Today, the list and severity of cyber attacks are increasing,
and organizations plan to improve their security strategies. On the other side,
the demand for qualified and certified cybersecurity professionals grows.
Cybersecurity professionals often question which certification is the best for
them to choose, and this question is quite common between the CISSP and CISA
certifications.
This blog is curated with the similarities and differences between CISSP and CISA certifications that would help you pick the best suitable one.
What is CISSP?
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a prestigious information security certification issued by the International Information System Security Certificatio Consortium (ISC)². It is a globally recognized certification that focuses on security design and architecture implementation. This certification evaluates the candidate's IT security skills and technical abilities with hands-on experience managing a security strategy.
Course Details
Domains and their weightage of CISSP
The domains of CISSP certification are eight. They are as
follows:
- Security and
Risk Management (15%)
- Asset Security
(10%)
- Security
Architecture and Engineering (13%)
- Communication
and Network Security (13%)
- Identity and
Access Management (14%)
- Security
Assessment and Testing (12%)
- Security
Operations (13%)
- Software
Development Security (11%)
Experience Requirements
The prerequisites for CISSP certification are five years of experience in two or more domains of CISSP and a one-year experience with four years of a college degree, or equivalent.
Job Roles for CISSP
As per (ISC)², the CISSP certification offers the most common
positions, such as follows:
- Chief
Information Security Officer
- Information
Assurance Analyst
- Senior
Information Security Assurance Consultant
- Chief
Information Security Consultant
- IT Security
Engineer
- Senior IT Security Consultant, and many more
What is CISA?
The Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA) certification is a standard certification issued by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). It is a standard of achievement that focuses on auditing and assessing the organization's IT structure. This certification validates the auditing skills and abilities in applying a risk-based approach to planning, executing, and reporting the audit programs.
Course Details
Domains and their weightage of CISA
The domains of CISA certification are five. They are as follows:
- Information
System Auditing Process (21%)
- Governance and
Management of IT (17%)
- Information
Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation (12%)
- Information
Systems Operations and Business Resilience (23%)
- Protection of Information Assets (27%)
Experience Requirements
The prerequisites to become a CISA professional require five years of prior experience in related job domains, a contract to (ISC)² for a code of ethics, and passing the course.
Job Roles for CISA
The CISA certified professionals can get into the following job
roles:
- IT Audit Manager
- IT Security
Officer
- Information
Security Analyst
- Internal Auditor
- Chief
Information Officer
- IT Project
Manager
- Network
Operation Security Engineer
- Public Accounting Auditor and many more
Exam Details of CISSP and CISA
Exam Details |
CISSP |
CISA |
Duration |
3 Hours |
4 Hours |
Number of Questions |
150 Questions |
150 Questions |
Exam Format |
Multiple Choice |
Multiple Choice |
Passing score |
700 out of 1000 |
450 out of 800 |
Languages |
English, German, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian,
Portuguese, French, Turkish, Spanish, and visually impaired |
English, German, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Hebrew,
French, Turkish, and Spanish |
CISSP Vs CISA Certifications
Let's filter out the difference between these two certifications.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) |
Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA) |
CISSP
certification is issued by (ISC)² |
CISA certification is issued by ISACA |
It
mainly focuses on the functioning of security |
It
focuses on auditing and assessing the security systems |
It is
a high standard certification in Information Security |
It is
also a high standard certification in Security Auditing the IT systems |
CISSP
certification cost is less when compared with CISA |
CISA
certification cost is less than CISSP for members and more for non-members |
CISSP Vs. CISA: Which one to Choose
Therefore, both CISSP and CISA certifications are high-level certifications and are different from each other, possessing their requirement and value for the career. Choosing the best suitable one merely depends on the interests of the individual.
CISSP is the best option if you want to build your career in core IT Security Management on most cybersecurity-related matters. If you want to work in audit or governance roles, the CISA is your certification.
CISSP and CISA Training with InfosecTrain
InfosecTrainis the leading provider of advanced security training with certified and experienced instructors. It offers instructor-led training covering all the necessary security concepts of CISSP and CISA certifications. Our courses would help you gain a complete understanding of information security topics and can crack the certification exam comfortably.