TAKE YOUR CAREER

TO THE NEXT LEVEL—

WITH CISM
A guide to attaining CISM certification and demonstrating
your vital skills and expertise.
S E E W H AT ’ S
N E X T, N O W

CISM PLANNING:
YOUR GUIDE TO CISM CERTIFICATION
Get the facts about CISM!
Learn how to register, prepare for and maintain your CISM certification
and realize the many benefits for your career.

CONTENTS: Click for instant access

CISM FAST FACTS
BENEFITS OF BEING CISM CERTIFIED
YOUR ROADMAP TO REVEALING YOUR TRUE IDENTITY
PASSING THE EXAM IS NOT THE FINAL STEP
THE ABCs OF CPEs—CONTINUING EDUCATION IDEAS
GUIDE TO YOUR CISM CERTIFICATION RECAP
ABOUT ISACA
 CISM Planning: Your Guide to CISM Certification | 3

C I S M FA S T FA C T S

40,000+ More than

PROFESSIONALS 95% OF
have obtained CISM PROFESSIONALS
certification since it was retained their
introduced in 2002 CISM certification from
the previous year1

At least
CISM is among 5 YEARS
the highest-paying of relevant professional work
IT certifications, with an experience is required in the field
average salary of of information security, with at
U.S. $122,4482 least three years in the role of
information security manager

The CISM exam

There are is now a computer-based
150 QUESTIONS test with opportunities to take
on the CISM exam, the exam at more than
which must be completed in
880 WORLDWIDE
4 HOURS LOCATIONS in
5 LANGUAGES

1. In the most recent measurement period.

2. In the US, based on the 2018 IT Skills and Salary Report conducted by Global Knowledge.

Discover more about CISM

 CISM Planning: Your Guide to CISM Certification | 4

BENEFITS OF BEING
CISM CERTIFIED
Instantly authenticate Instill confidence
your credentials among employers,
colleagues and clients

Be fully trusted
for your
Increase your information
marketability security
and income management
potential expertise

Prove your ability Be recognized globally

to stay ahead of as one of the best in
ever-changing risks your field

CISM—one of the CISM was ranked SC Media named CISM CISM was ranked among
second among the the 2018 winner for the top 10 paying
most recognized top 13 highest “Best Professional certifications for the fourth
IS/IT certifications paying certifications Certification Program”. straight year in the 2018
for 2018 in CIO IT Skills and Salary Survey
in the world. Magazine’s Annual conducted by Global
Salary Survey. Knowledge.
 CISM Planning: Your Guide to CISM Certification | 5

YOUR ROADMAP TO
BECOMING CISM CERTIFIED
STARTS HERE
Job Practice Areas tested for and validated by CISM certification

DOMAIN 1

24%
OF CISM FOCUS
Information
Security Governance

30%
OF CISM FOCUS

DOMAIN 4
Information
DOMAIN 2
Security
Incident Information
Management Risk
Management

19%
OF CISM FOCUS

For more detailed breakdowns

27%
OF CISM FOCUS
of each domain, click here.
DOMAIN 3
Information Security
Program Development
and Management

Resources to Help You Prepare for the CISM Exam

Move your career forward with the globally recognized CISM certification.
Be ready for CISM exam success with the latest test prep solutions from ISACA.

EXPLORE ALL CISM PREP

• CISM Exam Study Materials—Many available in print or ebook
• Online Learning—ISACA offers a variety of online learning courses for
certification exam preparation and continuing professional education.
• In-Person Review Courses—Offered by ISACA chapters in numerous countries.
• Exam Preparation Community—A place for CISM exam registrants to
collaborate and study with other registrants.
• Terminology Lists—A listing of technical terms in English, along with how they
will appear on the exam in each other language offered.
 CISM Planning: Your Guide to CISM Certification | 6

Sharpen Your Insights

CISM EXAM STUDY MATERIALS*
To help optimize your preparation for the CISM certification exam, ISACA offers several
study materials which can be accessed here. In English, these include:

CISM Review Manual 15th Edition—A comprehensive, easy-to-navigate manual is

organized into chapters that correspond to the four job practice areas covered in the
CISM exam. The manual is primarily designed as a tool for exam prep, but can also be
useful as a reference manual for information security managers.

CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual 9th Edition—Consists of

1,000 multiple-choice study questions. These questions are not actual exam items
but are intended to provide CISM candidates with an understanding of the type and
structure of questions and content that have previously appeared on the exam.

CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Database—A comprehensive

CISM
®

Review Questions, Answers

& Explanations Database
1,000-question pool of items that contains the questions from the CISM Review
oad | Suite 1010
IL 60008 | USA
Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual 9th Edition. The database is available via
the web, allowing CISM candidates to log in at home, at work or anywhere they have
5
5
saca.org
ca.org

Internet connectivity.

