Ashley Neu
CISM is an advanced information security certification offered by ISACA. CISM stands for Certified Information Security Manager and it is ANSI accredited under ISO/IEC 17024:2012.
Who Should Test For The CISM Certification?
The CISM exam is focused on how best practices in information security can help meet business objectives. This certification is designed primarily for an aspiring or current information security manager tasked with developing corporate strategy and policy.
The ideal InfoSec professional has at least 5 years of work experience in 3 or more of the following job practice areas:
- Information Security Governance (24%)
- Information Risk Management (30%)
- Information Security Program Development and Management (27%)
- Information Security Incident Management (19%)
How Does Earning A CISM Help Your Career?
A CISM certification can help your career in several major ways. The first being if you are working within the Department of Defense, CISM is listed on the DoD 8570.01-M Baseline Certifications. This means if you are working within an Information Assurance role in any DoD agency and you wish to climb the ladder this certification can help you reach your IAM career goals. Additionally, if you are a DoD contractor you may be held to the same certification requirements depending on the contract you are hired for and as such, this certification can make you more marketable within the industry.
Regardless of the industry you work for, earning a CISM certification will help your career financially. It is one of the most lucrative InfoSec certifications available. The average salary for a CISM in the MD-DC-VA metro area is $128,340 per year. It also gains you entrance to an elite network of other CISM certified professionals that you can leverage throughout your InfoSec career.
How Do You Earn A CISM Certification?
While the CISM certification exam is tough, it is not impossible to pass. However, there is more to earning the CISM certification than just passing the exam; if you want to add CISM to your name then you have to complete all the steps listed below:
- First and foremost, you need to pass the CISM exam. Learn how to register for your CISM exam.
- Pledge your adherence to the ISACA Code of Ethics; this is a standard of conduct both personally and professionally.
- Agree to ISACA’s policy on continuing education and maintaining your CISM certification.
- Verify the required work experience as outlined by ISACA.
- Submit your CISM application.
Once you have successfully completed each of these steps, then you can proudly add the CISM acronym to your resume and begin reaping all the benefits that CISM has to offer.