Computer Society of South Africa and ISACA South Africa enter co-operative agreement

Issued by ISACA South Africa Chapter
Johannesburg, 11 May 2012

The Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) and ISACA South Africa recently entered into a formal relationship through a Memorandum of Understanding. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by more than 100 members of ISACA during a regional meeting held at Deloitte, in Woodmead, Johannesburg.

“CSSA and ISACA are organisations that have a lot in common, yet remain unique in their respective areas of specialisation,” explained Winston Hayden, President of ISACA South Africa. “This relationship will certainly benefit our respective members by allowing them to be exposed to the other organisation's expertise.”

Over the years, the activity levels of ISACA and CSSA have increased and opportunities have presented themselves to make an impact on ever-broader constituencies within South Africa. Like most enterprises in today's interconnected business environment, the organisations have recognised that they cannot do everything alone, and that progress can be made more quickly and effectively when partnering with like-minded organisations.

“The Memorandum of Understanding serves to 'make seen' that the two bodies are supporting each other and recognise and respect each other as important role-players in the information technology industry within South Africa,” added Adrian Schofield, President of CSSA.

Dignitaries from both associations signed the MoU and thereby laid the groundwork for a basis of co-operation and collaboration between the two organisations for the benefit of both organisations' members and the IT fraternity in South Africa as a whole.

The key areas of agreement embodied in the Memorandum are:
1. to recognise each other as professional associations;
2. to acknowledge, respect and promote the professional qualifications, designations and expertise of the other association and its members;
3. to co-operate on matters of mutual interest, including professional matters such as research, publications, training and events;
4. to exchange information if and when required to advance mutual interests;
5. to acknowledge and respect the standards, the intellectual property, copyrights and registered trademarks of either association;
6. to advance and support the communication between the two associations' office bearers.

The agreement is not an exhaustive list, but illustrates the potential opportunities opened up by the collaboration. Both organisations look forward to investigating the many ways their joint activity can benefit their members and other constituents, and are inspired by the spirit of co-operation and collaboration as exemplified by the signed MoU.

ISACA South Africa

With more than 100 000 constituents in 160 countries, ISACA (www.isaca.org) is a leading global provider of knowledge, certifications, community, advocacy and education on information systems (IS) assurance and security, enterprise governance and management of IT, and IT-related risk and compliance. Founded in 1969, the non-profit, independent ISACA hosts international conferences, publishes the ISACA Journal, and develops international IS auditing and control standards, which help its constituents ensure trust in, and value from, information systems. It also advances and attests IT skills and knowledge through the globally respected Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) designations. ISACA continually updates COBIT, which helps IT professionals and enterprise leaders fulfil their IT governance and management responsibilities, particularly in the areas of assurance, security, risk and control, and deliver value to the business. ISACA in South Africa has chapter representation in all of the key cities, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein.

The Computer Society of South Africa

The Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) is a professional association, established to represent and promote the information and communications technology (ICT) professional and ICT professionalism, as well as to elevate ICT capability in South Africa, and specifically:

* To facilitate the exchange of opinions and views on information and communications technology, and to inform and promote knowledge of ICT to members and the public for the development and use of ICT.
* By representing industry practitioners, to inform and lobby government on ICT policy.
* To obtain from members and other sources information relating to ICT, and to disseminate such information among the public and the Society by means of journals, circulars, publications, lectures, seminars, conferences or otherwise.
* To improve the technical and general knowledge and to elevate the professional status of persons engaged in ICT.
* Education and training to elevate the level of ICT capability in southern Africa.
* Professional development and advancement.
* Community development that enhances the standards and levels of ICT for the greater good of the South African people.
* To do all such other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above purposes.

Computer Society South Africa has members in all of the provinces in South Africa, and the CSSA has regional representation through chapters in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

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