Claim OwnershipCyberLex Leadership Audio Series
Subscribed: 0Played: 0
Subscribe
© M.G. Vance
Description
Exam mastery meets real-world judgment.
If you’re studying CISA, CRISC, or CISM — or working in IT audit, risk, or cybersecurity — this podcast trains you to think like a leader.
Not someday. Today.
We simplify governance concepts, break down real scenarios, and teach the decision-making skills behind every exam domain.
Beginner-friendly. Manager-approved.
Boardroom-aligned.
Grow your career, sharpen your instincts, and rise into the leader you already are.
Listen. Learn. Lead with The Gold Standard.
If you’re studying CISA, CRISC, or CISM — or working in IT audit, risk, or cybersecurity — this podcast trains you to think like a leader.
Not someday. Today.
We simplify governance concepts, break down real scenarios, and teach the decision-making skills behind every exam domain.
Beginner-friendly. Manager-approved.
Boardroom-aligned.
Grow your career, sharpen your instincts, and rise into the leader you already are.
Listen. Learn. Lead with The Gold Standard.
52 Episodes
Reverse
CISA Domain 4: Systems Availability & Capacity ManagementThis episode is part of the CISA Domain 4 Deep-Dive Series, a structured curriculum that covers every subtopic in the 26% Information Systems Operations & Business Resilience domain. Each episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real-world audit leadership.In Episode 28, we explore a scenario where a business-critical authentication server had perfect uptime — yet operated at dangerously high capacity for months. When demand spiked, it failed instantly. This episode reveals the difference between operational luck and resilience through proactive planning.You’ll learn:✔ What CISA really tests under Availability & Capacity Management✔ Why uptime does NOT equal reliability✔ How junior auditors view capacity vs. how audit leaders analyze trends and thresholds✔ What evidence auditors must review: metrics, forecasting, threshold alerts, SLA performance✔ How hidden capacity constraints create predictable failures✔ How to evaluate operational maturity in capacity governanceThis episode builds true capability in assessing operational resilience.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: Shadow IT & End-User ComputingThis episode is part of the CISA Domain 4 Deep-Dive Series, a structured curriculum that covers every subtopic in the 26% Information Systems Operations & Business Resilience domain. Each episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real-world audit leadership.In Episode 27, we explore how a simple spreadsheet evolved into a critical, undocumented, untested system used for financial adjustments — invisible to IT, unsupported by change controls, and full of hidden logic. This scenario highlights the dangers of end-user tools becoming production systems without governance.You’ll learn:✔ What CISA really tests under Shadow IT & End-User Computing✔ Why EUC tools become high-risk when they support critical processes✔ How junior auditors think vs. how audit leaders assess governance maturity✔ What evidence auditors must review: formulas, macros, access rights, documentation✔ How to identify ungoverned systems that silently shape business decisions✔ How to evaluate risk and recommend migration to supported platformsThis episode is foundational for mastering operational and governance risks in Domain 4.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: System InterfacesThis episode is part of the CISA Domain 4 Deep-Dive Series, a structured curriculum that covers every subtopic in the 26% Information Systems Operations & Business Resilience domain. Each episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real-world audit leadership.In Episode 26, we examine a scenario where a data interface ran “successfully” — yet silently dropped hundreds of transactions due to unmapped fields. The business believed the interface was healthy because no errors appeared, even though financial data was incomplete.You’ll learn:✔ What CISA really tests under System Interfaces✔ Why interfaces can succeed technically but fail functionally✔ How junior auditors think vs. how audit leaders analyze data flow integrity✔ What evidence auditors must review: mapping, transformations, source–target reconciliation✔ How missing mappings, stale master data, and weak exception handling cause silent errors✔ How to evaluate interface governance and change coordinationThis episode builds deep mastery in one of the most exam-tested areas of Domain 4.