CISSP Study Guide, Third Edition by Eric Conrad

Hello, I am looking to start my journey again in pursuit of the CISSP certification. I tried several years ago but got derailed to relocation and family issues. I am not more determine than ever. Previously I had one of the older Shon Harris books that had a CD with a practice exam. This time I am thinking about going in a different direction. I have read several wonderful things about Eric Conrad's book entitled CISSP Study Guide, Third Edition. My question is does this book come with a CD of practice exam or is it all type up in the book. I would love a CD to use when on the train commuting or sitting on conference calls or simply at the mall while the family shopping.

Any advice and/or thoughts on this is greatly appreciative.

Find more posts tagged with

SAVE $250 on Your Boot Camp — Use Code "EXAM26"

Exclusively for TechExams members for Infosec Boot Camps starting before April 30, 2026

View Boot Camps

Comments

DocRoy

or should I go the Sybex 7th, and CCCure route?

Mike7

From the forum postings, both Eric Conrad 3rd Edition and Sybex CISSP Official Study Guide should do.
Not sure about Eric Conard, Sybex has additional study questions at https://sybextestbanks.wiley.com/public/

Eric Conrad is concise at 622 pages whereas Sybex comes in at 1,080 pages.
IMHO, both books make better study guides than Shon Harris AIO (1,456 pages); I will keep the AIO as a reference book.
If you have some years of relevant experience, go for Eric Conrad. Else try Sybex.

Mechs

I have both now, but I'm finding difference between the two books.

For example CPU memory addressing in the Sybex mentions of Base + Offset, but Eric Conrads doesn't.

Additionally there are more models in the Sybex book than Eric Conrads.

So I just basically resorted to using the Sybex one, even though it's much longer! But I want to be sure

Clm

The only book I used was the Eric Conrad 3rd Edition and I passed two weeks ago also Kelly Handerhan videos Cybrary IT

DocRoy

Thank you all for your responses. I think I am going to order both the Eric Conrad 3rd Edition and Sybex CISSP Official Study Guide.

My journey begins now so I will be watching these videos. Ordering my study guides now on Amazon.com.

JoJoCal19

Mechs wrote: »

For example CPU memory addressing in the Sybex mentions of Base + Offset, but Eric Conrads doesn't.

Unless with the refresh of CISSP the technical level of the questions dramatically changed, I don't see how you would need to get that low-level technical.

Mechs

JoJoCal19 wrote: »

Unless with the refresh of CISSP the technical level of the questions dramatically changed, I don't see how you would need to get that low-level technical.

Well Sybex mention: Register, Direct, Indirect, Immediate and Base + Offset. Conrad offers these all except Base + Offset.

On the flip side in the Symmetric Crypto section, Conrad explains how AES works, step by step, but Sybex do not.

It's these small differences that make me study more from Sybex, as it is the official guide. I have no idea of how technical things will be in the exam

Mike7

The CISSP exam does not test you on low level technical details at least for me. More of application of concepts.

The technical details helps you to appreciate concepts especially for those without the background. This is a management and not technical exam.

In fact, I read about this CISSP who failed Security+ because he does not know how to do sub-netting.

beads

Simple. If you have a great deal of experience within InfoSec, Eric Conrad is the way to go. If you weak in more than two areas or in InfoSec in general then the Sybex mega-tome is for you. They are both written to two different audiences neither is overtly better than the other. Just different audiences.

Good luck.

b/eads

bryanthetechie

For those of you who have access to Books 24x7 (WGU students past and present), the 2016 3rd edition of Conrad's CISSP Study Guide is now available there. Happy happy joy joy.

DocRoy

Well just a quik update, been reading Eric's book since I got it on the March 19th. Also been doing some video watching and creating some flashcards. Also trying to formalize some memory sheets that I can use and study and then just before exam write them down from memory on a scratch sheet of paper in the testing room. Also employer just approve a week bootcamp for us at work. So I am hopeful this all will pay off.