(ISC)² Blog

How to Prepare for CISSP Exam Day

By deciding to take the CISSP exam, you’ve chosen to further your education and showcase your knowledge and experience by achieving the world’s premier cybersecurity certification. Soon, you will join the ranks of more than 147,000 global leaders committed to a safe and secure cyber world. Make a Timeline As you prep for your CISSP exam, first consider your experience level and determine a timeline that fits for your current workload and lifestyle. The amount of time you need to dedicate to studying can vary based on your experience. Do you have questions about creating a CISSP study plan? Learn... Read more →

Four Cybersecurity Tips Everyone Should Know Before Black Friday and Cyber Monday

According to a new report from Cybereason, 89% of global companies are concerned about repeat cyberattacks ahead of the holiday season, but, surprisingly, only two-thirds have a cyber response plan. Concerns that attackers will strike over the holidays are valid, as cybersecurity researchers have observed a year-over-year uptick in cybercriminal activity on Black Friday through Cyber Monday. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have previously issued warnings that they’ve observed an “increase in highly impactful ransomware attacks occurring on holidays and weekends.” Furthermore, the volume of ransomware attacks is up significantly. Unit 42, the Palo Alto... Read more →

New! Improvements to Your (ISC)² Cybersecurity Online Continuing Education

Growing your knowledge and earning continuing professional education (CPE) credits has never been easier. The education platform (ISC)² Learn has been fully revised to provide an updated and improved user experience. This refresh includes an improved navigation process with easier access to your courses and support. When you sign in to your (ISC)² member account, visit My Courses to see the changes and view instructional videos designed to help you navigate your courses. Homepage Highlights The new navigation bar and welcome banner link to store, awards, support and FAQs. Courses are now sortable, allowing you to pin your favorites and... Read more →

CISSP: The Time is Now

Different personality types, different approaches to life, and different styles of learning; these qualities are what make us all unique, helping us to add our perspective to make the world a better place. However, when trying to pass a rigorous exam, these distinctive qualities can seem like a hindrance, causing some to doubt their abilities to succeed. Fortunately, the people at (ISC)² recognize and celebrate that not all people have the same approach. (ISC)² has taken great measures to create study materials to meet a variety of learning styles, and needs, giving each candidate an equal chance of success. Whether... Read more →

National Small Business Week: 10 Best Practices for Small Business Cybersecurity

A recent survey conducted by CNBC and Momentive found that 56% of small business owners are not concerned about being the victim of a cyberattack in the next year and that only 28% of them have a response plan in place in case of a cyberattack. This does not bode well for their longevity, as other industry data shows that 60% of small businesses that suffer a data breach will be out of business within six months. The high cost of remediation and the potential for reputational damage can be more than most small businesses can withstand. Many times, the... Read more →

Top Cybersecurity Podcasts

Keeping up with the latest cybersecurity industry news and information can be a challenge all on its own. Listening to podcasts is a great way to stay up to date while you’re on the go, or even while you’re working. The (ISC)² team has gathered a collection of top cybersecurity podcasts that support our vision of inspiring a safe and secure cyber world. The cybersecurity experts featured below provide timely industry updates and other insights via engaging conversational platforms. Top Cybersecurity Podcasts Cyber Security Interviews Personal conversations with cybersecurity experts working in the field today. 20-60 minutes l Google Podcasts,... Read more →

Trending: 4,500+ Cyber Pros Enroll in Free (ISC)2 Ransomware Course in Less Than a Month in Order to Fortify Their Preparedness and Response Skills

Nearly three weeks after (ISC)² made its highly popular Professional Development Institute (PDI) course titled “Ransomware: Identify, Protect, Detect, Recover,” free to the public through July 31, 2021, more than 4,500 professionals have enrolled in the course. The ransomware crisis has reached an all-time high, with numerous headline-grabbing attacks coming to light. Some attacks, such as the ones against Kaseya and SolarWinds, are having far-reaching effects that, by design, extend well beyond the original target. The current ransomware epidemic is leaving victim organizations struggling to remediate and others wondering if they’ll be next. However, with protection strategies and remediation plans... Read more →

Are you READY for (ISC)² Security Congress?

Last year was a first for (ISC)² Security Congress, as our conference took place entirely virtually. The COVID-19 pandemic forced nearly all events in 2020 to go virtual and we’re excited to take the experience from that event and use it to deliver an even better one for you this year. Whether you’re a first-timer or a returning attendee, you’re going to love the first-ever hybrid Security Congress. This year, the All Access Pass offers the in-person experience that so many of us have missed over the past year and a half, plus the option to attend sessions virtually. We... Read more →

(ISC)² Offers Free Access to Ransomware Education | #RANSOMWAREWEEK

In conjunction with #RansomwareWeek, today (ISC)² announced that its popular Professional Development Institute (PDI) course titled “Ransomware: Identify, Protect, Detect, Recover,” is now free to the public through July 31, 2021. (ISC)² recognizes the intense demand for ransomware prevention and mitigation content and has opened registration to anyone who is interested in the topic. The two-hour ransomware course is Quality Matters (QM) approved and upon successful completion, learners earn a certification of completion and digital badge. Successful course completion will also unlock a 25% discount off all PDI courses through July 31, including the All-Access Pass and the Express Bundle.... Read more →

Prepare your defense against cybercriminals with ransomware best practice resources | #RansomwareWeek

