Earning the SSCP (Systems Security Certified Practitioner) certification is a strong career move for IT and cybersecurity professionals looking to validate operational security expertise.
Offered by ISC2, the SSCP demonstrates practical knowledge in implementing, monitoring, and administering IT infrastructure using security best practices.
If you’re targeting SSCP within three months, this structured 90-day roadmap will help you move from preparation to exam confidence — systematically and strategically.
Step 1: Understand the SSCP Exam Blueprint (Days 1–3)
Before studying, align yourself with the exam structure.
SSCP Exam Overview:
- 125 multiple-choice questions
- 3-hour duration
- Passing score: 700/1000
- Covers 7 domains
SSCP Domains:
- Security Operations Administration
- Access Controls
- Risk Identification, Monitoring Analysis
- Incident Response Recovery
- Cryptography
- Network Communications Security
- Systems Application Security
Download the official exam outline from ISC2 and treat it as your blueprint.
Goal: Know exactly what you’re being tested on before opening any book.
90-Day SSCP Study Plan
We’ll divide this into three structured phases:
- Phase 1: Foundation Domain Coverage (Days 1–45)
- Phase 2: Deep Reinforcement Practice (Days 46–75)
- Phase 3: Exam Simulation Weak Area Fixing (Days 76–90)
Phase 1: Foundation Domain Coverage (Days 1–45)
Week 1–2: Security Operations Administration
Focus Areas:
- CIA triad
- Governance compliance
- Change management
- Asset management
- Security policies
Action:
- Study 2–3 hours daily
- Make handwritten summary notes
- Create flashcards for terminology
Week 3: Access Controls
Focus Areas:
- DAC, MAC, RBAC
- Authentication vs Authorization
- Multi-factor authentication
- Identity lifecycle management
Tip:
Practice scenario-based questions. SSCP tests applied knowledge, not theory memorization.
Week 4: Risk Identification Monitoring
Focus Areas:
- Risk analysis (qualitative vs quantitative)
- Threat modeling
- Vulnerability management
- Business continuity basics
Understand:
- ALE (Annualized Loss Expectancy)
- SLE (Single Loss Expectancy)
- Risk formulas
Week 5: Incident Response Recovery
Focus Areas:
- Incident lifecycle
- Containment strategies
- Evidence handling
- Disaster recovery plans
Create:
- A simple IR flowchart in your notes
Week 6: Cryptography + Network Security
Split the week:
Cryptography:
- Symmetric vs asymmetric encryption
- Hashing vs encryption
- PKI basics
- TLS/SSL
Network Security:
- Firewalls
- IDS/IPS
- VPN
- Network segmentation
