Overview

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and (CCAK) Certificate of Cloud Auditing are globally acknowledged auditing certifications. This combined course focuses on assisting students on core fundamentals of IT auditing, learning these concepts within the remit of AWS cloud, and thereby getting confident on cloud auditing skills.

The course structure includes covering the 5 CISA domains in the first 3 days followed by covering the 9 CCAK modules in the last 2 days. However, based on the class learning, the instructor might be integrating concepts on both sides. Please see below the list of domains:

5 domains in CISA (Day 1-3)

1. The Process of Auditing Information Systems

2. Governance & Management of IT

3. Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation

4. Information Systems Operations, Maintenance, and Support

5. Protection of Information Assets

9 Modules in CCAK (Day 4-5)

1. An overview of cloud governance, frameworks, and cloud governance tools

2. Cloud compliance program: designing and building

3. CCM and CAIQ Goals, Objectives, & Structure

4. A Threat Analysis Methodology For Cloud using CCM

5. Evaluating a Cloud Compliance Program

6. Cloud Auditing

7. CCM: Auditing Controls

6. Continuous Assurance and Compliance including DevSecOps

8. STAR Program

Why take a combined course offering?

This is a fast-paced course which will prepare you for two qualifications CISA & CCAK which are individually taught in 7 days (4 days for CISA and 3 days for CCAK). Here, you will be prepared for both the qualifications in only 5 days. In our experience, we have seen participants doing one of these, thereby either losing on the core foundational IT auditing skills (CISA) or losing out on the cloud auditing skills (CCAK). This is where at QA, we have designed this unique integrated product to bring you the best of both worlds in a combined training program.

How is this course still effective with reduced number of days?

The reason this is fast paced but still an effective course is because the technology & auditing concepts learned in CISA are directly applied in the cloud security context & demonstrated (using AWS account) as part of the teaching. In our experience, this is a beautiful way to embed technology, auditing, cloud - all together with live hands-on in a single course offering.

The course is built on leveraging efficiencies - some examples include the following:

- Learn what is an IT Governance program specifically from the point of implementing / setting up a Cloud Governance program.

- Learn about CISA tools - CCM, CAIQ, STAR registry for cloud auditing.

- Learn logging as an auditing detective control by seeing how this is implemented in the cloud.

- Learn networking as a technology concept by visualizing this in the cloud

- Learn about BCP, DRP, RPO, RTO, Fault tolerance by visualizing these concepts directly in the cloud.

- Learn about access controls - SSO, Federations, SAML, SoD, Privilege access management, again by visualizing these in the cloud and many more.

What is the focus of this course?

To take you on the journey to become a successful cloud auditor who has the best from both worlds - Cloud security auditing mindset (from CCAK) and core fundamentals of auditing & technology mindset (from CISA). A CISA qualification and added Cloud Auditing CCAK qualification is likely to open many doors and propel certified individuals into high-ranking positions within the enterprise.

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Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to learn CISA and CCAK.

However, to get the CISA certification you need to:

  • Pass the CISA examination
  • *Submit an application for CISA certification
  • Adhere to the ISACA Code of Professional Ethics
  • Dedicate to the CPE (Continuing Professional Education) Program
  • Compliance with the Information Systems Auditing Standards

The CISA certification is open for all individuals who have an interest in information systems audit, control, and security.

*A minimum of 5 years of professional information systems auditing, control or security work experience is required for the certification. You can still pass the exam without having any professional experience and will be given 5 years after you pass the exam to apply for your certification. To read the latest on CISA requirements - visit ISACA at https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cisa/get-cisa-certified

To get the CCAK certificate you need to:

  • Only pass the CCAK examination

Note - There is no CPE (Continuing Professional Education) requirement for CCAK.

Please note: Both these exams are sat separately from the course. The course fee is inclusive of the exam costs. Instructor will advise how and when to book your exam during the training program.

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Delegates will learn how to

Learning Outcomes (as an integrated course)

  • The Process of Auditing Information Systems
  • Governance & Management of IT
  • Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation
  • Information Systems Operations, Maintenance, and Support
  • Protection of Information Assets
  • Demonstrate key concepts of cloud governance and the role of assurance, transparency and accountability in the cloud.
  • Explain cloud risk management and the application of cloud governance tools .
  • Devise the designing, building and evaluating of a cloud compliance program based on laws, regulations and regulatory standards .
  • Apply control objectives, technical and process controls, security metrics and relate them to cloud control frameworks, certification, attestation and authorisations.
  • Define and illustrate how to use the CSA Cloud Control Matrix and the CSA Top Threat Analysis Methodology.
  • Build and execute an audit plan that addresses cloud concerns by utilising the Cloud Control Matrix .
  • Discuss the impact of continuous assurance and auditing, cloud automation, native development and integration models on auditing and compliance .
  • Describe the role of the CSA STAR Program.

