Answering the Membership Value Question
What is in it for me?
Since professional associations were
first conceived, one of their biggest and
most constant challenges has been answering
the questions, "Why should I belong? What is
in it for me?" ISACA is no exception. And,
in the tradition of professional
associations around the world, ISACA answers
those questions with a question of its own:
"That depends. What do you want?"
- Do you want to become better at
your job as a result of access to
leading-edge research?
ISACA provides that research, both as an
association and through its affiliated
IT Governance Institute. The association
has conducted research to benchmark IS
audit department and IS auditor
characteristics, which can be used to
measure one's own enterprise. Further,
ISACA is pursuing publication exchanges
with other organizations to increase
members' access to the research of
others. The IT Governance Institute's
leading research production is the third
edition of
Control Objectives for Information
and related Technologies (COBIT),
a project which brought together
existing international standards into
one set of generally applicable and
accepted good practices for governing
information technology. Next up for the
ITGI: a series of COBIT
enhancements, designed to make it an
even more valuable tool, and research
projects on wireless, information
integrity, intrusion detection, net
centric technologies and other relevant
topics. ISACA members not only help
create association- and
institute-generated research, they also
receive it first, at free or greatly
discounted fees.
- Do you want to support your
profession by contributing to the body
of work guiding it?
ISACA, through its Standards Board,
defines, develops and promulgates IS
audit
standards and their associated
guidelines and procedures. These
standards establish a quality baseline
by which other IT audit and control
activities are measured. Also, through
affiliation with the
International Federation of Accountants
(IFAC), ISACA has been instrumental in
rating the international information
technology guidelines issued by IFAC.
- Do you want to increase your
value to your employer by expanding your
warehouse of skills?
ISACA offers a variety of ways members
can add to their IT governance and
control
education. Each year Computer Audit,
Control and Security (CACS) conferences
are held around the world, offering
members discounted access to a variety
of hot-topic workshops conducted by
internationally known instructors. An
International Conference, Network
Security Conference and IS Audit &
Control Training Weeks round out the
educational menu each year. ISACA
chapters also offer education on a
monthly basis, either generated locally
or using some of the seminars prepared
and packaged by ISACA International
Headquarters. Finally, the bimonthly Information
Systems Control Journal,
provided free to all members, features
articles on topics of immediate interest
to the IS audit and control community.
- Do you want to improve your
financial position by paying less for
publications of value to you?
Discounted registration fees to ISACA's
many conferences have already been
mentioned. But in addition, the ISACA
Bookstore offers members discounts
on its products from basic to advanced
volumes on a range of IT governance
topics in a variety of languages.
- Do you want to augment your
resource base by expanding your network
of business contacts?
Membership in one of more than170
ISACA chapters with members in 140
countries immediately puts you in
contact with a local circle of
individuals with similar job
responsibilities, questions, concerns
and advice. Expanding the circle
outward, attendance at ISACA conferences
brings members face to face with a
global community of like minds. And,
finally, extending into cyberspace,
members can access
chapter web sites, Internet
newsletters, and several
listservs composed of ISACA members
trading questions and counsel on topics
of professional interest.
- Do you want to underscore your
understanding of the IS audit , control
and security professions by earning a
professional credential?
ISACA offers the
Certified Information Systems Auditor
(CISA) designation, which recognizes
educational achievement in five domains
of IS audit competence, including
standards and practices; organization
and management; processes; integrity,
confidentiality and availability; and
software development, acquisition and
maintenance; and the Certified
Information Security Manager (CISM)
certification, which measures
understanding of the intricacies
involved in setting up and managing an
enterprisewide information security
program. ISACA members receive a
substantial discount on the exam fee and
preparation materials, which are
available in several languages. In
addition, members may tap into the
resources available at the chapter level
for help and mentoring in preparing for
the exam.
- Do you want to position yourself
for participation in a global
marketplace?
ISACA's international membership, with
chapters worldwide, is a perfect place
to learn more about cultures,
priorities, practices and preferences
different from your own. Maybe you do
not work in a global business today. But
what about tomorrow? Jobs change and
employers change. Don't be left behind
as the world shrinks. The wise employee
is prepared for possibilities before
they become actualities. Membership in
ISACA, which has identified for itself a
vision of being "the recognized global
leader in IT governance, control and
assurance," is a good place to start.
- Do you want to help support the
continuation of your profession in the
years to come?
ISACA is preparing
model curricula for information
systems auditing at the undergraduate
and gradual levels. Members' support of
the association helps ensure that this
type of research takes place, so that
the next generation of IS audit and
control specialists take their place in
the workforce fully trained.
- Do you want to prepare yourself
for management responsibility?
ISACA offers members the opportunity to
practice leadership skills through its
chapters and its International boards,
committees and task forces. Also
available to chapter leaders is the
ISACA-sponsored Leadership Conference,
offered in conjunction with each CACS
conference, at which chapter best
practices -- which feature many of the
same leadership and management skills
required on the job -- are thoroughly
reviewed and described.
Information. Standards.
Certification. Education. Research.
Global Presence. ISACA provides it all.
Or, as long-time member James R.
Shannahan, CISA, CCP, CQA, puts it,
"Twenty years ago I joined ISACA...to
learn about systems auditing in
preparation for a career change. Thanks
to the members of what became the
Silicon Valley Chapter and association
publications, I was able to gain enough
knowledge to overcome the barrier of
obtaining a position without having
direct experience. Today ISACA continues
to provide knowledge to assist me in my
work."
Why should you belong? Because
professional success requires
professional resources. As the leading
source of IT governance, assurance and
control practices and expertise
worldwide, ISACA is the professional
resource for success in the IT
governance field.
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