I know the video might be heavily exaggerated, but wanted to kind of show case how I felt along the way. Hope it's edu-taining 😅 DISCORD: discord.gg/BUzZY2sR4J Patreon if you wanna become a member: www.patreon.com/MadHatIsTaken
I'm a CISSP. Despite the disclaimer in the comments, it's worth sharing with aspiring professionals that this is definitely not the hardest cyber exam out there. OSCE, GIAC Security Expert, CCIE Security, those are probably the heaviest hitters around at the moment.
I think it depends. First we have to understand why it is hard? Maybe it is done hard for purpose to make it unrealistically hard? Like Extreme mode in Games. Second we should go and check Materials. Materials of OffSec is garbage. Their PWK book is total trash. So they have Certs, but bad material. Which also makes it hard to pass. You have spend a lot of time, trying to get knowledge even if you paid, just to have all what is needed. Basically speaking, there is no Criteria, which will dictate that you are good enough. Which also makes it hard. Example: You go to CISSP exam, but you do not know How many NIST/ISO and other papers you should read. Will you feel like it is hard? Yes. GIAC SE requires you to have other certs from SANS (which is very expensive - and they expire), money pit. CCIE is purely CISCO, and CISCO is not that good in Network Sec. Better go for PaloAlto.
@TheLORDNIGHTSHIELD I get your point, but part of the Offsec's appeal is that you need to go find and self-study yourself. They give you a platform to base your knowledge on, but you need to have the drive and motivation to get the cert instead of relying on it being spoon-fed to you. This makes it harder to just cram for a week or two just to pass the test (which makes the cert more valuable). Also, it proves to employers that you have the drive to learn, not just repeat information you have learned from a course. Cisco is not that good? Hmm, maybe that is true for small/medium sized businesses but for large corporations CCIE is gold over any PaloAlto cert.
@lololololololol444 - I actually torpedoed one of my own IT interviews because of this. "We are looking for someone to stick around," these two old guys told me while sitting for a local community government role. "Yeah, uh, so the industry norm is that people gain a cert and move up and on either inside the enterprise or outside of it if the position is not available." Boom. Sunk my own Interview, but it led to the very fortunate role I am in now, which is a much better fit all around.
@@xCheddarB0b42x It was all a part of the plan, bigger and better was waiting for you! If companies are worried about retention they should CONGRATULATE their workers ha. But seriously, the name of the game in IT unfortunately is move companies to get the big pay increases. That is my understanding at least. During my interview for my current role I said how much I disliked Apple and my now boss interviewing me said "well that's a shame, the whole security team uses macs...". Caught me off guard, had to quickly double down on my hatred of macs to not seem weak.
I did the walk of shame as well, but didn’t make it to the car just the restroom. This was back in June 2013 when it was 6 hours and 250 questions. I used all 6 hours and got the white screen, over the moon when I saw I passed. Welcome to the club!
Congrats Mad Hat! I had a similar experience when i was taking my sscp exam. Studied for a month, getting 70-80 on the pocket prep practice tests, took the test, thought for sure i failed, passed, and went to my car feeling like i ran a marathon. cant wait for another run on that treadmill for my cissp.
I just passed a few weeks ago. I went through the same thing. I finally found someone to endorse me and signed up not realizing I only had 2 weeks to study and a bunch of work and family obligations between :\ I did as you did, watched video lessons on each of the domains, tried to complete 2 per day but that was too much for some of the domains. Had an early morning (8:30am) test time and did all the id, lockup personal belongings, etc took the test and was frankly shocked and amazed. The questions almost seemed too easy. I got to 100 and realized "man, I'm still answering questions, I must not be doing well" 102 "oh crap!" 103 "did I just throw $750 down the drain" test completed at 103 answered. I was like, ok I must have bombed it. Had to wait for a printout, all the test admins were somber. I got the paper and looked "congratulations...", and damned near hooted and hollered in the lobby.
You're crazy, man, and I mean it in the most positive way possible 😂 Massive congratulations - you didn't just pass CISSP, you freaking _aced_ it, doubly so given how little time you had to prepare 👏👏👏 And sorry for being corny, but you really are an inspiration - I'm currently just a SOC operator who feels like a wannabe sometimes, but you make me try harder :)
"feels like a wannabe sometimes" That's that Imposter Syndrome and you got to nip that cognitive pathway in the bud. You are a pro who is always learning, just like me. :} There is not a single one of us who knows it all (despite some very convincing appearances). Keep charging!
That means a lot💚I feel like I'm crazy ahah. The exam gave me a tiny bit of confidence, but I too feel like a wannabe pretty much all the time. All we can do is keep up the grind and better ourselves!
That's exactly how I feel all the time. I've recently started pushing harder in order to get some certs, but I never dived too much into all that theory and definitions and domains... It all looks so vague and aleatory, it's frustrating, I'm not gonna lie and I wonder if it's really so useful in the real world (I've always focused more on the technical aspects, like programming and pentesting, so maybe I can't see the big picture)
you're videos are literally amazing man keep making them i literally watch them on binge every night. I'm 16 and dreaming of being a SOC analyst one day it's literally my dream job and you giving me an insight into how to do it is so motivating and inspring tysm man
Thank you! I'll keep trying to make helpful content as you start to enter the work force Keep up the learning grind and you'll land that soc job way sooner than I did 😅
1. build a home cyber range to test and tinker on, pfsense, snort, Linux, basic Splunk, virtualization, containers, etc 2. study for and obtain CompTIA Security+ 3. build your resume and learn how to defeat the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) with tools like jobalytics browser extension 4. commence a resume spraying attack against Analyst I (or II) roles, take the first offer. 5. practice soft and hard interview questions Go get it! P.s. college recommended but totally not required. People I speak to in industry are increasingly not impressed with what the university system is cranking out. They are looking for people with a pulse who are curious, teachable, and know tech stuff. Sounds like you.
