Enterprise data has always been at risk of data breaches over the years. However, the number of cyberattacks have increased exponentially over the years.

 

Databases, data centres and social accounts of enterprises have been hacked, leaving them vulnerable to the misuse, manipulation and destruction of data. Most of these attacks can be prevented, as according to Cybint, 95% of breaches in cybersecurity are due to human error. 

 

With the advanced cybersecurity tools and technology available today, many preventive measures can be taken to avoid such attack attempts.

 

Business organisations have been looking for professional system architects who can help them identify and avoid such threats to their systems and networks.

 

But organisations don’t just randomly hire anyone claiming to be a system architect. They need proof of a professional’s skills and talent.

 

Here is where a CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) professional plays a role. Like CISSP, CISA is also a well-known and highly valued certification for IT architects.

 

What makes this certification worth the effort and who should apply to become a CISA-certified professional? Let’s find out.

The Certified Information Systems Auditor certification is governed by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. They are responsible for and manage the CISA certification exam.

 

The objective of this certification is to test its candidates on the various topics that are a part of the CISA job role and certification exam. The topics are categorised into 5 groups, which are:

These domains make up the five pillars of the CISA certification.

 

On completing these, candidates achieve the confidence and skills to work under IT architects within the IT industry. 

 

There are several topics within this exam. The certification exam is made up of 150 questions that you need to complete within four hours. If you are looking to make a career in the IT sector, clearing the CISA certification exam should be your goal.

 

This exam is the only thing that stands between you and a CISA certification. 

 

Let us now take a look at the basics and the requirements for you to get certified.

 

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Appearing for the CISA certification exam is not as easy as walking in and attempting it.

 

You need to meet certain eligibility criteria, the foremost prerequisite issued by ISACA being that a candidate should have work experience of 5-6 years. This could be any type of training that involves day to day working with security systems.

 

The only thing you need to ensure is that they fall under the 5 topics required for the examination.

 

This means if you have just recently graduated, this certification course is not for you, yet. 

 

However, ISACA makes exceptions to the 5-year work experience rule. They waive off 2 years from the required 5 years in a situation where the candidate has an associate-level certification with a year of work experience. 

 

With a bachelor’s degree, you can apply for a 2-year waiver, while a master’s degree in any field of information technology makes you eligible for a waiver of 3 years. This can help you to save precious time.

 

The fundamental step is to actually take the exam and pass it by scoring equal to or more than the required passing marks. 

 

You also have the option of appearing for the exam even though you do not have the required work experience. However, you cannot claim your certification until you meet the requirement. In such a situation, it is advised to get work experience before your certification expires. 

 

Also Read: CISSP vs. CISA – Which Certification is Better for You

 

There is an annual fee that you need to pay as mandated by ISACA. But if you are a member of ISACA, you are eligible for a member concession. However, with the maintenance fees, one must also apply for 20 hours of CPE in a year.

 

CPE works in your favour because it helps you with IT auditing and enhances your skills too.

 

To complete the required hours of CPE, you must attend conferences. ISACA has many valuable and helpful conferences that you can attend, both physically and virtually.

 

One can also sign up for online training lectures; they can be volunteers for ISAC, take up quizzes and much more. 

How do you qualify as a CISA?

Interested in the profession? Well, you can also become a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) by passing the relevant exam and getting the CISA certification. Here are the steps you can follow to get the certification.

Pass the CISA exam

The first step is to pass the CISA exam. You must have passed the exam in the past five years. The exam will cover the following five job practice domains. 

• 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 exam will have 150 multiple-choice questions and you have to complete it within four hours. You must get a score of 450 or higher to pass the exam on a scale of 200-800. The CISA certification cost is $575 for members and $760 for non-members. 

Meet the experience requirements

Apart from passing the exam, you must also meet the experience requirements set by ISACA. You must have at least five years of experience in one of the following fields - professional information systems auditing, security, or control. 

The experience must be gained within 10 years before your date of application. You can substitute one year of experience required with a relevant degree or a maximum of three years with other relevant certifications. 

Adhere to the ISACA Code of Professional Ethics

ISACA, the organization that provides CISA certification, has a Code of Professional Ethics that you must abide by to qualify as a CISA. The Code includes conditions like performing duties with objectivity and due diligence, maintaining privacy and confidentiality, maintaining competency, and supporting the professional education of shareholders. You can check out the entire Code at ISACA’s official website. 

