The SSCP (Systems Security Certified Practitioner) and CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional) credentials are primarily concerned with system security and cloud security, respectively. The International Information System Security Certification Consortium or (ISC)² provides both vendor-neutral certifications. This is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1989 that is dedicated to developing future-ready cybersecurity professionals to help build safer, more resilient workplaces by protecting information assets stored on-premises or in cloud-based infrastructures through best practices and policy development.
But SSCP vs CCSP, which is required to pursue a profession in the system or cloud security? Employers seek highly competent personnel with the skills required to respond to the fast-paced changes of a modern digital organization with on-premises or off-premises endpoints, a distributed workforce, and a plethora of apps and linked devices.
In this article, IT Exams will compare SSCP vs CCSP and help you determine which certification is the best fit for your career goals.
What is SSCP?
The Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) is a certification that focuses on technical skills related to cybersecurity. It is designed for professionals who are involved in implementing, monitoring, and maintaining IT infrastructure in organizations. The SSCP exam covers seven domains, including access controls, cryptography, and incident response.
What is CCSP?
The Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) is a certification that focuses on cloud security. It is designed for professionals who have a strong understanding of cloud computing and are responsible for managing and securing cloud environments. The CCSP certification is vendor-neutral and covers six domains, including cloud architecture, cloud data security, and legal and compliance.
SSCP vs CCSP: Topics and Focuses
The SSCP certification is intended for people with at least one year of experience in IT security. It includes access controls, security operations and administration, risk identification, monitoring, and analysis, cryptography, network and communications security, and system and application security.
The CCSP certification, on the other hand, is intended for cloud security professionals with at least five years of IT expertise. Cloud ideas and architecture, cloud data security, cloud platform and infrastructure security, cloud application security, operations, and legal and compliance are among the six domains covered. The CCSP certification focuses on the particular security concerns that cloud computing systems present, such as multi-tenancy, virtualization, and the shared responsibility paradigm.
While both certifications cover some similar topics, their areas of focus differ. The SSCP is more general and covers a wide range of IT security subjects, whereas the CCSP is more specialized and focuses solely on cloud security. One certification may be more relevant for you than the other depending on your career goals and hobbies.
SSCP vs CCSP: Prerequisites
A candidate must have at least one year of cumulative and paid job experience in one or more of the seven SSCP CBK domains before applying for the SSCP exam. Following that, the candidate will need two years to gain the requisite experience for SSCP certification. If a student lacks the necessary experience, they may become an Associate of (ISC)² after passing the SSCP exam.
Unlike the SSCP test, which requires at least one year of experience, CCSP Requirements demand at least five years of cumulative and paid job experience in information technology, three of which must be connected to information security and one year or more in one of the CCSP CBK’s six domains. If a candidate lacks the necessary experience, they can become an associate of (ISC)² and spend up to six years gaining the necessary expertise for CCSP certification.
SSCP vs CCSP: Exam Content
The SSCP certification exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions on a computer. The exam takes four hours to complete for candidates. The SSCP test has a passing mark of 700 out of 1000 points. The SSCP is fairly comprehensive, as it spans seven knowledge domains. The following is a list of these domains and their exam content weights:
- Domain 1 – Security operations and administration (16%)
- Domain 2 – Access controls (15%)
- Domain 3 – Risk identification, monitoring and analysis (15%)
- Domain 4 – Incident response and recovery (14%)
- Domain 5 – Cryptography (9%)
- Domain 6 – Network and communications security (16%)
- Domain 7 – System and application security (15%)
The CCSP certification exam, like the others, is computer-based and consists of 125 multiple-choice questions. The exam takes three hours to complete CCSP Certification Questions for candidates. The CCSP test has a passing score of 700 out of 1000 marks. This certification test is designed for experienced cloud security professionals and covers six CSSP domains of knowledge (along with their appropriate exam content weights):
- Domain 1 – Cloud concepts, architecture, and design (17%)
- Domain 2 – Cloud data security (20%)
- Domain 3 – Cloud platform and infrastructure security (17%)
- Domain 4 – Cloud application security (17%)
- Domain 5 – Cloud security operations (16%)
- Domain 6 – Legal, risk and compliance (13%)
SSCP vs CCSP: Benefits
Benefits of being SSCP-certified
- Career advancement: The SSCP certificate will help you enhance your career in the field of IT infrastructure security.
- Versatile skills: Because SSCP skills are vendor-neutral, they may be applied to a wide range of techniques and technologies.
- Expand knowledge: SSCP-certified employees are fully equipped with best practices, rules, and processes for implementing, monitoring, and administering an IT infrastructure.
- The professional community: If you pass the exam and acquire your SSCP credential, you will gain access to a global network of like-minded cybersecurity executives.
Benefits of being CCSP-certified
- Career advancement: the CCSP certification opens the door to new career options and proves that the CCSP-certified individual is knowledgeable about the cloud and committed to the cloud security profession.
- Versatile skills: The CCSP, like the SSCP, is vendor-neutral, allowing candidates to apply their abilities across multiple cloud platforms.
- Expand knowledge: The CCSP credential validates that the certification holder has acquired the necessary knowledge to apply best practices to cloud security architecture, design, operations, and service orchestration.
- The professional community: Like the SSCP certificate, the CCSP credential provides cloud security professionals with access to a global community of like-minded cybersecurity professionals.
