Is the CISA Review Manual (CRM) too technical?

Short answer: The CRM is not deeply technical, but it does assume some IT knowledge. If you're not from an IT background, don’t worry—you don’t need to be a tech wizard to pass CISA. But you do need to understand IT concepts from an auditor’s perspective.

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What’s in the CRM? Is It Technical?

The CRM covers five domains, and while it touches on IT concepts, its primary focus is on audit, risk, and governance—not coding, networking, or hardcore tech stuff.

Here's a quick breakdown of technical vs. non-technical content in each domain:

✅ Good news: You don’t need deep technical skills—CISA is about understanding risks and controls rather than configuring systems.

❌ Challenge: Some IT terminology might feel overwhelming at first.

Where Do I Begin If I Have No IT Background?

If terms like firewalls, encryption, SDLC, and logs make no sense to you, start with these beginner-friendly resources:

1️⃣ Learn Basic IT Concepts First

Before diving into CRM, get comfortable with fundamental IT concepts:

• Pluralsight/ Udemy/ YouTube for IT Basics.
• Books such as IT for Dummies or Cybersecurity Essentials.
• Online Course: Google IT Support Certificate (Coursera) – Simple explanations on IT concepts.

2️⃣ Study the CRM Like an Auditor, Not an IT Engineer

• Don’t stress over deep technical details—your job is to understand "WHAT" a control is and "HOW" to audit it, not to configure it.
• Use analogies to understand technical terms (e.g., "Firewall is like a security guard at the door").
• Make flashcards of IT terms to get familiar with common words.