CISM vs. CISSP Certification: Which One Is the Right Career Choice for You?
Every day, at ProICT Training, we receive thousands of queries and out of all, 40% revolve around only one question “should I get CISM, CISSM or both of them?”
What is the answer? Well, you will find it at the end of this blog that describes the prime difference between leading Cyber Security Certification Courses – CISM and CCISP.
With the number of certifications in the market, it can be challenging for the students to decide which certification will suit their career needs. CISM and CISSP are two most recognized certifications for any cyber security professional but when it comes to requirements they are not trivial. Candidates who are willing to obtain any of these certifications are required to invest significant time and money- therefore, it is important to choose the right certification for you. Let’s take a closer look at the difference between both certifications to help you make the right decision.
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Certified Information Security Manager often referred to as CISM is an advanced level certification offered by ISACA. It was designed in the first place to validate the knowledge and experience of the candidates in managing the information security team. Those who complete the CISM certification become a valuable human resource among the worldwide organizations that need CISM professionals.
The CISM Training and certification the candidate has obtained from ProICT Training serve as proof that he or she has the knowledge of technical competence and an in-depth understanding of primary objectives around security data.
How do you become a certified CISM professional?
Become a CISM professional is a step-by-step process. Candidates need to crack the CISM exam which contains 200 multiple-choice questions covering the following topics:
- Information Security Governance
- Information Risk Management and Compliance
- Information Security Program Development and Management
Information Security Incident Management, However, to become eligible to pursue this exam, candidates must have 5 years of experience in information security work out of which 3 years need to be in the management. Luckily, if you already have the CISSP certification, then it can be counted as 2 years of experience.
Lastly, there is also an education policy that defines that candidates may need to have 40 CPEs per year to maintain the certification status active.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is another globally recognized security certification offered by (ISC)2. The CISSP certification indicates that candidate has the knowledge and skills to design, implement and configure security programs.
Similar to the CISM certification, the CISSP Training Course aims to prepare candidates for the role of security managers or executives. In the current job market, CISSP professionals are the most in-demand candidates with a long list of hot jobs.
To become a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) candidates need to meet several criteria: first, they need to crack the CISSP exam and second; you need 5 years of experience in the security domain, out of which 2 should be in the ISC2 critical body of knowledge (CBK). The course covers the following areas:
- Security and risk management
- Security engineering
- Network security
- Access management
- Security operations
- Software development
Unfortunately, if the candidate fails to meet the experience requirement then, he or she can join as an associate which qualifies for the ongoing trainer. It is a good step toward becoming a CISSP professional.
To keep the certification status active candidates need to earn 120 CPEs in 3 years.
CISM vs. CISSP: which one should I pursue?
Now, even after comprehending the value and requirement of the above 2 courses the question remains the same. Which course is suitable for the candidate? The answer to this question depends upon several factors such as:
- Job opportunities in the market
- CPEs to maintain the certification
However, the choice of certification totally upon the future career goals of the candidates. Regardless of which certification you choose, both CISM and CISSP are job-oriented courses that can help candidates to build a great future for themselves. In the end, if you still have any doubts regarding the certification then, you can take a quote on ProICT Training to clear all your queries. Visit the website to learn more!
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