Professionals working in the cybersecurity domain earn various credentials throughout their careers. Of all their certifications, earning a CISSP certification brings them among the most highly sought-after experts in the world of cybersecurity. Research carried out on multiple levels, such as (ISC)², third-party studies and benchmarking surveys have given an estimate of how much a certified CISSP professional earns in different countries of the world. 

An annual benchmarking study called the (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study is conducted to aid benchmarking of salaries and development goals while understanding the challenges and recognising opportunities that cybersecurity professionals face. Let’s take a look at the estimated average CISSP salary across the world.

Average CISSP Salary Per Annum

According to the data collected through various sources,

• The global average salary of a CISSP professional is $92,639.
• A CISSP professional in the Asia-Pacific region earns about $57,179.
• A CISSP professional in the Middle East, Europe or Africa earns an average of $81,568
• A CISSP professional in Latin America earns about $22,014
• A CISSP professional in North America earns about $120,552

Salaries of Various CISSP Roles in Different Countries

According to a 2019 report on IT skills and salaries by Global Knowledge, IT security professionals with certifications earn about 9% higher salaries than their counterparts without certification in North America. Across other continents and regions, facts remain the same even though the statistics vary slightly. In the Asia-Pacific region, security professionals with certifications make 6% more than their counterparts, in the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), it is 8%, while in Latin America, it rises to 12%.

In particular, CISSP-certified IT security professionals earn an average of $116,573 per annum, which makes it the world’s third-highest IT professional salary. Let’s take a look at some of the different roles that a CISSP certification prepares you for and the respective salary it pays.

India

• An Information Security Manager earns an average of Rs. 17,87, 769 per annum. 
• An Information Security Analyst earns an average of Rs. 7,23,480 per annum.
• A Security Consultant for Computing/ Networking/ IT earns an average of Rs 9,61,039 per annum.
• An IT Security Architect earns an average of Rs. 22,30,071 per annum.
• A Senior Security Consultant earns about Rs. 12,75,000 per annum.
• An Information Security Specialist earns an average of Rs. 14,52,750 per annum.
• A Chief Information Security Officer earns about Rs. 23,00,000 per annum.

USA

• The average salary of a CISSP professional is $109,000.
• An Information Security Manager earns an average of $117,383 per annum. 
• An Information Security Analyst earns an average of $87,381 per annum.
• A Chief Information Security Officer earns about $164,412 per annum.
• An IT Security Architect earns an average of $124,305 per annum.
• An Information Security Officer earns about $105,195 per annum.
• A Security Engineer earns an average of $103,045 per annum.
• An Information Security Engineer earns about $98,999 per annum.

United Kingdom

• The average salary of a CISSP professional is £57,000.
• An Information Security Manager earns an average of £55,809 per annum. 
• An IT Security Architect earns an average of £57,895 per annum.
• A Security Consultant for Computing/ Networking/ IT earns an average of £54,981.
• per annum.
• An Information Security Analyst earns an average of £45,544 per annum.
• A Chief Information Security Officer earns about £100,460 per annum.
• An Information Security Officer earns about £47,109 per annum.
• A Senior Security Consultant earns about £62,069 per annum.

UAE

• The average salary of a CISSP-certified professional is AED 301,000
• An Information Security Manager earns an average of AED 330,165 per annum. 
• A Security Consultant for Computing/ Networking/ IT earns an average of AED 264,000.
• per annum.
• A Chief Information Security Officer earns about AED 396,269 per annum.
• An Information Security Analyst earns an average of AED 125,714 per annum.
• A Senior Security Consultant earns about AED 287,337 per annum.
• An Information Technology Manager earns about AED 180,000 per annum.
• A Cyber Security Analyst earns about AED 310,000 per annum.

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to become a CISSP Certified

An Overview of CISSP

CISSP or Certified Information Systems Security Professional is a credential that is almost mandatory for InfoSec professionals as proof of their skills and competency within the domain of cybersecurity. A CISSP certification validates an IT professional’s skills in designing, engineering, deploying and managing information security systems efficiently for the protection of enterprises from cybersecurity threats. 

