The CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) exam is one of the toughest in the field – according to most providers, pass rates are around 60–65% (ISACA doesn’t publish official figures). Even experienced professionals find it demanding, something our consultants know first-hand.
Soji Ogunjobi is a cyber security specialist and instructor, with nearly two decades of experience as a cyber security professional and IT auditor. He also has an MSc in Information Technology, Computer and Information Systems, as well as CISM, CISSP, CISA, CCSP and various other cyber security qualifications.
Below are five practical CISM exam tips drawn directly from his experience.
1. Understand the domains, not just definitions
Many candidates start by memorising the glossary. This is obviously helpful, but CISM isn’t a terminology test – it’s an assessment of how well you understand governance, risk, incident and programme management in real contexts.
We often see learners who know the terms but can’t connect them to outcomes. For example, it’s not enough to define “risk appetite” – you need to know how it shapes investment decisions or incident response priorities.
So, when you study, focus on relationships. How does governance enable risk management? How does incident management feed lessons into the programme? Thinking in terms of cause and effect builds the kind of understanding the exam questions are designed to test.
2. Link theory to real frameworks
The CISM syllabus isn’t abstract – it reflects the frameworks that many organisations already use, such as ISO 27001. Our CISM course therefore shows how these frameworks underpin CISM’s four domains.
Grounding your study in familiar frameworks helps you see how concepts connect. It also reinforces the management mindset the exam expects – understanding that security isn’t an isolated discipline but part of a wider governance system.
This is where IT Governance’s training stands out. As well as being qualified in the disciplines they teach, our instructors are active consultants who implement these frameworks every day. They explain how theory works in live environments, such as what good risk treatment looks like, how governance policies are structured and where organisations often struggle to align business and security goals.
3. Avoid common pitfalls
Even strong candidates make avoidable mistakes. The three our trainers see most often are:
- Rote memorisation
The CISM exam rewards applied understanding, not recall. Scenario-based questions often have several plausible answers – you must choose the one that best fits the management intent, not the technical fix. - Neglecting weaker domains
Many candidates focus on their comfort zones – usually risk or incident management – and give less time to governance or programme management. The weighting is even enough that neglecting one area can cost you the pass. - Underestimating questions’ complexity
The exam’s multiple-choice format hides subtle distinctions. You need to think like a manager – which action adds the most business value, not which is technically correct.
Our trainers encourage learners to test their reasoning, not just their recall. When you review a question, ask what the risk context is, what the governance objective is or what would deliver sustainable assurance.
4. Use practice questions strategically
Practice questions are vital – but how you use them matters. Working through hundreds of random questions won’t guarantee success.
The official ISACA QAE database, included with our course, is designed to show how questions are structured and what each is testing. Use it to identify patterns: the logic behind distractors, the way risk scenarios are framed and how each domain’s language differs.
Our consultants recommend an iterative approach: practise, review the rationale, revisit the underlying concept, then retest later. Treat practice questions as diagnostics, not drills.
5. Prepare like a manager, not a technician
CISM is a management-level certification. It expects you to evaluate strategy, not configure controls.
In practice, that means framing every answer through a governance lens. When you see a scenario about patch management, think about what policy or process failure allowed the issue to occur. When asked how to respond to an incident, prioritise communication and stakeholder management before containment details.
In other words, zoom out. You’re not the engineer fixing a system – you’re the manager ensuring the organisation learns and improves. This shift in mindset is often what separates a pass from a near miss.
CISM training with IT Governance
CISM is demanding, but it’s achievable with the right preparation and perspective. Approach it as a manager-in-training, use official materials, and learn from people who apply these principles every day.
Our accredited CISM course combines ISACA’s official study materials with real-world insight from practising consultants – plus a free retake if you don’t pass first time.
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