Can an IT Sales Pro do CISSP?

Haseen

Junior Member
Nov 15, 2015
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Dear Fellow Members,
I am a sales and product professional who has a total of 9 years experience in IT; related to selling products indirectly or directly. I started my career working as a product manager for hardware vendors like dell and hp. But was not selling directly.
Later I joined another hardware manufacturer and there was managing sales of its products(Notebooks, Peripherals and Desktops) by appointing distributors. Now recently I started taking interest in selling cisco and sonicwall firewall and fortinet products and did Sales Certification of these products in security.
I have a four years BS in Computer Science, but I never worked as a hardcore techy. Pls advice me is CISSP the right path for me, as I want to leave the "Sales Dept" I have been jobless because of it recently and already have a lot of stress.
At the same time I dont have a technical work experience nor a sound knowledge, but I can try to learn.
If I should go for CISSP, will I get a waiver of 1 year as I have 9 years sales experience and 4 years BS in CS degree also.
Thanks in advance. Haseen
 
Feb 25, 2011
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Nothing wrong with learning, expanding your skillset, and hopefully becoming more hireable. Which certification(s) you get is dependent on what, exactly, you want to do. CISSP would be a good move if you were already working for a large organization or government with dedicated security people, but if you wanted to have more job-hunting flexibilty, I'd probably want to have a couple more generic networking certs like a CCNP or something. (And then maybe a CISSP on top of those.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_Information_Systems_Security_Professional

Based on what's in the wikipedia article, your existing BS should get you the year's credit for the employment requirement, but since your work history is all in sales, you'd likely only qualify for the Associate certification until you get a job in the proper field and put in the time.

At the same time, since you already have a BS in CS... well... I mean, the real money is in software development. But your skills are probably a bit rusty, so start coding!
 

Mushkins

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2013
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As far as I'm aware, "Sales" is not one of the CISSP domains so your 9 years experience count for 0 of the required experience. Plus you need a current CISSP to recommend you to even be allowed to take the test.

Honestly, other than a buzzword to put on your business card I honestly don't see how a CISSP certification would help you in your sales role. It's more oriented for someone who's actually designing and implementing a security plan. You're not an Information Security Professional, you're a salesman.
 

Ertaz

Senior member
Jul 26, 2004
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Plus you need a current CISSP to recommend you to even be allowed to take the test.


Not true.

https://www.isc2.org/cissp-how-to-certify.aspx


1. Obtain the Required Experience
Candidates must have a minimum of 5 years cumulative paid full-time work experience in two or more of the 8 domains of the (ISC)² CISSP CBK®. Candidates may receive a one year experience waiver with a 4-year college degree, or regional equivalent or additional credential from the (ISC)² approved list, thus requiring four years of direct full-time professional security work experience in 2 or more of the 8 domains of the CISSP CBK.

Don't have the experience? Become an Associate of (ISC)² by successfully passing the CISSP exam. You'll have 6 years to earn your experience to become a CISSP.
 

Mushkins

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2013
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Not true.

https://www.isc2.org/cissp-how-to-certify.aspx


1. Obtain the Required Experience
Candidates must have a minimum of 5 years cumulative paid full-time work experience in two or more of the 8 domains of the (ISC)² CISSP CBK®. Candidates may receive a one year experience waiver with a 4-year college degree, or regional equivalent or additional credential from the (ISC)² approved list, thus requiring four years of direct full-time professional security work experience in 2 or more of the 8 domains of the CISSP CBK.

Don't have the experience? Become an Associate of (ISC)² by successfully passing the CISSP exam. You'll have 6 years to earn your experience to become a CISSP.

My mistake, you *can* take the test, but you can't actually earn the certification without an endorsement:

5. Complete the Endorsement Process

Once you are notified that you have successfully passed the examination, you will be required to subscribe to the (ISC)² Code of Ethics and have your application endorsed before the credential can be awarded. An endorsement form for this purpose must be completed and signed by an (ISC)² certified professional who is an active member, and who is able to attest to your professional experience. With the endorsement time limit, you are required to become certified within nine months of the date of your exam or become an Associate of (ISC)². If you do not become certified or an Associate of (ISC)² within 9 months of the date of your exam, you will be required to retake the exam in order to become certified. (ISC)² can act as an endorser for you if you cannot find a certified individual to act as one. Please refer to the Endorsement Assistance Guidelines for additional information about the endorsement requirements.