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CISA

Information Systems Audit and Control Association and Foundation Certification

ISACA Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Exam Content Areas

Press Release CISA Tops Certification-related Bonus List

CISA Tops Certification-related Bonus List

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., USA (14 September 2001) - The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) designation provided professionals with the highest salary bonus among the 39 technical skills certification programs studied by Foote Partners, according to an article in the August 2001 issue of Information Security magazine.

Those possessing the CISA certification received a median 10 percent bonus (as a percent of base salary), the highest bonus amount attributed to a certification. Overall, the average bonus for all certifications tracked during the same time period was only 6.8 percent.

Offered since 1978, the CISA certification is sponsored by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and is the globally accepted standard of achievement among IS audit, control and security professionals and their employers.

According to the article, despite the uncertain IT climate, pay for security practitioners outperformed the overall market. IT security professionals with certifications including CISA, CISSP, CNSP and SANS/GIAC received a median skills pay average of nearly 7 percent of base salary, an increase over the third quarter of 2000.

Foote Partners, an IT compensation and workforce management research firm, revealed these statistics in its quarterly IT Professional Salary Survey and Hot Technical Skills Certifications Pay Index study. Results were based on questionnaires and direct interviews with nearly 24,000 IT professionals between 1 January and 31 March 2001.

"Although the CISA designation is primarily designed for professionals who audit information systems, many security professionals have discovered its strong focus on security. Coupled with CISA's global recognition, this makes the credential attractive and prestigious to security professionals because it demonstrates their skill and knowledge not only in information security, but also in audit and business." said Arnold Dito, CISA, chairman of the ISACA Certification Board.

Foote Partners also noted that salary funds for security skills will be focused on top-tier IT staff. As budgets tighten, organizations will reward motivated "impact" IT workers.

More than 8,200 professionals sat for the 2001 CISA exam, an increase of more than 1,700 compared to the previous year.

"A trend toward rewarding employees for their motivation and dedication to attaining valuable certifications is one of the reasons a record number of candidates sat for the CISA exam in 2001," said Dito. "Employers prefer professionals who demonstrate proficiency in globally accepted, current technologies and practices. CISA certification helps professionals distinguish themselves and provide a competitive advantage."

Registrations are now being accepted for the 2002 CISA exam, which will be administered on 8 June 2002 in 11 languages throughout 73 countries.

Contact ISACA at phone: +1.847.253.1545, fax: +1.847.253.1443, e-mail: or visit its web site at: www.isaca.org for additional details.

With 22,000 members in 161 chapters in more than 100 countries, the Information Systems Audit and Control Association® (ISACA™) (www.isaca.org) is a recognized global leader in IT governance, control and assurance. ISACA sponsors international conferences and administers the globally respected CISA® (Certified Information Systems Auditor™) designation held by more than 13,000 professionals worldwide.

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Last modified: February 28, 2008