CISA vs ISO 27001 Lead Auditor

CISA vs ISO 27001 Lead Auditor: Which Audit Certification is Right for You?

If you’re considering a career in IT audit, security, or compliance, you’ve probably come across two popular certifications: CISA® Certified Information Systems Auditor and the ISO 27001 Lead Auditor. While both are highly respected and valuable in the IT, cybersecurity and risk management world, they serve different purposes and are suited to different career paths. In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between these two certifications to help you decide which one aligns best with your goals.

What is CISA?

The CISA® Certified Information Systems Auditor is a globally recognised certification offered by ISACA, designed for professionals who audit, control, monitor, and assess an organisation’s information technology and business systems.

 

CISA training focuses on five key domains:

1. Information System Auditing Process
2. Governance and Management of IT
3. Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
4. Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience
5. Protection of Information Assets

CISA is ideal for:

 

• IT auditors
• Risk professionals
• Cybersecurity consultants
• Compliance Specialists
• Anyone seeking a broader understanding of enterprise-wide IT audit and risk governance

 Explore our CISA course

What is ISO 27001 Lead Auditor?

The ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certification is designed for professionals who want to conduct external or internal audits of an Information Security Management System (ISMS) based on the ISO/IEC 27001 standard. 

 

ISO Auditor training covers:

• Principles of auditing
• Managing an audit program
• Conducting audits in accordance with ISO 19011 and ISO/IEC 17021
• Risk assessment and treatment methods
• Interpreting and applying ISO/IEC 27001 controls during audits

This course is a must for:

• Aspiring ISO 27001 auditors
• Consultants involved in ISMS implementations
• Internal audit team members
• Compliance managers

 View our ISO 27001 Audit training course

CISA vs ISO 27001 Lead Auditor: Key Differences

Feature	CISA	ISO 27001 Lead Auditor
Focus	IT audit across systems, governance, and security	Audit of ISMS based on ISO 27001
Certification Body	ISACA	Various certification bodies
Career Path	Broader IT audit and assurance	Specialised ISO 27001 audit or consultancy
Global Recognition	Very high (especially in enterprise/government sectors)	High (especially in ISO-certified environments)
Experience Required	5 years in IS audit (can be waived partially)	No formal prerequisites, but audit/ISO experience is helpful

 

Which Certification Should You Choose?

Choose CISA training if:

• You want to build a career in enterprise IT audit or governance
• You’re aiming for roles in internal audit, assurance, or security governance
• You want a credential that’s widely recognised internationally and across a variety industries

Choose ISO auditor training courses if:

• You want to lead or conduct ISO 27001 audits
• You’re working in or with organisations that require or have ISMS certification
• You’re aiming for roles in compliance, consultancy, or quality assurance

Final Thoughts…

 

Whether you’re considering CISA training for a broad IT audit role or looking into ISO 27001 audit certification for more focused security audits, both are excellent career-enhancing choices. Many professionals choose to earn both over time to broaden their expertise and credibility.

At Vital Learning Edge, we offer comprehensive, instructor-led training for both certifications, led by industry experts who bring real-world experience to the classroom.

 Start your CISA course
 Book in our ISO 27001 Lead Auditor course