IT Audit Blog - AAIA, CISA and AI Governance Insights

Articles on AAIA exam prep, CISA certification, AI governance frameworks, and IT audit strategy, written by Dr. Baz Abouelenein, a CIO with six active ISACA credentials: AAIA, CISA, CISM, CRISC, CISSP, and PMP.

• AAIA Certification 2026: Cost, Eligibility, Worth It? - AAIA certification cost, eligibility requirements, exam format, and an honest take on whether it is worth it in 2026.
• How Hard Is the AAIA Exam? An Honest First-Attempt Answer - A first-attempt pass perspective on exam difficulty, domain weighting, and what actually trips candidates up.
• How to Pass the AAIA Exam: A First-Attempt Playbook - A six-week study plan, scenario question heuristics, and domain-by-domain guidance from a first-attempt pass.
• AAIA Exam Domains Explained: Where IT Auditors Struggle - The AAIA exam divides into three domains weighted 33/46/21. Most IT auditors pass Domain 1 and struggle with Domain 2.
• 25 Free AAIA Practice Questions (With Explanations) - 25 scenario-based questions mapped to the 33/46/21 domain weighting, with full explanations for every answer.
• From CISA to AAIA in 90 Days: Bridging the Knowledge Gap - Maps the five knowledge gaps between the CISA and AAIA credentials and how to close each one in 90 days.
• AAIA vs AAISM vs AIGP: Which AI Cert Fits Your Role? - Three credentials dominate AI governance in 2026: ISACA AAIA, ISACA AAISM, and IAPP AIGP. Here is how to choose.
• AAIA vs AAISM vs AAIR: ISACA's Three AI Certs Compared - ISACA now has three AI credentials. This guide maps each to the role it fits and explains when stacking makes sense.
• AAIA Salary: What AI Auditors Actually Earn in 2026 - The real compensation data for AI auditors, sourced from job postings and salary surveys, not inflated estimates.
• The IT Auditor's Field Guide to Auditing AI Systems - A six-stage, evidence-first program for auditing AI systems, mapped to ISO/IEC 42001, NIST AI RMF, and the EU AI Act.
• EU AI Act High-Risk Deadline Moved to December 2027 - The substantive obligations did not move. Here is what IT auditors must verify before the new deadline.
• How to Pass the AAIA Exam - Practical guidance on passing the ISACA AAIA exam, including study strategy and question technique.