CISSP Exam Cram (Paperback)

by Mandy Andress (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The CISSP Exam Cram is an exciting new study guide for the rapidly growing number of professionals seeking to pass the CISSP certification exam. Clear, concise, and highly focused content lays out core technologies covered on the exam like Access Control, Compute Operations Security, Cryptography, Application Program Security, Communications Security, and Systems and Physical Security. Candidates gain a significant advantage during the test from the book's tear-out cram sheets and memory joggers, sections on proven test-taking strategies, warnings on trick questions, and time-saving study tips.

About the Author
Mandy Andress (Dublin, CA), is President and CEO of ArcSec Technologies, a security analysis firm. Prior to founding ArcSec Technologies Mandy logged many years of corporate security experience spending time at Exxon, Deloitte & Touche, and Ernst & Young. She also served as the Director of Security at two Silicon Valley startup companies, Privada, Inc., and Evant Solutions. Mandy is widely respected and has written numerous security product reviews for InfoWorld, Information Security, and other publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Coriolis Group Books (September 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588800296
• ISBN-13: 978-1588800299
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,380,142 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Inaccurate and overly brief, October 13, 2001

By	H. Adkins (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is filled with inaccurate or misleading information. In the first 3 chapters alone I have found over 11 errors. It is clear that the author is not an expert on this subject and that the book was not edited or proofread by someone knowledgeable in the area of security. Additionally, the information given is anemic. Sometimes giving only a few sentences to important topics and failing to make points regarding information on the exam.

I find it hard to believe that the author passed the CISSP test, and if she did, then that might speak to the reputation of the certification.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very light reading, October 28, 2001

By	Tod Beardsley "Security Dork" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I spent a weekend in commercial airline purgatory reading the new Exam Cram CISSP book. This is the first book I've read for CISSP study prep, and I have to say, it's pretty basic. On the 50 question self-test at the end, I got 100% on my first try. (Not counting the two errored questions, of course -- every Exam Cram book has a couple wrong answers, which is to be expected.)

I know I'm not that smart, so the only other explanation for my phenomenal performance is that the material is really basic, and lacks the depth of the real test. This is reflected by my first attempt at the 10 random question test on cissp.org, where I scored a pretty pathetic 60%.

I also found the end of chapter "for more information" URLs annoying -- every chapter mentions securityfocus.com. Like it's one big ad for SecFoc.

So, the Exam Cram book may be useful for someone who's never, ever worked in InfoSec before, and is thinking of starting a career with an eye towards CISSP certification (I imagine the crypto stuff might be hard for someone who's never worked with/studied modern crypto, for example). Can't say it's useful for current professionals, though.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars So, So, Not Up To The Author's Capabilities, November 21, 2001

By	James W. S. Ludwig, CISSP (San Diego, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

I had studied Mandy's "Surviving Security" book in preparation for my taking the CISSP exam. When the 'CISSP Exam Cram' became available, my expectations were sky high because of her previous book. Regretfuly, the 'CISSP Exam Cram' did not meet my expectations. I found the book to be extremely limited based on the breadth of the CISSP examination and that it contained little to no depth of subject. I could have done just as well reading a good security terms definition list. And I even memorized the 50-cram statements (they may have helped me answer 1 of the 250 questions on the exam). Therefore, the time I spent studying the book did not pay the expected dividens. The author's "Surviving Security" was more on target for preparing a person for the CISSP examination.

My hope is that the author will revise the 'CISSP Exam Cram' and make it more on target (Readers deserve a good return on their purchase and study time investment). Perhaps preparing an Exam Cram type book is not her cup of tea. I know she has the knowledge and capability to prepare a good Cram Book; this isn't it.