Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Cheat Sheet

In today’s digital age, information security is a critical concern for every organization, and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is a globally recognized certification that validates one’s expertise in the field of information security management. Yet, gearing up for the CISM exam can be an intimidating undertaking, given its extensive coverage of topics ranging from risk management to incident response.

To help CISM aspirants with their exam preparation, many professionals have created cheat sheets that provide a quick reference guide to the most important topics covered in the exam. These cheat sheets can be an excellent resource for exam takers to revise the key concepts and terminologies, and also to identify the areas where they need to focus more.

In this blog post, we will discuss in detail about the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) cheat sheet and how it can be beneficial for CISM aspirants. We will cover topics such as what a CISM cheat sheet is, how to create one, what to include in it, and how to use it effectively to enhance exam preparation. By the end of this post, readers will have a better understanding of how a CISM cheat sheet can help them ace the CISM exam and earn this prestigious certification.

CISM Exam Overview

Certified Information Security Manager exam validates a deep understanding of the connection between information security programs and overarching business objectives. This certification advocates for global security practices, with CISM-certified professionals offering enterprises an internationally recognized information security management certification acknowledged by organizations and clients worldwide.

Information Security Manager (CISM) Exam Glossary

Here are some key terms related to the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) exam:

• Information Security Management: The process of managing and protecting an organization’s information assets through the implementation of policies, procedures, and controls.
• Understand Information Security Governance: The development, implementation, and management of an information security program in line with organizational goals and objectives.
• Information Risk Management: The process of identifying, assessing, and managing information security risks to the organization.
• Compliance: The adherence to relevant laws, regulations, and standards.
• Security Controls: The measures put in place to prevent, detect, and respond to security threats.
• Vulnerability: A weakness in a system or process that can be exploited by an attacker.
• Threat: A potential danger to an organization’s information assets.
• Risk Assessment: Risk assessment is the procedure of recognizing and scrutinizing potential hazards that may pose a threat to an organization.
• Incident Response: The process of responding to and resolving security incidents.
• Business Continuity Planning: Business continuity planning involves the creation and execution of strategies to guarantee the ongoing operations of critical business functions in the face of a disruption or disaster.
• Disaster Recovery Planning: The process of developing and implementing plans to restore critical systems and data in the event of a disaster.
• Access Controls: The measures put in place to restrict access to sensitive information to authorized individuals only.
• Encryption: Encryption is the procedure of transforming data into a coded language to safeguard it from unauthorized access.
• Authentication: Authentication is the procedure of confirming the identity of a user or device.
• Authorization: The process of granting or denying access to a user or device based on their identity and permissions.

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Exam Guide

Here are some resources for the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) exam with official links:

1. ISACA CISM Certification Page: The official certification page for the CISM exam provides information on exam prerequisites, registration, and preparation resources. Link: https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cism
2. CISM Exam Candidate Guide: This guide provides information on exam content, format, and scoring, as well as tips for exam preparation. Link: https://www.isaca.org/-/media/info/cism/cism-exam-candidate-guide-2022.ashx
3. CISM Exam Preparation Resources: ISACA offers a variety of resources to help candidates prepare for the exam, including review courses, study materials, and practice exams. Link: https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cism/exam-preparation-resources
4. ISACA Exam Candidate Information Guide: This guide provides information on exam policies, procedures, and guidelines for all ISACA certification exams. Link: https://www.isaca.org/-/media/info/exam-candidate-information-guide-2022.ashx
5. CISM Exam Study Community: ISACA offers an online community where CISM exam candidates can connect with other candidates, ask questions, and share study tips and resources. Link: https://engage.isaca.org/cism-exam-study-community/home
6. CISM Exam Review Manual: This manual provides a comprehensive review of the CISM exam content and includes practice questions and answers. It is available for purchase on the ISACA website. Link: https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cism/cism-exam-review-materials
7. CISM Exam Prep App: ISACA offers a mobile app that includes study materials and practice questions to help candidates prepare for the exam. It is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. Link: https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cism/cism-exam-prep-app

Who should take the exam?

The exam is designed for candidates who are able to manage, design, oversee, and assess an enterprise’s information security function. The CISM exam requirements are:

• Firstly, five (5) or more years of experience in information security management.
• Also, experience waivers are available for a maximum of two (2) years.

Cheat Sheet – Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Exam

The Certified Information Security Manager Cheat Sheet is all you need to pass the exam. This cheat sheet will provide a quick summary of all the essential resources for CISM exam preparation. Moreover, it will set you on the right track for your revision journey.

