used using two other books, the Shon Harris, and the Sybex CISSP guides, and passed the CISSP on my first attempt.

A few individuals gave this book low reviews because it lacked content. This book isn't meant to teach the material.

Taking an unknown test such as the CISSP can be intimidating, but if you want to get an idea of how the questions are worded on the test, this is the book. If you just use this book without any other study material or knowledge, you will fail.

Good for quick information gathering
i have bought this book after my experience with exam cram in CISA, which helped me alot with the CISA Exam as i did not study from any book except the exam cram. Now i am preparing for my CISSP Exam and i thought that exam cram for CISSP should be as powerfull as the one of CISA, but i have gone through the physical security module and i am willing to start on the access control system and methodolgy module now, but i feel it is not enough. he is giving a very brief information, and i really do not know would this be enough to go through the exam or not.

A must for initial review of the CISSP domains
Sure, there are books out there that have a much higher page count, but is anyone really excited about reading 1,000 plus pages. At around 600 pages, front to back, the CISSP Exam Cram is compact, easy to read, and digestible. That is the strength of this book is that it is packed with valuable exam-specific material and is easy to read. Its simplicity allows the reader to gain a good understanding of some of the more complex security concepts. In my experience I have always used more than one resource when studying for certification exams and for the CISSP this is one I would recommend. Use it as a first time review or a last minute cram before the exam.