@@xCheddarB0b42x thank you so much! Just all this knowledge on us, as someone who dream's being an info. Sec analyst i can't wait to enter the tech workforce... workin' on my bachlors in cybersecurity 😁😁
Congratulations on passing the exam. When I took the exam 8 years ago, it had a different model. It was not CAT. You had...250! questions and 6 hours to answer them. You could have breaks and snacks but you were proctored and you had calculate your time carefully. Regardless the ISC2 exams can be very easy or very hard. It all depends on the candidates past experience. People with background in GRC will have a hard time answering questions around networking. However people who have worked with networks like myself, found the ISC2 network questions for kids.
I took it in 2009 , and yeah 6 hours, 250 question, scantron. I took breaks, four of them and drank coffee and ate 1/4 sandwich at each break. Finished in 3h12m. Had to wait two weeks to get the results. Just finished my the last of my 40 CPE for this year, today.
I passed TODAY. Because of work commitments and laziness I left prep to 1 day before the exam cramming but retaining. I stayed up all day and night and started the exam at 8am and finished by 915am, test ended at 100q and I aced it. 😊
always down for a vid on niche areas & career paths in CS, also huuuuge congrats to you for passing that monster of an exam, I had anxiety just hearing you describe it
What a wonderful video, two weeks ago I sat for the SSCP and had an almost exact same situation. Even had a similar interaction with *my* "Boss", lol. I'm being pushed to take the CCSP and eventually the CISSP. This video is a major confidence boost. Thank you for the content you make.
I'm glad it was somewhat helpful! Hope I can provide further helpful, confidence boosting stuff for all of us suffering from the impending doom of self-doubt.
I studied off and on for about three months. Mostly just learning the concepts. It finished at 125, with the peace of mind. Went in to see how I would do. SUPER EXCITED AND SURPRISED. Peter, destination CISSP and certmike are the best. It was hard, more than a few questions where I felt every answer was correct, I chose the managerial answer in each case.
Nice discussion! At my last job, when I earned Security+, the reaction I got from the higher ups was, "Yawn... Don't you have some work to do?" Then when I earned the SSCP, the boss said, "Hey, that's great! Now get back to work." I had to pay for both certifications myself. That's ok, because the time and money I invested into my career growth paid off with a great new job and boss. At my current job, they actually rewarded me and acknowledged my hard work in front of my peers for taking the initiative to grow in my career.
I did mine in a month, but I was laid off so I had plenty of time. Most of what was on the test is what I know from my experience in security and IT. It wasn't a cakewalk but it wasn't overly difficult for me. CISSP was on my list for a long time but I just never bothered. After getting laid off and rejected from a job interview because I didn't have it, really kicked me to do it.
Congrats dude! Thanks for the resources as well. Looking forward to hearing the good news when that recruiter finds the dream job you've been looking for
Mad Hat, you are a beast for only studying for 1 week. I passed today after about 5 weeks of study. Pocket Prep and the official Sybex CISSP practice questions FTW.
Congratulations brother, I appreciate your videos, I'm currently doing a certificate IV in cyber security here in Australia. I look forward to the day I go for the CISSP . No doubt will be shitting bricks studying for it but that's at least 5years away lol. We are doing the CCNA whilst we get our qualfication which is a start. I will probably go for the compTIA security+ when I've finished, hopefully landing me a well paying job. Kind regards brother keep doing your videos and well done on your CISSP must be time for a promotion.... elsewhere.
glad to see you've returned with a new video. Now this explains the time away from YT as you were preparing for a week of studies for the exam. I like the suggestions you mentioned with PocketPrep, I have also practive exams in the book I have, but find watching videos for Sec+ by the same YT creator you mentioned have worked a lot. My exam for Sec+ is in a few weeks. Thank you for the content you produce.
I can definitely relate to this story! I've had so many exams that I ended up passing after thinking I utterly failed. The questions have such a confusing format that they leave you open to tremendous uncertainty.
I love the idea of a video about the niches and specilizations in cyber. I'm pretty sure I want to go down either ethical hacking or malware analysis, but I'm sure there's niches even within those.
Hey Mad Hat, a video on cibersecurity career paths would be really nice! Everyone seems so focused on getting to Pentester, that I didnt even know SOC level 2 or level 3 existed, or what they do, for example. Or whats the path to CISO, thats for sure different than the path to pentesting
Definitely on the agenda of upcoming vids. The cyber space is massive, I also didn't know soc 2 and 3 existed till I got into my last job. You'd think my cyber bachelors would have explained the niches...
Worked in cyber for years and still did not know all the niches until recently. Unless you have a great mentor, no one tells you about the other niches. Recently learned all about ICS (Industrial Control Systems) and going that path.
@@madhatistaken yeh it was casual but could tell the work you put in for the cert. I’m new to tech and your videos do have me interesting in cybersecurity but just learning the basics of software development atm. Keep up the good vids man👍🏾
Thank you for this awesome video! Much love for ya ❤ Super learning tip: create your own compare + contrast questions for these topics before revising your mind map to see how the information can be better organized. Any questions that are like "recall this random number or fact" are where flash cards come in to play, but ONLY for the things you can't instinctually recall perfectly. If you can't get the question correct, explore different (more fun?) ways that you can relate to/recall the answer and figure out why it isn't easy to comprehend.
Did the Exam also this year. 2 Week preparation. I don´t think this test is as hard as everyone saying. Confusing with some questions, but with a good basic knowledge it should not be a problem. I also did the security+, the crisc and the cism all in a period of 4 month, without big preparation. The hardest thing on these tests are to understand what they want you to ask. The right mindset is very usefull for the test. For example: Take an ISACA exam = Think like an auditor. Take the isc2 Exam= think like a manager. etc.
Successfully passed on Monday ! Passed at 175 but who knows what that means. Mad respect to you for telling me about the Wiley Website and PocketPrep. The practice test really put me in the right mindset.
