Daniel Elice

The CISSP isn’t just a certification. It’s a mindset. As Destination Cert puts it, it teaches one to “think like a CEO,” balancing risk, governance, compliance, and architecture with business objectives.

Lessons from Preparation

Preparing for the CISSP is a marathon, not a sprint. I focused on:

• Destination Certification Official CISSP Study Guide: Primary resource to learn, prepare, and understand all domains.
• Mindset Roadmap Videos (Destination Cert): Watched a few days before the exam to reinforce key concepts and likely exam topics.
• Practice Exams: Completed both the CISSP Official Practice Tests and Destination Cert’s app-based practice test about a week before the exam.

This combination of structured study, mindset reinforcement, and hands-on practice not only prepared me for the exam but also strengthened my ability to think like a security leader.

Applying CISSP in Leadership

In my new role leading our security/compliance team, I’ve already seen the value of the CISSP mindset in action:

• Prioritizing initiatives that reduce organizational risk while maintaining employee productivity.
• Collaborating across teams to ensure security policies are both protective and practical, aligning with overall business goals.
• Mentoring team members in threat modeling, incident response, and proactive monitoring.

The CISSP has helped me bridge the gap between theory and practice, transforming knowledge into actionable leadership.

Reflections and Advice

Earning the CISSP is all about learning to see the bigger picture. Focus on understanding the “why” behind security concepts. And apply what you learn in your current role as you study it, it helps the material stick.

The journey to earning the CISSP taught me more than policies or frameworks, it taught me how to think like a security leader. I’m excited to continue applying these lessons to lead my team and drive security forward in my career.