Deeply Analyse the Exam Objectives

Firstly, you must be up to date with the Course Outline of the exam. Course Outline is the most crucial part of the examination as this forms the syllabus. The examination encompasses four domains, each further divided into various topics. Proficiency in each of these topics is crucial for excelling in the exam. It is advisable to customize your study plan based on these domains outlined in the CISM certification guide course to enhance your preparation. The covered domains include:

First Domain: Information Security Governance (17%)

A–ENTERPRISE GOVERNANCE

1. Organizational Culture
2. Legal, Regulatory and Contractual Requirements
3. Organizational Structures, Roles and Responsibilities

B–INFORMATION SECURITY STRATEGY

1. Information Security Strategy Development
2. Information Governance Frameworks and Standards
3. Strategic Planning (e.g., Budgets, Resources, Business Case)

Second Domain: Information Security Risk Management (20%)

A–INFORMATION SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT

1. Emerging Risk and Threat Landscape
2. Vulnerability and Control Deficiency Analysis
3. Risk Assessment and Analysis

B–INFORMATION SECURITY RISK RESPONSE

1. Risk Treatment / Risk Response Options
2. Risk and Control Ownership
3. Risk Monitoring and Reporting

Third Domain: Information Security Program (33%)

A–INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

1. Information Security Program Resources (e.g., People, Tools, Technologies)
2. Information Asset Identification and Classification
3. Industry Standards and Frameworks for Information Security
4. Information Security Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
5. Information Security Program Metrics

B–INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

1. Information Security Control Design and Selection
2. Information Security Control Implementation and Integrations
3. Information Security Control Testing and Evaluation
4. Information Security Awareness and Training
5. Management of External Services (e.g., Providers, Suppliers, Third Parties, Fourth Parties)
6. Information Security Program Communications and Reporting

Fourth Domain: Incident Management (30%)

A–INCIDENT MANAGEMENT READINESS

1. Incident Response Plan
2. Business Impact Analysis (BIA)
3. Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
4. Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
5. Incident Classification/Categorization
6. Incident Management Training, Testing and Evaluation

B–INCIDENT MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS

1. Incident Management Tools and Techniques
2. Incident Investigation and Evaluation
3. Incident Containment Methods
4. Incident Response Communications (e.g., Reporting, Notification, Escalation)
5. Incident Eradication and Recovery
6. Post-Incident Review Practices

Quick Links Study Resources

Achieving success in the exam becomes more manageable with access to the appropriate set of resources. It is crucial to ensure that the content is both accurate and dependable. Assuming you’ve made informed choices during your exam preparations, here is a compilation of resources that will further enhance your revision process:

Self Study Materials

Isaca offers you self study material to compliment your revisions. Resources such as the official CISM Review Manual and other publications are hand selected for their effectiveness in preparing CISM candidates for exam day.

Instructor Led Training

Training Courses help you revise better for the exam. These CISM exam training courses are prepared by current-day practitioners who are industry certified and also bring years of experience and insights. Moreover, expert instructors will guide you and your fellow information systems audit, assurance, security, cybersecurity, governance and risk professionals through the critical concepts needed to master the CISM exam.

Join the CISM preparation Community

ISACA sponsors online forums for its candidates which is quite easy to obtain. Online forums allow the sharing of questions study methods and tips for the exam. They are an amazing place for learning what to expect the day of the exam. Besides this, it costs nothing and allows candidates to ask and answer questions. Also, it allows direct contact with other like-minded professionals to solve a problem.

Online Tutorials and Study Guide

The best way to enhance your knowledge is by referring Online Tutorials. These Tutorials provide in depth understanding about the exam and its concepts. Also, they acquaint you with the CISM exam pattern. The roadmap to your success is only complete when you have the right strategy. Study Guides will be your support throughout your journey

Evaluate yourself with Practice Tests

Engaging in practice tests is a highly effective method to prepare yourself for the exam. There is no equivalent substitute for practicing questions when getting ready for the CISM exam. The primary purpose of crafting practice tests is to simulate the actual exam environment for the candidate. By going through sample questions from the CISM exam, you can identify your strengths and address your weaknesses. These tests provide insights into the areas where improvement is needed, aiding in self-evaluation and confidence-building. Ready to evaluate yourself, try free practice test here!

Boost your learning with expert learning resources. Start preparing to become Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)