Man Love the video and your content. As an IT Professional with a few certs under my belt, CISSP is something ill be pursuing here next year. Also as a small creator (Very Small) i appreciate your videos and motivates me to continue. I love to pay forward what I've learned throughout the years. It might not be much. But any helps. ✌🏽😎
Hahaha this explains my studying and testing exp to a T. I passed last week after 2 weeks of studying. Feels like I am watching a video of me explaining the process. Great work
Great video, Mad Hat. I hope all the information you provide will help me with the constant palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing, upset stomach, and trouble sleeping. 😂 I have until June to get ready.
4-hour exam? When I took the CISSP in the mid-2000s it was 6-hours, 250-questions, and you were issued four #2 pencils and a massive scantron sheet. There was a room of 150 or more test-takers on a Saturday morning (it's not like they tested often), there were guards (volunteers) posted at every isle, you had to be escorted to-and-from the bathroom, the serialized exam pamphlets were handled like gold at Fort Knox, and no two candidates had the same version (e.g., A, B, C, D, etc.) in your immediate area as to prevent peeking at answers from your neighbors (as if you could). To top things off, you had to wait 3 or more weeks to receive that snail-mail letter from ISC2. The entire exam process was mentally and physically exhausting (just sitting 6-hours is bad enough...much less trying to figure-out what they're asking, and which one of the more than one good answers is the best answers. And I cannot tell you how nerve-racking it was to wait the 3+ weeks for notification. Still, I must say that Question #125 moment of awkward silence would make for one terrifying moment, no doubt. Enjoyed the story!
Congrats on passing the exam! I got the OSG book laying on my desk for weeks now. I wanted to pass in August. Your video gave me the confidence to book the expensive exam and go for it! I already passed the CC exam, without studying.
Thank you! I read online by folks who passed it had to schedule the test to force themselves to finally buckle down, study, and take it. I'm glad I could assist in some motivation 😁 Let us know how it goes for you!
Hardest by pass rate maybe. The hardest part is to change your thought process so you can decode the questions. People complain about the wording of the questions, but it really does help you distil requests down to what a user/customer is really asking for. Skill and knowledge wise there are far harder certs.
Passed in 2006 when the exam was pencil and paper, 250 questions for 6 hours, 225 marked against passing and 25 research questions. Only thing missing was Egg chairs from MIB I and a single coffee table. At the time it was 10 domains, in particular Physical Security. Been maintaining it since then.
hey man, just subbed! I've watched 4 videos now and love the content and everything! very relatable in terms of how you are describing everything. That's pretty much how I felt doing my CCNA cert except I was still very young with 0 real world experience in IT (this was part of a schooling program in HS that failed miserably and has since been dropped to Net+ training/cert). I've been in the IT field for a while, almost 10 years, doing various jobs from physical repair, tier 2 desktop support, and currently printer repair and project implementation. I'm studying Sec+ now and hoping to get a few more certs to try my hand at SOC Analyst before the year is up! any tips and tricks for someone without a degree but experience in the industry? (also, what are good coding languages to learn? I know very little on that front)
An adaptive test changing difficulty as taken????? JFC that CISSP exam like the famed "The Kobayashi Maru" training exercise in the Star Trek Universe that they make cadets take at Star Fleet Academy...... LOL!!!!! Congratulation Mad Hat for beating that Monster Exam!!!!!!
As someone embarking on a path into medicine, having my feed all things MCAT etc. for yrs.. These videos make me feel like I saw a high-school jock banging my crush while I was on the phone w her 😅
@@madhatistaken Just depends on what you want to do, you can work on making a section that provides links and info from videos or sections of information that tie into your videos. Otherwise I would just focus on stuff that drives engagement to get the community more active, no rush just when you think of it and have time. Otherwise it looks pretty good.
@@madhatistaken Oh one other advantage is that you can make a channel only you can post in for when you make new videos or if you start doing lives. That way everyone in the discord gets pinged when new content drops.
I just took the test and passed and maaaaaan, everything you just said was legit! I was dying at 124 for exactly how you described it! I went the distance so I clearly wasnt amazing but that was the worst test I ever took.
man u are a fken beast ireally do like what u do and congratulations on getting that certificate and ihope get even and even more better and i hope to be better like u man u give me huge boost to keep learning thx man
Since you've titled your video as such, I have a question for you. How would you compare CISSP to something like the OSEE exam from a Cybersecurity exam perspective and which one do you think is harder, heck even the OSCP? Just wanted your thoughts on that?
So it wasn't the McDonalds certificate as I thought. Hey, congrats! I can't wait to take my first certification (probably Security+). I can see how happy it made you feel!
Thank you! No Mcdonalds haha I havent given up on cybersecurity yet. I have a very self loathing personality so it was indeed a morale boost. Even if my boss didn't seem to care lol 😅 I can see why people rack up certifications, it kind of feels good to study and dust the cobb webs from the brain. Kind of get into a rut at work and do the same old stuff until it's too easy and not challenging. Good luck in your testing and studies! Keep us posted on your progress 😁
love your vids, trying to navigate towards a cybersecurity job... appreciate the content, breaks up the studying. the 749 DKP minus killed me 🤣MANY WHELPS HANDLE IT!
The fact that I was thinking, "where did this guy go? It's been a month", and you upload this today just made it better. Haha. Congratulations sir! You're indeed Mad lol
I just passed CC in a month with no prior knowledge and though I was pretty clever... my god man you are brilliant! Congratulations, I still need to get my 5 years of experience but already started a daily CISSP flash card routine so maybe, maybe 5 years from now I could pass it too! (after months of practice! not taking any chances)
Your story is my story 100%. Down to every detail except I went to the bathroom and said fk it I have to read the report eventually. I passed on Monday and was sure I failed, but in the end, I passed.
