Register soon for ISACA CISA and CISM exams

In the three decades since its inception, ISACA has become a pace-setting global organisation for information governance, control, security and audit professionals.

Its Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification is recognised globally and has been earned by more than 50 000 professionals since inception.

The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification uniquely targets the information security management audience and has been earned by more than 6 000 professionals.

ISACA publishes a leading technical journal in the information control field, the Information Systems Control Journal. It hosts a series of local and international conferences focusing on both technical and managerial topics pertinent to the IT governance, security and assurance professions.

Together, ISACA and its affiliated IT Governance Institute lead the information technology governance and control community and serve its practitioners by providing the elements needed by IT professionals in an ever-changing worldwide environment.

The CISA programme, global in scope and recognition, is the only certification programme devoted exclusively to IT audit, control and security. More than 50 000 individuals worldwide have earned the highly prized and respected CISA designation.

Organisations employing a CISA can be assured they are getting a professional who has earned a credential that is known and respected around the world.

CISAs represent an exclusive group of IT auditing professionals that desire to take IT to the highest standard possible. They are globally accepted and highly regarded.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has accredited the CISA certification under ISO/IEC 17024. This standard specifies the requirements to be followed by organisations certifying individuals against specific requirements and is expected to play a prominent role in facilitating global standardisation, public safety and protecting consumers. Accreditation by ANSI signifies that ISACA's procedures meet ANSI's essential requirements for openness, balance, consensus and due process.

For more than 25 years, organisations have turned to professionals who have earned a CISA designation. CISAs have the proven ability to perform reviews in accordance with globally accepted standards and guidelines to ensure the organisation's information technology and business systems are adequately controlled, monitored and assessed.

The attainment of a CISA designation is a strong indicator that existing and newly hired employees possess the experience and knowledge required to control, monitor and assess IT and business systems. By including a requirement or preference for the CISA designation in your staff recruitment efforts, you ensure candidates have the type of experience and knowledge you are seeking.

When developing staff internally, encourage employees to strive for the CISA designation. Their professional development will pay dividends well into the future as they demonstrate and apply their skills and knowledge. No enterprise can surpass the abilities and talents of its employees.

The CISA programme requires certified individuals to acquire five years of IT audit, security or control experience, pass a rigorous exam and comply with annual requirements for continuing professional education. By hiring or retaining the services of a CISA, an organisation has invested in a professional who has distinguished him or herself from other industry professionals, an individual who followed a career path allowing him or her to demonstrate IT audit, security and control knowledge and skill. A person with a CISA qualification is committed to maintaining his or her skills through ongoing professional development.

The CISM designation continues to grow in stature and influence. Those who hold this designation join a network of professionals known for their expertise in information security management, IT governance and risk management. Although the certification is new to the marketplace, more than 6 000 individuals worldwide have earned the CISM designation.

Organisations employing a CISM can be assured they are getting a professional who has earned a credential that is known and respected around the world. Information security professionals from more than 80 countries have earned their CISM designation.

The CISM designation focuses on the management of information security. The CISM certification ensures information security professionals, and specifically information security managers, have the experience and knowledge necessary to provide effective management and consulting services. CISM defines the core competencies and international performance standards that those who have information security management responsibilities are expected to master.

CISM is not an entry-level certification. It is specifically developed for the information security professional who has acquired experience managing information security. Individuals with three years or more of experience managing the information security function of an enterprise or performing such duties will find the CISM designation tailored to their knowledge and skills.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has accredited the CISM certification under ISO/IEC 17024. This standard specifies the requirements to be followed by organisations certifying individuals against specific requirements and is expected to play a prominent role in facilitating global standardization, public safety and protecting consumers. Accreditation by ANSI signifies that ISACA's procedures meet ANSI's essential requirements for openness, balance, consensus and due process.

More and more organisations are recognising the value of certifications like CISA and CISM and recommending or requiring that their employees be certified.

In August 2004, the US Department of Defence (DoD) put into effect Directive 8570.1, which mandates that information security personnel be certified with a commercial accreditation approved by the DoD. CISM and CISA are both identified as approved accreditations signifying the DoD's confidence in ISACA's credentials.

ISACA members enjoy discounted pricing on CISA and CISM exams and study materials. The CISA and CISM exams are offered twice every year, in June and December, at ISACA exam centres across the world. In South Africa, CISA and CISM exams are offered in a number of centres, including Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

Registration for the June 2007 CISA and CISM examinations closes on 11 April 2007 and the exam will be held on 9 June.

For the December 2007 examinations, early registration opens in early July and closes on 15 August 2007 (there is a $50 benefit) and registration closes on 26 September 2007. The exams will be held on 8 December 2007.

For more information on how the CISA and CISM programmes can help you or your organisation, please visit www.isaca.org/certification or e-mail the South African Chapter of ISACA at admin@isaca.org.za.

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