- C)SP here means Mile2 Certified Security Principles, an entry-level, non-technical-leaning security credential, not any other certification sharing the acronym.
- The assessment is 100 multiple-choice items online, with an 80% passing grade stated in the C)SP course materials.
- The public outline lists 12 unweighted preparation topics, from Course Introduction through Understanding Compliance and Auditing.
- Verify voucher inclusion before buying the Exam Combo; the product text and the FAQ describe it differently.
The Short Answer: What a C)SP Is
A C)SP is a Certified Security Principles credential issued by the Mile2 Cybersecurity Institute. It targets people who need to understand how information security works across an organization without necessarily being the engineers who configure every control. The syllabus moves from basic IT security concepts through risk, cryptography, identity, data, network and host protection, application security for non-developers, mobile and IoT, day-to-day operations, and finally compliance and auditing.
Think of it as a broad security-literacy certification. A candidate who earns it can discuss why encryption options matter for stored data, how access decisions are managed, what an auditor expects to see, and where mobile devices fit into the risk picture. If you want a deeper look at the content areas, our C)SP Exam Domains guide covering all 12 content areas walks through each one.
Who Issues It and Why the Acronym Confuses People
Several unrelated credentials abbreviate to the same letters. Some are in safety, some in vendor-specific networking, and some in other professions entirely. None of that is relevant here. This article, and this site, concern the Mile2 credential only. When you research fees, dates, pass rates or salary claims, make sure the source names Certified Security Principles and Mile2 explicitly. A page that talks about a different certifying body is describing a different exam, and its numbers will not transfer.
Our companion pages on what C)SP stands for and the meaning of the acronym cover the naming question from other angles.
What the Credential Covers
Mile2's public course outline presents the material as a Course Introduction plus eleven numbered modules. These are preparation topics, not an official weighted blueprint. No public percentage breakdown was verified, so nobody can honestly tell you which topic carries the most exam weight. Treat all twelve as fair game.
The twelve topics at a glance
| # | Topic | What it is really about |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction | Orientation to the course and certification path |
| 2 | Introduction to IT Security | Core vocabulary and security fundamentals |
| 3 | Risk Management | Identifying, assessing and treating risk |
| 4 | Understanding of Cryptography | How encryption and related protections work conceptually |
| 5 | Understanding Identity and Access Management | Who gets access to what, and how that is controlled |
| 6 | Managing Data Security | Storage, encryption options and data management |
| 7 | Managing Network Security | Protecting network infrastructure and traffic |
| 8 | Managing Server/Host Security | Hardening and maintaining servers and endpoints |
| 9 | Application Security for Non-Developers | Application risk from the perspective of non-coders |
| 10 | Understanding Mobile Device Security (IoT) | Phones, tablets and connected devices |
| 11 | Managing Day to Day Security | Operational routines that keep controls working |
| 12 | Understanding Compliance and Auditing | Regulatory expectations and audit readiness |
Topics where non-technical candidates stumble
Understanding of Cryptography
The exam is conceptual, but you still need clean mental models.
- Know the difference between protecting data at rest and data in transit.
- Be able to explain why key management matters as much as the algorithm.
- Recognize which encryption options suit which storage scenarios.
Understanding Compliance and Auditing
Often underestimated because it sounds administrative.
- Understand what auditors look for: evidence, consistency and documented process.
- Connect policy to control to proof, in that order.
- Expect scenario wording about what a manager should do next.
Application Security for Non-Developers
You are not asked to write secure code, but you must recognize insecure outcomes.
- Know how application weaknesses translate into business risk.
- Understand the role of reviews, testing and change control from a managerial angle.
For a broader readiness picture, see how hard the C)SP exam really is.
Exam Format and Passing Grade
According to Mile2's Policies and Procedures document, the assessment consists of 100 multiple-choice items. The C)SP course materials state an 80% passing grade, which on a 100-item exam means answering at least 80 items correctly if every item is weighted equally. Mile2 does not publish a per-item weighting, so treat that arithmetic as a planning guide rather than a guarantee.
The exam is delivered online through your Mile2 account and learning management system. Two points remain unverified and you should confirm them directly with Mile2 before test day:
- Timer: No C)SP-specific fixed duration was verified. The general FAQ language about most exams and the length of the live course do not establish a time limit for this one.
