Q: Why are changes being made to the ISSMP exam?

ISC2 has an obligation to its membership to maintain the relevancy of its credentials. These enhancements are the result of a rigorous, methodical process that ISC2 follows to routinely update its credential exams. This process ensures that the examinations and subsequent continuing professional education requirements encompass the topic areas relevant to the roles and responsibilities of today's practicing cybersecurity management professional.

Q: How is the ISSMP exam changing?

The content of the ISSMP has been refreshed to reflect the most pertinent issues that cybersecurity management professionals currently face, along with the best practices for mitigating those issues. The result is an exam that most accurately reflects establishing, presenting and governing information security programs, and demonstrates management and leadership skills.

		May 2018	Nov. 15, 2022
	ISSMP Domains	Weight	Weight
1	Leadership and Business Management	22%	20%
2	Systems Lifecycle Management	19%	18%
3	Risk Management	18%	19%
4	Threat Intelligence and Incident Management	17%	17%
5	Contingency Management	10%	15%
6	Law, Ethics and Security Compliance Management	14%	11%
	Total:	100%	100%

Q: Why do domains for ISC2 credential exams change?

A: Domains change because it is a reflection of a change in the knowledge, skills and abilities, as indicated by experts through the Job Task Analysis process.

Q: When will these changes go into effect?

A: New training courses will be made available in November 2022. The Second Edition ISSMP CBK Textbook will not be updated at this time but is still a comprehensive resource that is relevant in preparing for the ISSMP.

Q: In what language will the refreshed ISSMP exam be available?

A: The refreshed ISSMP exam will be available in English only.

Q: Will this change the number of questions or the time required to take the ISSMP exam?

A: No. The ISSMP exam will have the same number of items, and the time required to take the exam will be the same.

Q: If I have been studying for the ISSMP exam with material that focuses on the current domains, will I be sufficiently prepared to take the new exam without additional study?

A: ISC2 exams are experience-based that include experience-based questions that cannot be learned by studying alone. If you already have the experience in the domains covered in ISSMP and believe that you have sufficiently studied those domains, you should feel confident that you are qualified to take the new exam and pass it. ISC2 cannot guarantee you will pass the exam.

Q: Do these updates affect the experience requirement for the ISSMP?

A: No. For the ISSMP, a candidate is required to have a minimum of two years of cumulative work experience in one or more of the six domains of the ISSMP CBK.

Q: What impact do these changes have on ISC2 training materials?

A: The Official ISC2 ISSMP Training Course (online self-paced) will be available in November 2022. The ISSMP CBK Textbook will not be updated at this time but is still a comprehensive resource that is relevant in preparing for the ISSMP.

Domain Change FAQs for ISSMP