CISSP or SSCP: Which Certification Will Help You Earn More?
There are some fields that hold a lot of importance in the eyes of any company and cybersecurity is certainly one of them. The demand for the good security professionals is growing every day and will continue to do so until cybersecurity threats exist. However, becoming a cybersecurity expert is not an easy task. So, if you want to give yourself a chance, it is important that you obtain the right certification.
There are many certification bodies that give you access to some of the best cybersecurity options and one of them is known as the International Information System Security Certification Consortium or (ISC)2. This vendor offers a lot of certificates, but in this blog post, we will be talking about its two main certifications:CISSP and SSCP to see which one will grant you a higher salary.
CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
The (ISC)2 CISSP certification is one of the most popular cybersecurity certificates in the world and anyone who is able to get it is considered to be a true specialist. However, it is important to note that it is intended for the experienced professionals. So, if you’re just starting your career, you should probably gain some knowledge first.
Any individual who wants to earn CISSP should take the corresponding exam. This test consists of 100 to 150 questions and must be completed within 3 hours. Other than that, the candidates also need to provide proof regarding their work experience. The main domains covered in this certification exam are the following:
- Security Operations;
- Security Assessment and Testing;
- Security and Risk Management;
- Identity and Access Management;
- Security Architecture and Engineering;
- Communications and Network Security;
- Asset Security;
- Software Development Security.
You need to make sure that you prepare for the exam properly. So, if you feel like you need additional resources, you can always use the CISSP study guideas well as online training.
SSCP – Systems Security Certified Practitioner
The (ISC)2 SSCP certification is quite different from CISSP. This is because it is aimed at the young professionals who do not yet possess a lot of experience in the field. You can go for the SSCP certificate if you have at least a year of relevant experience in cybersecurity. Just like with CISSP, you will become an Associate of (ISC)² if you don’t have enough experience. As soon as you gain it, you should follow a similar procedure to prove that you possess enough expertise.
The SSCP certification is also designed for those candidates who want to take the job role of an Administrator rather than becoming an Architect and a Leader. Anyone looking to obtain this certificate must pass one exam that consists of 125 questions and must be completed within 3 hours. The domains included in this certification test are as follows:
- Systems and Applications Security;
- Access Controls;
- Network and Communications Security;
- Security Operations and Administration;
- Cryptography;
- Incident Response and Recovery;
- Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis.
CISSP vs. SSCP: Salary Expectations
One thing that we need to get out of the way is that there is no real reason to compare CISSP and SSCP because they are totally different from each other in many aspects. Which certification you should go for is something that you need to decide on your own. However, if you are still early in your career, it will be better to start with SSCP as obtaining the CISSP certificate can be quite a difficult task.
If you are already striving for a leadership position, you cannot deny the fact that CISSP should be your goal. The holders of this certification are considered to be the true professionals, so they get better opportunities. You can do this either directly by going for the CISSP certificate, or by earning SSCP first and working your way up early on. It doesn’t matter which option you opt for, but it is important to understand that the (ISC)2 certifications are only valid for 3 years and must be renewed after that time.
If you are wondering which of these options will allow you to earn more, then the answer is simple. The CISSP certification will certainly give you more opportunities in terms of salary and positions because it is a professional-level certificate. Those individuals who hold this certification are normally given many more responsibilities and tasks. It is estimated that a certified specialist with CISSP can earn around $130,000 per annum, whereas SSCP will bring an average salary of around $94,000. So, if you are someone who is willing to put in hard work and get more money, it is advised that you go for (ISC)2 CISSP.
Conclusion
It is impossible to deny that the certifications have become quite important in the IT field these days. Those specialists who hold a specific badge get many more benefits and can even earn a much higher salary. So, if you are someone who just wants to get more money, then it is advised that you obtain at least one certificate. Getting into the cybersecurity field will be relevant for a very long time, so you can keep on growing as a cybersecurity professional. So, continue working hard and keeping an eye out for bigger goals.