How difficult is the CISM certification?

The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification exam is known for being one of the most challenging exams in the field of information security management. It is designed to test the knowledge and expertise of professionals who have several years of experience in the field. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, which must be completed within a time limit of four hours. The questions are divided into four domains, which cover the key areas of information security management:

• Information Security Governance (17%)
• Information Security Risk Management (20%)
• Information Security Program (33%)
• Incident Management (30%)

To pass the exam, candidates must score a minimum of 450 out of 800 points. The questions are designed to be challenging and require candidates to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. This means that memorization of information alone is not enough to pass the exam.

Preparing for the CISM exam requires a significant investment of time and effort. It is recommended that candidates have at least five years of experience in information security management before attempting the exam. In addition to experience, candidates should also have a strong understanding of the concepts and principles of information security management, as well as familiarity with relevant laws and regulations.

CISM Exam Overview

The Certified Information Security Manager exam displays a thorough understanding of the link between information security programs and larger corporate objectives. International security practices are promoted through the CISM certification. Employees who are CISM-certified also give businesses an information security management certification that is recognized by organizations and clients all around the world.

Glossary for Information Security Management Terminology

Here’s a glossary of common terms used in Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) terminology:

1. Access control: The process of granting or denying permission to resources based on certain criteria.
2. Authentication: The process of verifying the identity of an individual or system.
3. Authorization: The process of granting permission to access a resource or perform an action.
4. Availability: The ability of a system or resource to be available when needed.
5. Business continuity planning: The process of ensuring that critical business functions can continue in the event of a disaster or disruption.
6. Compliance: The adherence to laws, regulations, and standards.
7. Confidentiality: The protection of sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure.
8. Governance: The system of policies, procedures, and controls that guide the behavior of an organization.
9. Incident response: The process of responding to and mitigating the impact of a security incident.
10. Information security: The protection of information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
11. Risk management: The process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to an organization.
12. Security awareness training: The process of educating individuals on security best practices and potential threats.

Exam Preparation Resources for Certified Information Security Manager Exam

The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) exam is a globally recognized certification exam for information security professionals. The exam tests candidates on their knowledge and skills in the field of information security management. Here are some exam preparation resources for the CISM exam:

• Official ISACA CISM Review Manual: This comprehensive manual covers all four domains of the CISM exam, including information security governance, risk management, security program development and management, and incident management. It includes real-world examples and case studies to help candidates prepare for the exam.
• ISACA CISM Exam Study Community: This online community is a great resource for exam preparation. It includes discussion forums, study groups, and study materials shared by other CISM candidates.
• ISACA CISM Exam Prep App: This app is designed to help candidates prepare for the CISM exam by providing practice questions, flashcards, and study materials. It is available for both iOS and Android devices.
• CISM Exam Practice Questions: This book by ExamREVIEW is a collection of practice questions for the CISM exam. It includes over 200 questions covering all four domains of the exam.
• CISM All-in-One Exam Guide: This book by Peter Gregory covers all four domains of the CISM exam and includes practice questions, real-world scenarios, and case studies to help candidates prepare for the exam.

Links:

1. Official ISACA CISM Review Manual – https://www.isaca.org/bookstore/bookstore-wizard?productId=326
2. ISACA CISM Exam Study Community – https://engage.isaca.org/communities/community-home?CommunityKey=56d693e3-32f6-4f23-ae84-cb52f6c7871c
3. ISACA CISM Exam Prep App – https://www.isaca.org/training-and-events/mobile-apps/cism-exam-prep-app
4. CISM Exam Practice Questions – https://www.amazon.com/CISM-Exam-Practice-Questions-Certification/dp/1508584286
5. CISM All-in-One Exam Guide – https://www.amazon.com/CISM-Certified-Information-Security-Manager/dp/1260142655

Who should take the CISM exam?

