Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Practice Exam

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Practice Exam

The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) designation is a globally recognized credential for professionals involved in information systems (IS) audit, control, and security. It demonstrates your expertise in assessing an organization's IT infrastructure and its effectiveness in safeguarding data and ensuring business continuity.

Who should consider CISA certification?

This certification is ideal for individuals holding mid-career positions in:

• IT Audit
• Information Security
• Risk Management
• Internal Controls
• Compliance

It's also valuable for individuals who want to:

• Transition into IT audit or security roles.
• Advance their careers in existing IT-related positions.
• Gain a strong foundation in IT audit best practices.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

CISA holders can be involved in various tasks, including:

• Performing IT audits to assess the effectiveness of internal controls, data security, and risk management practices.
• Identifying and reporting on IT-related vulnerabilities and control weaknesses.
• Recommending and implementing improvements to IT governance and controls.
• Collaborating with IT and business stakeholders to ensure alignment between IT practices and business objectives.
• Staying up-to-date on evolving IT risks and regulations.

Exam Details:

• Exam Name: CISA Certified Information Systems Auditor
• Exam Provider: ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association)
• Format: Computer-based, multiple-choice questions
• Number of Questions: 150
• Duration: 4 hours
• Passing Score: 75%
• Delivery: Testing center or online proctored

Recommended Experience

The CISA Exam Requirements are:

• Initially, the candidate needs to have at least five (5) years of experience in security, assurance, control, or IS/IT audit.
• Second, there is a three-year maximum limit on the experience waivers.  

Course Outline

18% Domain 1 – Information Systems Auditing Process

Providing industry-standard audit services to assist organizations in protecting and controlling information systems, Domain-1 affirms your credibility to offer conclusions on the state of an organization’s IS/IT security, risk and control solutions.

A–PLANNING

1. IS Audit Standards, Guidelines, and Codes of Ethics
2. Types of Audits, Assessments, and Reviews
3. Risk-Based Audit Planning
4. Types of Controls and Considerations

B–EXECUTION

1. Audit Project Management
2. Audit Testing and Sampling Methodology
3. Audit Evidence Collection Techniques
4. Audit Data Analytics
5. Reporting and Communication Techniques
6. Quality Assurance and Improvement of Audit Process

18% Domain 2 – Governance & Management of IT

This domain confirms to stakeholders your abilities to identify critical issues and recommend enterprise-specific practices to support and safeguard the governance of information and related technologies.

A–IT GOVERNANCE

1. Laws, Regulations, and Industry Standards
2. Organizational Structure, IT Governance, and IT Strategy
3. IT Policies, Standards, Procedures and Practices
4. Enterprise Architecture and Considerations
5. Enterprise Risk Management 
6. Privacy Program and Principles
7. Data Governance and Classification

B–IT MANAGEMENT

1. IT Resource Management
2. IT Vendor Management 
3. IT Performance Monitoring and Reporting
4. Quality Assurance and Quality Management of IT

12% Domain 3 – Information Systems Acquisition, Development & Implementation

Domains 3 and 4 offer proof not only of your competency in IT controls, but also your understanding of how IT relates to business.

A–INFORMATION SYSTEMS ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT

1. Project Governance and Management
2. Business Case and Feasibility Analysis
3. System Development Methodologies
4. Control Identification and Design

B–INFORMATION SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTATION

1. System Readiness and Implementation Testing
2. Implementation Configuration and Release Management
3. System Migration, Infrastructure Deployment, and Data Conversion
4. Post-implementation Review

26% Domain 4 – Information Systems Operations & Business Resilience

Domains 3 and 4 offer proof not only of your competency in IT controls, but also your understanding of how IT relates to business.

A–INFORMATION SYSTEMS OPERATIONS

1. IT Components
2. IT Asset Management
3. Job Scheduling and Production Process Automation
4. System Interfaces
5. Shadow IT and End-User Computing
6. Systems Availability and Capacity Management
7. Problem and Incident Management
8. IT Change, Configuration, and Patch Management
9. Operational Log Management
10. IT Service Level Management
11. Database Management

B–BUSINESS RESILIENCE

1. Business Impact Analysis
2. System and Operational Resilience
3. Data Backup, Storage, and Restoration
4. Business Continuity Plan
5. Disaster Recovery Plans

26% Domain 5 – Protection of Information Assets

Cybersecurity now touches virtually every information systems role, and understanding its principles, best practices and pitfalls is a major focus within Domain 5.

A–INFORMATION ASSET SECURITY AND CONTROL

1. Information Asset Security Frameworks, Standards, and Guidelines
2. Physical and Environmental Controls
3. Identity and Access Management
4. Network and End-Point Security
5. Data Loss Prevention
6. Data Encryption
7. Public Key Infrastructure
8. Cloud and Virtualized Environments
9. Mobile, Wireless, and Internet-of-Things Devices

B–SECURITY EVENT MANAGEMENT

1. Security Awareness Training and Programs
2. Information System Attack Methods and Techniques
3. Security Testing Tools and Techniques
4. Security Monitoring Tools and Techniques
5. Security Incident Response Management
6. Evidence Collection and Forensics