How to Study for CISA (Step-by-Step)

1. Start with the CISA Review Manual (CRM)

This is the official ISACA study book.
Read each domain slowly and understand the core concepts.

2. Use CISA Review Questions, Answers & Explanations (QAE)

This is the official question bank.
Practice as many questions as possible.
Learn why the correct answer is right and why others are wrong.

3. Learn the “ISACA Way of Thinking”

ISACA focuses on:

Risk-based auditing
Governance over technology
Control frameworks (COBIT, NIST, ISO concepts)
High-level management perspective (not deep technical detail)

4. Take Mock Exams

Mimic real timing (4 hours).
Track weak domains and revise them.

5. Focus on Key Topics Often Tested

Risk management
Segregation of duties
Change management
Access control
Incident response
Business continuity
Audit roles and responsibilities

6. Create Summary Notes

Audit process steps
Life cycles (SDLC, change management, BCP/DRP)
Types of controls (preventive, detective, corrective)

How Long to Study?

Most learners take:

2–3 months part-time
4–6 weeks full-time

Tips to Pass

Understand concepts — don’t memorize blindly.
Practice 1,000+ questions.
Identify recurring patterns (ISACA asks similar question types).
Think like an auditor, not a technician.

CISA Exam Structure

The exam focuses on 5 domains:

1️⃣ Information System Auditing Process (≈ 21%)

Audit planning and scoping

Risk analysis

Audit execution

Reporting and follow-up

2️⃣ Governance and Management of IT (≈ 17%)

IT governance principles

Strategic planning

Policy development

Resource and risk management

3️⃣ Information System Acquisition, Development, and Implementation (≈ 12%)

Project management

System development life cycle (SDLC)

Controls in system acquisition and implementation

4️⃣ Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience (≈ 23%)

IT operations

Service management

Performance monitoring

Incident response

Business continuity and disaster recovery

5️⃣ Protection of Information Assets (≈ 27%)

Access controls

Security policies and procedures

Network and data security

Physical and environmental controls

CISA is a piece of cake. CISSP is very tough and detailed. If you don't have an IT background then it would be very difficult to clear this exam (sorry for being upfront). But if you are determined to do it then you must go for it.

To pass CISSP do the following:

1. Shon Harris (Author) - CISSP All-in-One version 4.0 study guide

2. Shon Harris Video tutorials

3. Free practice tests on http://www.cccure.org / website. If you can do all these thoroughly then you have better chance of passing this exam.

Mind you, the practice tests on http://www.cccure.org/ will help you clearing and memorizing some concepts but you won't see even a single question from this website or any other practice tests (paid or un-paid) in the exam. So, don't rely on these practice questions for the exam. CISSP exam is all about how you study and your over all experience.

Hope it helps.

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While preparing for CISA, never think that the questions will be repeated from question dumps. By reading the CRM and the question dumps one should have the conceptual understanding. The question dumps gives the idea how the questions are framed. While answering the questions try to eliminate the two wrong answers first and choose the best out of two then analyse each answer why it is wrong/right. So one must thoroughly understand the question before answering, the same question with a small change will be different.

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Consensus Audit Guidelines Draft 1.0 on SANS

Twenty Most Important Controls and Metrics for Effective Cyber Defence and Continuous FISMA Compliance .

* Consensus Audit Guidelines - Introduction (Draft 1.0)

* Critical Control 1: Inventory of authorized and unauthorized hardware.

* Critical Control 2: Inventory of authorized and unauthorized software; enforcement of white lists of authorized software.

* Critical Control 3: Secure configurations for hardware and software on laptops, workstations, and servers.

* Critical Control 4: Secure configurations of network devices such as firewalls, routers, and switches.

* Critical Control 5: Boundary Defence

* Critical Control 6: Maintenance, Monitoring and Analysis of Complete Audit Logs

* Critical Control 7: Application Software Security

* Critical Control 8: Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges

* Critical Control 9: Controlled Access Based On Need to Know

*Critical Control 10: Continuous Vulnerability Testing and Remediation

* Critical Control 11: Dormant Account Monitoring and Control

* Critical Control 12: Anti-Malware Defences

* Critical Control 13: Limitation and Control of Ports, Protocols and Services

* Critical Control 14: Wireless Device Control

* Critical Control 15: Data Leakage Protection

* Critical Control 16: Secure Network Engineering

* Critical Control 17: Red Team Exercises

* Critical Control 18: Incident Response Capability

* Critical Control 19: Data Recovery Capability

* Critical Control 20: Security Skills Assessment and Appropriate Training To Fill GAPS.

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The information and knowledge in this website are for educational purposes. Our purpose is to help student study and pass the examination more effectively. Information and knowledge used are provided or collected from various Internet sources, email, what's app, telegram ect. I shall not be liable to any wrong doing or violation of laws by anyone that uses the knowledge or information in this website.

CISA STUDY TIPS

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