Career Opportunities After CISA Certification in Cybersecurity Sector

The threats in the cyber world have increased and hence cybersecurity is one of the biggest areas where organizations are focusing aggressively. In today’s business environment, protection of data and systems has become very essential due to advancement in technology. CISA certification has emerged as the industry standard for people who seek to build a career in cybersecurity and IT auditing. It is an ISACA certification that is awarded to individuals in the field of information systems auditing, control and security. It offers a wide area of job opportunities in the private and the public sectors of the economy such as in the areas of finance, health, manufacturing and technology.

According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the global cost of cybercrime is projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, underscoring the urgent need for skilled professionals. A recent ISACA survey indicates that 60% of businesses struggle to fill open cybersecurity positions, pointing to a critical shortage of qualified experts. CISA certified professionals are well placed to address this gap as they are not only knowledgeable in cybersecurity but also governance, risk and compliance.

CISA is useful for those who are just starting their career in the IT field and those who want to move up the career ladder. In this article, we will explore the various career opportunities available for CISA professionals, the competencies required and how the certification can be useful in enhancing your career in the cybersecurity industry.
 

For CISA certified professionals below are some of the important career options, one can leverage:
 

1. IT Auditor

IT auditing is the most popular area of specialization for CISA certified professionals. IT auditors are expected to evaluate the IT system of an organization to check whether it complies with the existing legal and security requirements. They evaluate strengths and weaknesses of internal controls, risks, and suggest how the security of the system and legal requirements can be enhanced.

It has been seen that the employment of IT auditors has been on the rise in the last few years. According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate of IT auditors and other related jobs will have a 5% rise in the years between 2022 and 2032. With the rising cases of cyber threats, organizations have to ensure that their IT systems are compliant with GDPR and SOX. These positions are usually occupied by people with CISA certification because of their knowledge of IT auditing and their ability to conduct a proper risk assessment.
 

2. Information Security Analyst

Cybersecurity specialists are expected to protect an organization’s information from cyber threats. They are involved in security planning, security policies and procedures, security risk seeking and security risk management. The cybersecurity field is still emerging, and the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report indicates that employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 33% from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all professions.

This position will benefit from having CISA certified personnel. While most information security analysts are inclined towards technical solutions, CISA holders have a broader view of governance and compliance that makes them more appropriate for organizations that are looking forward to aligning their security strategies with their business objectives. This makes them capable of auditing and ensuring that all processes are following the set regulations thus making them suitable for top jobs.
 

3. Cybersecurity Consultant

Cybersecurity consultants are third-party professionals who help organizations understand their vulnerability and protect the organization’s information and technology resources. CISA certification is perfect for people who would like to become consultants since it equips them with information on risk management, IT governance, and auditing.

According to a report by Grand View Research, the size of the global cybersecurity consulting market stood at $7.83 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% in the forecast period. Cybersecurity consultants are required because of the increasing threats, legislation demands, and generalists’ inefficiency. As organizations struggle to meet new compliance demands, CISA certified consultants are in great demand for their expertise in how to align cybersecurity with business objectives.
 

4. IT Risk Manager

IT risk management is the process of identifying the risks that may have an impact on an organization’s IT systems. They work with IT departments to develop risk management strategies and implement controls to minimize risks. As a result, the CISA certified individuals are in a good position to undertake these positions given their understanding of auditing and risk management.

As per the ISACA’s State of Enterprise Risk Management 2023, organizations have strengthened their risk management frameworks, and IT risk management has a significant part to play in cybersecurity. The report also revealed that 67% of the enterprises plan to enhance their risk management in the next two years, which will also create more demand for risk managers.

CISA is a good foundation for IT risk managers as it includes some of the most basic components of risk identification, risk management, and IT governance frameworks. Such qualified personnel are valued for their capacity to assess and manage risks in the cybersecurity field, which is crucial in any organization.
 

