SSCP or CISSP: Which is Better?
Cybersecurity is top of mind for most organizations, and the demand for qualified security professionals has never been higher. There are several bodies offering security certifications, and the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, or ISC2, is well-known.
Their marquee security certification is the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), arguably one of the most valuable and challenging security certifications.
Early-career security professionals who find the CISSP daunting may look to the ISC2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) or another accreditation as their on-ramp to certification.
Let's explore these two ISC2 certifications in more detail. We'll examine their requirements for earning them, their career value, and their pros and cons.
What Does the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Cover?
This certification is designed for experienced cybersecurity professionals, including technicians, managers, and executives. To earn the CISSP certification, candidates must pass a 125-to-175-question Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) exam. Timing can vary, but the exam can last up to three hours.
In addition, they must provide verifiable proof of five years of full-time work experience in at least two of the following eight security domains defined by ISC2:
Security and Risk Management
Asset Security
Security Architecture and Engineering
Communications and Network Security
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Security Assessment and Testing
Security Operations
Software Development Security
That’s not all. After passing the CISSP exam, candidates must be endorsed by an active ISC2 credential holder before the certification is officially awarded.
If you pass the exam but don’t yet have the required experience, ISC2 will recognize you as an Associate of ISC2 while you gain the necessary work history.
Earning the CISSP is a serious commitment, but it pays off. According to ISC2, CISSP-certified professionals in North America earn an average of about $147,000 annually. CyberSeek also ranks the CISSP among the most in-demand cybersecurity certifications in the U.S.
What Does Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) Cover?
Whereas the CISSP is for experienced professionals, the SSCP is an early-career certification from ISC2 designed for hands-on security practitioners. It requires just one year of relevant cybersecurity experience and focuses on practical, technical skills—while the CISSP emphasizes strategy and process.
ISC2 describes the SSCP as best suited for IT administrators, security engineers, analysts, and network specialists, while the CISSP is geared toward architects, auditors, consultants, and IT leaders. The SSCP is often compared to CompTIA Security+, which both validate foundational security knowledge; however, the SSCP delves deeper into implementation and administration.
SSCP candidates must pass a two-hour, 100 to 125-question exam that covers the following domains:
Access Controls
Security Operations and Administration
Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis
Incident Response and Recovery
Cryptography
Network and Communications Security
Systems and Application Security
Candidates must have at least one year of verifiable work experience in one or more SSCP domains. Those with a degree from a cybersecurity program accredited by the U.S. National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense may qualify for a one-year waiver.
As with the CISSP, SSCP candidates must be endorsed by an active ISC2 credential holder before they can be officially certified.
CISSP vs. SSCP: Which is Right for You?
Frankly, it is not a question of one certification versus the other. They represent different areas of cybersecurity expertise and experience.
If you're in an early career security position and are looking for a way to establish credibility, then SSCP is a good starting point.
Do you already know that you want to pursue an IT leadership position? If that's the case, then the CISSP should be your long-term goal! You could earn the SSCP first, then pursue the CISSP as you gain security work experience.
However, if the CISSP is your target, then you could go for the CISSP exam and become a CISSP Associate. While it's not the same as a full-fledged CISSP, the associate-level badge is recognized in the U.S. government sector and may also be accepted by some companies.
All ISC2 certifications are valid for three years and must be renewed through the required ongoing continuing professional education. Certificate holders must also be current with their ISC2 annual membership fees.
Government Sector Opportunities
Both SSCP and CISSP are recognized as U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) baseline certifications, which identify specific certifications for various levels of IT technician, manager, and architect/engineer jobs within the federal government.
SSCP is approved for Levels I and II Information Assurance Technician (IAT) jobs. CISSP (or CISSP Associate) is a baseline cert for Level III IAT jobs, as well as for jobs at Level II or III Information Assurance Manager (IAM) and Level I and II IA System Architects and Engineers (IASAE).
Level III architect/engineer jobs require the next level CISSP architecture or engineering concentrations.
SSCP vs CISSP: Salary Expectations
As you might expect, you'll command a bigger salary if you're CISSP-certified. ISC2 claims an average CISSP salary of $147,000 compared to $108,000 for an SSCP.
A search of ZipRecruiter showed the average salary of around $110,000 for SSCP holders, with a total of 53 remote roles. For CISSP, the site lists 588 remote roles with the average salary varying between $110,000 and $141,000. It's worth noting that location can impact pay, with areas like Silicon Valley boasting higher wages.
In general, you can expect to command a higher salary with the CISSP due to the higher skill set and experience required to hold the certification.
Final Thoughts
So, what's the bottom line? Both CISSP and SSCP are valuable, well-paying cybersecurity credentials. Demand for CISSP, in particular, is reportedly higher than the number of professionals certified.
Ready to start learning? CBT Nuggets provides online training for both certification paths. If CISSP is your target, we can help with our ISC2 CISSP training. If you're looking to start with the SSCP, check out our (ISC)2 SSCP – Systems Security Certified Practitioner Online Training
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