Given the increasing importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital world, organizations around the world need professionals certified enough to prove their expertise. Among these many certifications, CISSP and CCSP are among the most popular and most commonly recognized. Knowing how they differ will help you to select the right one for your IT security career development.

Understanding CISSP and CCSP Certifications

What is CISSP?

The CISSP is one of the most prestigious credentials in information security. It is given by (ISC)² and represents a professional’s ability to design, implement, and manage a cybersecurity program. The CISSP exam covers a wide range of topics within eight domains of the (ISC)² Common Body of Knowledge (CBK): 

1. Security and Risk Management
2. Asset Security
3. Security Engineering
4. Communication and Network Security
5. Identity and Access Management
6. Security Assessment and Testing
7. Security Operations
8. Software Development Security

What is CCSP?

CCSP is a cloud-specific, vendor-neutral certification program sponsored by (ISC)². With the massive adoption of cloud technologies these days, this certification is gaining more significance. Six primary domains are covered during the CCSP exam:

1. Cloud Concepts, Architecture, and Design
2. Cloud Data Security
3. Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security
4. Cloud Application Security
5. Cloud Security Operations
6. Legal, Risk, and Compliance

It is designed for IT professionals who wish to validate their knowledge and skills of securing cloud environments and governing risks associated with the clouds.

Scope of Knowledge Differences Between CISSP and CCSP

The main difference between the two, CISSP and CCSP, is scope. The CISSP certificate covers a wide variety of information security topics relevant in most domains and sectors, making it ideal for most professionals in different job titles, from security analyst up to IT manager.

Target Audience

CISSP is for the experienced security practitioner, manager, and executive. One must have five years or more of full-time paid work experience in at least two of the eight areas of the CISSP CBK to be eligible for the exam. The target audience of CCSP includes IT and security professionals with a background in cloud technologies. Candidate experience is also encouraged; however, the requirement is less stringent compared to that of CISSP. If you have a solid foundation in cloud security practices, you might be able to pursue the CCSP certification with fewer years of experience.

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Career Advancement Opportunities

Both of these certifications lead to better opportunities but work as different stepping stones. While the CISSP typically leads toward higher-level work in information security management and governance or risk management, professionals who have CISSP will be qualified as CISOs, consultants, and IT security managers.

On the other hand, the CCSP certification will unlock doors to specialized jobs in cloud security, for example, cloud security architect, cloud security engineer, and cloud compliance manager. Since more and more organizations are increasingly relying on cloud technologies, the current CCSP certification holders have an excellent chance of rising with the demand.

Some Other Considerations: CGRC Certification

Other critical IT security certifications include Certified in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (CGRC), offered by the GRC organization. This certificate will train you on how to implement and manage risk and compliance frameworks. Though dissimilar to CISSP and CCSP, the CGRC certification is neither conflicting with either. Therefore, it would be worthwhile especially for those specializing in risk management or compliance. In case one is interested in a subject matter of governance and regulatory compliance for IT then CGRC certification along with the CISSP and CCSP would make full sense.

Conclusion

Therefore, the choice between the two certifications is more of a matter of your career objectives and interests in IT security. The CISSP certification is more comprehensive about information security in various domains, which makes it pretty versatile for most professionals. The CCSP is only cloud security focused and more specific to those who are working in the cloud. Also, include CGRC that is certified in governance, risk, and compliance certification to your very long list, but of course if the areas that your career focus is positioned in this area of governance and compliance. Evaluating your career aspirations keenly, pick the relevant most suited for your purpose by a road map that leads to a bright successful IT security career.

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