CISM - Certified Information Security Manager
CISM - Certified Information Security Manager vs 3 alternatives compared
Exam fee, level, duration, validity and salary side by side. Blank cells mean we do not have verified data yet.
| CISM - Certified Information Security Manager | CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional | CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker | CompTIA Security+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor | ISACA | ISC2 | EC-Council | CompTIA |
| Level | Advanced | Advanced | Intermediate | Beginner |
| Exam fee | US$575 (member), US$760 (non‑member) | $749 | $1,199 | $425 |
| Duration | — | — | 4 hours (MCQ) + 6 hours (practical) | — |
| Passing score | — | — | — | — |
| Valid for | — | — | — | — |
| Typical salary | $130K–$165K | $140K–$175K | $95K–$130K | $75K–$100K |
| Prerequisites | — | — | — | — |
Which should you choose?
Should I take CISM - Certified Information Security Manager or CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional first?
Both are rated Advanced. Pick the one whose exam domains match the job you want, and check which one employers in your area ask for.
Should I take CISM - Certified Information Security Manager or CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker first?
CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker is the lower-level certification (Intermediate vs Advanced), so it is usually the better first step.
Should I take CISM - Certified Information Security Manager or CompTIA Security+ first?
CompTIA Security+ is the lower-level certification (Beginner vs Advanced), so it is usually the better first step.