CISA Study Material

Hello,

I'm planning on attempting the CISA exam in June and would like to know what books you guys recommend. I found many books online, but I'm not really too sure which books are best. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks.

Find more posts tagged with

Free for TechExams community: Cybersecurity salary guide

Compare cert salaries and plan your next career move

Button

Comments

koolguy123

Any advise here !

koolguy123 wrote: »

Hey Guys,
I am planning on studying for CISA but I am not sure if I am eligible to get certificate. I have always been working in networking area and been working as Network Security Design/Architecture. I have CCNA, CCNP, CCIE Security Written, Watchguard firewall specialist certifications and Masters degree in computer networking.
I want to finish and take exam in 2 months period. Do you think I am qualified and can take exam in 2 months time. I do network audit but other than this I do not have any more audit experience.

Your help and suggestion will be much appreciated.

Dan-in-MD

I had the all-in-one, David Cannon, and official guide. I passed the exam in the top 5% in June 2015 and I can tell you that the ISACA guide is by far the best resource. It had the most complete and concise presentation of all the content required for the exam and it was not overly wordy. Isaca's online test database had questions that most closely reflected the actual test, in fact I remember seeing many questions on the exam that I first encountered (in one form or another) in their online practice test database.

Cannon is an easier read, but it wasn't as complete in my opinion.

sdc

I am considering passing the CISA exam, and I am nearly finished reading David Cannon's book. I am a bit surprised by some of the practice questions, especially in the technical parts.

To those who passed the exams: do you consider that the practice questions from the book are representative of actual exam questions?

dustervoice

sdc wrote: »

I am considering passing the CISA exam, and I am nearly finished reading David Cannon's book. I am a bit surprised by some of the practice questions, especially in the technical parts.

To those who passed the exams: do you consider that the practice questions from the book are representative of actual exam questions?

Use official Isaca material!!!.. supplementary stuff should only be used for clarification. I know the Review Manual is boring but it has the formula for success along with the official DB. good luck.

TankerT

dustervoice wrote: »

Use official Isaca material!!!.. supplementary stuff should only be used for clarification. I know the Review Manual is boring but it has the formula for success along with the official DB. good luck.

^^^This^^^

sdc

@dustervoice and tankerT: I understand that the ISACA documentation is best, but I am still in the process of deciding if I want to do the CISA or not, so I haven't bought it yet.

From the experience of people who passed the CISA: are the questions in the Cannon book representative of the ones in the actual exam? I am asking because I have been through some books for other certifications where the practice questions are way easier than the actual exam (some old MCPs, for example).

I am scoring around 70% right after a first read of the Cannon book, so if the questions are representative, I think I should be ready for the June exam.

Let me know what you think!

Mike7

sdc wrote: »

@dustervoice and tankerT: I understand that the ISACA documentation is best, but I am still in the process of deciding if I want to do the CISA or not, so I haven't bought it yet.

From the experience of people who passed the CISA: are the questions in the Cannon book representative of the ones in the actual exam? I am asking because I have been through some books for other certifications where the practice questions are way easier than the actual exam (some old MCPs, for example).

Unable to comment on Cannon as I only used the ISACA review manual and QAE question bank.
However, you can try ISACA's self-assessment questions at CISA Self-Assessment Exam

ISACA has prepared the CISA self-assessment to help CISA exam candidates assess their knowledge of the CISA job practice areas and determine in which areas they may have strengths and weaknesses. This self-assessment contains 50 sample items covering the appropriate proportion of subject matter to match the CISA exam blueprint. The items are not actual CISA exam items, but are items developed by subject matter experts in compliance with the CISA item writing guidelines and are meant to provide the exam taker with a sample of what the type of questions that might appear on the exam

havoc64

curiousdude wrote: »

It seems like the version that is out for David Cannon's book is from 2011 (edition 3). The 4th edition is not going to come out until December 2015. I'm looking to take the exam in September. So the exam hasn't changed much from 4 years ago?

Now it seems the actual Book, (Analog.) isn't coming out till March.

Remedymp

havoc64 wrote: »

Now it seems the actual Book, (Analog.) isn't coming out till March.

It may get pushed back to April as well.

tpatt100

I think the third party books are easier to read but the official ISACA material is the way to go.

Annmilan

Hi
I am planning to register for june or sept CISA exam...currently im working as IT compliance analyst under release management team..i have some doubts and hope you all can help me...

Would the CISA review manual or david cannon book is enough for me? What version i must buy? Possible to download thru torrent?hehe

Do i need to join as a member in isaca? What will be the benefits of it? Aside from discount?

Is it really difficult? Is self study enough for me to pass?

thanks a lot
Ann

TankerT

Annmilan wrote: »

Hi
I am planning to register for june or sept CISA exam...currently im working as IT compliance analyst under release management team..i have some doubts and hope you all can help me...

Would the CISA review manual or david cannon book is enough for me? What version i must buy? Possible to download thru torrent?hehe

Do i need to join as a member in isaca? What will be the benefits of it? Aside from discount?

Is it really difficult? Is self study enough for me to pass?

thanks a lot
Ann

I think if you read a lot of the threads, you will find that most people suggest a subscription to the test database, and ISACA's study book.

You do not need to be a member of ISACA.

Baptista

I have question about study material for CISA.

Is there differences between:

1. CISA Review Question, Answers & Explanations Manual 11th Edition
2. CISA Review Question, Answers & Explanations Database - 12 month subscribe

...or I need both to prepare myself.

+ CISA Review Manual 26th Edition.

Probably in this forum is answer but I did't find it.

Thx in advanced

RMilitzer

Baptista wrote: »

I have question about study material for CISA.

Is there differences between:

1. CISA Review Question, Answers & Explanations Manual 11th Edition
2. CISA Review Question, Answers & Explanations Database - 12 month subscribe

...or I need both to prepare myself.

+ CISA Review Manual 26th Edition.

Probably in this forum is answer but I did't find it.

Thx in advanced

The manual is a hard-copy book and the database is an online application. Both cover the same material, but the database can also keep track of your scores, administer a timed test to simulate the real exam, remember which questions you answered right or wrong, etc. I would recommend the database but it's really a matter of personal preference and study habits as to which would be best for you.

Baptista

RMilitzer wrote: »

The manual is a hard-copy book and the database is an online application. Both cover the same material, but the database can also keep track of your scores, administer a timed test to simulate the real exam, remember which questions you answered right or wrong, etc. I would recommend the database but it's really a matter of personal preference and study habits as to which would be best for you.

OK, then I will buy:

CISA Review Manual 26th Edition
CISA Review Question, Answers & Explanations Database - 12 month subscribe

Thx for answering my question.

Remedymp

faisalma wrote: »

My IT background is pretty similar to what Skayanytime said. However, i had a year and half of experience in PCI-DSS implementation and then maintaining for my previous work place. But now planning to be become an IT auditor and i was recommended to check CISA by our IT auditor.

I am planning 3 months prep with the help of the following resources,

David Canon - http://www.amazon.com/Certified-Information-Systems-Auditor-Study/dp/0470231521/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268066203&sr=8-2&tag=viglink20307-20

English: CISA Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Database v15 CD-ROM by ISACA

What do you suggest ? Thanks in advance.

This book has been released as of today.