Welcome back to #RansomwareWeek here on the (ISC)² Blog! Today we’re linking you up with eight episodes from the award-winning (ISC)² webinar program that touch on ransomware and cover the key components surrounding the state of cybersecurity threats. These sessions can help teams to better understand cybersecurity attacks, prepare for defense and plan a response in the event of a security breach. Anatomy of a Targeted Industrial Ransomware Attack Ransomware-New variants and Better Tactics to Defend and Defeat These Threats Darktrace #1: Ransomware in Focus: How AI Stays One Step Ahead of Attackers Ransomware Deep Dive: Examining Disturbing Ransomware Trends... Read more →

The Professional Development Institute Launches Three New Courses

The Professional Development Institute (PDI) is expanding with three new express learning courses: Risk Fundamentals, Forensic Data Acquisitions and Securing the Remote Work Force. These new offerings are self-paced courses separated into two modules that qualify for two CPE credits. The PDI catalog now features 40on-demand courses free for (ISC)² members and associates and available for purchase as individual courses or bundled course access to anyone who is not an (ISC)² member. Let’s take a look at the new offerings: Risk Fundamentals covers the basics of ever-present risks in business and the field of cybersecurity and prepares you to proactively... Read more →

Online Proctor Exam Pilot Results

On February 28, 2021, (ISC)² concluded a pilot test that assessed the feasibility of online proctoring for exams that are an essential part of our nine certification programs. Online examinations for the CAP, CCSP, CSSLP, HCISPP, CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSEP, CISSP-ISSMP and SSCP certifications were administered February 15, 2021 – February 21, 2021. Online CISSP examinations were administered February 22, 2021 – February 28, 2021. For quality control purposes and anticipated candidate support concerns, we elected to offer all exams via online proctor only to candidates physically present within the United States. Since the conclusion of the pilot test, we have been... Read more →

More Than Likely, Or Less Than Probable: Is a truly quantitative security analysis possible?

The Language of Profit and Loss Security professionals spend a lot of time honing their area of expertise. Your strength could be in packet analysis, or programming…maybe you are at your best in the realm of security engineering, or pentesting. Or, you may have the best technical skills, but when it comes to obtaining a budget for a project or a new security tool, you need to understand and explain the difference between likelihood, and probability. Why is this important? This is important because the language of business is based on profits and loss, and that component is key to... Read more →

These Roles Require Cybersecurity Training

With data breach rates rising and criminal attack methods becoming more sophisticated each day, it is essential for every organization to take security seriously. That means cybersecurity training and education so that key stakeholders understand the risks that businesses are facing, and which strategies are most effective for protection. Who should receive cybersecurity training in your organization? While your immediate reaction might be to think training should stay with the cybersecurity team, there are actually many roles that would benefit from security knowledge and education. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and since many companies do not have a formal security... Read more →

Cyber Threats: The Financial System’s Top Risk

With cyber attacks against financial and banking institutions now a daily occurrence, cyber threats have become the biggest risk to the global financial system, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. During an interview on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Powell said cyber risks surpass even the types of lending and liquidity risks that led to the Great Recession in 2008. The chances of a financial collapse akin to 2008 are “very low,” he said. “But the world changes, the world evolves, and the risks change as well. The risk we keep our eyes on the most is cyber risk.” If... Read more →

The Delicate Balance of Security Versus Usability

Why Does This Have to Be So Hard? As a security practitioner, how often have you heard the refrain from your colleagues that one of the security protocols that were so carefully thought-out and expertly implemented are just too difficult to deal with? Perhaps you have sighed when you had to adhere to your own security protocol? As a security evangelist, you understand the necessity of adhering to a set of security requirements, but as a normal staff member, you can understand the frustration of your non-security coworkers. Is there ever such a thing as being a “normal” staff member... Read more →

Wanted: Software Developers with a Security Mindset

The modern software developer faces an enormous amount of challenges. From continuously creating innovative apps to ensuring high quality and meeting tight deadlines, developers need to cope with many responsibilities. As a result, security is still one of the last priorities on many developers’ minds during the software development lifecycle. Vulnerable Apps Increase Cyber Threats Despite that the 2020 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report indicates that most data breaches happen through vulnerable web applications, many developers are still hesitant to adopt a security mindset. Even though the news headlines are filled with the names of companies being compromised every day,... Read more →

Hush – This Data Is Secret

Is There Ever Too Much Data? As a security practitioner, you know that businesses are fuelled not only by people but by data. Years ago, the phrase “Big Data” was a new, innovative way to gain a business advantage. Now, big data is the norm. When we think of all the data that has been gathered, we must stop and wonder about what is contained in that data. Many important, and often private details are stored about the clients of a particular business. Over time, it became clear that this data, if obtained by criminals, could be damaging to an... Read more →

How To Get It Right With Cybersecurity Training

The cybersecurity team can be a challenging one for organizations to keep engaged and happy. Talent is scarce, turnover and burnout rates are high. That’s why employers have to keep existing teams engaged in their profession, and current on the latest threats and defenses. To accomplish this, every organization needs a formal, standards-based cybersecurity training and education program for the employees responsible for securing their critical assets. What are the key components of a training program? Whatever an organization’s unique circumstances, three major tenets must guide any training effort: Security is an obligation, not an option. Evolving technology and constantly... Read more →

How Cloud Security Certification Can Give Your Career a Buzz

Organizations in all industries and sectors are becoming less confident in their cloud security posture because of the complexity involved with multiple cloud environments and the expanded threat landscape. As a result, they seek accredited cloud security professionals to address these challenges. The (ISC)2 2020 Cybersecurity Workforce Study indicates 40% of industry professionals plan to pursue cloud security training within the next 2 years. Are you among them? Explore how cloud security training and certification can give your career a buzz – and arm you for an intergalactic emergency. Read the Blog Read more →