Introduction to the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

ISACA offers the well-known Certified Information Systems Auditor or CISA certification for information systems audit, management, and security. This certification verifies a person’s proficiency in IT Audit, IT Security, governance, and IT Risk Management. In addition, it validates that they possess a good foundation in auditing techniques and are capable of measuring and evaluating IT controls.

Certified Information Systems Auditor certified professionals are highly demanded worldwide because they are necessary for every company’s efficient and error-free operation. Moreover, it offers high pay and rapid professional advancement to people.

Details of the Certified Information Systems Auditor Exam

Anyone interested in IS auditing, control, and security can take the CISA exam. All the questions of this exam are spread across five job practice topics. These include the following:

• Auditing process for auditing information systems.
• IT management and governance
• Acquisition, integration, and implementation of information systems.
• Business resilience and information system operation.
• Protection for Information.

The following table provides details of the Certified Information Systems Auditor exam pattern:

Certified Information Systems Auditor Certification Competencies

The CISE certification proves the IT professional’s expertise in the following domains:

• Audit Process of Information Systems – The information systems audit process includes all methods and methodologies required for an auditor to complete their work properly. It also includes the entire information security (IS) audit practice.
• IT administration and management – It is concerned with the organization’s leadership, structures, and procedures. By doing this, information and technology are coordinated. It supports the company’s strategy and goals and aids enterprises in managing their IT risks efficiently.
• Information Asset Protection – It focuses on the essential elements that guarantee the privacy, accuracy, and accessibility of information. This goal is served, among others, by the planning, execution, and oversight of logical and physical access controls, information security, the required processes for information classification and handling, etc.
• Information system operations and organizational resilience: These are concerned with ensuring that users and the company’s management receive the expected level of service from the information systems. Expectations for the SLA or service level agreement are often based on the organization’s business objectives.
• Acquisition, Creation, and Implementation of Information Systems – This professionally relevant subject gives an overview of the procedures and the key approaches. Organizations use these when developing, putting into use, or altering systems on both the infrastructure and application levels.

Benefits of Certified Information Systems Auditor Certification

A few of the many perks and benefits of the CISA certification for IT professionals include:

• Verify their information security expertise and experience.
• Combines theoretical success with practical experience and education to prove themselves as reliable employment resources.
• Meeting high professional standards for ethics and continuing education through ISACA.
• Having an internationally acknowledged symbol of excellence for IS audit professionals
• Demonstrates that they have attained and maintained the degree of expertise required to address the companies’ changing problems.
• It attests to their experience and knowledge in the relevant field and demonstrates their capacity for undertaking any challenging task.
• Gain a competitive edge over the competitors while Pursuing employment advancement.
• Shows their competence in the IS audit, governance, and security profession.

Maintenance of ISACA Certifications

All CISA-certified professionals and applicants must abide by the ISACA’s Continuing Professional Education or CPE program. The primary motive of this program is to keep professionals updated with technological advancements. 

The following are the requirements to retain the CISA certification:

• Earn and communicate at least 120 CPE hours in 3 years reporting cycle period.
• Gain 20 or more CPE hours annually and provide information for the same.
• Pay yearly maintenance costs for CISA. It is set at $45 for members and $85 for non-members.
• Certified professionals need to comply with the yearly audit for CPE.
• Abide by the rules of ISACA IT audit standards. 

Conclusion

Those with experience in CISA can find employment in financial institutions, given the expansion of the data-driven IT industries. With this qualification, they can work in audit and non-audit roles such as control analysis, IT risk management, and IT compliance.

However, it is crucial to abide by all the requirements for maintenance of the Certified Information Systems Auditor certification.