Validates knowledge of designing and managing security programs, including risk, architecture, access control, operations and software security.
CISSP covers eight broad domains and rewards a manager's judgement, so a good course covers the whole outline and teaches you to answer like a risk advisor. We compared the main options on coverage, structure, support and price.
Choose Destination Certification's Masterclass if you want one structured course with mentoring. For a lower-cost route, pair the Sybex study guide with Mike Chapple's LinkedIn Learning course, and add Thor Pedersen's course if Domains 1 and 2 are weak spots.
ISC2 replaces the April 2024 CISSP outline with a new outline on April 15, 2027; every course listed here covers the 2024 outline. Source ↗
| Course | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 CISSP Masterclass | Structured with mentoring | Video | $1,697 |
 CISSP Official Study Guide, 10th edition | Reference book | Book | $59 |
 ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) (2024) Cert Prep | Low-cost video course | Video | $40/month |
 CISSP MindMaps | Free review | Video | Free |
 CISSP Certification: Domain 1 & 2 | Domains 1 and 2 | Video | $140 |
Destination Certification's course combines videos, a guidebook, a workbook, practice tools and group mentoring sessions across all eight domains. Higher tiers add longer access and personal mentoring.
Great fit if you want one structured course with study support
Poor fit if you study well alone on a budget; the Sybex guide and Chapple's course cost far less
ISC2's own online course adapts to what you already know, with the official eTextbook, a study questions eBook, domain quizzes and flashcards. Access lasts 90 or 180 days, and if you fail your first attempt you can repeat the training free within a year.
Great fit if you want the official course in a focused access period
Poor fit if you want long access or mentoring; Destination's Masterclass gives both
The official study guide from Mike Chapple, James Michael Stewart and Darril Gibson covers all eight domains in depth, with review questions in every chapter. It comes with more than 900 online practice questions, over 1,000 flashcards and two hours of audio review.
Great fit if you prefer reading or need a reference for unfamiliar domains
Poor fit if you need video teaching; pair it with Mike Chapple's course
About 21 hours of video covering all eight CISSP domains, from the lead author of the Sybex Official Study Guide. It was released for the 2024 outline and makes a natural companion to the book.
Great fit if you already have LinkedIn Learning or want a low-cost video companion to the Sybex book
Poor fit if you want mentoring, live support or a large practice question bank; choose Destination Certification
Free YouTube videos from Destination Certification that map how the concepts in each domain connect. They are short and grouped by domain, so they work well as a review after you have studied the material.
Great fit if you want a visual review alongside a full course or book
Poor fit if you are starting from scratch; use a full course first
Thor Pedersen's Udemy course covers Domain 1 (Security and Risk Management) and Domain 2 (Asset Security) in about nine hours, with notes and 114 practice questions. Together these two domains make up about a quarter of the exam.
Great fit if you want extra instruction in Domains 1 and 2
Poor fit if you need all eight domains; use it next to a full course
Destination Certification's Masterclass if you want one structured course with mentoring. The Sybex study guide with Mike Chapple's video course is the low-cost route.
Yes. Many candidates pass with the Official Study Guide, a video course and a practice question bank, without a boot camp.
Plan for about 200 hours of preparation, depending on how many of the eight domains you already work in.
No. You can study and take the exam first. You need five years of experience in two domains to become certified; otherwise you become an Associate of ISC2.