Certified: The ISACA CISA Audio Course

Dive into a fast, no-fluff overview of what this podcast delivers, who it’s for, and how each episode helps you level up with practical, real-world takeaways. In this trailer, you’ll hear the show’s promise, the format you can expect, and a sneak peek at the kinds of stories, tips, and expert insights coming your way. Hit follow to get new episodes as they drop and start listening smarter from day...

Staying ahead of risk means understanding new technologies and trends. This episode focuses on how to evaluate emerging threats related to artificial intelligence, blockchain, edge computing, and evolving regulatory landscapes. You will learn how to audit control readiness, policy alignment, and adoption strategies—essential knowledge for CISA questions on innovation risk. Ready to start your jour...

Auditors are expected to identify improvement opportunities and support quality initiatives. In this episode, you will learn how to evaluate continuous improvement programs, recommend control enhancements, and review post-audit actions. You will also explore how these contributions strengthen governance and demonstrate audit value on the CISA exam. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Lear...

Organizations must proactively manage threats and vulnerabilities to remain secure. This episode covers how to audit threat intelligence collection, vulnerability assessments, scanning schedules, remediation timelines, and patch prioritization. You will also learn how to tie findings to control effectiveness and audit risk—core tasks for CISA candidates in Domain 5. Ready to start your journey wit...

Shadow IT introduces risk outside of sanctioned governance. This episode teaches you how to audit unsanctioned applications, unauthorized system use, and spreadsheet-based end-user tools. You will also learn how to identify detection methods, review compensating controls, and evaluate policies to reduce shadow IT exposure—skills that frequently appear on the CISA exam. Ready to start your journey...

IT assets require controls from acquisition through disposal. In this episode, you will learn how to evaluate lifecycle policies, including procurement, tagging, usage, reassignment, retirement, and data sanitization. These areas are tested in Domain 4 and require auditors to verify asset traceability, accountability, and risk mitigation. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at...

Privacy and data classification are integral to protecting information assets. This episode explains how to audit privacy frameworks, policy enforcement, classification schemes, and data-handling procedures. You will also learn how to assess program maturity and legal compliance, which are critical for high-scoring performance on the CISA exam. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn mo...

Data governance defines how information is managed, secured, and used. This episode covers how to evaluate data ownership, stewardship, classification, and lifecycle controls. You will learn how auditors assess alignment with policies and regulatory requirements, making this a key episode for Domain 2 and Domain 5 exam success. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMetalCy...

Operations and maintenance are critical to IT service delivery and risk control. In this episode, you will learn how to audit operational support, preventive maintenance routines, service management processes, and monitoring controls. The CISA exam frequently tests your ability to identify deficiencies in daily IT operations. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMetalCybe...

Enterprise architecture must align with organizational strategy to ensure long-term IT value. This episode teaches you how to assess architectural documentation, governance processes, technology standards, and decision-making roles. You will also explore how to audit EA for strategic alignment and integration with enterprise risk management. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more...

Supporting end users requires processes that are responsive, secure, and well-documented. This episode focuses on how to audit help desk operations, ticket resolution, escalation paths, and training services. You will also learn how to evaluate whether support metrics align with service level expectations and risk management goals. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMet...

Modern IT environments rely on complex supply chains that must be evaluated for risk. This episode explores how to assess supplier integrity, dependency risk, cybersecurity posture, and fraud potential. You will also learn how to verify controls over third-party access and subcontractors, all of which are relevant for audit scenarios on the CISA exam. Ready to start your journey with confidence? L...

Auditors play an essential role in verifying that vendor selection and contract oversight meet organizational, legal, and regulatory expectations. In this episode, you will learn how to evaluate procurement criteria, due diligence processes, contract terms, and ongoing monitoring practices. These concepts are frequently tested on the CISA exam in questions involving third-party risk. Ready to star...

Key performance and risk indicators provide insight into IT effectiveness and exposure. This episode teaches you how to evaluate how KPIs and KRIs are selected, monitored, and used to guide decision-making. You will learn how auditors validate metric accuracy, relevance, and consistency with business goals, all of which are crucial for mastering Domain 2. Ready to start your journey with confidenc...

Effective risk management requires clearly assigned ownership. In this episode, you will learn how to evaluate whether an organization has defined responsibility for IT risks, control implementation, and compliance with internal standards. Understanding ownership structure is a critical aspect of governance and frequently appears in CISA scenarios that test accountability. Ready to start your jour...

To succeed on the CISA exam, you must be able to assess whether IT resources and project management practices support enterprise objectives. This episode walks through how to evaluate resource allocation, project portfolio oversight, scheduling practices, and strategic alignment. You will also learn how to identify gaps in resource governance that auditors are expected to flag. Ready to start your...

Strong governance ensures that IT delivers value and manages risk. This episode explains how to evaluate governance frameworks, board oversight, decision-making processes, and policy enforcement. You will also explore the relationship between governance maturity and audit planning as emphasized in the CISA exam. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMetalCyber.com.

IT strategy must support business goals and risk tolerance. In this episode, you will learn how to assess whether IT initiatives are aligned with enterprise objectives, supported by governance, and tracked with appropriate metrics. Strategic alignment is a frequent theme in Domain 2 and appears in exam scenarios involving IT oversight. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at Bar...

Audit functions must be continuously evaluated and improved. This episode covers quality assurance techniques including internal assessments, external reviews, performance metrics, and lessons learned. You will learn how to audit the audit function itself and ensure compliance with professional standards. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMetalCyber.com.

Automated systems introduce unique risks and controls. This episode teaches you how to audit robotic process automation, decision engines, AI tools, and algorithmic logic. You will learn how to assess governance, bias, and control design in technology-driven environments, which are increasingly tested on the CISA exam. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMetalCyber.com.

Data analytics is transforming how audits are conducted. In this episode, you will explore how to apply analytic tools for risk assessment, control testing, and anomaly detection. You will also learn how to evaluate data quality and integrate analytics into audit workflows, aligning with CISA’s emphasis on technology-enabled audits. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMe...

The audit is not complete until findings have been addressed. This episode focuses on follow-up activities, including how to verify remediation, reassess risk, and update stakeholders. You will learn how to document follow-up results and integrate them into future audit planning, a key topic for CISA candidates. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMetalCyber.com.

Effective communication is a key skill for audit professionals. This episode covers how to present findings clearly, structure audit reports, and develop actionable recommendations. You will also learn how to handle disagreements with stakeholders and follow up on implementation, all of which are part of ISACA’s expectations. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMetalCybe...

Auditors often lead projects that require formal planning and control. This episode explains how to apply project management principles within the audit context. Topics include scheduling, resourcing, risk management, and change tracking, all of which help auditors deliver results efficiently and are emphasized in the CISA exam. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at BareMetalC...

This episode focuses on ISACA's audit standards and how to apply them during each phase of the audit process. You will learn how to ensure consistency, quality, and ethical conduct in your audits. Key topics include evidence collection, documentation, communication, and stakeholder engagement, all of which are tested on the CISA exam. Ready to start your journey with confidence? Learn more at Bare...