ISACA recently reached and surpassed the 200,000 milestone of Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) credentials that have been earned in the 40-plus years of CISA’s existence.
CISA has long been considered the gold standard credential for those who audit, control, monitor and assess an organization’s IT and business systems, and it is regularly refreshed to keep pace with the ever-evolving business technology landscape.
ISACA Now recently visited with several CISA-holders to find out how their CISA certification has elevated their careers – see their comments below. Find out more about ISACA’s career pathway resources in IT audit here.
“Once I received my CISA and announced it on social media, a company that later hired me began following me on social media. A couple of years later they reached out through LinkedIn and now, because of CISA, I’m a security analyst, writing articles and reviewing books. It all happened because of CISA.”
- Ricky Hamilton, CISA, CRISC
"After I passed the CISA exam, my life journey was directly changed. It allowed me to dream big, believe in myself, open my eyes to a world of possibilities, and break into the exciting realm of cybersecurity. I successfully transitioned from finance, forging a new path alongside professionals I could have only dreamed of meeting in my previous life. My CISA certification not only opened doors but also ignited my passion for securing the digital landscape, shaping my career in ways I could have never imagined.”
- Abby Zhang, CISA, CDPSE, Marketing Coordinator, Board Member at ISACA Auckland Chapter, Trustee at NZNWS, and Security Analyst at Kordia
"The CISA is perfectly suited to guide professional accountants or auditors down a career path that is more technical. In fact, the CISA designation was instrumental to me in establishing my audit strengths and helped me solidify a career path from accountant to auditor to IT audit, and eventually to cybersecurity risk assessment. Since then, I have enjoyed 23 years of cybersecurity leadership experience, in CISO and virtual CISO roles across numerous industries. Professional accountants already have a methodical approach to planning and conducting assurance work and this ports well to IT audits, and even to cybersecurity risk assessments.”
- Edward Pereira, CISM, CISA, CRISC, CDPSE, CPA, CGA
"The knowledge, experience, insight, and risk awareness I received after gaining my CISA not only boosted my confidence but also improved my IT audit skills and morale as a system auditor. When I became certified in February 2020, I was still a Junior System Auditor who had been exposed to complex IT infrastructure and control environments. With my newly acquired knowledge and increased confidence, I was able to interact effortlessly with clients and ask the necessary questions to uncover weaknesses that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. Three months later, I was promoted to Senior Associate Auditor. I am proud to be a CISA.”
- Salieu Sesay, CISA, CISM
"The CISA certification deepened my knowledge in several technical areas and increased my credibility with business stakeholders. As a result, it opened doors to new career opportunities and higher-paying roles, allowing me to move from junior IT roles to more senior positions with greater responsibilities. CISA also equipped me with the skills, knowledge and credentials necessary to move into leadership roles.”
- Jose Maria Martinez Bermejo, CISA, CRISC, IT Audit Manager
"Obtaining the CISA certification aligned perfectly with my long-term career goals. My big-picture career plan involved transitioning from a primarily finance-focused role to a position where I could combine my financial acumen with a strong understanding of information systems and cybersecurity. The CISA certification bridged the gap between these two domains, equipping me with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the increasingly complex and interconnected world of business technology.”
- Gaelle Koanda, CISA, SheLeadtech Ambassador, Sr. Cybersecurity Professional
"The benefits in earning the CISA included enhanced competence, confidence and credibility with my colleagues and clients. The CISA bootcamp and test materials helped to better equip me with the concepts, techniques and resources needed to find the approaches that best fit the needs of my engagements. This helped me to be more independent in helping to develop and execute testing approaches and collaborate with clients to assure them the plans were aligned with ISACA leading practices.”
- Natasha Barnes, CISA, Associate Director at Protiviti
"I would not be in the position or career I am in today without my CISA. A number of job descriptions for information systems auditing require a CISA or similar certification. A lack of credentials can hinder your chances of getting a foot in the door for an interview, especially in management roles. Additionally, because I do not have a degree in information systems, my CISA certification allowed me to prove my knowledge not learned in a classroom.”
- Tiffany Pollard, CIA, CISA, Manager, Internal Audit IT
"Pursuing the CISA certification allowed me to increase visibility and credibility with clients and peers, leading to more speaking, writing and consulting opportunities. The investment in time and energy was well worth it.”
- Dave Hatter, CISA, CISM, CISSP, CCSP, CSSLP, PMP, ITIL, Director of Business Growth, Intrust IT
"Holding the CISA certification has helped me secure employment and thrive within some of the world’s largest multinational corporations, thanks to the extensive exposure to diverse industries and its compatibility with numerous roles within the fields of IT audit, assurance and security. The CISA credential has also enabled me to become part of an exclusive professional network that is highly sought-after on a global scale.”
- Sandile Nhlengethwa, CISA, Senior IT Auditor, DHL Group
"Earning my CISA gave me the credibility and encouragement I needed to pursue a new career path in IT auditing. I learned a lot about the audit process through ISACA, especially the many different controls needed in IT audits. ISACA content was very helpful as I pursued IT audit projects.”
- Paul Kirvan, CISA, Independent Consultant and Auditor
