Are you trying to decide if the “Computer and Information Security Handbook (2-Volume Set)” is the right reference to add to your shelf or curriculum?
Overview
You’ll find this 2-volume set marketed as a comprehensive, wide-ranging reference on computer and information security, and it aims to bring many specialist voices together in one place. You can expect it to function as both a practitioner’s reference and an academic resource depending on how deeply you use its chapters.
What this 2-volume set is
This set gathers contributions from multiple subject-matter experts to cover a broad spectrum of security topics, from foundational principles to applied techniques and management concerns. You’ll typically see it positioned as a handbook — meaning it’s dense, reference-oriented, and designed to be consulted chapter-by-chapter rather than read straight through.
Who it’s aimed at
You’ll find the intended audience spans advanced students, security professionals, IT managers, and librarians who need a single, authoritative multi-volume resource. If you’re working on system design, audits, incident response, or governance, this set aims to offer material that supports your work and builds your conceptual understanding.
Content and Coverage
The breadth of topics is one of the most notable aspects of this set, with material that addresses technical, managerial, and legal aspects of security. You’ll find chapters that range from algorithmic cryptography and secure protocols to human factors and compliance.
Major topics covered
Typical topic areas include cryptography and key management, network security, secure software development, forensics and incident response, governance and risk management, privacy and legal frameworks, cloud and IoT security, and physical and social engineering defenses. You’ll get both theory and practical guidance across these domains, helping you connect concepts to real-world practice.
Depth and technical level
The technical depth varies by chapter because different authors with varying perspectives contributed each piece; some chapters are highly mathematical and research-oriented, while others emphasize tools, processes, and case studies. You’ll likely be comfortable using deeper, mathematical chapters if you have a background in algorithms, discrete math, or systems engineering, but other sections remain accessible to non-mathematicians with practical experience.
Structure and Organization
The two volumes are generally organized to separate core technical foundations from applied and managerial topics, although exact arrangement may vary by edition. You’ll appreciate a clear ordering that helps you find foundational material before moving into applied fields and specialized domains.
How the volumes are arranged
Volume organization commonly groups introductory and core technical areas in early sections, then proceeds to specialized chapters such as forensics, governance, and emerging technologies in later parts. You’ll find this layout useful when you want to start from fundamentals and progressively consult more focused chapters.
Chapter layout and features
Each chapter is usually self-contained and includes an abstract or summary, background theory, technical exposition, illustrative examples or case studies, and references for further reading. You’ll like how chapters let you jump to exactly the topic you need without requiring you to read preceding material in full.
Table: Breakdown of key subjects and what to expect
Below is a table that breaks down common subject areas you’ll encounter and what each typically offers, which can help you quickly map the set to your needs.
| Subject area | Typical chapter focus | What you’ll gain | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryptography | Algorithms, protocols, key management | Understanding of primitives and practical applications | Intermediate–Advanced |
| Network Security | Firewalls, IDS/IPS, secure routing | Practical guidance for protecting networks | Intermediate |
| Secure Software Development | Secure coding practices, lifecycle | Techniques to reduce vulnerabilities in code | Intermediate |
| Forensics & Incident Response | Evidence preservation, tools, workflows | Steps to investigate and respond to breaches | Intermediate–Advanced |
| Governance & Risk Management | Policies, frameworks, audits | Methods to design and evaluate security programs | Beginner–Intermediate |
| Legal & Privacy | Compliance, laws, privacy design | Awareness of regulatory and privacy constraints | Beginner–Intermediate |
| Cloud & Virtualization | Architectures, controls, shared responsibility | Strategies for securing cloud deployments | Intermediate |
| IoT & Embedded Security | Device threats, firmware protection | Practical concerns for constrained devices | Intermediate–Advanced |
| Physical & Human Factors | Social engineering, physical access | Non-technical vectors and mitigation | Beginner–Intermediate |
| Emerging topics | Blockchain, ML security, quantum impact | Insight into upcoming challenges and research | Advanced |
You’ll find this table useful when mapping chapters to the gaps in your current knowledge or to specific projects you’re working on. It will also help you decide which volumes or chapters you should prioritize.
Strengths
The set’s strongest attribute is the breadth and depth of material, which makes it a valuable single-source reference for many security subfields. You’ll appreciate having multiple expert perspectives consolidated, because that gives you varied approaches and real-world insights.
Comprehensive scope
You’ll encounter a broad set of topics that together cover almost every major area in contemporary computer and information security. That breadth makes the set suitable for long-term reference rather than short-lived topical coverage.