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: Job Scheduling & Production AutomationThis episode is part of the CISA Domain 4 Deep-Dive Series, a structured curriculum that covers every subtopic in the 26% Information Systems Operations & Business Resilience domain. Each episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real-world audit leadership.In this episode, we investigate a scenario where a critical job ran successfully — but processed zero records for two weeks because its input file never arrived. The scheduler marked the run “successful,” yet the business experienced silent data failure. This episode exposes the difference between automation and governed automation.You’ll learn:✔ What CISA really tests for job scheduling and automation✔ Why processing integrity matters more than “successful” job status✔ How junior auditors interpret batch jobs vs. how audit leaders evaluate control design✔ The evidence auditors must review: inputs, dependencies, reconciliation, exception logs✔ How silent failures occur in automated workflows✔ The operational, financial, and compliance risks of missing inputsThis episode builds mastery in one of the most heavily tested Domain 4 subtopics.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: IT Asset ManagementThis episode is part of the CISA Domain 4 Deep-Dive Series, a structured curriculum that covers every subtopic in the 26% Information Systems Operations & Business Resilience domain. Each episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real-world audit leadership.In Episode 24, we examine a scenario where dozens of production servers existed — but none were recorded in the official CMDB. These assets were unpatched, unmonitored, unowned, and unprotected. The result: massive hidden risk despite a “complete” inventory on paper.You’ll learn:✔ What CISA really tests under IT Asset Management✔ Why unknown assets are more dangerous than broken systems✔ How junior auditors interpret inventory vs. how audit leaders evaluate accuracy✔ What evidence auditors must review in ITAM governance✔ How inventory gaps impact patching, monitoring, backup, and change controls✔ How to evaluate shadow IT and lifecycle management maturityThis episode elevates your ability to perform true IT operations audits.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: IT Components Deep DiveThis episode is part of the CISA Domain 4 Deep-Dive Series, a structured curriculum designed to cover every subtopic in the 26% Information Systems Operations & Business Resilience domain. Each episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real-life audit judgment and operational leadership.In Episode 23, we explore a system that everyone depended on — yet no one fully understood. This scenario highlights the risks of undocumented architecture, unclear ownership, hidden dependencies, outdated components, and unmanaged integrations.You’ll learn:✔ What CISA really tests under “IT Components”✔ How junior auditors see outages vs. how audit leaders assess architecture✔ Why undefined ownership and missing documentation are major audit findings✔ What evidence auditors must review for IT component analysis✔ How to identify risks hiding in dependencies, integrations, and technical debt✔ How systems can appear stable while being structurally fragileThis episode builds true audit judgment — the capability CISA exams reward.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 5: Security Testing & Coverage AssuranceThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured, scenario-based learning path focused on Domains 4 and 5, the most heavily weighted sections of the CISA exam.In this episode, we examine a scenario where penetration testing was performed — but not against the actual production system. The test returned zero findings, not because the environment was secure, but because the wrong system was tested. This reveals one of the most common failures in security governance: false confidence caused by incorrect testing scope.You’ll learn:✔ Why CISA focuses heavily on test scope, not test results✔ How junior auditors interpret clean reports vs. how audit leaders evaluate coverage✔ What evidence auditors must review to verify security testing maturity✔ How to assess scope approval, asset inventory accuracy, and representativeness✔ How CISA designs exam questions around false assurance and missing coverage✔ The operational and governance risks of testing the wrong systemThis episode teaches CISA exam reasoning and real audit leadership judgment — the essence of the CyberLex Audit Judgment Series.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: Business Continuity & DR GovernanceThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured learning path focused on Domains 4 and 5, the heaviest-weighted areas of the CISA exam.In this episode, we analyze a Disaster Recovery test that was declared “successful” — even though no real failover occurred, no production data was restored, and no business validation took place. The test passed on paper, but not in reality. This scenario exposes a major gap in operational resilience maturity.You’ll learn:✔ Why CISA focuses on DR test evidence, not documentation✔ Why DR tests fail despite official reports showing success✔ How junior auditors interpret DR vs. how audit leaders evaluate capability✔ What evidence auditors must review for DR governance✔ How to assess RTO/RPO validation, test scope, and business involvement✔ What CISA is actually testing in continuity and recovery questions✔ The risks when DR tests pass on paper but fail in practiceThis episode teaches CISA exam judgment and real audit leadership — the core of the CyberLex Audit Judgment Series.