The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification gives information technology professionals a chance to develop cybersecurity, incident management, and more expertise. Professionals with a CISM certification understand how information systems fit into an organization’s comprehensive goals. Because of the scope of their knowledge, they are more inclined to have higher-level jobs and manage the other IT employees in an organization.
What Is a CISM Certification?
The CISM certification is undoubtedly a title to aim for. There are only roughly 23,000 CISM professionals across the globe when compared with 100,000 CISA professionals. These jobs are in demand, and earning your CISM certification assures job security.
The Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) oversees the CISM certification and other professional credentials.
CISM Exam Details
The CISM is a tough exam, but it’s not the most difficult part of achieving your certification. It takes about four hours to answer 150 questions. You have to pay for the exam to register for your exam, but you need to study for at least three months to ace the exam successfully.
On the CISM exam, you’ll answer questions referring to real-life problems, comprising domains such as:
- Information Security Governance
- Information Risk Management
- Information Security Program Development & Management
- Information Security Incident Management
Strategies for Passing the CISM Certification Exam
1. Enroll in a CISM Course
Enrolling in the best CISM course will make your CISM exam preparation journey much easier and enhance your odds of passing on your first try. A CISM course will help you study the CMA Exam’s most essential concepts, especially those you’re facing difficulty to grasp completely.
2. Create a Practical Study Plan
Creating a practical study plan on the basis of your work and personal timing will ensure that you’re assigning resolute study time. Fix achievable study goals each week to stay on the path and plan out when you study each of the CISM syllabus topics.
3. Create a Positive Study Environment
Where you study is vital -it defines how attentive you’ll be. Get ready for success by creating a specified study place with the least distractions, so when it’s study time, you’re ready to take off your CISM exam prep.
4. Perform CISM Practice Test
CISM practice test will help you become familiar with the real exam structure. But it’s also crucial to review your score on the CISM practice test to identify your strong and weak areas. Reviewing your weak areas can help you prioritize learning materials that work best for you.
CISM Certification Exam Preparation Tip for Working Professional
If you are a working professional and aspiring to take the CISM exam, you have a more challenging assignment at hand. If you cannot deal with adaptable working hours, you will have to spare time after your job for exam preparations. Make sure you stay away from any distractions like social media, Netflix, and so on. Try to avoid social events and focus on your preparation.
Working full-time and carrying out CISM exam preparation is not straightforward. Take care of your health while you undergo such an inflexible schedule. Three months of dedicated study for each part is more than sufficient to ensure a good preparation.
Benefits of CISM Certification
People involved in information technology don’t want to stay in a fixed job for a lifetime, and they like to learn more about the field and the latest trends. Putting this search for knowledge into practice by achieving a CISM certification benefits in many aspects. They’re able to keep important businesses operating effortlessly. And, of course, the CISM salary is captivating.
As reported by Payscale.com, the base salary for an individual with a CISM certification is $129,000. This amount can differ based on your location, years of experience, and qualifications.
This field is in great demand, with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 33% growth by 2030. There aren’t sufficient employees to meet the requirement so that you can have a luxurious life across the world.
CISM Job Outlook
While you might begin with an entry-level IT job, you can swiftly pursue other job paths with your CISM certification. The following three jobs are some of the most typical for professionals with CISM certifications.
1. Information Security Manager
Information security managers work with all divisions in an organization to keep the security system working smoothly. They use their expertise to help IT employees evaluate and avoid security gaps. They also use test data to handle scenarios to guarantee there are no gaps in the system.
Some information security managers lead the IT team, but some might manage IT systems themselves to have a clear picture of the organization’s network.
2. Information Risk Compliance Specialist
Information risk compliance specialists concentrate on the network’s process. They consistently hunt for any points of failure that could result in a security breach for the organization. After preventing these risks, they also work to train employees about the best practices for managing sensitive data.
Though it looks like a no-frills job title, this professional wears many hats at once. They continuously work as risk assessment, information security, and privacy impact assessment.
3. Chief Information Officer
The chief information officer monitors the systems. They’re on the outlook for security risks and crucial issues that could knock down the network. These professionals must stay updated on the industry since it quickly converts because of automation. A chief information officer works closely with the business leaders, so they understand the influence security has on the organization.
Conclusion
While the CISM exam is a difficult challenge to crush, there are ways you can make it more straightforward for yourself. It would help if you focused on covering most topics instead of all of them. Additionally, use the right study resources, plan, and stay away from all distractions when you sit down for exam preparation. Additionally, study a little every day and acquaint yourself with the exam environment. Lastly, focus on the long term, use time management, and award yourself for staying constant.
