The official (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) is the ideal certification for those with proven technical skills and practical, hands-on security knowledge in operational IT roles. It provides confirmation of a practitioner’s ability to implement, monitor and administer IT infrastructure in accordance with information security policies and procedures that ensure data confidentiality, integrity and availability. This course includes, the official courseware and SSCP exam voucher and is taught by an accredited official (ISC)2 trainer.
The broad spectrum of topics included in the SSCP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) ensure its relevancy across all disciplines in the field of information security.
Successful candidates are competent in the following 7 domains:
1. Access Controls
2. Security Operations and Administration
3. Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis
4. Incident Response and Recovery
5. Cryptography
6. Network and Communications Security
7. Systems and Application Security
Candidates must have a minimum of 1-year cumulative work experience in 1 or more of the 7 domains of the SSCP CBK. A 1-year prerequisite pathway will be granted for candidates who received a degree (bachelors or masters) in a cybersecurity program.
A candidate that doesn’t have the required experience to become an SSCP may become an Associate of (ISC)² by successfully passing the SSCP examination. The Associate of (ISC)² will then have 2 years to earn the 1 year required experience. You can learn more about SSCP experience requirements and how to account for part-time work and internships at www.isc2.org/Certifications/SSCP/experiencerequirements.
Domain 1: Access Controls
1.1 Implement and maintain authentication methods
Single/multifactor authentication
Single sign-on » Device authentication
Federated access
1.2 Support internetwork trust architectures
Trust relationships (e.g., 1-way, 2-way, transitive)
Extranet
Third party connections
1.3 Participate in the identity management lifecycle
Authorization » Proofing
Provisioning/de-provisioning
Maintenance » Entitlement
Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems
1.4 Implement access controls
Mandatory
Non-discretionary
Discretionary
Role-based
Attribute-based
Subject-based
Object-based
Domain 2: Security Operations and Administration
2.1 Comply with codes of ethics
(ISC)² Code of Ethics
Organizational code of ethics
2.2 Understand security concepts
Confidentiality
Integrity
Availability
Accountability
Privacy
Non-repudiation
Least privilege
Separation of duties
2.3 Document, implement, and maintain functional security controls
Deterrent controls
Preventative controls
Detective controls
Corrective controls
Compensating controls
2.4 Participate in asset management
Lifecycle (hardware, software, and data)
Hardware inventory
Software inventory and licensing
Data storage
2.5 Implement security controls and assess compliance
Technical controls (e.g., session timeout, password aging)
Physical controls (e.g., mantrap, cameras, locks)
Administrative controls (e.g., security policies and standards, procedures, baselines)
Periodic audit and review
Domain 3: Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis
3.1 Understand the risk management process
Risk visibility and reporting (e.g., risk register, sharing threat intelligence, Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS))
Risk management concepts (e.g., impact assessments, threat modelling, Business Impact Analysis (BIA))
Risk management frameworks (e.g., ISO, NIST)
Risk treatment (e.g., accept, transfer, mitigate, avoid, recast)
3.2 Perform security assessment activities
Participate in security testing » Interpretation and reporting of scanning and testing results » Remediation validation
Audit finding remediation 3.3 Operate and maintain monitoring systems (e.g., continuous monitoring)
Events of interest (e.g., anomalies, intrusions, unauthorized changes, compliance monitoring)
Logging » Source systems
Legal and regulatory concerns (e.g., jurisdiction, limitations, privacy)
3.4 Analyse monitoring results
Security baselines and anomalies
Visualizations, metrics, and trends (e.g., dashboards, timelines)
Event data analysis
Document and communicate findings (e.g., escalation)
Domain 4: Incident Response and Recovery
4.1 Support incident lifecycle
Preparation
Detection, analysis, and escalation
Containment » Eradication
Recovery
Lessons learned/implementation of new countermeasure
4.2 Understand and support forensic investigations
Legal and ethical principles
Evidence handling (e.g., first responder, triage, chain of custody, preservation of scene)
4.3 Understand and support Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) activities
Emergency response plans and procedures (e.g., information system contingency plan)
Interim or alternate processing strategies
