What Is the SSCP Certification? 2024 Guide

The SSCP, or Systems Security Certified Practitioner, is a certification for cybersecurity practitioners tasked with monitoring information systems and reacting to security incidents. Becoming an SSCP could demonstrate to potential employers that you have the technical skills needed to advance in your cybersecurity career.

Is the SSCP right for me?

If you’d like to work hands-on with an organization’s security, becoming a SSCP could be a good step toward achieving your goal. You may find it particularly suitable if you’ve already gained a year or two of work experience in cybersecurity, or if you’ve recently graduated from a cybersecurity or computer science degree program.  

Jobs that hire for SSCP

The SSCP is designed for security professionals that work with operational security. Here are just a few of the job titles on LinkedIn that request or require SSCP certification:

• Network analyst: $80,155

• Systems administrator: $85,445

• Security analyst: $99,154

• Threat intelligence analyst: $141,118

• Systems engineer: $116,145

• DevOps engineer: $123,800

• Security engineer: $142,893

*Salary data represents the average yearly pay including base salary and additional wages according to Glassdoor (September 2023).

Benefits of getting SSCP-certified

Becoming an SSCP comes with several potential benefits for the right candidate, including the possibility of a high-paying, in-demand position. By achieving SSCP status, you could also:

• Learn new skills that you can use on the job

• Validate your skills and commitment to cybersecurity to recruiters and hiring managers

• Enhance your resume to make you more marketable

• Fulfill requirements for security clearance

• Gain access to a community of fellow cybersecurity professionals

Security clearance

The SSCP is one of seven certifications approved by the US Department of Defense as an information assurance (IA) baseline certification. Earning this certification meets the minimum certification requirement for IAT Level II and CSSP Infrastructure Support jobs [1].

What to expect from the SSCP exam

Becoming a SSCP requires passing a certification exam designed to test your knowledge in seven different security topics. Here’s a quick look at the SSCP exam details.

4-step certification process

Taking and passing the SSCP exam is an accomplishment you should feel proud of, but it’s only the first step in the certification process. Let’s take a look at the four steps you’ll need to take in order to get fully certified.

1. Pass the certification exam: At the time of writing, you’ll need to score 700 of an available 1,000 points to pass the exam. You can take the exam up to four times in a 12-month period, though you’ll have to wait 30, 60, and 90 days between respective attempts.

2. Complete the endorsement process: Getting endorsed requires submitting an online application endorsed and digitally signed by another (ISC)²-certified professional, like a coworker or manager. If you don’t know anyone personally, (ISC)² can act as an endorser. You have nine months from your exam date to complete this step. 

3. Agree to the Code of Ethics: Before becoming a certified SSCP, you’ll need to commit to four canons of ethical practice. These are:

• Protect society, the common good, necessary public trust and confidence, and the infrastructure

• Act honorably, honestly, justly, responsibly, and legally

• Provide diligent and competent service to principals

• Advance and protect the profession

4. Pay the annual maintenance fee: You’ll need to pay a $125-fee upon certification and each year on the anniversary of your certification. If you earn additional certifications from (ISC)², you only need to pay the fee once per year.

Requirements

To qualify to take the SSCP exam, you need at least a year of paid work experience in one more of the exam domains. This could include full or part-time work, as well as paid or unpaid internships. 

Earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, computer engineering, computer systems engineering, management information systems, or information technology (IT) also satisfies the work experience requirement.  

Read more: Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering: How the Jobs Differ

What does the exam cover?

The SSCP exam covers seven different topic areas, called domains, in cybersecurity. Each domain accounts for 10 to 16 percent of the exam score. The domains are as follows:

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

Updated exam outline in November 2021

The SSCP transitioned to a new exam outline on November 1, 2021. While the seven domains will remain the same, the domain weights will change to reflect the most important issues in cybersecurity. Incident response and recovery and security operations and administration will be weighted more heavily, while access controls and cryptography will have their weights reduced.

How to prepare for the SSCP exam

The best way to set yourself up for success on the SSCP exam will depend on previous experience, current knowledge, and learning style. Here are some resources that you may find helpful as you prepare.

Exam prep courses

Several companies offer training courses specifically for the SSCP exam. While it’s possible to study independently, you may find the structure of a course helpful in ensuring you cover the required content from the exam. Before you enroll in a course, make sure it’s covering the latest version of the exam outline. 

Prepare for the exam at your own pace with the (ISC)² Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) Specialization, offered by (ISC)² on Coursera. You get 120-day access to courses covering the latest exam domains, and save when you bundle them together.

Practice tests

Taking a practice exam can help prepare you for what to expect on exam day, as well as highlight any areas where you may need additional study. (ISC)² has a book of some 700 practice questions with explanations for purchase, but you can also find a variety of practice exams online.

Exam tips

Here are some additional tips for preparing for and taking the exam:

• Give yourself adequate time to prepare. Depending on what you already know, this might mean a few weeks or a few months. 

• Make flashcards to learn acronyms and port numbers.

• Read each exam question more than once. You’ll have a minute and a half to answer each question within the allotted time.

• Use the “Flag for review” option to flag questions you’re unsure of. You can return to them later.

• Answer all the questions. There’s no penalty for incorrect answers.

Other certifications to consider

SSCP vs. Security+

Both the SSCP from (ISC)² and the Security+ from CompTIA are common certification options for those just starting out or early in their cybersecurity career. Depending on your goals and experience, one may be a better fit than the other.

Generally speaking, if you’re working toward your first job in cybersecurity and you either don’t have a degree or have a degree in an unrelated subject, then the Security+ might be a better option. If you already have some experience or a cybersecurity or computer science degree, you might consider the slightly more advanced SSCP.  

SSCP vs. CISSP

If you’ve already gained some experience working in cybersecurity, you might be deciding between the SSCP and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), both from (ISC)². 

In this case, which certification you choose to pursue could likely come down to your amount of experience. If you’ve already been working in cybersecurity for five or more years, it might be worthwhile going for the CISSP, ranked among the most popular and respected credentials. Otherwise, earning SSCP status could open up opportunities to build the experience needed to earn the CISSP in the future.

Read more: 10 Popular Cybersecurity Certifications

Take the next step with Coursera

Ready to develop both technical and workplace skills for a career in cybersecurity? The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera is your gateway to exploring job titles like security analyst SOC (security operations center) analyst, and more. Upon completion, you’ll have exclusive access to a job platform with over 150 employers hiring for entry-level cybersecurity roles and other resources that will support you in your job search. 

Start preparing for the SSCP exam with the (ISC)² Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) on Coursera. Curious to learn more about cybersecurity?

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)