SSCP: Everything You Need to Know

If you are an IT professional who wants to prove your skills and knowledge in information security, you may have heard of SSCP. No, it’s not a typo for SCP, the fictional organization that contains and studies anomalous phenomena. And no, it’s not a slang for something inappropriate. SSCP stands for Systems Security Certified Practitioner, and it is a certification exam offered by (ISC)2 that validates your ability to implement and maintain security in various domains.
But what exactly is SSCP? What are the benefits of getting certified? How do you prepare for the exam? And how does it compare to other security certifications? In this blog post, we will answer all these questions and more. By the end of this post, you will have a clear idea of what SSCP is and whether it is right for you. So buckle up and get ready to learn everything you need to know about this security certification.


SSCP certification is designed for IT professionals who have at least one year of work experience in one or more of the seven domains of information security:

  • Access Controls
  • Security Operations and Administration
  • Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis
  • Incident Response and Recovery
  • Cryptography
  • Network and Communications Security
  • Systems and Application Security

SSCP certification is ideal for those who want to demonstrate their ability to protect critical assets and comply with best practices. Some of the job roles that can benefit from SSCP certification are:

  • System Administrator
  • Network Administrator
  • Security Analyst
  • Security Engineer
  • Security Consultant

Is SSCP for beginners?


SSCP is not a beginner-level certification, as it requires at least one year of work experience in information security. However, it is a good entry point for those who want to pursue a career in information security or advance to higher-level certifications such as CISSP.

Is SSCP equivalent to security+?


SSCP and security+ are both security certifications that cover similar topics, but they have some differences. Security+ is offered by CompTIA and does not require any work experience. It covers six domains of information security:

  • Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities
  • Technologies and Tools
  • Architecture and Design
  • Identity and Access Management
  • Risk Management
  • Cryptography and PKI

Security+ is more focused on the technical aspects of information security, while SSCP covers more domains and has more emphasis on the practical application of security concepts.
What are the benefits of getting Sscp certified?
Getting SSCP certified can have many benefits for your career and personal development. Some of the benefits are:

  • You can prove your competence and credibility in information security.
  • You can enhance your skills and knowledge in various domains of information security.
  • You can increase your chances of getting hired or promoted in the IT industry.
  • You can join a global community of (ISC)2 members and access valuable resources and networking opportunities.
  • You can earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits to maintain your certification.

If you are just starting out in information security or have less than five years of work experience, you should go for SSCP first. SSCP can help you prepare for CISSP by covering some of the same topics and giving you a solid foundation in information security. You can also use your SSCP certification as a substitute for one year of work experience when applying for CISSP.
How long is SSCP good for?
SSCP certification is valid for three years from the date you pass the exam. To maintain your certification, you need to:

  • Pay an annual maintenance fee (AMF) of $65 to (ISC)2.
  • Earn at least 60 CPE credits every three years by participating in various learning activities related to information security.
  • Abide by the (ISC)2 Code of Ethics.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned a lot about SSCP. As you can see, SSCP is a valuable certification for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their competence and credibility in information security. SSCP covers seven domains of information security and requires at least one year of work experience in one or more of these domains. SSCP can also help you prepare for higher-level certifications such as CISSP.


If you are interested in getting SSCP certified, you need to study hard and practice well for the exam. You can use various resources such as books, online courses, practice tests, and study guides to help you prepare. You also need to register for the exam, pay the fee, and schedule your test date. Once you pass the exam, you will become a certified SSCP and join a global community of (ISC)2 members.

We hope this blog post has inspired you to pursue your career goals in information security and get SSCP certified. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below or contact us via email. We would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading and good luck with your exam!

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