Information Technology is one of the leading sectors in today’s advanced world. Since the pandemic, the Information Technology industry has taken it as a challenge to be on the top by providing work-from-home jobs with online training. It doesn’t come around for other industries that are oriented toward manufacturing. However, there are a lot of domains to be considered while paving your way to make a career in information technology. It is not as easy as chopping some vegetables. It does require some research as any domain is chosen will lead to a different path altogether.
Once an individual chooses a career path in Information Technology, the next step is to start working toward the goal. This demands your full devotion of time and opting for a training course, or enrolling in a certification program. Two such certifications covered here are CISA and CISM Certification. While most people might advise that both these certifications are similar, they’re usually incorrect. Both of these certifications have different paths to learning and gaining experience. Let’s dive into what each course offers and which is the best certification.
CISA®: Certified Information Science Auditor
This certification assembles an individual’s skills as an auditor. It examines your auditing abilities, which require the candidates to determine the liabilities, account for and report the observations, and present strategies within a business.
It allows the individuals to monitor the company’s IT systems, audit, control and navigates the strategies.
The course is intended for the following:
- Information Technology Audit Managers
- Information Science Audit Managers
- Information Technology Auditors
- Information Science Auditors
- Information Technology Consultants
- Information Science Consultants
- Non-IT Auditors
- Security Experts and Professionals
CISM®: Certified Information Security Managers
This certification offers knowledge and training on the security programs on a strategic level that hones your skills in being firm with your business ideas and goals. The CISM training course is intended for the Information Security Managers and the experts or professionals who have experience in assessing, developing, and supervising the information security systems.
Rather than providing technical skills to the experts and professionals, this certification intends to provide managerial and strategic skills for assessing and supervising security systems.
This course is suitable for the following job role
- Information Security Managers
- Chief Information Officers
- Risk Management Professionals
- Information Technology consultants
- Information Science Consultants
ISACA, the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, is one of the recognized and renowned titles in the Information Technology sector, providing both these certifications. The CISA and CISM are both related to assessing the information security systems. Apart from this similarity, there are no more resemblances. Both the certifications have their own prerequisites, domain knowledge, content, and principle. Both the certifications use different approaches and strategies for assessing and supervising information security, thereby leading to two roads of career paths.
The Key Differences between the CISA and CISM are as follows:
As discussed before, CISA assembles an individual’s skills as an auditor. It examines your auditing abilities, which require the candidates to determine the liabilities, account for and report the observations, and present strategies within a business. Currently, more than 32 thousand individuals hold CISA Certification.
On the other hand, CISM knowledge and training on the security programs on a strategic level hone your skills in being firm with your business ideas and goals.
CISA is more of a practitioner-level certification for Auditors. While CISM is far from the practitioner level, it mainly focuses on the management and supervision of the Information Security Programs.
Practically, the CISA is for individuals who are aiming on achieving the technical skill set for assessing and reporting the observations. CISM primarily moves on from the technical skills to managerial proficiencies who have experience in handling the security programs, and staff, and analyzing the strategies.
CISM delivers the task of ensuring cyber security at the enterprise level. The professionals and experts are trained in achieving experience and guidance in the same direction. Whereas, CISA aims at training the professionals in delivering the assurance about the controls of the Information Security.
The CISM professionals or experts are placed into the domains that implement the following programs:
- Information Security Governance Program
- Information Risk Management Program
- Information Security Program Development and Management Program
- Information Security Incident Program
Whereas, as a CISA Professional, the domains that you will be prepared for are the following:
- Information System Auditing Process
- Governance of Management and IT
- Information System Operations and Business Resilience
- Information System Acquisition, Development, and Imp.
- Protection of Information Assets
As per Knowledgehut, the average salary range of CISA professionals is around INR 24L - 50L per year. Whereas, CISM has an average salary range between INR 10L – 50L per year.
Which Among the Two is Better? (Concluding Thoughts)
While both have their merits and domains, it depends on the individual’s interest. If an individual is aiming to make a career in auditing, consultancy, or system development, then CISA® Certification is the best choice. Anyone can enroll themselves in CISA Course and get certified.
But, if a person is more into management and development of the security programs and controls and aims to become a security manager or security analyst, CISM® is the key. CISM training can be obtained by any online program.
Depending on interests and prerequisites, individuals can make their choice. However, there is no competition between the two as they offer two different career paths.