Customer Reviews

The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I just got my copy of the CISSP Prep Guide 2nd Edition this week and have several other CISSP books. This book is huge, and is the most comprehensive collection of study material of any of them. It's the most up-to-date, and is very accessibly written. Clearly the best value and most complete CISSP study text available.

I liked this prep guide because it's not one of those huge books that's impossible to fit in your carry-on or laptop bag if you're traveling. It has enough information to pass the test, which is good enough for me because that's all I needed to pass the test this month. But, if you're one of those people who has a need to get every single question right, this is not the book for you. The book doesn't cover every single thing you need to know for the exam, just enough to pass it. The only draw back to this book is that it doesn't come with a CD with a comprehensive set of sample test questions. I had to go to one of those huge books that I bought a couple of years ago for that, but I didn't read the huge book.

This book purports to be the only one you'll need for CISSP, and that's just plain wrong. I read it completely, yet saw questions on the test from material that was simply not covered in this book. It's not badly written, just not adequate. My suggestion is to try the All-In-One Guide, or SOME OTHER BOOK.

This is a great book if you need to jump in a time machine and take the CISSP exam two years ago. If you need to study current material buy the Gold Edition instead because it's more current. The Q&A edition is very valuable as well.

This book will not prepare you fully for the CISSP exam in and of itself as claimed. If you are looking for a single source to pass the CISSP exam, study the CISSP Examination Textbooks, vol. 1 & 2, 2nd edition from SRV Professional Publications. The first volume covers the material, while the second contains 1500 sample questions.

People criticize the CISSP Examination Textbooks as unwieldy and at times confusing, and they are, but all the important material is covered, and the sample exam questions are helpful in preparing for the test. So even though they read a bit like a VCR manual, they are very helpful. Knowing the information they cover should allow you to pass the test when combined with your three years of experience.

If you can read a second book, and I recommend that you do, read The Information Security Management Handbook, vol. 1, 4th edition compiled by Harold Tipton (often called "The Tipton Book"). It is a bit dated in its material, but puts you in the right mindset to think the way the test does.

All in all this book is a good introduction, and covers good information, but it doesn't dig deep enough into each of the domains to fulfill its goal as a one stop CISSP exam guide.

According to the three CISSPs I've asked, this book is the key to the kingdom. Written for technical folks by technical folks, it clearly describes the 10 domains. I made this book the center of my study platform.

If you are a sociology major, try another title.

This book is a great review book. It's easy-to-read. Hits the important points. If you've been working in the industry for a while, this book will do the job.

This book has been said to be as dry as the Sahara, well it is perhaps drier but it has the information you need to master the exam. Use the book and a good CD or on line review source and you can master the material. I have rarely seen technical security and audit books that are not dry-the subject is dry. It's all about the answers! Buy the book it's worth it (bring water too).

If you are looking for your CISSP, this is one of the top two books you should own. It is a very coherent presentation of the ten domains. Very complete.

This is overall a very decent book, but it's dry as the Sahara desert. However, it does present the material in a concise, informative way. Unfortunately, the sample questions are too easy, so don't let this fool you into thinking that the exam is a cake-walk.

There are quite a few errors in the book as others have pointed out, which indicates that there was inadequate proof reading or that the book was published in a hurry.

Update : Krutz has released the Advanced CISSP prep guide which is a large question bank. The questions in this later book are of a fairly high standard, something like what you would expect in the real exam. The advanced prep guide helped me immensely and I would recommend it to anyone studying this book.