Pass Your ISC2 ISSAP Exam on the First Try

To take the ISSAP exam, you need either an active CISSP certification plus 2 years of ISSAP domain experience, or 7 years of experience in two or more ISSAP domains without CISSP. A relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree can substitute for one year of experience. Training Camp’s bootcamp is designed for experienced professionals who meet these requirements, focusing on advanced security architecture concepts.

The ISSAP exam is more difficult than CISSP, testing specialized security architecture knowledge through 125 scenario-based questions in 3 hours. You need 700 out of 1000 points to pass. Questions require applying frameworks and making design decisions, not just recalling facts. Intensive bootcamp training with realistic exercises helps prepare you for these challenging scenarios, and some training centers offer onsite Pearson VUE testing.

Prepare for ISSAP by mastering architectural frameworks (TOGAF, SABSA, STRIDE), focusing on Infrastructure and System Security (32% of exam), and practicing scenario-based application of concepts. Review the official ISC2 exam outline thoroughly. An intensive bootcamp is the most effective approach, providing hands-on threat modeling, case studies, and practice questions aligned to exam domains in a condensed timeframe.

ISSAP study time ranges from 40-60 hours for experienced security architects (2-3 months self-study) to 80-120 hours for those transitioning to architecture roles (3-4 months self-study). An intensive 4-day bootcamp reduces this to one week of training, with most candidates exam-ready in 1-2 weeks after completion. Some training facilities offer onsite testing to schedule your exam immediately.

The ISSAP exam covers four domains: Governance, Risk, and Compliance (21%), Security Architecture Modeling (22%), Infrastructure and System Security Architecture (32%), and Identity and Access Management Architecture (25%). Topics include TOGAF, SABSA, threat modeling, network security, cloud security, cryptography, authentication protocols, and authorization models. The exam is available in English at Pearson VUE testing centers.

Yes, ISSAP certification is worth it for cybersecurity professionals advancing to architecture roles with higher compensation. This ANSI-accredited credential demonstrates specialized expertise beyond CISSP in designing enterprise security solutions. It’s valuable for security architects, senior engineers, and consultants who need to validate their architectural knowledge and strategic security design capabilities.