Fill out the application

The next step is to fill out the application form. You must fill it out within five years of passing the exam. Submit the necessary details, including your experience, education, and certifications. You will also have to submit proof of your experience. You can ask your manager to sign the experience verification form and submit it as proof. 

Pay the fee and maintain your certification 

The last step is to pay the one-time application fee of $50. Once your application is approved, you must maintain it by completing ongoing professional education and adhering to the ISACA Code of Professional Ethics. 

And that’s it! You will be a certified CISA in no time. If you are worried about passing the CISA exam, you can consider taking online CISA training classes. 

Why do recruiters hire CISA professionals?

The CISA certification is globally recognized. And it is not easy to get it. Becoming a CISA requires years of experience, hard work, and dedication. This is just one of the reasons why CISA professionals are in high demand across the world.

CISA professionals are valuable assets to organizations that need to protect their IT systems, manage risks, and comply with regulatory requirements. Hiring CISA professionals can help them strengthen their cybersecurity and protect their assets from cyber threats. 

Here are some other reasons why CISA professionals are hired by recruiters for several reasons.

In-depth knowledge of information systems auditing

CISA professionals are well-versed in information systems auditing. They are trained to understand the complexities of information systems and how to conduct comprehensive audits. This makes them valuable to organizations that must ensure their IT systems are secure. CISA professionals also help in ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. 

Expertise in risk management

Apart from information systems auditing, CISA professionals are skilled in identifying and mitigating risks related to IT systems. Organizations all across the world today need to protect their data and assets from cyber threats. By hiring a CISA professional, they can mitigate the risk of data breaches to a certain extent and safeguard their assets. 

Compliance with regulatory requirements

There are many regulatory requirements that organizations have to comply with. Organizations need to conduct regular IT audits to ensure compliance. CISA professionals can help organizations meet these requirements and avoid penalties for non-compliance. 

Enhanced credibility

CISA professionals are among the highest-paid IT professionals. Therefore, hiring them can enhance an organization’s credibility with stakeholders, including regulators, investors, and customers. The CISA certification is recognized globally as a mark of expertise and professionalism in information systems auditing. 

The most important reason one must take the CISA certification is the highly rewarding payout. The average salary of a CISA certified professional is around $90,000 to $100,000 annually. 

 

This salary for someone who is just five years out of college is a handsome figure. Hence the exam costs and maintenance fees are all worth it when you clear the CISA exam and finally attain your certification. It is almost like an investment that gives you profits for the rest of your life.

 

Additionally, the CISA certification meets the regulations of DOD Direction 8140. Hence, CISA certified professionals are given good job roles with the federal government as well. This is a dream job of many, where the security and benefits that come with this job are unmatched. 

 

To add to that, a CISA certification has the reputation of a credential that enjoys a lot of perks. But the dedication that is required to achieve and update your CISA certification regularly is difficult. So a certified professional proves that they are ambitious and want to achieve bigger goals in their career. It has the power to put you on the radar to become a good leader someday. 

The biggest con of a CISA certification is the dedication and level of commitment one requires to pass the exam. The maintenance fees and the long hours of study are a lot to ask for, especially for a fresher.

 

There are many candidates who drop out of the exam because they cannot take the pressure or because they do not have the time required to commit to the exam.

 

But the choice is always yours. To achieve something, you must be prepared to devote your time and energy to it. The exam is not easy to crack but it is surely worth all your efforts. 

 

Another important certification you can opt for is the CISSP credential. But both these certifications are quite fundamentally different from each other.

 

There are also many other certifications that you can opt for. But not all are CISA and not all of them offer a high paying salary, especially for freshers who have just started in the industry. 

 

The answer depends on your career goals.

 

If you are aiming for a high-paying career in the IT industry, then this certification is meant for you.

 

The CISA certification is highly recommended by many industry professionals as it opens several new avenues and opportunities for your career in the early stages.

 

According to Accenture, about 68% of businesses are certain their cybersecurity risks continue to rise.

 

This means there are many more job opportunities that will be created, making this a secure career option for you.

 

So go ahead, give your career the boost it deserves and enrol in a CISA certification course today.

 

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