Restoration planning
Backup and redundancy implementation
Testing and drills
Domain 5: Cryptography
5.1 Understand fundamental concepts of cryptography
Hashing » Salting
Symmetric/asymmetric encryption/Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)
Non-repudiation (e.g., digital signatures/ certificates, HMAC, audit trail)
Encryption algorithms (e.g., AES, RSA)
Key strength (e.g., 256, 512, 1024, 2048 bit keys)
Cryptographic attacks, cryptanalysis, and counter measures
5.2 Understand reasons and requirements for cryptography
5.3 Understand and support secure protocols
5.4 Understand Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) systems
Fundamental key management concepts (e.g., key rotation, key composition, key creation, exchange, revocation, escrow)
Web of Trust (WOT) (e.g., PGP, GPG)
Hashing
Salting
Symmetric/asymmetric encryption/Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)
Non-repudiation (e.g., digital signatures/ certificates, HMAC, audit trail)
Encryption algorithms (e.g., AES, RSA)
Key strength (e.g., 256, 512, 1024, 2048 bit keys)
Cryptographic attacks, cryptanalysis, and counter measures
Confidentiality
Integrity and authenticity
Data sensitivity (e.g., PII, intellectual property, PHI)
Regulatory
Services and protocols (e.g., IPSec, TLS, S/MIME, DKIM)
Common use cases » Limitations and vulnerabilities
6: Network and Communications Security
6.1 Understand and apply fundamental concepts of networking
OSI and TCP/IP models » Network topographies (e.g., ring, star, bus, mesh, tree)
Network relationships (e.g., peer to peer, client server)
Transmission media types (e.g., fiber, wired, wireless)
Commonly used ports and protocols
6.2 Understand network attacks and countermeasures (e.g., DDoS, man-in-the-middle, DNS poisoning)
6.3 Manage network access controls
Network access control and monitoring (e.g., remediation, quarantine, admission)
Network access control standards and protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.1X, Radius, TACACS)
Remote access operation and configuration (e.g., thin client, SSL VPN, IPSec VPN, telework)
6.4 Manage network security
Logical and physical placement of network devices (e.g., inline, passive)
Segmentation (e.g., physical/logical, data/control plane, VLAN, ACLs)
Secure device management
6.5 Operate and configure network-based security devices
Firewalls and proxies (e.g., filtering methods) » Network intrusion detection/prevention systems
Routers and switches » Traffic-shaping devices (e.g., WAN optimization, load balancing)
6.6 Operate and configure wireless technologies (e.g., bluetooth, NFC, WiFi)
Transmission security
Wireless security devices (e.g.,WIPS, WIDS)
Domain 7: Systems and Application Security
7.1 Identify and analyze malicious code and activity
Malware (e.g., rootkits, spyware, scareware, ransomware, trojans, virus, worms, trapdoors, backdoors, and remote access trojans)
Malicious code countermeasures (e.g., scanners, anti-malware, code signing, sandboxing)
Malicious activity (e.g., insider threat, data theft, DDoS, botnet)
Malicious activity countermeasures (e.g., user awareness, system hardening, patching, sandboxing, isolation)
7.2 Implement and operate endpoint device security
HIDS
Host-based firewalls
Application white listing
Endpoint encryption
Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
Mobile Device Management (MDM) (e.g., COPE, BYOD)
Secure browsing (e.g., sandbox)
7.3 Operate and configure cloud security
Deployment models (e.g., public, private, hybrid, community)
Service models (e.g., IaaS, PaaS and SaaS)
Virtualization (e.g., hypervisor) » Legal and regulatory concerns (e.g., privacy, surveillance, data ownership, jurisdiction, eDiscovery)
Data storage and transmission (e.g., archiving, recovery, resilience)
Third party/outsourcing requirements (e.g., SLA, data portability, data destruction, auditing) » Shared responsibility model
7.4 Operate and secure virtual environments
Software-defined networking
Hypervisor
Virtual appliances
Continuity and resilience
Attacks and countermeasures
Shared storage
Supplementary References
Candidates are encouraged to supplement their education and experience by reviewing relevant resources that pertain to the CBK and identifying areas of
study that may need additional attention. View the full list of supplementary references at www.isc2.org/certifications/References.
Examination Policies and Procedures
QA will provide the delegate with an SSCP exam voucher to be taken post course. (ISC)² recommends that SSCP candidates review exam policies and procedures prior to registering for the examination. Read the comprehensive breakdown of this important information at www.isc2.org/Register-for-Exam.
Join our public courses in our New Zealand facilities. Private class trainings will be organized at the location of your preference, according to your schedule.