Expert contributors
Because chapters are written by specialists, you’ll benefit from real-world experience, academic rigor, and up-to-date practices as conveyed by those who work in the field. This contributor diversity also means you’ll see different viewpoints and trade-offs when facing practical security decisions.
Reference and academic value
You’ll get extensive bibliographies, suggested readings, and often well-structured chapter bibliographies that let you pursue deeper study or academic citation. If you’re preparing lectures, research, or policy documents, this handbooks doubles as a solid source of citations and background material.
Weaknesses
No resource is perfect, and you should expect drawbacks that correspond to the format and scale of this set. You’ll need to plan how you’ll use it to avoid feeling overwhelmed by volume and variability.
Not a beginner tutorial
Because chapters are written at varying technical levels and are meant as references, you’ll find this set is not a step-by-step beginner textbook. If you’re just starting in security, you may need introductory courses or single-topic primers alongside this set.
Potential for dated content
In fast-moving areas like cloud security, threat intelligence, and machine learning adversarial techniques, some chapters can age faster than others. You’ll want to check the publication date and supplement the handbook with current online resources for very recent developments and CVE-specific details.
Variability in chapter style
Different contributors mean different writing styles, depth, and focus; that inconsistency can require extra effort when you switch between chapters. You’ll occasionally need to cross-reference chapters to synthesize a coherent approach for practical tasks because granular guidance might be spread across multiple contributions.
Physical size and cost
The two-volume format makes the set heavier and often more expensive than single-volume handbooks or online subscriptions. You’ll need to consider storage space, portability, and whether you prefer an eBook or print copy depending on your working habits.
Who should buy this?
This 2-volume set is most valuable if you regularly need a deep, broad security reference and appreciate a single repository of many expert voices. You’ll find the set helpful for various roles, though it’s not ideal for every user.
Students and instructors
If you’re a graduate student or instructor designing advanced coursework, you’ll find plenty of material to draw from for lectures, assignments, and reading lists. You’ll still want to pair it with focused textbooks for hands-on labs or introductory learning.
Security professionals
If you work as a security architect, engineer, analyst, or auditor, this set can serve as an always-on desk reference for protocols, recommended practices, and frameworks. You’ll especially value it when you need conceptual depth or references for complex decisions.
IT managers and policymakers
You’ll find material relevant to governance, compliance, and risk management that can support strategy and policy decisions. The handbook can help you frame questions to ask vendors, auditors, or technical teams.
Libraries and organizations
If you’re purchasing for a corporate or academic library, this set is frequently considered a worthwhile acquisition because it supports a wide user base and remains useful over time. You’ll enable multiple users to consult authoritative material across disciplines with a single purchase.
How to use the set effectively
To maximize the benefit from this set, you should approach it as a modular reference where you select chapters to support your immediate goals. You’ll save time and get better outcomes by using it in targeted ways rather than attempting cover-to-cover reading.
Use it as a course resource
If you’re teaching, you’ll want to assign select chapters as readings and pair them with labs or projects that translate the chapter concepts into practice. You’ll also be able to draw exam or assignment questions directly from the detailed explanations and references.
Use it as a practitioner’s desk reference
When you’re solving a problem—designing a secure system, investigating an incident, or drafting policy—you should consult relevant chapters for a combination of theoretical rationale and practical guidance. You’ll likely bookmark or tab key sections for quicker access.
Use it for research and citations
Because chapters often include bibliographies and citations, you should use the set to find foundational papers and additional reading material. You’ll be able to trace topics back to seminal work and identify active research directions.
Combine with labs and current sources
To keep pace with current threats and tools, pair chapters with hands-on labs, vendor documentation, online CVE databases, and recent conferences or whitepapers. You’ll gain both deep conceptual grounding and current, tactical knowledge.
Comparison to alternatives
The market offers many specialized texts, single-volume handbooks, and online subscription services, so you’ll want to pick a resource that matches your needs in depth, breadth, and currency.
Single-topic books
Books focused solely on cryptography, network security, or forensics offer deeper treatment in a particular area and sometimes include problem sets and exercises. You’ll prefer single-topic books if you need step-by-step exercises or a deep dive into one field rather than a broad overview.
Online resources and subscriptions
You’ll find up-to-date threat intelligence, tool documentation, and practitioner blogs online that are more current than a printed handbook. However, those sources often lack the structured, peer-reviewed chapters and consolidated bibliographies that this handbook provides.
