Today, we are so used to the internet and smartphone that our new generation isn’t able to imagine how things were accomplished without them. We have a world of apps on our smartphones and we normally share some of our personal details, home/office location, and other data to get a personalized user experience. We do not even think how that data would be used by the companies. The matter would not escalate if that data were secured within the company’s systems. But, the bad news is such sensitive information is always under the radar of ill-intended hackers. There have been incidents where the banking credentials and credit card details have been compromised and companies became a victim of cyberattacks.
Now you know how important it becomes to ensure the security of an organization’s computer systems and networks. There is a whole field of cybersecurity dedicated to protecting all the digital assets of a company under the Information Technology landscape. If you want to start a career in cybersecurity, then you have the option to select from a number of job roles. One of the popular roles in the cybersecurity space is that of an IT auditor. Professionals working as IT auditors are tasked with evaluating the internal controls and risks associated with a company’s technology network. They determine the weaknesses in a computer system’s network and design an action plan to avoid any possible data breach in the technology.
If you want to reach new career heights working as an IT auditor, then you should definitely pursue the CISA certification (Certified Information Systems Auditor). It is highly regarded by companies across the world to select skilled IT auditors for their open positions. The certification is accredited under ISO/IEC 17024:2012. Many professionals, in fact, take online CISA Training to pass its exam in a single try and reap the career benefits that come with it. You would be surprised to know that there are over 151K CISA certification holders across the world. Moreover, such professionals earn an average salary of $110K in the US.
This article tells you more about the CISA certification and what syllabus is included in its associated exam.
All About the CISA Certification Exam
The Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) is one of the prestigious institutions that offer globally recognized certifications in the field of information technology. The Certified Information Systems Auditor or CISA is one of them. It is a standard of achievement for those professionals who audit, control, monitor, and assess an organization’s information technology and business systems. It demonstrates your ability to apply a risk-based approach to planning, executing, and reporting on audit engagements.
CISA Exam Syllabus
The CISA exam is based on the five work-related domains, namely:
- Information systems auditing process (21%)
- Governance and management of IT (17%)
- Information systems acquisition, development, and implementation (12%)
- Information systems operations and business resilience (23%)
- Protection of information assets (27%)
The figure mentioned with each domain shows the percentage of questions asked from them in the CISA exam. You will face 150 multiple choice questions in the exam and the time allowed would be 4 hours.
The following are some of the important topics from each domain.
Information systems auditing process
- IS Audit Standards
- Types of Controls
- Sampling methodology
- Reporting and communication techniques
Governance and management of IT
- IT-related frameworks
- Enterprise architecture
- IT resource management
- IT service provider acquisition and management
Information systems acquisition, development, and implementation
- Project governance and management
- System development methodologies
- Control identification and design
- System migration, infrastructure deployment, and data conversion
IS Operations and Business Resilience
- IT asset management
- Data governance
- Change, configuration, release, and patch management
- Data backup, storage, and restoration
Information Asset Security and Control
- Network and end-point security
- Data encryption and encryption-related techniques
- Mobile, wireless, and Internet of Things devices
- Evidence collection and forensics
It is important to remember that the CISA exam isn’t solely a test which verifies your ability to memorize facts and concepts. A lot of questions are scenario-based wherein you will be put in a fictitious situation, given a problem statement, and then asked what step you would take to solve it as an auditor or security manager. Such questions will verify whether you are actually drawing real-world experience from what knowledge you have gained during the CISA preparation. You will also come across a whole new set of vocabulary that you may have never heard of before. As a CISA certified professional, you will be one of the elite IT auditors who can speak such a language.
Are You Ready to Get CISA Certified?
There are many reasons why companies would love hiring CISA certified professionals. As per ISACA, it proves a candidate’s ability to assess vulnerabilities, report on compliance, and validate and enhance controls, thereby improving an organization’s overall image. This certification facilitates 90% more effective teams, 70% improved expertise and efficiency, and 94% of certification holders are retained with investment in training.
So, dive into the world of cybersecurity with the designation of an IT auditor and watch your career flourishing. You can also take the help of online CISA training courses to prepare better and pass the exam confidently.
read more : Pii-email
