Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

During our 4-day ISACA CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) Certification Training Course the goal is to equip information professionals with the knowledge and technical skills for proficiency in IS audit, control and security skills.

IS Audit Process

• ISACA IS Auditing Standards, Guidelines and Procedures and Code of Professional Ethics
• IS auditing practices and techniques
• Techniques to gather information and preserve evidence (e.g., observation, inquiry, interview, CAATs, electronic media)
• The evidence life cycle (e.g., the collection, protection, chain of custody)
• Control objectives and controls related to IS (e.g., CobiT)
• Risk assessment in an audit context
• Audit planning and management techniques
• Reporting and communication techniques (e.g., facilitation, negotiation, conflict resolution)
• Control self-assessment (CSA)
• Continuous audit techniques

IT Governance

• The purpose of IT strategies, policies, standards and procedures for an organization and the essential elements of each
• IT governance frameworks
• The processes for the development, implementation and maintenance of IT strategies, policies, standards and procedures (e.g., protection of information assets, business continuity and disaster recovery, systems and infrastructure lifecycle management, IT service delivery and support)
• Quality management strategies and policies
• Organizational structure, roles and responsibilities related to the use and management of IT
• Generally accepted international IT standards and guidelines
• Enterprise IT architecture and its implications for setting long-term strategic directions
• Risk management methodologies and tools
• The use of control frameworks (e.g., CobiT, COSO, ISO 17799)
• The use of maturity and process improvement models (e.g., CMM, CobiT)
• Contracting strategies, processes and contract management practices 2.12 practices for monitoring and reporting of IT performance (e.g., balanced scorecards, key performance indicators [KPI])
• Relevant legislative and regulatory issues (e.g., privacy, intellectual property, corporate governance requirements)
• IT human resources (personnel) management
• IT resource investment and allocation practices (e.g., portfolio management return on investment (ROI))

Systems and Infrastructure Lifecycle Management

• Benefits management practices, (e.g., feasibility studies, business cases)
• Project governance mechanisms (e.g., steering committee, project oversight board)
• Project management practices, tools, and control frameworks
• Risk management practices applied to projects
• Project success criteria and risks
• Configuration, change and release management in relation to development and maintenance of systems and/or infrastructure
• Control objectives and techniques that ensure the completeness, accuracy, validity, and authorization of transactions and data within IT systems applications
• Enterprise architecture related to data, applications, and technology (e.g., distributed applications, web-based applications, web services, n-tier applications)
• Requirements analysis and management practices (e.g., requirements verification, traceability, gap analysis)
• Acquisition and contract management processes (e.g., evaluation of vendors, preparation of contracts, vendor management, escrow)
• System development methodologies and tools and an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses (e.g., agile development practices, prototyping, rapid application development [RAD], object-oriented design techniques)
• Quality assurance methods
• The management of testing processes (e.g., test strategies, test plans, test environments, entry and exit criteria)
• Data conversion tools, techniques, and procedures
• System and/or infrastructure disposal procedures
• Software and hardware certification and accreditation practices
• Post-implementation review objectives and methods (e.g., project closure, benefits realization, performance measurement)
• System migration and infrastructure deployment practices

IT Service Delivery and Support

• The techniques for the design, implementation and monitoring of security (e.g., threat and risk assessment, sensitivity analysis, privacy impact assessment)
• Logical access controls for the identification, authentication, and restriction of users to authorized functions and data (e.g., dynamic passwords, challenge/response, menus, profiles)
• Logical access security architectures (e.g., single sign-on, user identification strategies, identity management)
• Attack methods and techniques (e.g., hacking, spoofing, Trojan horses, denial of service, spamming)
• Processes related to monitoring and responding to security incidents (e.g., escalation procedures, emergency incident response team)
• Network and Internet security devices, protocols, and techniques (e.g., SSL, SET, VPN, NAT)
• Intrusion detection systems and firewall configuration, implementation, operation, and maintenance
• Encryption algorithm techniques (e.g., AESRSA)
• Public key infrastructure (PKI) components (e.g., certification authorities, registration authorities) and digital signature techniques
• vVrus detection tools and control techniques
• Security testing and assessment tools (e.g., penetration testing, vulnerability scanning)
• Environmental protection practices and devices (e.g., fire suppression, cooling systems, water sensors)
• Physical security systems and practices (e.g., biometrics, access cards, cipher locks, tokens)
• Data classification schemes (e.g., public, confidential, private, and sensitive data)
• Voice communications security (e.g., voice over IP)
• The processes and procedures used to store, retrieve, transport, and dispose of confidential information assets
• Controls and risks associated with the use of portable and wireless devices (e.g., PDAs, USB devices, Bluetooth devices)

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

• Data backup, storage, maintenance, retention and restoration processes, and practices
• Regulatory, legal, contractual, and insurance issues related to business continuity and disaster recovery
• Business impact analysis (BIA)
• The development and maintenance of the business continuity and disaster recovery plans
• Business continuity and disaster recovery testing approaches and methods
• Human resources management practices as related to business continuity and disaster recovery (e.g., evacuation planning, response teams)
• Processes used to invoke the business continuity and disaster recovery plans
• Types of alternate processing sites and methods used to monitor the contractual agreements (e.g., hot sites, warm sites, cold sites)