Discover how CISM certification can boost your cyber security career. Learn what the qualification involves, who it’s for, and how it can open doors to leadership roles, higher salaries, and global recognition in a fast-evolving industry.
Having industry-recognised certifications is one of the best ways for any cyber security professional to climb the career ladder. If you’ve got a few years’ experience under your belt and are looking to take the next step into leadership roles, one of the most valuable qualifications you can add to your CV is Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
In this blog, we’ll detail what this advanced certification involves, why you should get it and what doors it can open for you. Read on to find out everything you need to know.
CISM is an advanced industry certification that demonstrates that you have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to manage a team in the information security (infosec) sector.
It is offered by professional organisation ISACA, which is an independent, vendor-agnostic non-profit known around the world for its guidance, credentials, education, training and community. CISM is one of its flagship certifications and is recognised by professionals as among the most demanding and prestigious certifications in the cyber security sector.
As well as showcasing that you have the technical skills necessary to protect businesses from a range of emerging cyber security threats, the certification has a strong focus on leadership, making it one of the most important cyber security qualifications for managers or IT consultants who are expected to support infosec programme management.
Qualifications such as CISM are more relevant than ever in an extremely challenging environment. Businesses of all sizes and across every sector are facing more demands to keep up with an evolving cyber security landscape, where developments such as artificial intelligence are creating new difficulties.
At the same time, a continuing skills shortage also means those who can demonstrate they have the most relevant skills will be in particularly high demand among recruiters. According to the World Economic Forum, there is a global shortfall of four million cyber security professionals, with two-thirds of organisations (67 per cent) reporting a moderate to critical gap in this area.
A certification like CISM can reassure hirers that you have the experience and capabilities to meet these demands.
ISACA CISM certification is aimed at experienced cyber security professionals looking to move into leadership roles, as well as those looking to specialise in consultancy work.
There are four CISM domains that are covered by the certification. These are:
All of these are essential proficiencies for any information security manager in today’s environment. The materials included in the CISM course therefore ensure professionals are able to analyse, identify and respond to any potential security risks quickly and efficiently.
CISM certification offers a clear boost to your career prospects in the cyber security sector. It can allow you to apply for higher-level roles and help you stand out to recruiters, managers and industry peers. What’s more, it helps ensure you’re fully up-to-date with the latest techniques in cyber security, which in turn allows you to command improved offers when looking for new positions.
Key advantages of being CISM-certified include:
According to ISACA, 70 per cent of professionals who have CISM on their CVs report it has helped improve their on-the-job performance, while 42 per cent say it was able to secure them a pay increase.
For UK professionals, The Knowledge Academy states that the average CISM salary is £66,000 a year, going up to £90,000 for some information security manager roles. What’s more, 48 per cent of information security professionals certified with CISM are offered appraisals within a year.
Beyond this, taking a CISM course lets you expand your horizons and step out of your comfort zone in order to keep your skills sharp and ensure you’re ready for whatever challenges the future of cyber security may bring.
CISM is not the only certification available for those looking to advance their careers into cyber security leadership. Many professionals may only have the time to study towards one qualification, so it’s important to select the right course and understand the differences between the various options.
For those considering CISM, the main alternatives include (ISC)2’s Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and ISACA’s Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
The main difference between CISM and CISSP is that the former is more focused on management and strategy, whereas CISSP is a broader course with a greater emphasis on technical aspects.
Therefore, CISM is likely to be the better choice if you’re looking to move into leadership roles, while CISSP may be better-suited to people who wish to maintain a more hands-on approach to cyber security. However, both are complementary qualifications, so there’s nothing to stop you pursuing both.
CISA may be more valuable if you’re looking at moving into roles such as auditing, governance or risk management. It focuses more closely than CISM on areas such as assessing vulnerabilities, maintaining compliance and implementing controls in an organisation’s IT infrastructure.
There are a few CISM prerequisites in order to become certified. Principally, you’ll have to demonstrate at least five years’ experience in the information security sector, including three years’ work history that covers at least three of the four domains listed above. This can be verified by your supervisor or manager and must have taken place within the last ten years.
You don’t need to have completed all of this experience before taking the exam, however. Once you have passed, you will have five years to complete the certification and confirm you meet the experience criteria.
The cost of taking the CISM exam is $575 (£435) for ISACA members and $760 for non-members. Once this has been passed, there is then a $50 application fee for the certification itself.
In order to maintain your certification, there is an annual maintenance fee of $45 (for ISACA members) or $85 (for non-members).
Other expenses may include study guides, courses and other exam preparation materials. While these are not mandatory, they can give you a better chance of passing the exam first time and can cost anywhere between a few hundred to several thousand pounds, depending on the providers you choose and what level of support you desire.
The CISM exam itself consists of 150 multiple-choice questions across the four key domains and lasts for four hours. It’s considered one of the most challenging professional certifications, with only around 50 to 60 per cent of people passing first time. Therefore, it pays to be well-prepared.
There are a range of resources you can use to prepare for the exam. These include study guides, practice tests and dedicated bootcamp courses from both ISACA and third-party training providers.
Key study materials you can take advantage of include:
Having an information security management certification such as CISM will open up a variety of mid to high-level roles in the cyber security sector. It will often be essential if you’re looking to progress into management, senior IT security leadership or consulting.
Some common job titles that often include CISM certification among their list of requirements include:
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