a CISSP is in no way meant to be able to have the same grasp as a CCIE... NONE WHATSOEVER
a CCIE is hte top/hardest TECHNICAL exam in the entire computer industry.
CISSP is a high level overview MANAGERIAL in nature certification, that only not touches on some technical aspects, like IP#'s, subnets, OSI layer etc, but the other 9 domains, including cryptography, federal laws and acts, physical security, etc...
As a CISSP though, I feel that ISC2 is really letting WAY to many people into the arena and making a fast buck. No way should those exam cram books be allowed for somthing like this. The CISSP is not somthing you can cram for. Just like how you can not cram for a 2 day physical hands on lab for the CCIE. In the last 8 months that I have had my cert, the number of people that have SINCE obtained the CISSP is somthing like 25%!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes we need more certified security folks, that is for sure, but not at the risk of integrity of the exam and the people who hold the CISSP.
I keep thinking that hte CISSP is where the MCSE cert was back in 96/97 where you could name your own price if you had it. Now it seems to be ranked up there with an A+
Ahh well...
hope that helps
PS Im thinking of going the cisco specialist trakc, getting my CSS, Cisco Security Specialists. You have to take hte MCNS and Pix and 2 other certs i think? to get it. Managing Cisco Network Security and PIx is their firewall.