Updated in May 2025.

This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This course is designed to build your expertise in auditing IT operations and ensuring system resiliency, which are critical components of the CISA certification. Starting with an overview of necessary IT components, you will learn about the hardware architecture and platforms essential for maintaining effective information systems operations. You will explore the benefits and challenges of using USB and RFID technologies and gain a deep understanding of IT Asset Management (ITAM) practices, including Hardware Asset Management (HAM) and Software Asset Management (SAM). The course also addresses system interfaces and end-user computing (EUC), emphasizing the importance of implementing appropriate controls to safeguard system interactions and user activities. The course then shifts focus to data governance and software licensing, where you will learn how data governance frameworks ensure data protection, compliance, and optimal utilization. Detailed discussions on operating systems and source code management will enhance your ability to audit various software environments effectively. You will also explore incident and problem management practices, understanding how to evaluate and improve organizational response to IT disruptions. These modules are crucial for professionals aiming to excel in managing and auditing complex IT infrastructures. In the final sections, the course delves into service management, database management, and business continuity planning. You will learn about release and patch management, service level agreements (SLAs), and the critical role of Database Management Software (DBMS) in supporting IS operations. The course covers business impact analysis (BIA), system resiliency through redundancies, and the essentials of business continuity and disaster recovery planning. You will gain practical insights into developing and testing Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP), ensuring you are well-prepared to conduct thorough audits and contribute to organizational resiliency. By the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of IT operations auditing and be ready to excel in the CISA exam. This course is aimed at IT auditors, risk management professionals, and IT operations specialists preparing for the CISA certification. It is suitable for individuals with a basic understanding of IT infrastructure and governance, but no prior CISA exam experience is necessary.