Learn more about this credential for early to mid-career security professionals.
The Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) is a certification for cybersecurity practitioners tasked with monitoring information systems and reacting to security incidents. Becoming an SSCP could demonstrate to potential employers that you have the technical skills needed to advance in your cybersecurity career.
If you鈥檇 like to work hands-on with an organisation鈥檚 security, becoming an SSCP could be a good step toward achieving your goal. You may find it particularly suitable if you鈥檝e already gained a year or two of work experience in cybersecurity, or if you鈥檝e recently graduated from a cybersecurity or computer science qualification program.听聽
The SSCP is designed for security professionals that work with operational security. Here are just a few of the job titles that request or require SSCP certification:
Network analyst: 拢37,513 []
Systems administrator: 拢35,143 []
Security analyst: 拢42,581 []
Threat intelligence analyst: 拢39,590 []
Systems engineer: 拢43,690 []
DevOps engineer: 拢50,723 []
Security engineer: 拢51,957 []
*Salary data represents the average UK salary according to Glassdoor (April 2023)
Becoming an SSCP comes with several potential benefits for the right candidate, including the possibility of a high-paying, in-demand position. By achieving SSCP status, you could also:
Learn new skills that you can use on the job
Validate your skills and commitment to cybersecurity to recruiters and hiring managers
Enhance your resume to make you more marketable
Fulfil requirements for security clearance
Gain access to a community of fellow cybersecurity professionals
Becoming an SSCP requires passing a certification exam designed to test your knowledge in seven security areas. Here鈥檚 a quick look at the SSCP exam details.
Certification | SSCP |
---|---|
Cost | 拢156 8 |
Number of questions | 125 |
Types of questions | Multiple choice |
Time to complete | 180 minutes |
Passing score | 700 out of 1000 points |
Prerequisites | 1-year cumulative work experience |
Testing locations | Pearson VUE Testing Centers |
Taking and passing the SSCP exam is an accomplishment you should feel proud of, but it鈥檚 only the first step in the certification process. Let鈥檚 look at the four steps you鈥檒l need to take to get fully certified.
1. Pass the certification exam: At the time of writing, you鈥檒l need to score 700 of the available 1,000 points to pass the exam. You can take the exam up to four times in a 12-month period, though you鈥檒l have to wait 30, 60, and 90 days between respective attempts.
2. Complete the endorsement process: Getting endorsed requires submitting an online application endorsed and digitally signed by another (滨厂颁)虏-certified professional, like a coworker or manager. If you don鈥檛 know anyone personally, (滨厂颁)虏 can act as an endorser. You have nine months from your exam date to complete this step.听
3. Agree to the Code of Ethics: Before becoming a certified SSCP, you鈥檒l need to commit to four canons of ethical practice. These are:
Protect society, the common good, necessary public trust and confidence, and the infrastructure
Act honourably, honestly, justly, responsibly, and legally
Provide diligent and competent service to principals
Advance and protect the profession
4. Pay the annual maintenance fee: You鈥檒l need to pay US$50 (about 拢40) fee upon certification and each year on the anniversary of your certification. You only need to pay the fee once per year if you earn additional certifications from (滨厂颁)虏.
To qualify to take the SSCP exam, you need at least a year of paid work experience in one more of the exam domains. This can include full or part-time work and paid or unpaid internships.听
Earning a bachelor鈥檚 or master鈥檚 qualification in cybersecurity, computer science, computer engineering, computer systems engineering, management information systems, or information technology (IT) also satisfies the work experience requirement.听聽
The SSCP exam covers seven topics, called domains, in cybersecurity. Each domain accounts for 9 to 16 per cent of the exam score. The domains are as follows:
Access controls
Security operations and administration
Risk identification, monitoring, and analysis
Incident response and recovery
Cryptography
Network and communications security
Systems and application security
The best way to set yourself up for success on the SSCP exam will depend on previous experience, current knowledge, and learning style. Here are some resources that you may find helpful as you prepare.
Several companies offer training courses specifically for the SSCP exam. While it鈥檚 possible to study independently, you may find the structure of a course helpful in ensuring you cover the required content from the exam. Before enrolling in a course, ensure it covers the latest version of the exam outline.听
Prepare for the exam at your own pace with the (滨厂颁)虏 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) Specialization, offered by (滨厂颁)虏 on 糖心vlog官网观看. You get 120-day access to courses covering the latest exam domains and save when you bundle them together.
Taking a practice exam can help prepare you for what to expect on exam day and highlight any areas where you may need additional study. (滨厂颁)虏 has a book of some 700 practice questions with explanations for purchase, but you can also find a variety of practice exams online.
Here are some additional tips for preparing for and taking the exam:
Give yourself adequate time to prepare. Depending on what you already know, this might mean a few weeks or a few months.听
Make flashcards to learn acronyms and port numbers.
Read each exam question more than once. You鈥檒l have a minute and a half to answer each question within the allotted time.
Use the 鈥淔lag for review鈥 option to flag questions you鈥檙e unsure of. You can return to them later.
Answer all the questions. There鈥檚 no penalty for incorrect answers.
Both the SSCP from (滨厂颁)虏 and the Security+ from CompTIA are common certification options for those just starting or early in their cybersecurity career. Depending on your goals and experience, one may be a better fit than the other.
Generally speaking, if you鈥檙e working toward your first job in cybersecurity and you either don鈥檛 have a degree or have a degree in an unrelated subject, then Security+ might be a better option. If you already have some experience or a cybersecurity or computer science degree, you might consider the slightly more advanced SSCP.听聽
If you鈥檝e already gained some experience working in cybersecurity, you might be deciding between the SSCP and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), both from (滨厂颁)虏.听
In this case, which certification you choose to pursue could likely come down to your amount of experience. If you鈥檝e already been working in cybersecurity for five or more years, going for the CISSP, ranked among the most popular and respected credentials, might be worthwhile. Otherwise, earning SSCP status could open up opportunities to build the experience needed to earn the CISSP in the future.
Security+ | SSCP | CISSP | |
---|---|---|---|
Provider | CompTIA | (滨厂颁)虏 | (滨厂颁)虏 |
Cost | 拢233 | 拢199 | 拢585 |
Number of questions | 90 | 125 | 100 to 150 |
Types of questions | Multiple choice and performance-based | Multiple choice | Multiple choice and advanced innovative |
Test length | 90 minutes | 180 minutes | 180 minutes |
Required years of experience | None | 1 year | 5 years |
Best for | Entry level | Entry career | Advanced |
Start preparing for the SSCP exam with the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on 糖心vlog官网观看. Get hands-on experience with industry tools and examine real-world case studies, all at your own pace. Upon completion, you鈥檒l have a certificate for your resume and be prepared to explore job titles like security analyst, SOC (security operations center) analyst, and more.听
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/uk-network-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,18.htm?clickSource=searchBtn.鈥 Accessed April 28, 2023.听2.
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/uk-systems-administrator-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,24.htm?clickSource=searchBtn.鈥 Accessed April 28, 2023.听3.
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/uk-security-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,19.htm?clickSource=searchBtn.鈥 Accessed April 28, 2023
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/uk-threat-intelligence-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN2_KO3,30.htm?clickSource=searchBtn.鈥 Accessed April 28, 2023.
Editorial Team
糖心vlog官网观看鈥檚 editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.