On-site CISM Exam Review Course—Provides the learner the opportunity to study
with an experienced, accredited professional. Courses may include instructor-led
breakdowns of the exam’s four domains, discussion activities and a mock exam.

Through the link above, you will also find study materials in Spanish, Japanese and Chinese (Simplified).
*The ISACA® certification process and the ISACA test preparation curriculum are administered and designed independently. ISACA in no way seeks
to imply or represent that utilizing ISACA exam preparation material will result in any form of partiality in the certification process.
 CISM Planning: Your Guide to CISM Certification | 7

PA S S I N G T H E E X A M I S
NOT THE FINAL STEP
The hard part is over. You passed the CISM exam, now you just need to apply for your
certification and complete the process. Finally, after working so hard to attain your CISM
certification, you’re obviously going to want to maintain it and all the professional benefits
that come with it.

The principal aspect of maintaining your CISM involves continuing professional education
(CPE) and earning requisite CPE hours (CPEs) over an annual and 3-year certification period.

These policies are detailed here.

Don’t forget to claim and put your digital badge to use!

We are committed to providing you with the tools necessary to achieve your professional
goals and we understand that communicating your credentials in an ever-expanding online
marketplace can be challenging.

That is why we have partnered with Acclaim, a part of Pearson, to provide you with a digital
version of your credentials. Digital badges can be used in email signatures, digital résumés
and on social media sites.

This digital image contains verified metadata that describes your qualifications and the
process required to earn them.

Benefits of Digital Badges:

• Secure way to share abilities online
• Real-time verification of abilities
• Shows process required to earn your CISA
• Easy to claim and use

For more information about badges and Acclaim,

you can find answers to frequently asked questions
at support.youracclaim.com.

Learn more
 CISM Planning: Your Guide to CISM Certification | 8

THE ABCs OF CPEs

Continuing professional education (CPE) is crucial in order to remain current in your skills and expertise and
ahead in your career. The attainment of CPE hours (CPEs) is also central to maintaining your CISM certification.

The CISM CPE policy requires attaining at least 20 CPEs annually and 120 CPEs over a 3-year reporting period.

Useful Ideas for Earning CPEs

ISACA offers opportunities to earn CPE through participation in a variety of programs and events, including:

Webinars and Virtual Serving as an ISACA Volunteer

Conferences Training Courses Earn up to 20 Free CPEs per year
Earn up to 40+ free CPEs per year Earn up to 32 CPEs per course More information
Get details See the Training Week schedule

Conferences
Earn up to 39 CPEs per event Journal Quizzes Mentoring
Learn more Earn one CPE for each of six Earn up to 10 Free CPEs per year
journals per year Learn more
Quizzes can be found here

Online Training
Earn up to 14 CPEs per course
Find course descriptions

Additional Activities that can earn you CPEs include:

• Teaching/lecturing/presenting • Publication of articles, monographs and books
• Vendor sales/marketing presentations • Exam question development and review
• Passing related professional examinations • Working on ISACA Boards/Committees
• Contributions to the IS audit and control profession • And more

Find detailed information on all of the above

and calculation of CPE hours
 CISM Planning: Your Guide to CISM Certification | 9

GUIDE TO YOUR CISM

C E RT I F I C AT I O N R E C A P
1 Explore ISACA
exam prep solutions

2 Register and pay for

CISM exam

3 Schedule your exam date

and location

4 Take the exam, pass, then

apply for your certification

5 Claim and display your

digital badge

6 Members take
advantage of free CPE

7 Track and
report CPEs

8 Renew your
certification

Take the first step towards obtaining

your CISM certification!
Register today at www.isaca.org/GetCISM

NOT A MEMBER OF ISACA?

how you can save on CISM exam

registration, prep materials and
maintenance—including free CPE hours!

Your ISACA membership may even pay for itself, find out more!
 CISM Planning: Your Guide to CISM Certification | 10

SHOW THE
W O R L D W H AT
YOU H AVE
ACCOMPLISHED
Get recognized with the CISM certification.

About ISACA
With over 165,000 professionals in more than 180 countries, ISACA® is a trusted source of
knowledge, standards, certifications, networking and career development for information
systems audit, control, security, cybersecurity, risk, privacy and governance professionals.

Incorporated in 1969 and previously known as the Information Systems Audit and Control
Association—but now known solely by our acronym—ISACA advances and validates
business-critical skills and knowledge through its globally respected certifications.

For more information about CISM certification and training,

contact us anytime at support.isaca.org or call: +1.847.660.5505

www.isaca.org

© 2018 ISACA. All Rights Reserved