Just found your channel a week ago as I was prepping for the Security+ and thinking "What're my next steps after this exam?" I passed and in a few months, I think I'll try to take a run at this monster, the CISSP. ONE WEEK, MY GUY? You're insane! :D
Congrats on passing! I want to think I know more than I give myself credit for, but maybe the test is easier than it's hyped up to be ha. Let me know when you take it what your thoughts are on it.
Going from sec+ to cissp prep helps. I would also reccomend doing the Google Cybersecurity course. It follows the cissp domains and concepts. Plus you get some hands on to help you learn and build some experience.
I'm 32 and decided to go back to college for cybersecurity. People say not to go to college for cybersecurity, but I'm going for free. One thing I keep seeing in every cybersecurity video is getting experience. What can I do to get experience?
I'm 30 and going and everyone I've ever told that I'm going for cybersecurity, they all say "thats a really good degree". Never had anyone tell me otherwise
A lot of people take the exam cram approach or simply study a ton of practice questions for a couple months just to get this cert instead actually reading the entire official CISSP book and doing all of the exercises to truly understand how everything in IT from top to bottom actually works and interconnects. This is why a lot of people out here who just pile up certs to pad their resume cant get the job or position they want because they really don't know what they're talking about. These hiring managers who have been doing this stuff for almost 20+ years can tell people who studied these exam crams just to get this cert versus those who have real world experience and studied for these exams top to bottom.
True. 100% agree. Ive said in a few videos that people are quick to want to pass these certifications rather than learn the material it covers. In my case I've already been taught the top level understanding the cissp provides, so it was more of a refresher than learning opportunity. But studying the osg can provide invaluable insight into aspects of cybersecurity that are often overlooked.
Congrats dude , i was a bit confused about how it only took a week as in you 'How I Got A 6 Figure Job Out Of College' at the end you mentioned you were studying 8 months ago, I'm guessing it was on and off and then took it seriously for a week. I'm happy for you and glad that you passed and at the same time i'm confused on the timeline.
Thank you! I was trying to watch Pete Zerger's cram video just before I landed this job so I could sound more professional in interviews. I stopped because I was learning and enjoying my current job, but the honeymoon phase of my job wore off and I realized I needed to get out. Hence the 1 week cram commitment
How can one take part in the exam? One must proof that they have 5 years of work experience. How exactly does the process work? Can someone provide more detailed information about this?
Anyone can take the test at any time. After you pass, you have to find someone who is certified by ISC2 to endorse you and verify your work experience. If you don't actually have the required experience, you can get what's called an Associate of ISC2. And then when you have acquired the requisite experience, you can get endorsed and be awarded the credential.
I certainly embellished alot. It was fruitful endeavor even if it's not the hardest exam and ISC is overhyped. Just want to land a slightly better gig then my current one 😁
I know the video might be heavily exaggerated, but wanted to kind of show case how I felt along the way. Hope it's edu-taining 😅
DISCORD: discord.gg/BUzZY2sR4J
Patreon if you wanna become a member:
www.patreon.com/MadHatIsTaken
My dude, this is properly labelled as "aggressive marketing." ;p
@@xCheddarB0b42x I have no shame
No, you did not exaggerate even a little. The struggle is real lol
I'm a CISSP. Despite the disclaimer in the comments, it's worth sharing with aspiring professionals that this is definitely not the hardest cyber exam out there. OSCE, GIAC Security Expert, CCIE Security, those are probably the heaviest hitters around at the moment.
OSCE is KILLER man, I am with you...I rather take 4 CISSP tests instead of the OSCE.
I think it depends. First we have to understand why it is hard? Maybe it is done hard for purpose to make it unrealistically hard? Like Extreme mode in Games. Second we should go and check Materials. Materials of OffSec is garbage. Their PWK book is total trash. So they have Certs, but bad material. Which also makes it hard to pass. You have spend a lot of time, trying to get knowledge even if you paid, just to have all what is needed. Basically speaking, there is no Criteria, which will dictate that you are good enough. Which also makes it hard. Example: You go to CISSP exam, but you do not know How many NIST/ISO and other papers you should read. Will you feel like it is hard? Yes. GIAC SE requires you to have other certs from SANS (which is very expensive - and they expire), money pit. CCIE is purely CISCO, and CISCO is not that good in Network Sec. Better go for PaloAlto.
You are talking about the OSCE3? Because OSCE is not existing anymore (I mean - you can't get it anymore, although it stays valid)...?
@@nameless7291 Yes, sorry, it was called just OSCE when I passed it.
@TheLORDNIGHTSHIELD I get your point, but part of the Offsec's appeal is that you need to go find and self-study yourself. They give you a platform to base your knowledge on, but you need to have the drive and motivation to get the cert instead of relying on it being spoon-fed to you.
This makes it harder to just cram for a week or two just to pass the test (which makes the cert more valuable). Also, it proves to employers that you have the drive to learn, not just repeat information you have learned from a course.
Cisco is not that good? Hmm, maybe that is true for small/medium sized businesses but for large corporations CCIE is gold over any PaloAlto cert.
Well I get why your boss was mad lol. As soon as you get it, you'll leave. And look, he was right 😂
Facts...... LOL!!!!!!
I mean...I might have stuck around longer...lol 😅
@lololololololol444 - I actually torpedoed one of my own IT interviews because of this. "We are looking for someone to stick around," these two old guys told me while sitting for a local community government role. "Yeah, uh, so the industry norm is that people gain a cert and move up and on either inside the enterprise or outside of it if the position is not available." Boom. Sunk my own Interview, but it led to the very fortunate role I am in now, which is a much better fit all around.
@@xCheddarB0b42x It was all a part of the plan, bigger and better was waiting for you! If companies are worried about retention they should CONGRATULATE their workers ha. But seriously, the name of the game in IT unfortunately is move companies to get the big pay increases. That is my understanding at least. During my interview for my current role I said how much I disliked Apple and my now boss interviewing me said "well that's a shame, the whole security team uses macs...". Caught me off guard, had to quickly double down on my hatred of macs to not seem weak.
