shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use Isc2?

Skip to main content - isc2.org

Depends. Worth it if you need CISSP for your career or want the free CC entry exam to break into cybersecurity. Skip it if you won't pay annual maintenance fees forever, or if you expected a software product — this is a certification body, not a tool.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 20+ public sources; review snippets were truncated, so exact ratings and fee amounts could not be verified.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free exam via 1MCC promo

Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Professional certs (e.g. CISSP)Exam fees vary by region
Enterprise trainingContact sales

Best for

  • Career changers entering cybersecurity
  • Experienced pros who need CISSP
  • Teams buying enterprise security training
  • Cert holders tracking CPE credits

Not for

  • Anyone shopping for a software tool — this sells certifications
  • People unwilling to pay annual maintenance fees indefinitely
  • Learners who want one cheap cert with no strings attached
  • Casual upskillers better served by CompTIA Security+ or short courses

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

The 'free' CC exam carries an annual maintenance fee to keep the cert active

medium

Members report surprise renewal charges after passing

medium

CC has little standalone value; plan a longer cert path before enrolling

medium

Certification award can be delayed by endorsement processing

Pros and cons

Pros

  • CC entry exam free via One Million Certified in Cybersecurity program
  • CISSP widely considered the gold-standard cybersecurity certification
  • Users praise high-quality course content
  • Free knowledge-check quizzes for self-assessment
  • Broad catalog: certs, webinars, CPE credits, enterprise training

Cons

  • Annual maintenance fee required even after 'free' exam
  • CC alone has limited career value without higher certs
  • Members report poor customer service; one called ISC2 'shady'
  • CISSP endorsement can stall despite meeting requirements
  • Thin Trustpilot footprint: only 20 reviews

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/26/2026 - 12 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x4review x6security x1news x1

Key stats

  • Value for money: 3/5

    Rating

  • Free exam via 1MCC promo

    Starting price

  • 12

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 3/5. Free CC entry, but recurring fees frustrate members
  • Ease of use: 3/5. Exams run via Pearson VUE; mixed process reports
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Deep cert ladder, webinars, CPE, enterprise training
  • Support quality: 2/5. Multiple complaints about unhelpful member service
  • Security posture: 4/5. Product security page published; no public incidents found
  • $0 Starting price CC exam via 1MCC promo
  • Yes Free tier CC exam + self-paced course
  • 20 Trustpilot reviews Very small sample size
  • 10 G2-listed alternatives 2026 competitors comparison

Pricing

Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)

Free exam via 1MCC promo

  • Entry-level cert
  • Self-paced course
  • Annual maintenance fee applies after

Professional certs (e.g. CISSP)

Exam fees vary by region

  • Proctored via Pearson VUE
  • Annual maintenance fee
  • Five-year experience requirement (Guess)

Enterprise training

Not disclosed

  • Team upskilling
  • Official ISC2 instruction

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Learners respect the cert content and CISSP's reputation but frequently complain about hidden maintenance fees and customer service.

“Don't take the CC unless your planning to get another ...”
Reddit, r/isc2
“ISC2 looks REALLY shady”
Reddit, r/cybersecurity
“How useful is ISC² CC, is it worth time pursuing? I heard its ...”
Facebook group

Alternatives

Compare Isc2 with each alternative.

  • CompTIA Security+

    Better-recognized entry cert; no membership fees

  • ISACA

    Competing cert body for governance-focused security careers

  • SANS/GIAC

    Deep technical training, pricier but hands-on

  • INE

    Training-platform alternative for security skill-building

Full analysis

Based on 20+ public sources; review snippets were truncated, so exact ratings and fee amounts could not be verified.

Nonprofit cert body, not software. Free CC entry exam is decent, but annual fees and support complaints sting.

Methodology

Based on 20+ public sources; review snippets were truncated, so exact ratings and fee amounts could not be verified.

Sources

  1. ISC2: Cybersecurity Certifications and Continuing Educationisc2.org
    official
  2. ISC2 Exam Pricingisc2.org
    official
  3. ISC2 Annual Maintenance Fees (AMF)isc2.org
    official
  4. One Million Certified in Cybersecurityisc2.org
    official
  5. Trustpilot reviews of isc2.orgtrustpilot.com
    review
  6. ISC2 G2 Reviewsg2.com
    review
  7. Don't take the CC unless you're planning to get another (Reddit)reddit.com
    review
  8. Update on my dealings with ISC2 (Reddit)reddit.com
    review
  9. ISC2 CC 'free' caveats (Reddit)reddit.com
    review
  10. ISC2 CC vs Security+destcert.com
    review
  11. ISC2 - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
    news
  12. ISC2 product security pageisc2.org
    security

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