ISC2 · Professional Certification · Associate
Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
Crydd Score 66
Demand Growing
Career Value Strong
Recognition Strong
SSCP at a glance
- Provider
- ISC2
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- Security
- Level
- Associate
- Cost
- $249
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time to earn
- 2–3 months
- Validity
- 3 years (maintained with CPE credits)
- Format
- 100–125 items, 2 hours; 700 of 1000 to pass
- Prerequisites
- 1 year of full-time experience in an SSCP domain (a relevant degree can cover it); without it, passing makes you an Associate of ISC2
What is SSCP?
ISC2's practitioner certification for hands-on security roles: security concepts and practices, access controls, risk identification and monitoring, incident response and recovery, cryptography, network and communications security, and systems and application security.
Skills it covers
- Security operations
- Access controls
- Network security
- Incident response
Is SSCP worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 66Choose it if
You work in IT or security operations with at least a year of experience, and want an ISC2 credential before you qualify for the CISSP.
Consider alternatives if
You are entry-level: ISC2's Certified in Cybersecurity or CompTIA Security+. With five years' experience, the CISSP.
Why we say so
A respected, practical credential from the body behind the CISSP; it is named less often than Security+ in job postings.
Market demand
Security administrator and analyst roles list it alongside Security+, and it is approved for US Department of Defense positions.
Where SSCP takes you
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Systems Administrator
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to SSCP, so you know why it’s here.
Careers SSCP leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where SSCP sits on the path — build up, then step on.