@@madhatistakenlying ass 🤥
I did the walk of shame as well, but didn’t make it to the car just the restroom. This was back in June 2013 when it was 6 hours and 250 questions. I used all 6 hours and got the white screen, over the moon when I saw I passed. Welcome to the club!
Congratulations! 🏆🎉🌟Glad the CISSP Exam Cram was helpful!
How could he have missed this comment! 😅
Congrats Mad Hat! I had a similar experience when i was taking my sscp exam. Studied for a month, getting 70-80 on the pocket prep practice tests, took the test, thought for sure i failed, passed, and went to my car feeling like i ran a marathon. cant wait for another run on that treadmill for my cissp.
Thank you!! It's a mental roller coaster for sure. Kind of a thrill...maybe I'll try for another one...
I just passed a few weeks ago. I went through the same thing. I finally found someone to endorse me and signed up not realizing I only had 2 weeks to study and a bunch of work and family obligations between :\ I did as you did, watched video lessons on each of the domains, tried to complete 2 per day but that was too much for some of the domains. Had an early morning (8:30am) test time and did all the id, lockup personal belongings, etc took the test and was frankly shocked and amazed. The questions almost seemed too easy. I got to 100 and realized "man, I'm still answering questions, I must not be doing well" 102 "oh crap!" 103 "did I just throw $750 down the drain" test completed at 103 answered. I was like, ok I must have bombed it. Had to wait for a printout, all the test admins were somber. I got the paper and looked "congratulations...", and damned near hooted and hollered in the lobby.
You're crazy, man, and I mean it in the most positive way possible 😂 Massive congratulations - you didn't just pass CISSP, you freaking _aced_ it, doubly so given how little time you had to prepare 👏👏👏
And sorry for being corny, but you really are an inspiration - I'm currently just a SOC operator who feels like a wannabe sometimes, but you make me try harder :)
"feels like a wannabe sometimes"
That's that Imposter Syndrome and you got to nip that cognitive pathway in the bud. You are a pro who is always learning, just like me. :} There is not a single one of us who knows it all (despite some very convincing appearances).
Keep charging!
That means a lot💚I feel like I'm crazy ahah. The exam gave me a tiny bit of confidence, but I too feel like a wannabe pretty much all the time. All we can do is keep up the grind and better ourselves!
That's exactly how I feel all the time. I've recently started pushing harder in order to get some certs, but I never dived too much into all that theory and definitions and domains... It all looks so vague and aleatory, it's frustrating, I'm not gonna lie and I wonder if it's really so useful in the real world (I've always focused more on the technical aspects, like programming and pentesting, so maybe I can't see the big picture)
@@xCheddarB0b42xthis is such a top tier comment
@@TaelurAlexis I do it for you, The People.
you're videos are literally amazing man keep making them i literally watch them on binge every night. I'm 16 and dreaming of being a SOC analyst one day it's literally my dream job and you giving me an insight into how to do it is so motivating and inspring tysm man
Thank you! I'll keep trying to make helpful content as you start to enter the work force Keep up the learning grind and you'll land that soc job way sooner than I did 😅
1. build a home cyber range to test and tinker on, pfsense, snort, Linux, basic Splunk, virtualization, containers, etc
2. study for and obtain CompTIA Security+
3. build your resume and learn how to defeat the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) with tools like jobalytics browser extension
4. commence a resume spraying attack against Analyst I (or II) roles, take the first offer.
5. practice soft and hard interview questions
Go get it!
P.s. college recommended but totally not required. People I speak to in industry are increasingly not impressed with what the university system is cranking out. They are looking for people with a pulse who are curious, teachable, and know tech stuff. Sounds like you.
@@xCheddarB0b42x ^^^^^ well of knowledge
@@madhatistaken yes, drawing upon my vast trove of industry knowledge from my entire 0.8 years in Cyber Defense LOL
Welcome back bro. :}
@@xCheddarB0b42x thank you so much! Just all this knowledge on us, as someone who dream's being an info. Sec analyst i can't wait to enter the tech workforce... workin' on my bachlors in cybersecurity 😁😁
Congratulations on passing the exam. When I took the exam 8 years ago, it had a different model. It was not CAT. You had...250! questions and 6 hours to answer them. You could have breaks and snacks but you were proctored and you had calculate your time carefully.
Regardless the ISC2 exams can be very easy or very hard. It all depends on the candidates past experience. People with background in GRC will have a hard time answering questions around networking. However people who have worked with networks like myself, found the ISC2 network questions for kids.
I took it in 2009 , and yeah 6 hours, 250 question, scantron. I took breaks, four of them and drank coffee and ate 1/4 sandwich at each break. Finished in 3h12m. Had to wait two weeks to get the results. Just finished my the last of my 40 CPE for this year, today.
Keep in mind this dude is a professional and has been doing this for a bit, it's gonna take longer than a week to study for the cissp normally
I passed TODAY. Because of work commitments and laziness I left prep to 1 day before the exam cramming but retaining. I stayed up all day and night and started the exam at 8am and finished by 915am, test ended at 100q and I aced it. 😊
always down for a vid on niche areas & career paths in CS, also huuuuge congrats to you for passing that monster of an exam, I had anxiety just hearing you describe it
Thank you! Test day I was a bit disheveled 😅 I'm excited to make the niche video!
What a wonderful video, two weeks ago I sat for the SSCP and had an almost exact same situation. Even had a similar interaction with *my* "Boss", lol. I'm being pushed to take the CCSP and eventually the CISSP. This video is a major confidence boost. Thank you for the content you make.
I'm glad it was somewhat helpful! Hope I can provide further helpful, confidence boosting stuff for all of us suffering from the impending doom of self-doubt.
