(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 4 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
ISC
Full name
(ISC)2 Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (CISSP-ISSAP, Aug 2025 blueprint)
Vendor
(ISC)²
Duration
180 minutes
Questions
125 items
Passing score
700 out of 1,000
Domains covered
4 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
Security Architecture Modeling
Tip: Start with the official Security Architecture Modeling objectives, then practise questions on it.
Phase 2
Governance Risk And Compliance
Tip: Cover the Governance Risk And Compliance objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 3
Infrastructure And System Security
Tip: Cover the Infrastructure And System Security objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 4
Identity And Access Management Architecture
Tip: Finish with Identity And Access Management Architecture, 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.