- Supervision and resources: The FAQ describes most standard exams as on-demand without a live-proctor appointment, while the policy document describes a proctored, open-book assessment with advance scheduling. Ask which applies to your assigned attempt and what materials are permitted.
Key Takeaway
Do not rely on a blog, forum post or any pass-rate claim for the timer or supervision rules. Get both confirmed in writing from Mile2 before you schedule. For more on the score threshold, read our C)SP passing score breakdown.
What the questions test
Expect scenario-flavored multiple-choice items that ask you to choose the most appropriate control, identify the principle being violated, or recognize the right next step in a risk or compliance situation. Because the course is aimed at a broad audience, items reward clear conceptual understanding over memorized command syntax. The hands-on labs in the live course are preparation activities; no separately timed practical exam was verified.
Registration, Bundles and Money Questions
Mile2 sells a C)SP Exam Combo. Here is where careful reading matters. The product page's inclusion list names an E-Book, an Exam Simulator and Exam Prep, and does not explicitly list the exam itself. Meanwhile, Mile2's FAQ and exam-combos page describe combos as including the certification exam and two attempts. These two descriptions do not perfectly agree.
Taking Mile2 training is not mandatory. You can self-study and sit the exam, or you can attend the English-language live course, which runs five days and advertises 40 CEUs. For eligibility details see C)SP requirements and prerequisites, and for scheduling questions see C)SP exam dates and scheduling.
Who Should Pursue It
Mile2 suggests candidates have roughly 12 months of server-administration experience, or a foundation in related Mile2 courses (C)SA1, C)SA2, C)HT, C)OST and C)NP), or equivalent knowledge. In practice, the credential suits several groups:
- IT generalists and help-desk staff who want a structured security vocabulary before specializing.
- Managers, project leads and business analysts who sign off on systems and need to ask better security questions.
- Compliance and audit-adjacent staff who must understand the technical controls they are reviewing.
- Career changers building a first security credential to show structured foundational knowledge.
Whether it pays off depends on your goals and employer. We deliberately avoid quoting a salary premium here because no verified figure ties this credential to a specific pay bump. For a balanced view, read whether the C)SP is worth it and the C)SP salary guide, and browse roles where this credential appears.
A Domain-Ordered Preparation Path
Rather than generic advice, order your study by how the topics build on each other. Risk and cryptography underpin almost everything later, so front-load them.
Foundations and risk
- Course Introduction and Introduction to IT Security vocabulary
- Risk Management: assessment, treatment and residual risk
Protecting data and identities
- Understanding of Cryptography
- Understanding Identity and Access Management
- Managing Data Security, including storage and encryption options
Infrastructure and endpoints
- Managing Network Security
- Managing Server/Host Security
- Application Security for Non-Developers
Operations, governance and review
- Understanding Mobile Device Security (IoT)
- Managing Day to Day Security
- Understanding Compliance and Auditing, then full-length practice under timed conditions
Finish by drilling original practice questions on your weakest topics via the main practice test site. Our full C)SP study guide and the one-page cheat sheet make good companions. If you prefer structured instruction, see C)SP training options.
Validity and Renewal
The credential is valid for three years. Mile2 describes a Certification Renewal Program with a standard route requiring 60 documented CEUs over the three years, a renewal purchase and an ethics and policy acknowledgment. The dedicated paths page also offers passing the latest exam for an existing credential as an alternative. The FAQ lists a USD 200 U.S. regional price for CEU renewal and no annual membership requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
It stands for Certified Security Principles, a credential from the Mile2 Cybersecurity Institute. Other certifications abbreviate to the same letters, but they are unrelated to the exam covered here. See also what C)SP certification means.
The assessment has 100 multiple-choice items, and the C)SP course materials state an 80% passing grade. A time limit specific to C)SP was not verified, so confirm it with Mile2.
No. The twelve items are preparation topics from the public course outline: a Course Introduction plus eleven modules. They are unweighted, and no official percentage blueprint was verified.
No. Mile2 training is not mandatory. Suggested preparation is about 12 months of server-administration experience, related Mile2 foundation courses, or equivalent knowledge.
Three years. Renewal typically involves 60 documented CEUs, a renewal purchase and an ethics acknowledgment, or an alternative exam-based path, but the pages conflict slightly, so confirm your route with Mile2.