This channel is GOLD
I studied off and on for about three months. Mostly just learning the concepts. It finished at 125, with the peace of mind. Went in to see how I would do. SUPER EXCITED AND SURPRISED. Peter, destination CISSP and certmike are the best. It was hard, more than a few questions where I felt every answer was correct, I chose the managerial answer in each case.
Nice discussion! At my last job, when I earned Security+, the reaction I got from the higher ups was, "Yawn... Don't you have some work to do?" Then when I earned the SSCP, the boss said, "Hey, that's great! Now get back to work." I had to pay for both certifications myself. That's ok, because the time and money I invested into my career growth paid off with a great new job and boss. At my current job, they actually rewarded me and acknowledged my hard work in front of my peers for taking the initiative to grow in my career.
Congrats man. Your videos are crazy lol, super informative, and super funny. Keep the same format. You're lit AF!!
Thank you!! I try to capture the craziness going on in my head. I'll keep keepin' on the mad hat train 😅
I did mine in a month, but I was laid off so I had plenty of time. Most of what was on the test is what I know from my experience in security and IT. It wasn't a cakewalk but it wasn't overly difficult for me. CISSP was on my list for a long time but I just never bothered. After getting laid off and rejected from a job interview because I didn't have it, really kicked me to do it.
Congrats dude! Thanks for the resources as well. Looking forward to hearing the good news when that recruiter finds the dream job you've been looking for
Thank you!💚I hope to provide some more good news by the end of the year.
You have one of the best cybersecurity channels. This has motivated me to start studying again for my CISSP
Mad Hat, you are a beast for only studying for 1 week. I passed today after about 5 weeks of study. Pocket Prep and the official Sybex CISSP practice questions FTW.
Looking forward to learning everything I can from this channel! Thank you for sharing with us!
I preparing to take mine soon! Thanks for breaking down how you split the domains! Will try that as well! Doing it for 2 weeks of study!
Congratulations brother, I appreciate your videos, I'm currently doing a certificate IV in cyber security here in Australia. I look forward to the day I go for the CISSP . No doubt will be shitting bricks studying for it but that's at least 5years away lol. We are doing the CCNA whilst we get our qualfication which is a start. I will probably go for the compTIA security+ when I've finished, hopefully landing me a well paying job. Kind regards brother keep doing your videos and well done on your CISSP must be time for a promotion.... elsewhere.
glad to see you've returned with a new video. Now this explains the time away from YT as you were preparing for a week of studies for the exam. I like the suggestions you mentioned with PocketPrep, I have also practive exams in the book I have, but find watching videos for Sec+ by the same YT creator you mentioned have worked a lot. My exam for Sec+ is in a few weeks. Thank you for the content you produce.
Which one, Peter Zerger has security+??
@@gtarules1 Aye
I can definitely relate to this story! I've had so many exams that I ended up passing after thinking I utterly failed. The questions have such a confusing format that they leave you open to tremendous uncertainty.
I love the idea of a video about the niches and specilizations in cyber. I'm pretty sure I want to go down either ethical hacking or malware analysis, but I'm sure there's niches even within those.
Hey Mad Hat, a video on cibersecurity career paths would be really nice! Everyone seems so focused on getting to Pentester, that I didnt even know SOC level 2 or level 3 existed, or what they do, for example. Or whats the path to CISO, thats for sure different than the path to pentesting
Definitely on the agenda of upcoming vids. The cyber space is massive, I also didn't know soc 2 and 3 existed till I got into my last job. You'd think my cyber bachelors would have explained the niches...
Congratulations !!! Awesome accomplishment !!!
Congrats mad hat
You have your unique way of motivating people..
Keep up the good
Thank you! I'll keep tryin' to motivate the #cyberarmy through my odd edu-tainment 💚
Worked in cyber for years and still did not know all the niches until recently. Unless you have a great mentor, no one tells you about the other niches. Recently learned all about ICS (Industrial Control Systems) and going that path.
Intrigued, hooked, emotionally invested, leaning forward in chair then proceeded to leap out of said chair. Great video
Thank you! I tried to portray how I felt throughout the process as best I could through the editing 💚💚💚
@@madhatistaken yeh it was casual but could tell the work you put in for the cert. I’m new to tech and your videos do have me interesting in cybersecurity but just learning the basics of software development atm. Keep up the good vids man👍🏾
Thank you for this awesome video! Much love for ya ❤
Super learning tip: create your own compare + contrast questions for these topics before revising your mind map to see how the information can be better organized. Any questions that are like "recall this random number or fact" are where flash cards come in to play, but ONLY for the things you can't instinctually recall perfectly. If you can't get the question correct, explore different (more fun?) ways that you can relate to/recall the answer and figure out why it isn't easy to comprehend.
Congrats man ! 🎉🎉
Thank you!!💚
Did the Exam also this year. 2 Week preparation. I don´t think this test is as hard as everyone saying. Confusing with some questions, but with a good basic knowledge it should not be a problem. I also did the security+, the crisc and the cism all in a period of 4 month, without big preparation. The hardest thing on these tests are to understand what they want you to ask. The right mindset is very usefull for the test. For example: Take an ISACA exam = Think like an auditor. Take the isc2 Exam= think like a manager. etc.
I watched this video last year. I just passed CISSP this week, not an easy one but great to put us on the management mindset
Successfully passed on Monday ! Passed at 175 but who knows what that means. Mad respect to you for telling me about the Wiley Website and PocketPrep. The practice test really put me in the right mindset.
Massive congrats hat! Let’s go!!
Thank you!!
Congratulations!! Thats awesome!
Thank you! 💚
Got pocket prep yesterday to help me with Network+ and Security+ and they have the CCNA on there too
Congratulations! I hope I'll pass mine too when I get to it.
I'm a CISSP. and i cannot get a job interview in London :)
Tech jobs have flat lined in late 2022-present due to high interest rates/Inflation/Election year in the US. This is temporary. Just keep building 💪🏽
Amazing work. Congrats!
