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10.2. Cross-Domain Connection Map
The CISSP's eight domains are not independent — they form a system. Understanding how domains connect is the difference between recalling isolated facts and reasoning through scenario questions that span multiple domains.
Key cross-domain connections to internalize:
| Domain A | Connects To | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| D1 Risk Management | D2, D3, D4, D5 | Risk decisions drive control selection in every domain |
| D1 BIA | D7 BCP/DR | BIA outputs (MTD, RTO, RPO) are D7 BCP/DR inputs |
| D2 Classification | D3 Architecture | Data classification determines which controls are appropriate |
| D2 Data ownership | D5 IAM | Data owners define access policy; IAM enforces it |
| D3 Threat modeling | D8 Software Dev | D3 models provide D8 SDLC threat modeling context |
| D4 Network zones | D5 IAM | Network segmentation + identity together implement zero trust |
| D6 Vulnerability mgmt | D7 Patch mgmt | VA findings drive D7 patch prioritization |
| D6 Penetration testing | D7 IR plan | Pentest findings should update D7 incident response playbooks |
| D7 IR lessons learned | D1 Risk register | Post-incident findings update D1 risk assessments |
| D8 Secure SDLC | D6 SAST/DAST | D8 specifies when in SDLC D6 testing methods apply |
Written byAlvin Varughese
Founder•15 professional certifications