Candidates who can manage, plan, oversee, and assess an enterprise’s information security function should take the exam. The following are the CISM exam requirements:

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

CISM Exam Format

This highly regarded certificate is your ticket to a bright future. However, before you begin your preparations, you should review the exam style, length, and sort of questions you may encounter on exam day. Exam preparation is a significant financial and time commitment. As a result, you must be certain that it is the proper one for you.

• The CISM Certified Information Security Manager exam by ISACA covers 150 questions which are to be completed in a time duration of 240 minutes. Additionally, the CISM exam questions are in multiple-choice format.
• The CISM exam is $575 USD for members and $760 USD for non-members, including taxes. Furthermore, the exam is offered in four languages: Chinese Simplified, English, Japanese, and Spanish. Furthermore, to pass the exam, you must obtain a score of at least 450 points.

Course Outline

The next critical step is to comprehend the CISM exam’s course outline. It acquaints you with the exam format. There are four domains in the exam. To acquire this certification, you should also customize your study plan around the following CISM certification guide exam topics:

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

How difficult is the CISM exam?

A CISM certification is highly sought after and provides you with international recognition. However, passing the exam is no easy task. With only a 50-60% first-time pass rate, it’s clear that this is a difficult exam. The exam questions are challenging and will put your technical expertise to the test. However, passing the exam is not impossible. Always keep in mind that wonderful things take time. As a result, preparing for certification is difficult. It’s also not quick. But the effort and perseverance are well worth it.

Getting ready for your exam efficiently comes from learning how to study smarter, not harder. You need to organise a study plan to pass the exam. Moving further, you need access to the right resources that match your level of understanding. Also, you need to put in the required time and effort as it is the only way to succeed.

Now that we have all the details in hand let’s move further and gather all expert resources to begin our preparation.

CISM Preparatory Guide

Studying with the best learning resources is one of the most reliable ways to prepare. The materials you select guarantee that you stay on track during your educational journey. They also help you take smarter, more efficient steps and increase your knowledge base. As a result, these are some of the top materials you should include in your CISM exam preparation:

1. Self Study Materials

ISACA offers you self-study material to complement your revisions. The official CISM Review Manual, as well as additional products, have been hand-picked for their usefulness in preparing CISM candidates for exam day.

2. 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.

3. Online Course

The Certified Information Security Manager Online Course is a complete online video course that covers all four domains of the CISM exam. With 157 learning videos, it covers the entire course. You also have access to all of the most recent and recently updated stuff. This online course also comes with Lifetime Access and will help you ace the exam.

4. Join the CISM preparation Community

ISACA provides candidates with access to online forums, which are rather straightforward to obtain. Questions, study methods, and exam hints can all be shared in online forums. As a result, they’re an excellent resource for knowing what to expect on exam day. Aside from that, it is free and allows candidates to ask and respond to questions. It also enables direct communication with other professionals that share similar interests in order to address a problem.

5. Learn with Online Tutorials

Online Tutorials are the most effective way to expand your knowledge. These tutorials provide you with a thorough knowledge of the exam’s concepts. They also familiarise you with the CISM exam format. They are simple to understand and provide a thorough examination explanation.

6. Books are your go-to resources

When it comes to studying for any exam, books have been a long-standing tradition and crucial component. They provide you with a thorough comprehension of the exam topics. In addition, books include real-life scenarios that aid in the preparation for a practical exam. We recommend Peter H. Gregory’s CISM Certified Information Security Manager All-in-One Exam Guide.

7. Evaluate yourself with Practice Tests

Practice tests will give the candidate a clear picture of where they need to improve. Are you ready to take a look at yourself? Make sure you’re only looking at CISM test practice questions after you’ve gone through the entire curriculum. Furthermore, all of the practice tests are created in such a way that you are immersed in the genuine exam scenario. As a result, these exams will assist you in analyzing your performance and increasing your confidence. Ready to evaluate yourself, try a free practice test here!

Elevate your career by clearing the CISM exam. Start Your Preparations Now!