The Certified Information Systems Auditor (in short, CISA) is a worldwide certified standard for evaluating IT auditors’ knowledge, skills, and expertise in assessing vulnerabilities and IT control in an entrepreneurial context. ISACA offers this certification to those who ensure that an organization’s IT and business systems are monitored, maintained, and protected.
You initially must begin with a solid academic background to become the most excellent possible cybersecurity specialist. Many traditional and online CISA training programs are available that can help you prepare for your job. However, you may require an additional certification from a professional association if you want to move your career to the next level.
Validate your knowledge and gain leverage in your career. You can achieve it merely with the certification of ISACA’s CISA. Suppose you are searching for a new job or trying to progress in your existing firm. In that case, a CISA certification demonstrates your knowledge of these areas of work:
- Process for the auditing of information systems
- Management of information systems
- Acquisition, development, and implementation of information systems
- Business resilience and information systems operations
- Information assets protection
Are you ready to understand how you may become a certified information systems auditor (CISA)? Let’s move on to know more about CISA and how to be certified.
What is CISA?
The CISA certification is the most recognized designation for auditing, assurance, and security information system experts. However, if you are uncertain how this certification varies from other certificates in the market, you are not alone.
Established in 1969, ISACA is a group of auditing, security, risk, confidentiality, and governance specialists for information systems. At present, ISACA has about 140,000 members in 180 nations. One of four certifications awarded by ISACA is CISA.
Tech is a growing industry, and there is an increasing need for securities and protection. As a result, after several financial scandals and problems with internal control, the industry suffered, the requirement for the CISA and related certificates increased. After having your CISA certification, you can assist enterprises in managing the security and health of your IT systems.
Who’s gaining CISA? This certification is beneficial to:
- IS/IT Consultants
- Non-IT Auditors
- IS/IT Auditors
- Security Professionals
- IS/IT Audit Managers
- Importance to become a CISA
Once you can add “certified” to your resume’s Information Systems Auditor title, other professionals will find you are a qualified and recognized expert who has been tried, proven, and still develops in the industry. They will know that you have the expertise and skills to deliver effective and experienced auditing services and that you have been recognized by one of the industry’s most prestigious security organizations.
You will have an added assurance that university degrees alone cannot match if you conduct an audit as a CISA. When it comes to negotiating salaries or consultation fees, your certification will also offer you a lead. The name CISA is also certified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This third-party verification guarantees a proven degree of accuracy in ISACA programs.
What benefits does CISA offer?
You can benefit from the CISA earnings if you already work in information systems. CISA’s professional benefits include:
You will identify and master the areas you missed by completing the certification. You’ll see what you need to work on, and you will have the chance to learn and improve your skills. This certification is not just about assessing what you know but also about filling in and ensuring that you continue to do so throughout time.
CISA also grants international recognition. CISA can genuinely enable you to communicate—and develop your career if you work with businesses and IT professionals in other locations or move to an international organization with fixed protocols.
In addition, tech recruiters often seek specific roles or demand CISA certification. In brief, even if your tasks are similar to your current ones, CISA can give you a higher pay rating. Who wouldn’t want extra cash for the same job?
How to become certified CISA?
It would help if you first took the certifying examination to become a qualified CISA. As an information systems auditor, applicants will need a minimum of five years of working experience. However, if you have met the following conditions, you can waive this experience for up to three years:
- Should have one year of experience as an information systems auditor. You also have a one-year of experience in non-IS auditing.
- A 2 or 4-year degree that can replace the expertise, providing your degree has been obtained within the past ten years. A degree can substitute one year’s experience, but a bachelor’s degree replaces two years.
- Hold a Master’s in Information Security, IT, or the equivalent.
- For one year of expertise, a graduate degree can count.
- One year of experience in the field may replace two years’ experience of being a professor in computer science, accounting and auditing information systems.
You will have to commit to the ISACA code of professional ethics after having met the experience standards. Finally, you need to adhere to continuing professional education (CPE), which guarantees you continue to evolve as a professional. You must keep your ISACA membership fees and complete at least 20 CPE hours annually.
Finally, the ISACA and all CISA holders must accept the maintenance of audit standards. Suppose the work of a CISA is deemed to be non-compliant with the association’s requirements. In that case, the professionals may lose the certificate or else face disciplinary actions.
The CISA exam
Interestingly, there are no prerequisites to attend the CISA exam. You can take the test whenever you like. And before meeting the remaining certification requirements, it is not uncommon for people to take the exam. However, you should never take the exam alone until you are ready. If you pass the examination, you have a time constraint for completing the remaining procedure.
Conclusion
The only other task you have to do is keep the auditing information system standards. A series of measures that demand continuous maintenance is a substantial commitment, but CISA certification is worth the effort. In the information era, you are globally identified, observed, and confident that you will play a crucial role.
