Should I get CCSP or CISSP first?

For most people, CISSP first. It is broader, more widely requested across security roles, and holding it in good standing waives the entire CCSP experience requirement. If your job is already squarely cloud security, you can go straight for the CCSP, but the common path is CISSP then CCSP as a cloud specialism.

Does CISSP make CCSP easier?

A great deal. The two share foundations in risk, governance and security architecture, so the CISSP study base transfers directly. More importantly, holding CISSP waives the whole CCSP experience requirement, so you only need to pass the CCSP exam to certify.

Do both really need five years of experience?

Yes, but the shape differs. CISSP needs five years across two or more of its eight domains (one year is waivable with a relevant degree or certification). CCSP needs five years of cumulative IT experience including three in information security and at least one in a CCSP cloud domain - unless you already hold CISSP, which waives it entirely. Both let you pass the exam first and certify later as an Associate of ISC2.

Which is harder, CCSP or CISSP?

They are both expert-level and both scored 700 out of 1000. CISSP is broader (eight domains) and delivered as a longer adaptive test, so it is a larger study effort overall. CCSP is narrower but assumes you already understand both security and how cloud platforms work, so it is hard in a more specialised way.

Can I hold both CCSP and CISSP?

Yes, and many cloud security professionals do. CISSP gives broad, management-level coverage and CCSP adds a vendor-neutral cloud specialism on top. Because both are ISC2 certifications, they share a maintenance ecosystem, though each carries its own CPE and fee obligations.

Is the CCSP exam changing?

Yes. ISC2 has stated it will introduce a revised CCSP exam outline from 1 August 2026. The CISSP outline was last refreshed in 2024 with light reweighting. Always confirm the current domains and weights on the ISC2 site before you book either exam.

Head-to-head comparison

CCSP vs CISSP: which ISC2 security certification should you take?

By The Exam Atlas Editorial Team · Verified 2026-06-06

Our verdict

These are sister certifications from the same body, so this is about scope, not rivalry. Choose the CISSP for broad, management-level security across the whole field; choose the CCSP when your work is specifically cloud security. Because CISSP waives the entire CCSP experience requirement, many people take CISSP first and add CCSP as a cloud specialism.

Side by side

The numbers that decide it, lined up across every dimension that matters.

	CCSP	CISSP
Body	ISC2	ISC2
Scope	Cloud security (6 domains)	Broad security (8 domains)
Experience	5 years IT, incl. 3 in security + 1 in a cloud domain	5 years across 2+ of 8 domains
Exam	100–150 questions, 3 hours (linear)	100–150 questions, up to 4 hours (adaptive)
Pass mark	700 / 1000	700 / 1000
Cost (approx.)	~$599	$749
Renewal	3 years (90 CPE + annual fee)	3 years (120 CPE + annual fee)

Full exam pages: CCSP (ISC2) · CISSP (ISC2)

The CCSP and the CISSP both come from ISC2, and they are best understood as sister certifications rather than competitors. They share a scoring system, an experience model and a maintenance ecosystem. The real question is not which is better, but which scope matches your work. Here is the detailed comparison, beyond the table above.

The core difference

The CISSP is broad. Its eight-domain Common Body of Knowledge spans risk management, architecture, operations, identity and software security, viewed from a manager’s perspective. It is the generalist’s senior security credential and is frequently required for leadership and cleared roles.

The CCSP is specialised. Its six domains all sit inside cloud security: cloud concepts and design, data security, platform and infrastructure security, application security, security operations, and legal, risk and compliance. It is the credential for people who specifically own cloud risk.

So this is not “broad versus deep” in the abstract. It is broad security knowledge versus a focused cloud security specialism, from the same body.

Cost compared

Both are senior, ongoing-cost certifications, and the numbers are close:

CCSP: around US$599 for the exam (approximate; it varies by region, currency and tax), plus optional study materials and the ISC2 annual maintenance fee to keep it active.
CISSP: US$749 for the exam, plus optional materials and the ISC2 annual maintenance fee of roughly US$135 a year.

Neither is cheap, and both add an annual fee for life. If you hold both, you maintain both within the same ISC2 system but pay each one’s obligations. Confirm current fees with ISC2 before budgeting.

Difficulty and time

Both are expert-level and share the same pass mark of 700 out of 1000, but they are shaped differently:

CISSP: delivered as a Computerised Adaptive Test, 100 to 150 questions in up to four hours, adapting to your answers. It is broad and management-oriented, and most candidates study three to six months.
CCSP: 100 to 150 multiple-choice and advanced-format questions over three hours, linear rather than adaptive. It is narrower but assumes you already understand both security fundamentals and how cloud platforms work, so most candidates study two to four months.

