CISSP or CISM? Which Is Right for You?

You’re ready to take the next step in advancing your IT security career. Now which certification is right for you — CISSP or CISM?

Both ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) are highly regarded credentials designed for security leaders. From a competitive perspective, the CISSP and CISM complement rather than directly compete with each other.

What do CISSP and CISM have in common?

• Both provide a common body of knowledge for information security professionals and managers worldwide.
• Each certification is vendor-neutral.
• Both require 5 years’ experience in information security management to achieve and continuing professional education to maintain certification.

How are CISSP and CISM different?

• CISM is solely management-focused. CISSP is both management- and technically focused for security leaders who design, engineer, implement and manage an organization’s overall security posture.
• CISSP is more widely recognized than CISM — globally, there are nearly 150,000 CISSPs and 46,000 CISMs.
• Demand for CISSP is 5 times that of the CISM, cybersecurity.org (August 2020).

CISSP from ISC2 stands out as the premier credential for information security leaders, identifying those who possess the advanced skills required to design, implement and manage a best-in-class cybersecurity program. With a CISSP, you validate your expertise.

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Want to discover more of the differences between the CISSP and CISM? Read the entire article.