Certifications

Exam-version note for 2026: This article describes preparation material associated with CISSP’s 2015 shift to eight domains. The change was historical, not an upcoming exam update. Candidates today should use the ISC2 outline effective April 15, 2024, with a new outline scheduled for April 15, 2027, to decide which books and practice topics remain relevant. As the CISSP exam undergoes significant changes with the introduction of a new exam blueprint, it is crucial for candidates to stay informed about the revised structure and updated content. Starting on April 16, 2015,…

In a significant development for IT professionals in the UK, ExamSnap has become the exclusive provider of (ISC)² certification exams, including CISSP, CCSP, and SSCP, during their training courses. This achievement comes as a result of ExamSnap’s attainment of Pearson VUE® Select Status, a designation that makes it the only UK training provider with this distinction. With this development, candidates now have the opportunity to complete their (ISC)² certification exams much faster and more efficiently, with the convenience of sitting for their exams just steps away from the classroom. The…

GDPR not only impacts IT security practices but also mandates organizations to adopt stringent measures for breach detection, reporting, and mitigation. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in substantial fines, with penalties reaching up to 4% of a company’s global annual revenue or €20 million – whichever is greater. As such, understanding the core principles of GDPR is essential for professionals preparing for the GDPR Practitioner Exam and those responsible for implementing data protection measures in their organizations. One of the key aspects of GDPR compliance is understanding…

Cisco ENCOR remains one of the most important professional-level networking exams, but the version candidates face in 2026 is not the same blueprint that defined the early years of CCNP Enterprise. Cisco now labels the current exam 350-401 ENCOR v1.2. The exam still measures enterprise architecture, virtualization, infrastructure, assurance, security, and automation, but Cisco has removed the old wireless scope from ENCOR and moved wireless into a dedicated certification track. That change matters because older books, videos, and course notes can send candidates into topics that no longer belong on…

The Certified Ethical Hacker certification, widely recognized throughout the cybersecurity industry as CEH, has established itself as one of the most popular credentials for professionals seeking to formalize their knowledge of penetration testing and ethical hacking methodologies. Issued by EC-Council, this certification validates a practitioner’s understanding of how malicious actors think and operate, equipping certified professionals to identify vulnerabilities before those same techniques can be used against their organizations. Given the certification’s broad scope spanning numerous attack vectors and security tools, selecting the right combination of study resources significantly influences…

CISM version context: CISM and CRISC support different leadership paths, so salaries should be assessed against roles and experience rather than assumed premiums. ISACA’s CISM outline changes November 3, 2026; that version is still in the future as of October 23. ISACA has long been recognized as one of the most respected professional associations in the information technology and cybersecurity space. Among its portfolio of globally recognized certifications, the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) stand out as two of the…

CISSP and CCSP sit close enough in the ISC2 ecosystem that they are often treated as competing credentials. That framing is too simple. They overlap on security principles, risk, identity, architecture, and governance, but they signal different kinds of professional depth. CISSP is built around broad responsibility across an information-security program. CCSP concentrates that responsibility inside cloud environments, where shared responsibility, cloud data lifecycles, platform security, application design, operations, and legal considerations have their own practical shape. The better career choice therefore depends less on which credential is “higher” and…

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exams are offered through different certification bodies and training providers, so there is no single universal exam format. Before test day, verify your provider’s body of knowledge, timing, scoring rules, permitted references, calculator policy, and statistical depth. Once those logistics are clear, exam-day performance is mostly about recognizing where a scenario sits in DMAIC and selecting the right tool for the decision being made. Classify the question before solving it First ask which DMAIC phase the scenario describes: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, or Control. Then…

Certified Ethical Hacker remains one of the most recognizable entry-to-midlevel offensive-security credentials, but candidates should understand what the current program actually proves. EC-Council markets CEH v13 as an AI-aware ethical-hacking program built around twenty modules, hands-on labs, a knowledge examination, and an optional practical examination. The current knowledge exam uses the 312-50 code, contains 125 multiple-choice questions, and runs for four hours. Candidates who also complete the six-hour CEH Practical can earn the CEH Master designation. The important preparation lesson is that the credential spans two different kinds of competence….

CISM is a management credential, not a hands-on security-tool exam ISACA’s Certified Information Security Manager credential is designed for people who govern, build, operate, and improve information-security programs. Candidates who approach it as a catalog of security technologies often struggle because the exam asks for management judgment: alignment with business objectives, risk-based prioritization, program governance, stakeholder communication, incident leadership, and evidence that controls are effective. The most useful preparation question is therefore not “which tool would I configure?” but “what should the security manager do first, and why?” That shift…

Cisco CCNA remains one of the core associate-level networking certifications in 2026. The current exam is Cisco CCNA 200-301 v1.1, covering network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability. Cisco has already announced the next refresh: the last date to test for v1.1 is February 2, 2027, and 200-301 CCNA v2.0 begins February 3, 2027. Candidates testing in 2026 should therefore prepare for the current v1.1 blueprint rather than mixing future v2.0 material into final review. The Cisco CCNA 200-301 exam is the current…

Continuous testing is now the normal delivery model for ISACA’s major certification exams rather than a new transition. Candidates for CISA, CISM, CRISC, and related credentials can register throughout the year and then schedule through PSI, subject to eligibility and appointment availability. That flexibility is valuable, but it also means candidates need to manage their own registration window carefully. The current process is simpler when you separate four things: buying the exam, receiving eligibility, scheduling the appointment, and later applying for the certification after you pass and meet the experience…

Choosing Lean Six Sigma books by belt level is more effective than buying the longest list of “must-read” titles. Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt candidates are expected to work at different levels of statistical depth, project responsibility, and improvement leadership. Your reading stack should reflect that difference. Start with the exam provider’s current body of knowledge. Lean Six Sigma does not have one universal certification authority, so two exams with the same belt color can emphasize different terminology, calculations, or project expectations. The provider’s outline is the scope;…

CISSP has enough moving parts that candidates often get accurate fragments of information but assemble them incorrectly. The exam fee may be current while the question count is old. Someone may know about the five-year experience requirement but assume it is required before sitting the exam. Another candidate may pass and then discover that endorsement, the certification application, annual maintenance fees, and continuing education are still ahead. This FAQ brings the current 2026 rules into one place. It focuses on the questions that affect real decisions: what the credential validates,…

Microsoft learning events and Digital Skills Week-style campaigns can help people make time for study. Their schedules, free events and occasional voucher offers are not a reliable long-term certification plan, however. An event may end while the underlying technical skill remains useful, or an exam may retire while an old event page stays searchable. In 2026 the right starting point is the role you want and the current Microsoft Learn exam guide. Use the Microsoft certification training options as a way to organize learning, not as a substitute for the…