Well done! I passed last week (after 125) and I feel you on accepting your faith on test day. Those few hours are better spent trying not to panic 🙃
Man Love the video and your content. As an IT Professional with a few certs under my belt, CISSP is something ill be pursuing here next year. Also as a small creator (Very Small) i appreciate your videos and motivates me to continue. I love to pay forward what I've learned throughout the years. It might not be much. But any helps. ✌🏽😎
Hahaha this explains my studying and testing exp to a T. I passed last week after 2 weeks of studying. Feels like I am watching a video of me explaining the process. Great work
😂Congrats! been studying and on the verge of giving up and you have rebooted me right up! Thanks man
Great video, Mad Hat.
I hope all the information you provide will help me with the constant palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing, upset stomach, and trouble sleeping. 😂
I have until June to get ready.
Congratulations! 🎉 It's fantastic you did so well! Consider me a permanent follower of the channel.
4-hour exam? When I took the CISSP in the mid-2000s it was 6-hours, 250-questions, and you were issued four #2 pencils and a massive scantron sheet. There was a room of 150 or more test-takers on a Saturday morning (it's not like they tested often), there were guards (volunteers) posted at every isle, you had to be escorted to-and-from the bathroom, the serialized exam pamphlets were handled like gold at Fort Knox, and no two candidates had the same version (e.g., A, B, C, D, etc.) in your immediate area as to prevent peeking at answers from your neighbors (as if you could). To top things off, you had to wait 3 or more weeks to receive that snail-mail letter from ISC2. The entire exam process was mentally and physically exhausting (just sitting 6-hours is bad enough...much less trying to figure-out what they're asking, and which one of the more than one good answers is the best answers. And I cannot tell you how nerve-racking it was to wait the 3+ weeks for notification. Still, I must say that Question #125 moment of awkward silence would make for one terrifying moment, no doubt. Enjoyed the story!
Congrats on passing the exam! I got the OSG book laying on my desk for weeks now. I wanted to pass in August. Your video gave me the confidence to book the expensive exam and go for it! I already passed the CC exam, without studying.
Thank you! I read online by folks who passed it had to schedule the test to force themselves to finally buckle down, study, and take it. I'm glad I could assist in some motivation 😁 Let us know how it goes for you!
Hardest by pass rate maybe. The hardest part is to change your thought process so you can decode the questions. People complain about the wording of the questions, but it really does help you distil requests down to what a user/customer is really asking for. Skill and knowledge wise there are far harder certs.
Holy shit congratulations bro. You had us going there for a second. Coming for the big boss's job
Passed in 2006 when the exam was pencil and paper, 250 questions for 6 hours, 225 marked against passing and 25 research questions. Only thing missing was Egg chairs from MIB I and a single coffee table. At the time it was 10 domains, in particular Physical Security. Been maintaining it since then.
Not your boss, but a hearty CONGRATULATIONS from me.
Love pocket prep! Currently studying Sec+ alongside Google Cyber Sec. Cert.
Shout to you Brother... I plan on doing this exam also...
Ngl I got a teeny tiny bit hyped when I saw the notification that you posted 😂
I'm glad to hear I'm hype worthy 🥲
Congratulations!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
hey man, just subbed! I've watched 4 videos now and love the content and everything! very relatable in terms of how you are describing everything. That's pretty much how I felt doing my CCNA cert except I was still very young with 0 real world experience in IT (this was part of a schooling program in HS that failed miserably and has since been dropped to Net+ training/cert).
I've been in the IT field for a while, almost 10 years, doing various jobs from physical repair, tier 2 desktop support, and currently printer repair and project implementation. I'm studying Sec+ now and hoping to get a few more certs to try my hand at SOC Analyst before the year is up! any tips and tricks for someone without a degree but experience in the industry? (also, what are good coding languages to learn? I know very little on that front)
Congrats! I passed mine 2 months ago with a similar experience on question 125! 😅
Congratulations man 🎉
Thank you! 😁 💚
An adaptive test changing difficulty as taken????? JFC that CISSP exam like the famed "The Kobayashi Maru" training exercise in the Star Trek Universe that they make cadets take at Star Fleet Academy...... LOL!!!!!
Congratulation Mad Hat for beating that Monster Exam!!!!!!
Thank you!! The adaptive format was interesting haha
New follower. Love your content. Hoping to be successful in this new venture of cyber security
Welcome to the mad hat #cyberarmy 😁 hope I can help provide helpful stuff as you venture into the cybersecurity world
@@madhatistaken yes you are more than helpful. Love your content.
As someone embarking on a path into medicine, having my feed all things MCAT etc. for yrs.. These videos make me feel like I saw a high-school jock banging my crush while I was on the phone w her 😅
Congrats homie!🎉
Thank you!!💚😁
Congratulations!!
Thank you! 😁
Congrats thats an awesome story, your co-worker sounds crazy btw. Great vid as usual homie.
Thank you!! Let me know if I'm missing any bells and whistles on disc 💚I'm new to the discord dev scene.
@@madhatistaken Just depends on what you want to do, you can work on making a section that provides links and info from videos or sections of information that tie into your videos. Otherwise I would just focus on stuff that drives engagement to get the community more active, no rush just when you think of it and have time. Otherwise it looks pretty good.
@@madhatistaken Oh one other advantage is that you can make a channel only you can post in for when you make new videos or if you start doing lives. That way everyone in the discord gets pinged when new content drops.
I just took the test and passed and maaaaaan, everything you just said was legit! I was dying at 124 for exactly how you described it! I went the distance so I clearly wasnt amazing but that was the worst test I ever took.
man u are a fken beast ireally do like what u do and congratulations on getting that certificate and ihope get even and even more better
and i hope to be better like u man u give me huge boost to keep learning thx man
Since you've titled your video as such, I have a question for you.
