Certified Chief Information Officer (CCISO) iLearn

EC-Council’s Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO) Program has certified leading information security professionals around the world.

What is CCISO?

A core group of high-level information security executives, the CCISO Advisory Board, formed the foundation of the program and outlined the content covered by the exam, body of knowledge, and training. Some members of the Board contributed as authors, others as exam writers, others as quality assurance checks, and still others as instructors. Each segment of the program was developed with the aspiring and sitting CISO in mind and looks to transfer the knowledge of seasoned executives to the next generation of leaders in the areas that are most critical in the development and maintenance of a successful information security program.

Accredited Training Center

About the CCISO

The CCISO Certification is an industry-leading, security certification program that recognizes the real-world experience necessary to succeed at the highest executive levels of information security. Bringing together all the components required for a C-Level position, the CCISO program combines audit management, governance, IS controls, human capital management, strategic program development, and the financial expertise vital to leading a highly successful information security program. The job of the CISO is far too important to be learned by trial and error. Executive-level management skills are not areas that should be learned on the job.

The material in the CCISO Program assumes a high-level understanding of technical topics and doesn’t spend much time on strictly technical information, but rather on the application of technical knowledge to an information security executive’s day-to-day work. The CCISO aims to bridge the gap between the executive management knowledge that CISOs need and the technical knowledge that many sitting and aspiring CISOs have. This can be a crucial gap as a practitioner endeavors to move from mid-management to upper, executive management roles. Much of this is traditionally learned as on the job training, but the CCISO Training Program can be the key to a successful transition to the highest ranks of information security management.

Exam

Minimum Requirements

In order to qualify to sit for the CCISO Exam without taking any training, candidates must have five years of experience in each of the 5 CCISO domains verified via the Exam Eligibility Application.

To sit for the exam after taking training, candidates must have five years of experience in three of the five CCISO Domains verified via the Exam Eligibility Application.

Waivers for the CCISO are available to Self-Study Candidates

Domain	Education Waivers
1. Governance and Risk Management	Ph.D. Information Security – 3 years, MS Information Security Management, MS Information Security Engineering – 2 years, BS Information Security – 2 years
2. Information Security Controls, Compliance, and Audit Management	Ph.D. Information Security – 3 years, MS Information Security Management, MS Information Security Engineering – 2 years, BS Information Security – 2 years
3. Security Program Management & Operations	Ph.D. Information Security – 3 years, MS Information Security or MS Project Management – 2 years, BS Information Security – 2 years
4. Information Security Core Competencies	Ph.D. Information Security – 3 years, MS Information Security – 2 years, BS Information Security – 2 years
5. Strategic Planning, Finance, Procurement, and Vendor Management	CPA, MBA, M. Fin. – 3 years

About the Exam

There are three cognitive levels tested on the CCISO exam.

Level 1 – Knowledge: This cognitive level of questions is used to recall memorized facts. This is the most basic cognitive level rarely accepted on certifications as it merely recognizes the candidate’s ability to memorize information. It can be effectively used when asking for basic definitions, standards or any concrete fact.
Level 2 – Application: This cognitive level of questions is used to identify the candidate’s ability to understand the application of a given concept. It differs from Knowledge based questions in the sense that it requires the understanding and correct applicability of a given concept – not just the concept itself. This type of question often quires additional context before the actual question is provided in the stem.
Level 3 – Analysis: This cognitive level of questions is used to identify the candidate’s ability to identify and resolve a problem given a series of variables and context. Analysis questions differ greatly from Application based questions in the sense that they require not only the applicability of a concept but also how a concept, given certain constrain can be used to solve a problem.

Passing Score

In order to maintain the high integrity of our certifications exams, EC-Council Exams are provided in multiple forms (I.e. different question banks). Each form is carefully analyzed through beta testing with an appropriate sample group under the purview of a committee of subject matter experts that ensure that each of our exams not only has academic rigor but also has “real world” applicability. We also have a process to determine the difficulty rating of each question. The individual rating then contributes to an overall “Cut Score” for each exam form. To ensure each form has equal assessment standards, cut scores are set on a “per exam form” basis. Depending on which exam form is challenged, cut scores can range from 60% to 78%.