To become familiar with ISACA is to dive head-first into the world of acronyms.
ISACA itself is an acronym, formerly standing for the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. And of course, we’re well known for our global portfolio of IT certifications – CISA, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, CDPSE, CET, ITCA – not to mention the COBIT framework. Suffice it to say, it can take some time for new employees to wrap their minds around the alphabet soup that regularly rolls off our tongues.
But as important as our certifications are to professionals and their companies, in the two years I’ve been with ISACA, I’ve been especially struck by how meaningful the sense of community and personal connections are for ISACA members. ISACA’s certifications are transformative in people’s careers, but it is the passionate network of technology professionals to learn from and grow together that makes ISACA such a powerful community.
I was reminded of that last week when watching a video in which ISACA members shared their perspectives about what ISACA stands for – not the acronym, but what being part of the ISACA community means to them. Esanju Maseka said being part of ISACA “allows me to compete at an international level.” Sandra Ajimotokin considers ISACA to be “a community of problem-solvers.” Others spoke of the spirit of volunteerism, collaboration and diverse viewpoints that make their relationship with ISACA so integral in their professional growth.
Here’s my view on what makes ISACA special: so much of what ISACA offers is “for members, by members.” The ISACA Global staff provides the platform and tools to bring our members together, and we take great pride in that work. At the end of the day, though, it is the ISACA network that is doing that learning, sharing and growing with each other, and ISACA members do that extraordinarily well – and with generous spirit.
As we close in on 2022, look for even more of those opportunities to come to the forefront. The new year will include a full launch of an ISACA mentorship program, continued expansion of our Engage community – including our highly popular exam prep communities – and the growth of our new member-exclusive speaker series.
ISACA members have so much to offer one another – and the world. Throughout the pandemic, ISACA members have enabled their companies to reinvent themselves in real-time by securing the new remote work landscape and managing risks from an embattled supply chain. A few months back, members of the ISACA Pittsburgh Chapter put their cybersecurity skills to incredible use to help Afghanistan residents escape life-threatening danger. And the ISACA community continues to produce rising stars in the IT world, such as Kyla Guru, a university student who already has founded her own cybersecurity education nonprofit group.
Some people view ISACA predominantly as a certifying body, and that’s perfectly understandable – our certifications have been a big part of who we are throughout our 50-plus year history and will remain so as we develop new credentials to build greater trust in technology in the future. ISACA’s value, though, extends well beyond adding acronyms to professionals’ CVs. Learning and knowledge are at ISACA’s core, but it is the community that brings that knowledge to life – and spreads it throughout the world – that signifies why ISACA stands for something bigger.
