Certified Information Systems Security Professional Certification Profile

Curious about who holds (ISC)2’s Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification? Wondering if you should get it too?

You’re in luck.

Here’s an exclusive profile of North American IT professionals who hold the CISSP certification, so you can make informed decisions when pursuing your next certification.

This certification profile covers the job functions and titles held by the professionals who hold the certification, views on job security and satisfaction, CISSP salary information, along with other certifications held and tenure. The data is from Global Knowledge’s annual global IT Skills and Salary Report so you won't find it anywhere else.

If you're not familiar with the certification, here's a CISSP overview.

Topic areas

• Job functions and job titles that commonly hold the CISSP certification
• Years of experience
• Management responsibility
• CISSP salary data
• Factors that led to salary increases
• Job security and satisfaction
• Workplace challenges
• What other certifications do CISSP-certified professionals hold?
• Most popular certifications pursued

Job functions and job titles that commonly hold the CISSP certification

1. Cybersecurity / IT Security
   1. Information Security
   2. Security Engineer or Analyst
   3. Security Manager or Director
   4. CISO / CSO / ISO
2. Audit / IT Compliance
   1. IT Audit Manager
   2. IT Auditor
   3. IT Compliance
3. Executive (C-level)
   1. Director
   2. CIO – Chief Information Officer

Demographics

• Average age – 48
• Male – 86%
• Female – 11%
• Prefer not to answer – 3%

How many years of experience do you have in your career?

Management responsibilities

• 47% of CISSP certification holders have management responsibilities

Average salary of professionals who hold the CISSP certification

• 2020
  
  • $139,211
• 2019
  
  • $133,860

Average bonus

• $17,156

What are some of the primary factors that led to an increase in your base salary?

Job security

• 45% feel extremely good
• 36% feel somewhat good
• 7% feel somewhat or extremely bad

Job satisfaction

• 31% are extremely satisfied
• 42% are somewhat satisfied
• 17% are somewhat or extremely dissatisfied

Likelihood to look for another position in the next 12 months

• 25% are extremely likely
• 26% are somewhat likely
• 21% are neither likely or unlikely
• 28% are somewhat or extremely unlikely
• Changed employers in the past year
• 77% - No
• 23% - Yes

Factors for changing employers

• Opportunity for growth and development
• Increase in compensation
• Work / life balance

Workplace challenges faced by CISSP-certified holders

What other certifications do CISSP-certified professionals hold?

Time since last certification earned

Most popular other certifications that CISSP-certified professionals hold

1. (ISC)2
   
   1. CISSP
   2. CCSP - Certified Cloud Security Professional
2. ISACA
   
   1. CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor
   2. CISM – Certified Information Security Manager
   3. CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
3. CompTIA
   
   1. Security+
   2. A+
   3. Network+
4. Microsoft
   
   1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
   2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
5. Cisco
   
   1. CCNA Routing and Switching (this is now CCNA)
   2. CCNA Security (this is now CCNA)
   3. CCENT – Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (this is now CCNA)
   4. CCNP Routing and Switching (this is now CCNP Enterprise)
6. ITIL® / IT Service
   
   1. ITIL Foundation
7. Project Management
   
   1. PMP®: Project Management Professional
8. EC-Council
   
   1. CEH – Certified Ethical Hacker

Certifications they are pursuing or plan to pursue

• 46% are actively pursuing a certification
• 24% plan to pursue one in next 12 months
• 30% are not pursuing a certification
• 78% are pursuing a cybersecurity certification

Most popular certs being pursued

1. (ISC)2
   
   1. CCSP Certified Cloud Security Professional
2. AWS
   
   1. AWS Certified Security – Specialty
   2. AWS Certified Solution Architect – Associate
3. ISACA
   
   1. CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
   2. CISM – Certified Information Security Manager
4. Cisco
   
   1. CCNP Routing and Switching (now CCNP Enterprise)
   2. CCNA Security (now CCNA)
5. CompTIA
   
   1. CASP+ (Advanced Security Practitioner)
6. EC-Council
   
   1. CEH – Certified Ethical Hacker
7. Microsoft
   
   1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
   2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate

Recommend courses and resources to earn your CISSP certification

• CISSP Certification Prep Course
• Why is CISSP a Top-Paying Certification?
• CISSP Certification is an Indicator of Cybersecurity Expertise

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