This certification was first brought in in 1994 and has grown to become the gold standard for information security. There are many reasons for this:

• The CISSP certification is sponsored by the (ISC)² or the Information Systems Security Certification Consortium. This is the world premiere NPO specialising in system security.
• It is the first-ever InfoSec certification that meets the requirements of ISO/ IEC Standard 17024.
• It adheres to a vendor-neutral standard and offers IT professionals hands-on experience and technical knowledge about IT security.
• The CISSP certification exam has received global recognition and is available across 114 countries, 8 languages and 882 locations.

What is the Role of a CISSP Professional?

Reliable information security programs need to be integrated within each aspect of the enterprise environment. This integration should include the responsibilities of an organisation’s environment, the SoWs (statements of work) and the process through which they will be audited and monitored. 

The primary role of a CISSP professional is reinforcing the latest information security systems to shield data from unauthorised access and infringement. InfoSec professionals do this by researching and surveying potential vulnerabilities, creating plans for the management of these risks, deploying the right protection measures and surveying frameworks for irregularities, execution of remedial action, collection of security metrics and creation of security reports to enable real-time awareness of the situation and aid decision-making.

Reasons for the Rising Demand for CISSP-Certified Professionals

As technology advances, business enterprises face an increasing threat of cyberattacks. Not only are the attacks increasing in frequency, but the attackers are also becoming more sophisticated. This makes it harder to keep data safe in a world that practically runs on data. According to the Annual Cyber Security Ventures report of 2019, the cost incurred due to cybercrimes is touted to double from the year 2015 to 2021. 

In 2017, the GISWS (Global Information Security Workforce Survey) reported that by 2020, the global shortage for information security professionals would touch 1.5 million. CISSP-certified professionals remain among the highest-paid IT professionals. So, to sum up, an increasing number of attacks, coupled with an acute shortage of professionals and a highly lucrative payscale has resulted in a rapidly rising demand for CISSP professionals.

You May Also Like: Five Essential Things to know about CISSP

Why Should You Enrol in a CISSP Certification Training Course?

The CISSP standard has a tradition spanning more than 20 years. The certification is also accepted across the global information security industry and has received global recognition. Additionally, CISSP has made its mark as the industry standard when it comes to vendor-neutral competencies in information security. This means choosing to pursue this certification is a huge step for anyone looking to advance their IT career.

There are several platforms, both physical and online, where you can register and prepare for the CISSP exam. There are two key reasons for IT professionals, especially cybersecurity experts, to enrol in a CISSP training course before appearing for the exam.

• Professional CISSP training offers in-depth knowledge of the newest technologies and trends of the industry, along with best practices, threats, standards and regulations.
• A CISSP certification is proof of the competence and key skills that the InfoSec industry requires. It increases your credibility as a professional in whichever organisation you choose to join.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, the CISSP certification is the first-ever IT security certification that adheres to the ISO/ IEC 17024 standard. Thus, it is not surprising that CISSP-certified IT professionals are reputed and trusted by organisations globally when it comes to defining their security framework and designing, managing, and controlling the architecture. An experienced certified CISSP professional is often considered the best expert there is for the protection of precious data within an organisation. 

The CISSP certification is being cited by recruiters at an increasing rate, as one of the mandatory requirements for various InfoSec positions across industries. However, the pay scale for the certification holders is also among the highest in the global IT industry. The CISSP certification is by no chance easy, but it is most certainly worth the effort. If you are looking to advance your career in cybersecurity, or are wondering what the future of a cybersecurity career looks like, you have your answer. 

You can prepare for the CISSP certification exam by enrolling in an online training course with Koenig. This will prepare you for the responsibilities you will handle, the technical skills you will need and the knowledge you will require on the job. Give your career the boost it deserves and enrol in a CISSP certification training course today.