5. Compliance Manager

Compliance managers are expected to ensure that an organization’s IT systems follow the set standards and regulations. They are mostly adopted in industries such as the financial, health, and production industries where data management is closely controlled. CISA certified personnel are suitable for this position since they have adequate knowledge on IT governance, risk management and compliance.

The healthcare industry is one of the industries that have recorded increasing demand for compliance managers due to the HIPAA regulation. The complicated regulatory requirements can be handled by the CISA certified individuals so that the organization can follow the standards and the organization does not suffer penalties for non-compliance.
 

Industries Hiring CISA-Certified Professionals

CISA certification is flexible in a way that the holder can practice in any area of his/her choice. Some of the top sectors that hire CISA-certified experts include:
 

1. Financial Services

Some of the industries that hire CISA certified personnel include the following; the banking sector and the insurance sector. Such organizations have to follow different compliance regulations such as SOX, PCI DSS, and GDPR. CISA certified individuals help in protecting financial transactions, customers’ data and legal requirements.
 

2. Healthcare

Security is a major concern in healthcare institutions as they are responsible for the protection of patient’s information. HIPAA and other healthcare regulations have to be complied with and CISA certified professionals can help healthcare organizations to minimize risks and secure their information technology infrastructure.
 

3. Government

The government agencies are expected to protect the national and citizen data from cyber threats by CISA certified professionals. These professionals are expected to ensure compliance to the set laws on cybersecurity, and conduct audits to establish risks.
 

4. Technology

The IT companies are always at risk of cyber threats because of their dependence on technology and cloud solutions. CISA certified personnel are useful in this industry since they are able to assess the security of IT systems, control risks and work within the standards set.
 

Career and Salary Prospects of CISA Certification

CISA certification is not only beneficial in terms of getting a job in different sectors but also leads to high paid jobs. According to Ziprecruiter, The average CISA SALARY in the United States as of July 2024 is $52.75 an hour or $109713 per year. As of Aug 27, 2024, the average annual pay for an Information Technology Auditor in the United States is $92,797 a year; information security analysts and IT risk managers, $96652 annually. Among the employees, the IT audit managers and cybersecurity consultants are some of the employees who earn more than $150,000 in their senior positions.

There is a continued demand for CISA professionals because of the increasing threats, and compliance requirements. With the cybersecurity skills shortage persistently increasing, organizations are ready to invest in the best talent and offer them competitive salaries.
 

The following are the skills that one is likely to gain after going through the CISA certification process: 

CISA certification gives the professionals with numerous skills that are useful in the cybersecurity field. Some of the key skills acquired through CISA certification include:

●    Risk Assessment and Management: The ability to assess and control risk in an organization’s IT environment.
●    IT Governance and Compliance: Understanding of the rules and regulations and the ability to ensure that the IT systems are compliant with the rules.
●    Auditing Techniques: Experience in conducting IT system audits to determine their security, effectiveness and conformity to set standards.
●    Incident Response: Knowledge of the measures to be taken in the event of a cyber-attack, how to detect, prevent, and eliminate it.

These skills make CISA certified individuals as strategic resources to organizations across industries since they have the knowledge and skills required in protecting data, managing risks and meeting compliance requirements.

Wrapping up:

As the demand for cybersecurity professionals rises, getting a CISA certification is a good choice for anyone who wants to advance in their IT auditing, risk management, or cybersecurity career. The CISA credential not only helps you to demonstrate your competence but also helps you to get a raise in your salary and also helps you to get a chance to work in various other senior positions in various industries.

If you are ready to go to the next level in your career, Vinsys has the best CISA training program that will help you. At the end of course, our highly qualified tutors make sure that you understand all the IT governance, risk management and audit tools and processes that you need to prepare you for the CISA exam and practice. 

At Vinsys, you can leverage the option of online and face-to-face classes, which means that you will be able to obtain the knowledge necessary for the effective functioning of a cybersecurity specialist. 

Join us today and create new opportunities for your career with CISA certification.