CCSP vs. CISSP: Which ISC² Certification Is Right for Your Cloud Security Career?

 

The International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC²) is a global authority in cybersecurity certifications. Among its most prestigious credentials are the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) certifications.

Both validate expertise in security — but they target different career levels and focus areas. Choosing between them depends on your experience, goals, and the type of work you want to do in cybersecurity or cloud security.

This guide breaks down the key differences between CCSP and CISSP to help you decide which certification is best suited for your professional journey in 2025.

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) are two of the most prestigious cybersecurity certifications offered by (ISC)², each serving a distinct purpose in a professional’s career path. The CISSP focuses on broad, enterprise-level cybersecurity management, covering topics such as risk assessment, network security, governance, and information protection across multiple domains. It’s ideal for experienced professionals seeking leadership or managerial roles in information security. On the other hand, the CCSP is tailored for specialists working in cloud security environments, emphasizing cloud architecture, compliance, data protection, and infrastructure security. It validates technical expertise in securing data, applications, and operations within cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. In essence, CISSP is broader and management-focused, while CCSP offers deep, technical insight into cloud-specific security challenges—making both certifications highly valuable yet distinct depending on your career direction.

Exam Content and Structure

CISSP Domains (8 Total)

1. Security and Risk Management

2. Asset Security

3. Security Architecture and Engineering

4. Communication and Network Security

5. Identity and Access Management (IAM)

6. Security Assessment and Testing

7. Security Operations

8. Software Development Security

CCSP Domains (6 Total)

1. Cloud Concepts, Architecture, and Design

2. Cloud Data Security

3. Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security

4. Cloud Application Security

5. Cloud Security Operations

6. Legal, Risk, and Compliance

The CISSP covers a broad range of security management and operations topics, whereas the CCSP takes a deeper dive into cloud-specific challenges such as shared responsibility models, multi-tenant security, and compliance in cloud environments.

Eligibility and Experience Requirements

• CISSP: Requires at least 5 years of cumulative, paid experience in two or more of the CISSP domains.

• CCSP: Requires 5 years of IT experience, including 3 years in information security and 1 year in one or more CCSP domains.

If you lack full experience, you can become an Associate of ISC², allowing you to earn the certification after gaining the required experience within six years.

Which One Should You Take First?

• Choose CISSP first if you want a broad cybersecurity foundation and plan to move into management or CISO-level roles.

• Choose CCSP first if you already work in cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP) and want to validate your cloud security expertise.

Many professionals earn both — starting with CISSP to build strategic understanding, then pursuing CCSP to specialize in cloud security operations and compliance.

Final Thoughts

Both CISSP and CCSP are gold-standard ISC² certifications that prove your commitment to cybersecurity excellence.

If your goal is to lead security teams and define enterprise-wide policies, go for CISSP.
If you want to design and secure modern cloud infrastructures, CCSP is your ideal path.

For 2025, the demand for cloud-savvy security experts continues to soar — and CCSP certification offers a perfect route to stay ahead in this ever-evolving field.