Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation - Acquisition and Development

Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation (ISADI) is a critical domain within the CISA framework that focuses on ensuring organizations properly manage the acquisition and development of information systems. The Acquisition component involves processes for evaluating and selecting technology solutions that align with business needs. This includes requirements definition, feasibility studies, vendor selection, and contract management. CISA professionals must verify proper due diligence in technology procurement, ensuring solutions meet functional specifications while addressing security, performance, and compliance requirements. Proper vendor assessment includes evaluating reputation, financial stability, support capabilities, and security practices. The Development aspect encompasses methodologies and practices for creating systems in-house or through third parties. This includes system design, programming, testing, and implementation approaches. CISA practitioners evaluate whether development follows structured methodologies (like Agile, Waterfall, or DevOps) and incorporates appropriate controls throughout the development lifecycle. Key considerations in ISADI include: 1. Business requirements identification and validation 2. Project management controls and governance 3. Quality assurance and testing protocols 4. Security integration at all stages (security by design) 5. Change management procedures 6. Risk assessment and mitigation strategies 7. Regulatory compliance considerations 8. Documentation standards Auditors examining ISADI evaluate if organizations have established formal processes for system acquisition and development that maintain data integrity, confidentiality, and availability. They assess whether proper approval processes exist, technical specifications align with business needs, and security requirements are embedded from inception. Effective ISADI practices help organizations minimize project failures, budget overruns, and security vulnerabilities while maximizing the business value of technology investments. This domain ensures new systems properly integrate with existing infrastructure and meet operational, security, and compliance requirements.

Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation (ISADI) is a critical domain within the CISA framework that focuses on ensuring organizations properly manage the acquisition and deve…

Concepts covered: Control Identification and Design, Business Case and Feasibility Analysis, System Development Methodologies, Project Governance and Management