CISSP Exam Changes: What You Need to Know in 2025

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a globally recognised cyber security credential. You have to pass the CISSP exam to earn this certification. Passing the CISSP exam is challenging, but you can clear it with the right preparation and training. Before applying for the exam, you should learn about the latest CISSP Exam Changes to help you prepare better.    

According to the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)², the global average salary of CISSP-certified professionals is 74,912 GBP. As the demand for such professionals increases, their salaries will also increase. In this blog, you will learn about the CISSP Exam Changes for the year 2025 and get a clear understanding of the exam. 

Table of Contents         

1) Understanding the CISSP exam  

2) Changes to the CISSP exam for 2025

    a)  Exam structure and length 

    b) Changes in domains 

    c) Content updates 

    d) Changes to the testing format 

3) Conclusion

Understanding the CISSP exam  

The CISSP exam is a highly valued credential that helps demonstrate an individual's expertise in cybersecurity. It is considered a gold standard for information security by many professionals. The choice between CISM vs CISSP depends on your career goals, expertise, and the specific aspects of information security you wish to focus on. Many professionals even pursue both certifications to enhance their overall skill set in the field. This certificate validates your knowledge and skills in designing, applying, and handling an effective security program.    

This exam covers various topics related to information security and helps ensure that certified professionals possess a thorough knowledge of multiple domains. Understanding these CISSP domains is crucial, as they encompass key areas such as security and risk management. Here are the eight domains of the CISSP exam:
 

a) Security and Risk Management: It covers key topics like setting and administering security governance, doing risk analyses, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.    

b) Asset Security: This domain deals with protecting information and assets, including the proper handling, classification, and disposal of sensitive data.    

c) Security Architecture and Engineering: Here, the focus is on designing and implementing security systems and architectures, considering security principles, secure design principles, and secure hardware and operating systems.    

d) Communication and Network Security: This domain covers the secure design, implementation, and management of network infrastructure, ensuring the confidentiality of data in transit, its availability and high integrity.   

e) Identity and Access Management (IAM): It involves managing user identities, enforcing access controls, and implementing identity and access management systems to ensure appropriate access to resources.    

f) Security Assessment and Testing: This domain covers techniques and tools for assessing and testing security controls, identifying vulnerabilities, and ensuring the effectiveness of security measures.    

g) Security Operations: Here, the focus is on managing the security operations, including incident response, disaster recovery, and implementing and monitoring security controls.    

h) Software Development Security: This domain integrates security into the software development lifecycle, including secure coding practices, security testing, and secure deployment.

Changes to CISSP exam for 2025

Comparing 2025's CISSP Exam format with the previous year helps determine the changes made to it. By understanding these changes, you can better prepare for the exam by understanding these differences.   

Exam structure and length  

Candidates had six hours in the previous exam structure to answer the 250 multiple-choice questions. For the exam in 2025, (ISC)² has introduced a new testing method called Computerised Adaptive Testing (CAT). As a result, the exam format has also been changed to adapt to this new testing method.   

With this adaptive testing strategy, the questions' difficulty level will change in response to the candidates' answers. The exam's length and number of questions may vary depending on your performance.   

Changes in domains 

Although the latest exam format still covers the same areas, some subtle changes exist in a few places, like the exam content and emphasis. You must review the changes to each domain to prepare better for the exam. The following eight CISSP Domains were covered in both the prior and present exams:   

a) Security and Risk Management: It covers about 15 per cent of the exam questions, compliance requirements, and IT policies   

b) Asset Security: It covers about ten per cent of the exam and covers data security and asset retention   

c) Security Architecture and Engineering: It covers about 13 per cent of the exam and deals with designing security models and procedures   

d) Communication and Network Security: It has a weightage of about 14 per cent and includes topics like protecting communication channels and networks   

e) Identity and Access Management (IAM): Similar to other domains, it also has a weightage of about 13 per cent and deals with identification and authentication:    

f) Security Assessment and Testing: It covers about 12 per cent of the exam and focuses on topics like vulnerability and penetration testing   

g) Security Operations: This domain covers about 13 per cent of the exam and includes topics like managing incidents and monitoring activities   

h) Software Development Security: This domain covers about ten per cent of the exam questions and focuses on identifying weaknesses and mitigating them   

The weightage of these eight domains remains more or less the same as the previous exam format. Remaining informed about the evolving domain and staying updated on the nuances of the CISSP exam cost is crucial for ensuring that your CISSP preparation is in sync with the latest exam modifications. This approach enhances your potential for success by maximizing alignment with the current requirements.

However, there are some subtle changes in a few domains, and it is essential to stay updated with these changes. This will help you navigate the CISSP certification journey with confidence and increase your chances of success. Recognising the ongoing importance of expertise through CISSP Renewal further enhances your preparedness for the certification process.

Content updates  

The CISSP exam content is regularly updated to reflect the latest industry trends, technologies, and best practices. The changes in the 2025 exam are designed to ensure that candidates possess the most relevant and up-to-date knowledge in the field of cybersecurity. Learning these content updates and familiarising yourself with the new additions is crucial. So are you still wondering is CISSP worth it? Well, it definetely will help you enhance your mastery in information system.

Changes to the testing format  

One of the significant changes in the 2025 CISSP exam is the introduction of adaptive testing. This adaptive approach tailors the exam to the individual's knowledge and skills by dynamically adjusting the difficulty level of the questions. The adaptive testing algorithm assesses the candidate's proficiency as they progress through the exam, providing a more personalised and efficient evaluation.   

By comparing the previous exam format and content with the changes introduced in 2025, you can understand where to focus your preparation efforts. Adapting your study plan is crucial by considering the new exam format, updated content, and the introduction of adaptive testing.  

By obtaining the CISSP certification, individuals can enhance their career prospects in the cybersecurity field, showcasing their expertise and commitment to information security. You can effectively practice for the test by giving the CISSP Practice Exam.
 

Conclusion  

We hope you understood the CISSP Exam Changes by reading this blog. Moreover, you would have also understood the exam domains and their weights. Staying updated with these changes is very important for your exam preparation. Wishing you good luck on your exam! 

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