What is CISM?

CISM-Certified Information Security Manager is an advanced certification that indicates an individual possesses the knowledge and experience needed to develop and manage a security program for enterprise information. ISACA, a non-profit, independent association, offers that certification.

CISM is designed for professionals who focus on information security management, such as IT managers, IT security analysts, or information security management consultants. A CISM is expected to manage information security within the company, develop policies and practices, and understand the relationship between information security and business goals.

CISM content areas:

• Information security governance
• Information risk management
• Information security program development and management
• Information security incident management

Benefits of CISM Certification:

Higher salary

As with other information security certifications, a CISM certification can boost your salary. According to Certification Magazine, within one year, 48 percent of the information security professionals who obtained the CISM certification received a salary increase. While 68% of those surveyed said that their increase was less than 5%, about 25% had a 20-25% increase. The rest gave higher figures.

More credibility

Having CISM certification is a great way to screen whether a candidate has the expertise and experience, as employers are having a hard time looking for qualified professionals. Note, though, that a CISM certification is not always a guarantee that the long-term success of a candidate for an information security management job would be achieved.

More knowledge

Perhaps the best value that CISM certification can offer to holders of CISM is that it provides a standard understanding of essential concepts. CISM-certified people understand their organization’s business. They can identify issues and adapt business practices to enable IT management.

Being CISM-certified demonstrates that you have the skills and background to understand the relationship between an information security program and business goals. There is a high demand for such a skillset, making CISM an excellent choice for career progression. Ultimately, the choice of whether to pursue CISM certification has to align with the long-term career goals of the person.