Because the two overlap in risk, governance and architecture, the CISSP study base transfers directly to the CCSP. That is one reason the common order is CISSP first, then CCSP.

Recognition and ecosystem

Both are globally recognised and sit at the senior end of the market:

CISSP is one of the most widely requested security certifications and is often a hard requirement for management, architect and government roles. It is the safer default if you want maximum coverage across security job postings.
CCSP is the recognised vendor-neutral cloud security credential and is frequently listed for cloud security architect and engineer roles. It pairs naturally with hands-on provider tracks such as AWS, Azure or Google Cloud security certifications.

Crucially, the ISC2 link is not just branding: holding CISSP in good standing waives the entire CCSP experience requirement. That single rule shapes how most people sequence the two.

Career outcomes

CISSP maps to: information security manager, security architect, security consultant, GRC and risk roles, and the path toward CISO.
CCSP maps to: cloud security engineer, cloud security architect, and security consultant or compliance roles focused on cloud workloads.

There is real overlap, which is exactly why a CCSP is so often added on top of a CISSP rather than chosen instead of it. If your career is broadly in security, CISSP carries you furthest; if it is specifically in the cloud, CCSP makes that focus explicit.

How to decide

Answer one question: is your work cloud security specifically, or security broadly?

Broad security leadership, architecture or management, or you want the most widely requested credential → CISSP.
Your role is squarely cloud security, and you want a vendor-neutral cloud specialism → CCSP.
You want both and are deciding the order → take CISSP first (it is broader and waives the CCSP experience requirement), then add CCSP as your cloud specialism.

These are teammates, not rivals. Pick the scope that matches your role today, and add the other when your work expands into it.

Which should you choose?

Choose CCSP if

Experienced security professionals who own cloud risk - cloud security architects and engineers who want a vendor-neutral, cloud-focused credential.

Choose CISSP if

Security professionals moving toward senior, architect or management roles who want the broadest, most widely requested security certification.

Our specialty · side by side

Related comparisons

Other like-for-like match-ups featuring CCSP or CISSP.

VS CISSP vs CISA: which security certification should you choose? Compare → VS CISSP vs CISM: which security certification should you take? Compare → VS CISSP vs Security+: which cybersecurity certification fits you? Compare →

Where these exams lead

Career paths featuring these exams

See where CCSP and CISSP sit in a longer certification sequence.

How to become a penetration tester with certifications View path → How to become a CISO with certifications View path → How to become a SOC analyst with certifications View path → How to become a cybersecurity analyst with certifications View path → How to become a security engineer: build defences, not just watch them View path →

FAQ

Should I get CCSP or CISSP first?: For most people, CISSP first. It is broader, more widely requested across security roles, and holding it in good standing waives the entire CCSP experience requirement. If your job is already squarely cloud security, you can go straight for the CCSP, but the common path is CISSP then CCSP as a cloud specialism.
Does CISSP make CCSP easier?: A great deal. The two share foundations in risk, governance and security architecture, so the CISSP study base transfers directly. More importantly, holding CISSP waives the whole CCSP experience requirement, so you only need to pass the CCSP exam to certify.
Do both really need five years of experience?: Yes, but the shape differs. CISSP needs five years across two or more of its eight domains (one year is waivable with a relevant degree or certification). CCSP needs five years of cumulative IT experience including three in information security and at least one in a CCSP cloud domain - unless you already hold CISSP, which waives it entirely. Both let you pass the exam first and certify later as an Associate of ISC2.
Which is harder, CCSP or CISSP?: They are both expert-level and both scored 700 out of 1000. CISSP is broader (eight domains) and delivered as a longer adaptive test, so it is a larger study effort overall. CCSP is narrower but assumes you already understand both security and how cloud platforms work, so it is hard in a more specialised way.
Can I hold both CCSP and CISSP?: Yes, and many cloud security professionals do. CISSP gives broad, management-level coverage and CCSP adds a vendor-neutral cloud specialism on top. Because both are ISC2 certifications, they share a maintenance ecosystem, though each carries its own CPE and fee obligations.
Is the CCSP exam changing?: Yes. ISC2 has stated it will introduce a revised CCSP exam outline from 1 August 2026. The CISSP outline was last refreshed in 2024 with light reweighting. Always confirm the current domains and weights on the ISC2 site before you book either exam.