Introduction
Acquiring the CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) credential is a career milestone that only a small percentage of IT specialists have the potential to reach. There are an estimated 48,000 CISM practitioners working worldwide, which represents a very small portion of the world’s entire population. This certification is in high demand, and CISM holders are nearly certain to land a dream career in Information System Security Management.
It is challenging to obtain the CISM position due to its high demand. To earn the certified information security manager course certification, prospective applicants must complete some specific requirements. We will break down each stage so you can see how to approach it. We’ll go over the requirements you’ll need, to keep moving forward with your certification.
What Does a Certified Information Security Manager Do?
The responsibility of a CISM is related to management roles rather than hands-on responsibilities:
- To guide the design and/or ongoing management of the information security program, develop and/or maintain an information security strategy that is aligned with organizational goals and objectives.
- To do actions that support the information security strategy and establish or maintain an information security governance framework.
- To guarantee that company goals and objectives are supported by the information security program, integrate corporate governance into information security governance.
- Create and manage information security policies to guide the creation of norms, processes, and regulations that are in line with business objectives.
The Requirements for CISM Certification
To get CISM certified, the candidate must meet two requirements:
- You must pass the CISM exam
- You must have the minimum amount of job experience required.
To fulfill the second criterion, you must have three years of management experience in three or more of the major areas, which ISACA refers to as job practice areas. You must also have five years of experience in information security during the ten years prior to applying for the certification. Years of experience can be replaced by some lower-level certifications, and time spent instructing infosec at the university level can also be substituted. However, it is obvious that this is not a certification for undergraduates. You must have some experience in management and should have been working in the field for a while.
Step By Step Guide to Become a Certified Information Security Manager
The following is the step-by-step guide to becoming a certified information security manager:
Step-1: Assess Your Skills to Become a Certified Information Security Manager
The most essential quality for a CISM candidate is a managerial mindset. You must approach everything from a manager’s perspective, even when technical proficiency and information security skills are required. It is crucial when taking the examinations because, in addition to knowledge and expertise in the industry, the most widely accepted criteria are how you interact with managers. A Certified Information Security Manager should possess the following abilities:
- Management skills
- Determination skills
- Technical expertise
- Quick-thinking skills
- Resolving skills
- Coordinating skills
- Skills in verbal and written communication
- Experience
- Information security knowledge
Step-2: Meet the Prerequisites for Certified Information Security Manager Exam
The second step in obtaining your certified information security manager course certification is to provide documentation of at least five years of information security job experience, as verified by your employer.
In addition, these five years must include at least three years of work experience in information security management, which is defined as governance, risk management, program development and management, and incident management in the context of information security. The work experience must be obtained within five years of passing the exam.
Step-3: Register and Prepare for the CISM Exam
Before you do anything else, go to the ISACA website and register for the CISM exam. The test can be taken in person at a PSI testing center or online with remote proctoring. In either case, be sure to give yourself enough time to plan. You are prepared to create a study plan once the exam date has been determined.
Step-4: Enroll in a Certified Information Security Manager Course
Enroll in a CISM course, and you can climb to greater heights with your new certification. It can increase the value of your work because it is a personal achievement for you. Enrolling in a certified information security management course can also help you reach your goal in a systematic and productive way because their training and study materials adhere to current industry requirements.
Step-5: Write the Exam and Get a Passing Score
There are 150 multiple-choice questions in this 4-hour examination. Anyone who pays the registration costs is eligible to sit for the exam. You require a minimum score of 450 to pass.
Step-6: Maintain the Certification
The certificate must be renewed after its initial three-year period of validity. If you are a member of ISACA, you can retain your certification by paying a certain sum. Thus, maintaining your CISM credentials won’t be difficult. A CISM should stay current with the newest trends among certified information security managers to gain a thorough understanding of global security practices.
What are the Benefits of the CISM Certification?
The following are some benefits of acquiring a CISM certification:
Career Growth?
CISM professionals with certifications in security and management portray themselves to employers as incredibly confident persons who are well-educated and well-versed in their fields. This eventually results in career progression in terms of job titles, new duties, respect within the field, and a competitive work environment.
Credible Strategies?
Checking the credibility of a company’s personnel is one of the most crucial tasks. An employee can be confident that they understand their ethical standards if they are a part of a moral community. CISM has a number of these limitations. To qualify as members, the titleholders must comply with them. They will forfeit their status if they make any violations. People with the CISM certification may be trusted to constantly provide their employers with the best services. Employees do not violate their policy terms.
Strong and Efficient Networking?
The accessibility of a wide range of resources and networking opportunities helps people build strong and effective communication and networking skills, which in turn aid in maintaining organizational hierarchy and the provision of great professional advice to raise team morale.
Better Pay and Salary Increments?
The pay for CISM Certified Professionals is excellent. Obtaining certified information security manager course certification demonstrates their expertise and credibility to companies. The company they work for benefits from their updated abilities, which they acquire. According to a recent poll, CISM-certified candidates in the same field make $82,237 more than non-certified applicants. Several workers also said that after earning their CISM certification, their salaries increased.
Conclusion
The Certified Information Systems Manager credential is offered by ISACA and is a good option for IT and information security experts who want to specialize in management and policy creation. If you want to work in information security management professionally, you must have the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) credential. Professionals in IT and information security who have a strong technical basis and want to extend their careers into management roles may consider taking the CISM. But keep in mind that the certified information security manager course and its exams are vendor-neutral; they have nothing to do with technical implementations or settings, and in most situations, you’ll need to put in tremendous work to prepare for them.
FAQs
- Does CISM expire after 3 years?
The certified information security manager course certification is valid for three years. To keep your credential active, members of the ISACA CISM Committee must pay an annual maintenance fee of Rs. 3500 ($45). Holders of credentials who are not ISACA members must pay Rs. 6500 ($85).
- What is the CISM certification salary?
According to PayScale data, an individual with a CISM certification might earn an average salary of $52,402 to $243,610. Candidates who are placed at a senior level and have successfully managed challenging projects can command a significantly greater five or six-figure salary.
- Is CISM a difficult exam?
The CISM certification exam might vary from person to person, making it difficult to pinpoint how challenging it is. However, many professionals who have taken the CISM examination view it as difficult for a management-level certification. Additionally, this exam’s first-time pass percentage is barely 50–60%, indicating that it is among the more difficult certification tests.
- How long does it take to get CISM certified?
You must have five years of information security work experience to be eligible for the CISM credential, with at least three years of that experience being in information security management or you should have at least three job practice analysis areas.
- How many hours is the CISM exam?
The CISM exam has a 4-hour time limit.
