Information Systems Auditor: Key Skills and Career Insight

By Dr. Andre Slonopas | 01/29/2025

An information systems auditor is vital in today's technology-driven world. In most organizations, there is a strong need for an information systems auditor to ensure the security, compliance, and efficiency of the complex information systems that organizations rely on daily to carry out their business.

Information systems auditors can improve organizational resilience through checks and assessments on the performance of information systems, including conducting risk assessments and protecting information assets. These auditors can help organizations adapt, recover, and continue operations despite disruptions like security breaches from external users or internal data theft.

What Does an Information Systems Auditor Do?

An information systems auditor assesses whether an organization's information systems and information technology infrastructure are robust, secure, and efficient. This work involves in-depth reviews of several processes, such as:

Database management
Project management
Information systems acquisition

Another key responsibility of an information systems auditor is to ensure adherence to established standards and regulations. This type of auditor verifies that organizational systems align with regulations and governing bodies, such as:

By ensuring adherence to domestic and international regulations, information systems auditors help their organizations meet regulatory requirements. They can also establish industry best practices, reducing the risks of legal and financial problems.

Ultimately, identifying system vulnerabilities and recommending improvements is a fundamental responsibility of the information systems auditor. The risk assessment of qualified information systems auditors helps organizational leaders to discover weaknesses in IT security measures. Certified information systems auditors take active steps to enhance defenses and improve an organization's risk management strategies.

Industries Where Information Systems Auditors Are Important

Information systems auditors are crucial to a variety of industries, especially for organizations where IT security and regulatory compliance are of utmost importance. For instance, they protect financial businesses such as banks and credit unions against fraud and help them to adhere to financial regulatory requirements.

Similarly, an information systems auditor is essential in healthcare. They protect sensitive patient data stored in databases and enable healthcare providers to follow regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

For technology-based businesses, an information system auditor reviews emerging technologies for vulnerabilities to external attackers or disgruntled insiders. They support the secure implementation of information systems operations.

Educational Pathways for Aspiring Information Systems Auditors

For aspiring information systems auditors, particularly those individuals pursuing professional certification, a solid academic foundation is essential. Understanding the academic and professional steps involved in becoming an information systems auditor helps candidates develop the knowledge and skills needed to excel in this field.

Bachelor’s Degrees

The first step toward becoming an information systems auditor is completing a bachelor's degree in information systems or a related field. Recommended degrees for this career path include:

Computer science
Cybersecurity
Accounting

All of these areas of study have foundational and technical analytical coursework requirements. Ideally, an information system auditor should understand IT audits, information system acquisition, and business law. These courses equip aspiring auditors with the knowledge and skills to assess information technology infrastructure, perform risk assessments, and enhance business resiliency.

Master’s Degrees

For an aspiring information systems auditor, earning a master's degree is useful preparation for seeking roles with leadership responsibilities. A master's in cybersecurity or information systems management – or even an MBA with an IT-focused specialization – offers in-depth knowledge of management, strategic planning, and enterprise architecture.

A master’s in cybersecurity is especially important for an information systems auditor, since it provides the chance to gain skills in IT security, risk mitigation, and incident response. These skills are especially helpful in the cybersecurity field, since cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving.

When handling complex audits and systems is necessary, many organizations commonly search for candidates with higher education levels for positions like security professionals or assurance managers.

Bootcamps Offer Specialized Training

Industry-specific bootcamps and short online courses place emphasis on practical, hands-on training to prepare candidates for the CISA certification exam. Most of these instructor-led bootcamps often focus on real-world scenarios, newly emerging trends, and the implementation of information system controls in business systems.

The bootcamp formats are most helpful for information technology professionals who want to migrate into auditing. Bootcamps are also useful for an information system auditor looking for professional development in niche areas of information technology, such as database security or cloud auditing.

Certifications

Many information systems auditors hold the globally recognized certification of Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA®). The CISA exam requires information systems auditors to meet high benchmarks in five critical domains:

Information system auditing process – An information systems auditor must be able to assess the quality of systems against established standards and ensure that the results meet requirements for quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
Government and management of IT – For the CISA certification, an information systems auditor must understand the frameworks, policies, and processes that support effective IT resource management. Also, an information system auditor must know how to assess an organization's IT strategy, analyze the implementation of IT governance, and perform risk assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of controls and procedures.
Information systems acquisition, development, and implementation – An information systems auditor must know how to acquire, develop, and implement new systems. They must ensure that information systems operations and projects align with business objectives and adhere to best practices.
Information systems operations and business resilience – In the CISA exam, an information systems auditor needs to show a comprehension of how information systems operations effectively support the organization’s mission and create resilience measures, such as disaster recovery and continuity planning. Information systems auditors must examine incident response processes, assess controls to maintain system functionality, and evaluate database management practices to minimize system disruptions.
Protection of information assets – For the CISA certification, information systems auditors are responsible for safeguarding an organization's information assets through robust IT security measures. Auditors verify the adequacy of controls to protect data integrity, confidentiality, and availability. This work includes assessing access management, scanning for vulnerabilities, monitoring systems, and ensuring compliance with security policies to mitigate risks and support business resilience.

The CISA certification is a milestone for any information systems auditor, and the CISA exam is worth the time and effort. The CISA certification is widely recognized around the world, serves as proof of one's expertise, and aligns with the standards of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

Continuing Professional Education Is Essential

Due to technological advancements, it is a good idea for information systems auditors to continue their professional development. Continuing professional education keeps auditors up to date with advancements in IT security, changes in regulations, and new strategies that strengthen business resiliency.

Information Technology Degrees at American Military University

For adult learners who want to seek a career path as an information systems auditor, American Military University (AMU) offers several degrees, such as:

Courses in these degree programs include topics such as networking concepts, information system design, securing databases, and securing applications. Other courses include management information systems, information technology security and risk management, information project management, and digital forensics.

For more information, visit our information technology degree program page.

Certified Information Security Auditor is a registered trademark of the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium.

About The Author

Dr. Andre Slonopas

Dr. Andre Slonopas is the Department Chair in AMU’s Department of Cybersecurity. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, a master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering, and a Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering, all from the University of Virginia. Andre has written dozens of articles and book chapters and regularly presents at scientific conferences. He also holds a plethora of relevant certifications, including Certified Information Security Manager (CISM®), Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP®), Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA), and Project Management Professional (PMP®). Andre is an AI-driven revolution enthusiast.

CISM is an Information Systems Audit and Control Association, Inc. registered trademark.