SSCP vs CCSP: Salary and Job Opportunities
The International Information System Security Certification Consortium, Inc. (ISC)² reports that the average annual pay for professionals holding an SSCP certification is $96,000. This can differ depending on things including years of experience, job title, and geographic region. Salaries for professionals with an SSCP certification can approach $100,000 per year in some locations, such as the United States and Europe.
According to (ISC)², the average CCSP Certification Salary for professionals is $143,000 per year. This indicates the high demand for cloud security professionals as well as the knowledge required to develop and operate safe cloud infrastructures. Salaries for CCSP-certified professionals might vary greatly depending on factors such as experience, job title, and sector.
In terms of job roles, both certifications are highly valued by businesses and can lead to a wide range of work options in the cybersecurity area. Security analyst, security consultant, and systems administrator are some popular job titles for SSCP-certified individuals. Common job titles for CCSP-certified workers include cloud security architect, cloud security engineer, and security manager.
The SSCP certification is designed for professionals who are in charge of missions related to security measures such as network security, access controls, and incident response. As a result, SSCP-certified professionals are eligible for a range of jobs, including:
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Security Engineer
- Security Administrator
- Network Security Engineer
- Security Consultant
The CCSP certification is especially focused on cloud security. This can be a beneficial credential for professionals looking for employment in cloud security and architecture. The certification validates knowledge and experience in the design, implementation, and management of cloud security systems. Professionals with a CCSP certification can work on a variety of positions, including:
- Cloud Security Architect
- Cloud Security Engineer
- Cloud Security Consultant
- Cloud Security Analyst
- Cloud Compliance Manager
SSCP vs CCSP: Renewal Requirements
To renew their SSCP certification, professionals must acquire 60 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits every three years. Professionals must also pay an annual maintenance charge to (ISC)².
Professionals must also complete 60 CPE credits every three years and pay an annual maintenance fee to maintain their CCSP certification. To maintain their certification, CCSP professionals must retake and pass the CCSP exam every three years.
SSCP vs CCSP: Exam Preparation
Getting ready to take the (ISC)² SSCP vs CCSP certification exam might definitely appear to be a daunting task. Still, if you meet the knowledge and experience requirements for the exam and are willing to devote a significant amount of time to exam study and honing your test preparation skills. Here are a few tips to prepare for both exams:
Cover All Subjects
Ensure that you are familiar with all of the topics and concepts covered in the SSCP vs CCSP domains.
Smartly Manage Exam Time
Set a time limit for each question. Because the SSCP vs CCSP exam lasts four hours and contains 125 questions, you have over two minutes to answer each one. If you spend more than two minutes on a single question, you will reduce your chances of passing the exam. So, the ideal method to manage time is to start with the easy questions and then return to the difficult ones that were left.
Take Practice Exams
Of course, practice is essential for any exam. So, do not forget to take practice examinations. These examinations will not only imitate the real examination setting for you, but you will also be able to put your reading knowledge into practice.
You will be able to time yourself and learn from your mistakes. Practice tests typically include extensive explanations for the questions, making it easier to steadily improve. The practice tests might be an excellent addition to your preparation.
Which Certification Should You Choose?
When deciding between the SSCP vs CCSP certifications, it is important to consider your career goals and interests.
Professionals who are interested in a career in information security and want to focus on more technical aspects may find that the SSCP certification is more suitable for them. The SSCP certification covers a broad range of technical knowledge and skills and is designed for professionals who are responsible for implementing, monitoring, and administering IT infrastructure using information security policies and procedures.
On the other hand, professionals who are interested in a career in cloud security and want to focus on more managerial and strategic aspects may find that the CCSP certification is more suitable for them. The CCSP certification covers a wide range of cloud security knowledge and skills and is designed for professionals who are responsible for managing cloud security architecture, design, operations, and compliance.
In summary, both the SSCP and CCSP certifications are valuable credentials that can help professionals advance in their careers in the field of information security. The decision to pursue one certification over the other depends on an individual’s career goals and interests.
Read more >> CCSK vs CCSP: The Ultimate Battle
FAQs
Should I take SSCP or CCSP first?
Both the CCSP and the CISSP require at least five years of paid job experience, thus it should come as no surprise that if you want to get all three certifications, you should start with the SSCP.
Can I take both the SSCP and CCSP exams?
Both the SSCP and CCSP exams are available for online testing. However, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements to take the exam online.
Should I go for SSCP or CISSP?
For an entry-level individual, the SSCP certificate is ideal. The CISSP certificate, on the other hand, is intended for someone with professional experience who is ready to take on a leadership role. As a result, it is recommended that you obtain your SSCP certificate before your CISSP credential.
Is SSCP right for me?
The SSCP is a beginner’s exam. You should consider the CISSP if you already have five years of experience in two or more of the required categories. However, if you have less than a year of experience, the SSCP can open up entry-level opportunities to assist you gain the coveted CISSP.
What is the difference between CCSP and CISSP certifications?
Comparing CCSP vs CISSP, while both CCSP and CISSP certifications are focused on information security, CCSP certification specifically covers cloud security. CISSP certification covers a broader range of security topics, including cryptography, network security, and access control.
Conclusion
The SSCP vs CCSP have widely recognized information security certifications that can assist information security professionals to advance in their employment. Before you begin preparing for these examinations, it is critical to understand that they apply at different stages in your career and that you will need to alter your calendar for achieving these credentials accordingly.
[Sassy_Social_Share]