Competing handbooks
There are other multi-author handbooks and encyclopedic resources in security; compared to many, this 2-volume set generally offers a balanced mix of theory and practice. You’ll choose between competing handbooks based on editorial approach, the quality of contributors, and the specific chapter topics you value most.
Practical buying considerations
Before you buy, you should weigh edition date, format, and how you intend to use the set so you make an economical and practical choice.
Edition and publication date
Check the publication date of the edition to ensure you’re getting the most current coverage possible, especially for rapidly changing domains like cloud security and threat intelligence. You’ll also want to confirm whether a newer edition is available that might update or replace older chapters.
Print vs digital
If you prefer portability, searchability, and instant access, an eBook may suit you better; however, many practitioners still prefer print for long-form reference reading and annotation. You’ll want to consider where you work: on-the-go, office desk, or classroom.
Price and institutional access
Volume sets can be costly, so you should compare prices across retailers, look for academic discounts, or investigate library access before purchasing. If you represent a university or large organization, consider whether a library acquisition or shared electronic license is a better option.
Supplemental materials
Some editions include online resources, errata, or companion websites; check whether those extras exist because they can add practical value and updates. You’ll benefit from any official companion materials that provide exercises, slides, or updated references.
Practical examples of chapter use
To translate book content into action, you should approach specific problems by mapping them to chapter content and then applying the recommended techniques. You’ll find the following mini-workflows helpful.
Example: Securing a small enterprise network
Start with a chapter on network security fundamentals to understand threat models. Then consult chapters on firewalls, IDS/IPS configurations, and secure routing, followed by governance chapters to create policies that align with technical controls. You’ll use the handbook to create checklists and validate configurations.
Example: Responding to a data breach
You’ll consult the forensics and incident response chapters for evidence handling and triage, then use legal and privacy chapters to understand notification obligations. Finally, you should consult governance and risk management sections to adjust policies and patch processes to prevent recurrence.
Example: Designing secure software
You’ll begin with secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) chapters to define stages for threat modeling, secure coding, and testing. Then reference cryptography, authentication, and access control chapters for specific implementation guidance. You’ll end by using governance sections to align development practices with organizational policy.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
You’ll want concise answers to common practical questions when deciding whether to buy this set.
Is this handbook suitable for certification prep?
It can support certification prep by providing in-depth coverage of domain concepts, but it’s not a dedicated exam prep guide. You’ll still need targeted practice exams and tools tailored to specific certification objectives.
Does this set include hands-on labs or code samples?
Some chapters include examples, pseudocode, and tool discussions, but the set is primarily reference-based rather than lab-oriented. You’ll often need to supplement it with practical lab materials, open-source tools, or vendor tutorials.
Will this book keep you current on threats?
The conceptual coverage will remain useful, but for the very latest threats and vulnerabilities you’ll need to complement the handbook with timely online sources. You’ll especially want fresh feeds for day-to-day defensive work and patching.
Is the material accessible for managers without technical background?
Many governance, legal, and risk chapters are written for non-technical readers, and you’ll find high-level guidance suitable for managers. However, some technical chapters require background knowledge to fully understand implementation details.
Tips for integrating the set into learning and work
To gain the most value from the set, you should adopt strategies that convert passive reading into actionable knowledge. These methods will help you use the handbook efficiently.
Create a personalized index
As you consult chapters, note the most useful sections, page numbers (or digital bookmarks), and how they map to your projects. You’ll save time in future lookups and increase the handbook’s day-to-day utility.
Pair chapters with toolkits
For each technical chapter you rely on, assemble a short list of tools, scripts, and lab exercises that demonstrate the concepts. You’ll accelerate learning by translating concepts into practice.
Keep an update log
Because some content can age, maintain a simple log of chapters you plan to check for updates or recent developments. You’ll use this to track which sections to supplement with current literature.
Final verdict
If you’re seeking a broad, authoritative, and well-structured reference that brings many expert perspectives into one accessible place, the “Computer and Information Security Handbook (2-Volume Set)” is a solid choice. You’ll get high long-term value if you intend to use the set as a reference, research source, or course material, while pairing it with hands-on practice and current online resources to remain operationally current.
Recommendation summary
Purchase this set if you require depth across many security domains and prefer a consolidated, multi-author reference. If you’re new to security, supplement the set with beginner-friendly textbooks and practical labs so you can convert the detailed content into practical skills. You’ll find that combining this handbook with current online resources and targeted single-topic books gives you both breadth and depth without sacrificing relevance.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.