Editor’s note: Chris Fraker was recently recognized by ISACA for having the top score on the CDPSE exam for the 2022 testing period. See guidance from Chris below on what motivated him to pursue the CDPSE and how he succeeded on the exam.
With the rise of data breaches, artificial intelligence, and other cyberthreats, organizations are under more pressure than ever to protect their customers’ personal information. ISACA’s Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) certification is a globally recognized certification that will become increasingly important as data privacy concerns continue growing in today’s digital age, especially in healthcare, finance and government.
Personal Benefits of the CDPSE
Passing the CDPSE exam and achieving the certification demonstrates a high level of expertise in data privacy, providing a useful framework for addressing data privacy concerns. It covers topics including data privacy laws and regulations, risk management, and data protection technologies from a global perspective. This certification provides professionals with a comprehensive understanding of data privacy issues, and the tools and strategies needed to address them effectively.
Many organizations now require or prefer candidates who hold the CDPSE certification for positions such as data privacy officer or data protection manager. The CDPSE credential can help professionals advance their careers by opening up new opportunities and more advanced roles within their organizations.
Employer Benefits of the CDPSE
CDPSE-certified privacy practitioners can help organizations meet compliance requirements. Many data privacy laws and regulations require organizations to have qualified professionals overseeing data privacy. Employers can be confident that those with the certification have the necessary knowledge and skills to develop and implement effective data privacy solutions. By having employees who hold the CDPSE, organizations can demonstrate that they have taken the necessary steps to comply with these requirements.
Tips and Resources for Passing the CDPSE Exam
From my experience preparing for and taking the CDPSE exam, here are five tips that I hope will benefit others who are pursuing the certification:
- Have a positive mindset. This is crucial for all IT certification exams. Like any skill, success takes time, dedication, consistency and repetition. If you get hung up on a concept, know there are many great resources to help you find the correct answer and understand why.
- Don’t cram, learn. All IT certifications have foundational elements that a certified professional should know and understand. Everyone has different learning styles but try and avoid shortcuts. There is almost always a price to pay later.
- Find a quiet place to study. If you have a home office, that could be an easy answer. If you do not, try and create a clean, organized place where you can consistently practice learning with minimal distractions or disruptions.
- Stay consistent. Find the best time of day to study and stay consistent. In my opinion, this ties in with tip number 3. Some people learn best in the morning, others in the evening. Find out what works best for you and try and make it a routine.
- Keep it simple. Don't make the exam harder than it needs to be! Take the exam where you are most comfortable. Try to take the exam at the same time of day you would typically study.
The number one resource that I recommend is ISACA’s CDPSE Questions, Answers & Explanations (QAE) manual. In my experience, the practice questions were similar to the exam questions, and the explanations were beneficial.
In the end, it all comes together. Since I could take the proctored exam from home, I could sit in the same chair where I answered hundreds of questions correctly during the same part of the morning I would usually be studying anyway. This method helped prevent test-day anxiety and made maintaining a positive mindset much easier. The exam felt like taking another pass through a different practice exam.
The Next Step in Your Career
As data privacy concerns continue growing in today’s digital age, the CDPSE certification will become even more valuable for professionals and organizations. It provides professionals with the knowledge and skills to address data privacy concerns and develop practical solutions.
I hope the tips above help position you to for success on the exam and taking the next step in your career.
