(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 5 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 Engineering Professional (CISSP-ISSEP, Aug 2025 blueprint)
Vendor
(ISC)²
Duration
180 minutes
Questions
125 items
Passing score
700 out of 1,000
Domains covered
5 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 Planning And Engineering
Tip: Start with the official Security Planning And Engineering objectives, then practise questions on it.
Phase 2
Secure Operations Change Management And Disposal
Tip: Cover the Secure Operations Change Management And Disposal objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 3
Risk Management
Tip: Cover the Risk Management objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 4
Systems Security Implementation Verification And Validation
Tip: Cover the Systems Security Implementation Verification And Validation objectives, then answer practice questions to confirm you can apply them.
Phase 5
Systems Security Engineering Foundations
Tip: Finish with Systems Security Engineering Foundations, 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.