Infosec Networks

This past week pushed me to my limits and I'm so proud to share that I've passed both the CISSP and CISM exams back-to-back.

It wasn't easy. There were moments I almost gave up, but with the encouragement of people who genuinely want to see others succeed, I kept going. A special thank you to Luke Ahmed 🚀 whose kindness and push at just the right time made all the difference. His CISSP course especially the "think like a manager" approach completely reshaped the way I prepared.


For CISSP, my journey included:
📚 Luke Ahmed's CISSP course Luke Ahmed 🚀
📚 Destination Map concise CISSP book + mind map videos Destination Certification Inc.
📚 Official CISSP book ISC2
📚 All In One CISSP
📚 CBK (Domain 1)
📚 Kelly Handerhan "Why You Will Pass the CISSP"
📚Thor Peterson's CISSP course Thor Pedersen - Lead trainer at ThorTeaches
📚 Peter Zerger's CISSP Exam Cram
📚Andrew Ramdayal's "50 CISSP Practice Questions – Master the CISSP Mindset" — helped me develop the mental approach needed for non-technical, scenario-based questions

For CISM, it was all about applying practical insights and learning from real leaders. Huge gratitude to the Tangible Uplift Program Tangible Uplift Program (TUP) , with inspiring guidance from Nivedita Newar , Jalpah D. , and others who shared their experiences so generously.
Also, one resource I found incredibly practical was the CISM Masterclass Essentials video by Prabh Nair, it laid out all four CISM domains in a real-world, no-fluff way.

Beyond the exams, it was about seeing the bigger picture ✨ embedding security into business and turning 12.5 years of experience into impact. I'm happy to be a bridge for anyone on this path and share what worked for me if it helps.

It was stressful (0 social life!) but also beautiful — my toddler and pre-schooler even left drawings in my books 💗 tiny reminders of why I kept going.

If I can do CISSP and CISM in one week, you can too with focus, the right resources, and the right people around you ⚡️