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Outline

For CISA

Domain 1: Information Systems Audit Process

  • Developing a risk-based IT audit strategy
  • Planning specific audits
  • Conducting audits to IS audit standards
  • Implementation of risk management and control practices

Domain 2: IT Governance and Management

  • Effectiveness of IT Governance structure
  • IT organisational structure and human resources (personnel) management
  • Organisation’s IT policies, standards, and procedures
  • Adequacy of the Quality Management System
  • IT management and monitoring controls
  • IT resource investment
  • IT contracting strategies and policies
  • Management of organisations IT-related risks
  • Monitoring and assurance practices
  • Organisation business continuity plan

Domain 3: Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation:

  • Business case development for IS acquisition, development, maintenance, and retirement
  • Project management practices and controls
  • Conducting reviews of project management practices
  • Controls for requirements, acquisition, development, and testing phases
  • Readiness for Information Systems
  • Project Plan Reviewing
  • Post Implementation System Reviews

Domain 4: Information Systems Operations, Maintenance, and Support:

  • Conduct periodic reviews of organizations objectives
  • Service level management
  • Third party management practices
  • Operations and end-user procedures
  • Process of information systems maintenance
  • Data administration practices determine the integrity and optimisation of databases
  • Use of capacity and performance monitoring tools and techniques
  • Problem and incident management practices
  • Change, configuration, and release management practices
  • Adequacy of backup and restore provisions
  • Organisation’s disaster recovery plan in the event of a disaster

Domain 5: Protection of Information Assets:

  • Information security policies, standards and procedures
  • Design, implementing, monitoring of system and logical security controls
  • Design, implementing, monitoring of data classification processes and procedures
  • Design, implementing, monitoring of physical access and environmental controls
  • Processes and procedures to store, retrieve, transport and dispose of information assets

For CCAK

Module 1 - Cloud Governance

  • Overview of governance
  • Cloud assurance
  • Cloud governance frameworks
  • Cloud risk management
  • Cloud governance tools

Module 2 - Cloud Compliance Program

  • Designing a cloud compliance program
  • Building a cloud compliance program
  • Legal and regulatory requirements
  • Standards and security frameworks
  • Identifying controls and measuring effectiveness
  • CSA certification, attestation and validation

Module 3 - CCM and CAIQ Goals, Objectives and Structure

  • CCM
  • CAIQ
  • Relationship to standards: mappings and gap analysis
  • Transition from CCM V3.0.1 to CCM V4

Module 4 - A Threat Analysis Methodology for Cloud Using CCM

  • Definitions and purpose
  • Attack details and impacts
  • Mitigating controls and metrics
  • Use case

Module 5 - Evaluating a Cloud Compliance Program

  • Evaluation approach
  • A governance perspective
  • Legal, regulatory and standards perspectives
  • Risk perspectives
  • Services changes implications
  • The need for continuous assurance/continuous compliance

Module 6 - Cloud Auditing

  • Audit characteristics, criteria & principles
  • Auditing standards for cloud computing
  • Auditing an on-premises environment vs. cloud
  • Differences in assessing cloud services and cloud delivery models
  • Cloud audit building, planning and execution

Module 7 - CCM: Auditing Controls

  • CCM audit scoping guidance
  • CCM risk evaluation guide
  • CCM audit workbook
  • CCM an auditing example

Module 8 - Continuous Assurance and Compliance

  • DevOps and DevSecOps
  • Auditing CI/CD pipelines
  • DevSecOps automation and maturity

Module 9 - STAR Program

  • Standard for security and privacy
  • Open Certification Framework
  • STAR Registry
  • STAR Level 1
  • STAR Level 2
  • STAR Level 3

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Why choose QA

Special Notices

CISA is a qualification from ISACA and CCAK is a joint project by Cloud Security Alliance and ISACA. QA is proud to be an ISACA Elite+ partner, with an ISACA accredited instructor using official ISACA courseware and exams included.

Cyber Security learning paths

Want to boost your career in cyber security? Click on the roles below to see QA's learning pathways, specially designed to give you the skills to succeed.

Required Star = Required
Certification = Certification
Application Security
Cloud Security
Information Security Management
Security Risk
Cyber Tech Generalist
DFIR Digital Forensics & Incident Response
Industrial Controls & OT Security
NIST Pathway
OffSec
Privacy Professional
Security Auditor
Secure Coding
Cyber Blue Team
Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing
Emerging Tech Security
Reverse Engineer
Security Architect

Governance, Risk & Compliance learning paths

Want to boost your career in Governance, Risk & Compliance? View QA's learning pathway below, specially designed to give you the skills to succeed.

Required Star = Required
Certification = Certification
Information Security Management
NIST Pathway
Security Auditor
Security Risk

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