Took the exam last week. I learned a lot from this forum and it is time to give back.
A few background: 20+ years of software development, major in Java. Couple of years in network administration (Novell netware, fossil me:D). Couple of recent years in PKI. Prepare 6 months but mostly after work, about 2-3 hours per day.
Books: Sybex guide + Eric Conrad study guide, both from cover to cover, unbelievable for a non-native English speaker (Actually I think my English reading is improved after the study
). 3 months for Sybex and 2 months for Eric Conrad, last month for self test. In my point of view, Sybex is closer to the exam but I think the books is just to give you a concept and you are on your own during the exam.
Mp3: Hear Cybrary during my commuter (Kelly provides tricks/tips really help me to memorize something I am not familiar with, thanks!
)
Self test: Every material I can get, Sybex + Eric Conrad + CBK + AIO, Simulation test: Official Practice Test two 250 + Sybex 3 Bonus tests (online test is much more easy to let you get the result, it took me about half an hour to get the result from each paper test
)
Exam: Just like many people said, it is no technical and you need to think like a manager（This CISSP should be CISSM), but you need to familiar with the concept, so after taking the exam I think maybe CBK is the better choice of book. The questions and choices are so long that it took me all six hours to finish (Took a 10 mins break for toilet and a bread after 180 and knock down the remaining 70 after the break), only have around 10 mins to check the flag questions.
Good luck to everybody! The first six hours challenge is over and the other six hours game is on the way (my first marathon next month).
