SSCP: (ISC)² SSCP
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Exam Resources
Official learning paths, exam details, skills measured, and community resources to supplement your study.
About the SSCP Exam
Hands-on security operations and administration
The Systems Security Certified Practitioner certification for IT administrators and security operations professionals. Covers access controls, security operations, risk identification, incident response, cryptography, network security, and systems and application security.
Who Should Take This Exam?
The SSCP is designed for IT professionals with some hands-on experience. 6-12 months of hands-on experience recommended.
Typical study time: 4-8 weeks of focused study
Exam Quick Facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | SSCP |
| Title | (ISC)² SSCP |
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Questions | 125 |
| Pass Score | 700 / 1000 |
| Cost | $249 USD |
| Provider | Pearson VUE |
| Validity | 3 years (CPE required) |
| Question Types | Multiple choice, Advanced innovative |
| Official Page | View on ISC² → |
Exam Domains & Weights
The SSCP exam covers 7 domains. Focus your study time based on the weights below — higher-weighted domains have more exam questions.
| Domain | Weight | Practice Qs |
|---|---|---|
| Security Concepts and Practices | 16% | 32 |
| Access Controls | 15% | 30 |
| Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis | 15% | 30 |
| Incident Response and Recovery | 14% | 28 |
| Cryptography | 9% | 18 |
| Network and Communications Security | 16% | 32 |
| Systems and Application Security | 15% | 30 |
| Total | 100% | 200 |
💡 Study tip: Security Concepts and Practices carries the most weight (16%) — start there. Cryptography has the least (9%), but don’t skip it — exam questions can come from any domain.
Practice Exam — 200 Questions
Prepare for the SSCP with our 200-question practice exam covering all 7 exam domains. Every question includes detailed explanations and maps to official exam objectives.
What you get:
- ✅ Exam simulation mode with timer
- ✅ Spaced repetition for weak areas
- ✅ Detailed explanations for every question
- ✅ Progress tracking across domains
- ✅ 20 free questions — no account needed
ISC² Certification Path
Start with CC (Certified in Cybersecurity) for entry-level, then SSCP for technical security, then CISSP for management. CISSP concentrations (ISSAP, ISSEP, ISSMP) come after CISSP.
Related ISC² Certifications
If you’re studying for the SSCP, you might also be interested in these ISC² certifications:
- CC: (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity — 200 practice questions
- CCSP: (ISC)² CCSP — 200 practice questions
- CGRC: (ISC)² CGRC — 200 practice questions
- CISSP-ISSAP: (ISC)² CISSP-ISSAP — 200 practice questions
- CISSP-ISSEP: (ISC)² CISSP-ISSEP — 200 practice questions
Study Tips
- Start with the heaviest domain — focus your time where the exam focuses its questions
- Use our practice exam — try the 20 free questions first to gauge your readiness
- Review explanations — don’t just check if you got it right; read why each answer is correct
- Simulate exam conditions — use the timed exam mode to practice under pressure
- Check the official page — official exam details always have the latest objectives