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CCSK: CSA Certification Passed! Here are some tips!

KatiushaKatiusha Member Posts: 35 ■■□□□□□□□□
in Other Security Certifications
CCSK exam: passed! icon_cheers.gif
Here is some feedback! icon_study.gif

CCSK exam: lots of info about the exam, objectives, domains covers etc. can be found of CSA website so I will skip that.

The newest version (as of June 2014) is V3, exam is 90 minutes, 60 questions, all from the 2 documents (CSA Guide and ENISA) posted on CSA website.

I have studied for the exam, but it was more difficult than I expected.
Good things:
- exam is online (no need to go to the testing center icon_wink.gif), I guess it's open book too (no specifications in exam instructions);
- one fee (at the moment, it's $345) gives you 2 attempts! That's sweet! icon_cheers.gif
- CSA Guide and ENISA document cover all the questions, I did not have any "surprises" on the exam icon_mad.gifmas:

Not so good things: crash.gif
- exam is more difficult than I expected. I found info in the guide to be dispersed, so it does get confusing; icon_cyclops_ani.gif
- I would not suggest on relying on "find" function if you use "open book" (or open laptop for that matter) because many questions involve your understanding and not just definitions of key terms; icon_study.gif
- ENISA paper... not fun... I chose to read only the executive summary, I guess reading the entire document would be beneficial but it is pretty dry and yeah.. no fun icon_scratch.gif
- exam is timed, now it's 90 minutes for 60 questions. The times runs quickly!!! icon_mike.gif

Tips:
- pay attention to Compliance and understand it well (this domain was challenging for me personally; the main point is that compliance info is contained in pretty much every domain so gets confusing for me)
- Cloud Reference Model... quite a few questions on that icon_study.gif
- ENISA documents: probably 8 questions or so
- pay attention to Risks and Challenges with moving to cloud computing; questions tests your knowledge on that

Hope this helps in your preparation!! icon_thumright.gif
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    SephStormSephStorm Member Posts: 1,731 ■■■■■■■□□□
    What certification is it? Never heard of CCSK.
    http://www.ethicalhacker.net/forums/index.php - sectestanalysis.blogspot.com
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    binarysoulbinarysoul Member Posts: 993
    Cloud.

    I didn't know either!

    https://ccsk.cloudsecurityalliance.org/
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    JDMurrayJDMurray Admin Posts: 13,026 Admin
    Congratulations and thanks for the great review! icon_thumright.gif

    Forum Admin at www.techexams.net
    --
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdmurray
    Twitter: www.twitter.com/jdmurray
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    qdpqdp Registered Users Posts: 2 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Good job. Thanks for the the review!
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    GoodBishopGoodBishop Member Posts: 359 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Nice review! Very helpful, I still need to take the test, I've registered, but my last MBA class is brutal, so I might take the CCSK in a few weeks.
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    safernandezsafernandez Member Posts: 15 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Hello! My name is Santiago, from Argentine! Good Thread!


    I can only read Enisa. Those are searchable questions? It 's very hardly this text!

    Thanks!!
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    DAVIS NGUYENDAVIS NGUYEN Member Posts: 1,472 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Congrats!
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    ansel1261ansel1261 Member Posts: 24 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Thank you for the tips. I am starting my review for the CCSK.
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    abhisheksenatorabhisheksenator Member Posts: 10 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Congratulations and thanks for the detailed review. Anyone done with the V4 exam recently launched ?
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    yogeshbguptayogeshbgupta Member Posts: 6 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Have they started the exam on V4.0. I think both V3 and V4 are available. CSA Security guidelines V4.0 is really good. You can get practice questions on v4.0 on www.secloud.guru
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    b0Risb0Ris Member Posts: 27 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I have taken and passed the CCSK V4 exam. I will answer any questions that are reasonable (not exposing exam questions).
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    technietechnie Registered Users Posts: 3 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Hi b0ris,

    Please share:

    1. How you prepared
    2. What were the questions like (i.e. straight forward, confusing, key areas to focus)
    3. Approx number of ENISA questions (more this time?)
    4. Materials you would recommend for preparation.
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    technietechnie Registered Users Posts: 3 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I sat and passed for CCSK v4 at my first attempt recently!

    Here's some useful information:
    - it's not as hard / complex as I thought it was, but I do have a background in security + cloud.
    - questions are not straight forward, but if you understand a certain topic, you shouldn't have a problem.
    - Study the ENISA and CSA manuals. That is indeed all you need.
    - Read the manuals at least once.
    - You have enough time to answer all questions, and perform the occasional research

    Good luck if you're taking this exam.
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