(ISC)² · 2026 Edition
A complete preparation guide, edited by Johnson Ajibi, a network and security engineer with 12+ years' experience. Covers the exam format,all 8 blueprint domains, a week-by-week study plan, and proven tips for passing first time.
2–4 months
Prep time
Intermediate
Difficulty
125
Exam questions
700 out of 1,000
Pass mark
Exam code
CSSLP
Full name
(ISC)2 Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)
Vendor
(ISC)²
Duration
180 minutes
Questions
125 items
Passing score
700 out of 1,000
Domains covered
8 blueprint domains
Recommended experience
Foundational IT knowledge recommended
Typical prep time
2–4 months
Domain percentage weights are not currently available for this exam. The checklist below is still useful for planning your study.
Phase 1
Secure Software Requirements
Tip: Start with the official Secure Software Requirements objectives, then practise questions on it.
Phase 2
Secure Software Concepts
Tip: Cover the Secure Software Concepts objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 3
Secure Software Lifecycle Management
Tip: Cover the Secure Software Lifecycle Management objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 4
Secure Software Deployment Operations And Management
Tip: Cover the Secure Software Deployment Operations And Management objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 5
Secure Software Supply Chain
Tip: Cover the Secure Software Supply Chain objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 6
Secure Software Implementation
Tip: Cover the Secure Software Implementation objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 7
Secure Software Architecture And Design
Tip: Cover the Secure Software Architecture And Design objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 8
Secure Software Testing
Tip: Finish with Secure Software Testing, then re-test your weakest earlier domain before a mock exam.
Study the official exam blueprint — weight percentages tell you exactly where to invest prep time.
Practise scenario-based questions regularly — every modern cert exam is scenario-heavy.
Use spaced repetition to retain what you've learned (Courseiva does this automatically).
Book your exam date once you're scoring 80%+ consistently on practice tests.
Review explanations for every wrong answer, not just the question — the 'why' is what makes it stick.
Apply everything in this guide with adaptive practice questions, detailed answer explanations, and domain analytics.