Complete Guide for CISA Examination Preparation

Richard E. Cascarino, MBA, CIA, CISM, CFE, CRMA, is well-known in international auditing. Richard is a principal of Richard Cascarino & Associates. He has more than 31 years’ experience in audit training and consulting. He is a regular speaker to National and International conferences and has presented courses throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the USA. Richard is a Past President of the Institute of Internal Auditors in South Africa, was the founding Regional Director of the Southern African Region of the IIA-Inc. and is a member of ISACA, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, where he is a member of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. Richard was Chairman of the Audit Committee of Gauteng cluster 2 (Premier's office, Shared Services and Health) in Johannesburg and is currently the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Department of Public Enterprises in South Africa. He is also a visiting Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, author of the book Internal Auditing: An Integrated Approach, now in its third edition. This book is extensively used as a university textbook worldwide. In addition, he is the author of the Auditor's Guide to IT Auditing, Second Edition and the book Corporate Fraud and Internal Control: A Framework for Prevention. He is also a contributor to all four editions of QFINANCE, the Ultimate Resource.

• Contents· IntroductionChapter 1 Introduction to the CISA examination· The structure of the CISA exam· Becoming Certified· Experience requirements· Passing the Exam· CISA Job Practice Domains and task and knowledge statements· ISACA’s Code of Professional Ethics· The ISACA Standards· Continuous Professional EducationChapter 2: Domain 1—The Process of Auditing Information Systems· Knowledge Statements· Understanding the Fundamental Business Processes· Control principles related to controls in information systems· Risk-based audit planning and audit project management techniques· Quality of the internal control framework· Auditor understanding of the applicable laws· Evidence collection techniques· Domain One – exam tips· Domain One - Practice questions· Domain One – Review Questions and Hands on Exercise· Domain One - Answers to practice questions· Exercise 1 sample answerChapter 3: Domain 2—Governance and Management of IT· Governance in General· Resource Management· Project Management Tools· Auditor’s Role in the Project Management Process· Audit Risk Assessment· Audit Planning· Domain Two - practice questionsDomain Two – Review Questions and Hands on Exercise· Exercise 2 sample answer· Domain 2 Answers to practice questionsChapter 4: Domain 3— Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation· Systems Acquisition· Systems Development· Systems Implementation· Systems Maintenance Review· Domain Three - practice questionsDomain Three – Review Questions and Hands on Exercise· Exercise 3 sample answer· Domain 3 Answers to practice questionsChapter 5: Domain 4— Information Systems Operations, Maintenance and Service Management· Hardware· Auditing Operating Systems· People· System interfaces· Change Management· Auditing Change Control· Disaster Recovery Planning· Auditing Service Delivery· Domain Four - practice questions· Domain Four – Review Questions and Hands on Exercise· Exercise 4 sample answer· Domain 4 Answers to practice questionsChapter 6: Domain 5— Protection of Information Assets· Protection of information assets· Privacy principles· Design, implementation, maintenance, monitoring and reporting of security controls· Physical access controls for the identification, authentication and restriction of users· Logical access controls for the identification, authentication and restriction of users· Risk and controls associated with virtualization of systems· Risks and controls associated with the use of mobile and wireless devices· Encryption-related techniques and their uses· Public key infrastructure (PKI) components and digital signature techniques· Peer-to-peer computing, instant messaging, and web-based technologies· Data classification standards related to the protection of information assets· Risks in end-user computing· Implementing a security awareness program· Information system attack methods and techniques· Prevention and detection tools and control techniques· Security testing techniques· Penetration testing and Vulnerability scanning· Forensic investigation and procedures in collection and preservation of the data and evidence· Domain Five - practice questions· Domain Five – Review Questions and Hands on Exercise· Exercise 5 sample answer· Domain 5 Answers to practice questionsChapter 7— Preparing for the ExamAppendicesAppendix A: Glossary of TermsAppendix B: CISA Sample Exam – Choose any 150 questionsAppendix C: Sample Exam Answers