How would you compare CISSP to something like the OSEE exam from a Cybersecurity exam perspective and which one do you think is harder, heck even the OSCP? Just wanted your thoughts on that?
good job man 🤙
💚
So it wasn't the McDonalds certificate as I thought.
Hey, congrats! I can't wait to take my first certification (probably Security+). I can see how happy it made you feel!
Thank you! No Mcdonalds haha I havent given up on cybersecurity yet. I have a very self loathing personality so it was indeed a morale boost. Even if my boss didn't seem to care lol 😅 I can see why people rack up certifications, it kind of feels good to study and dust the cobb webs from the brain. Kind of get into a rut at work and do the same old stuff until it's too easy and not challenging. Good luck in your testing and studies! Keep us posted on your progress 😁
love your vids, trying to navigate towards a cybersecurity job... appreciate the content, breaks up the studying. the 749 DKP minus killed me 🤣MANY WHELPS HANDLE IT!
The fact that I was thinking, "where did this guy go? It's been a month", and you upload this today just made it better. Haha. Congratulations sir! You're indeed Mad lol
Thank you! 💚 It was quite the crazy experience. I'm more mad than I ever have been 😅
Don’t go too mad. We need you here lol
This actually is really impressive. So many covet that exam and you just shat all over it LOL.
well he was exxagerating a lot of for views im sure. HE knows his stuff and was able to pass quickly . Most cant.
I just passed CC in a month with no prior knowledge and though I was pretty clever... my god man you are brilliant! Congratulations, I still need to get my 5 years of experience but already started a daily CISSP flash card routine so maybe, maybe 5 years from now I could pass it too! (after months of practice! not taking any chances)
CC is like a very light version of Security+
🎉congratulations 🎊
Your story is my story 100%. Down to every detail except I went to the bathroom and said fk it I have to read the report eventually. I passed on Monday and was sure I failed, but in the end, I passed.
Dude that’s awesome!!!!! Gave me hope lol
Absolute mad man.
😅💚
Yooo! Congrats man. This is incredible. The boss hatin though 😂. You want me to not do better for myself?? He knows they can’t afford you anymore!
Thank you! Yea...everyone but him congratulated me. Hopefully I can land a better gig now! 🤑
Thank you for the motivation
@1:02 😂 you play wow Madhat? I knew I loved you ❤
Just found your channel a week ago as I was prepping for the Security+ and thinking "What're my next steps after this exam?" I passed and in a few months, I think I'll try to take a run at this monster, the CISSP. ONE WEEK, MY GUY? You're insane! :D
Congrats on passing! I want to think I know more than I give myself credit for, but maybe the test is easier than it's hyped up to be ha. Let me know when you take it what your thoughts are on it.
Going from sec+ to cissp prep helps. I would also reccomend doing the Google Cybersecurity course. It follows the cissp domains and concepts. Plus you get some hands on to help you learn and build some experience.
I'm 32 and decided to go back to college for cybersecurity. People say not to go to college for cybersecurity, but I'm going for free. One thing I keep seeing in every cybersecurity video is getting experience. What can I do to get experience?
I'm 30 and going and everyone I've ever told that I'm going for cybersecurity, they all say "thats a really good degree". Never had anyone tell me otherwise
From Helpdesk to Sysadmin, Network etc, everything counts as experience.
A lot of people take the exam cram approach or simply study a ton of practice questions for a couple months just to get this cert instead actually reading the entire official CISSP book and doing all of the exercises to truly understand how everything in IT from top to bottom actually works and interconnects. This is why a lot of people out here who just pile up certs to pad their resume cant get the job or position they want because they really don't know what they're talking about. These hiring managers who have been doing this stuff for almost 20+ years can tell people who studied these exam crams just to get this cert versus those who have real world experience and studied for these exams top to bottom.
True. 100% agree. Ive said in a few videos that people are quick to want to pass these certifications rather than learn the material it covers. In my case I've already been taught the top level understanding the cissp provides, so it was more of a refresher than learning opportunity. But studying the osg can provide invaluable insight into aspects of cybersecurity that are often overlooked.
Yay! I clapped when you said you passed it :)
Congratulations man! Time for another round of interviews with Andrei for your next role 🤣
Thank you!! I actually just got done talking to a hiring agency this morning I was referred to. Fingers crossed Andrei can find me a sweet gig 😅
Congrats dude , i was a bit confused about how it only took a week as in you 'How I Got A 6 Figure Job Out Of College' at the end you mentioned you were studying 8 months ago, I'm guessing it was on and off and then took it seriously for a week. I'm happy for you and glad that you passed and at the same time i'm confused on the timeline.
Thank you! I was trying to watch Pete Zerger's cram video just before I landed this job so I could sound more professional in interviews. I stopped because I was learning and enjoying my current job, but the honeymoon phase of my job wore off and I realized I needed to get out. Hence the 1 week cram commitment
Congrats!
im so confused you like totally deserve more subs breh
This video is really entertaining tbh...and educatingg!
what an absolute GOD. I am voting Mad Hat for pres llol
CONGRATS FOR PASSING SORRY FOR COMMENTING SO MUCH THIS VIDEO WAS RLY GOOD
Thank you!! 💚
Congrats bro.
How can one take part in the exam? One must proof that they have 5 years of work experience. How exactly does the process work? Can someone provide more detailed information about this?
Anyone can take the test at any time. After you pass, you have to find someone who is certified by ISC2 to endorse you and verify your work experience. If you don't actually have the required experience, you can get what's called an Associate of ISC2. And then when you have acquired the requisite experience, you can get endorsed and be awarded the credential.
Good old IS2 the best certificate racket going, my opinion of course
I certainly embellished alot. It was fruitful endeavor even if it's not the hardest exam and ISC is overhyped. Just want to land a slightly better gig then my current one 😁
Congratulation! Mad respect! (ISC)2 exams are like chewing glas xD