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 5: Data Loss Prevention & Monitoring GovernanceThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured, scenario-based learning path focused on Domains 4 and 5, the heaviest-weighted areas of the CISA exam.In this episode, we explore a scenario where DLP is fully implemented and generating alerts — but no one is reviewing them. This exposes a critical truth in cybersecurity: tools only create visibility; governance creates protection.You’ll learn:✔ Why DLP review and governance are major Domain 5 exam themes✔ Why “having a tool” does NOT mean “having a control”✔ How junior auditors interpret DLP vs. how audit leaders evaluate it✔ What evidence auditors must review for DLP and monitoring governance✔ How to assess ownership, escalation, triage, and review maturity✔ How CISA designs questions around unreviewed alerts✔ The real risk when alerts exist but no one investigates themThis episode teaches both CISA exam mastery and real audit leadership — the essence of the CyberLex Audit Judgment Series.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: Backup, Storage & Restoration ControlsThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured, scenario-based learning path focused on Domains 4 and 5, the heaviest-weighted sections of the CISA exam.In this episode, we investigate a scenario where backups ran successfully for months — but none of them could be restored. This exposes one of the biggest weaknesses in IT operations: assuming backup success equals recovery readiness.You’ll learn:✔ Why restoration testing is a major CISA Domain 4 exam theme✔ Why backup success ≠ backup integrity✔ How junior auditors interpret backup logs vs. how audit leaders evaluate resilience✔ What evidence auditors must review for backup and recovery audits✔ How to assess integrity checks, testing frequency, RPO/RTO alignment✔ What CISA is actually testing with backup-related questions✔ The operational risk when backups pass but recovery failsThis episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real audit leadership — the hallmark of the CyberLex Audit Judgment Series.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 5: Encryption & PKI ControlsThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured, scenario-based learning path focused on Domains 4 and 5, the most heavily tested sections of the CISA exam.In this episode, we examine a scenario where TLS encryption is enabled — but certificate validation is disabled. The connection is encrypted, but authentication is nonexistent. This reveals a critical misunderstanding in many organizations: encryption alone does not guarantee secure communication.You’ll learn:✔ Why encryption alone is NOT sufficient✔ Why CISA tests PKI, trust chains, and certificate validation✔ How junior auditors interpret encryption vs. how audit leaders evaluate authenticity✔ What evidence auditors should review for encryption and PKI controls✔ How to assess certificate validation, hostname checks, and PKI governance✔ What CISA is actually testing in encryption-related exam questions✔ The risk implications when encrypted traffic is unauthenticatedThis episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real audit leadership, helping you think like an auditor — not a technician.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: Incident & Problem ManagementThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured learning path focused on Domains 4 and 5, the heaviest-weighted sections of the CISA exam.In this episode, we examine a real scenario where a critical service outage was fixed quickly — but no root cause analysis (RCA) was performed. The incident was closed with a simple restart, leaving the underlying issue unresolved and guaranteeing the possibility of recurrence.You’ll learn:✔ Why CISA Domain 4 focuses so heavily on incident vs. problem management✔ Why a “resolved” incident is NOT a completed control✔ How junior auditors interpret outage recovery vs. how audit leaders analyze it✔ What evidence auditors must review to evaluate incident governance✔ How to assess RCA, escalation, and operational maturity✔ What CISA is actually testing with incident-related questions✔ The risk implications when outages are closed without understanding the causeThis episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real audit leadership — the foundation of the CyberLex Audit Judgment Series.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 5: Endpoint Security & Monitoring IntegrityThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured learning path covering Domains 4 and 5, the most heavily tested areas of the CISA exam.In this episode, we review a scenario where an endpoint security agent appears installed and “healthy” according to dashboards — yet the device has not been reported in 132 days. This reveals one of the most critical cybersecurity weaknesses: the illusion of security created by green dashboards and unmonitored tools.You’ll learn:✔ Why endpoint monitoring is critical in CISA Domain 5✔ Why tool installation ≠ control effectiveness✔ How juniors interpret agent failures vs. how leaders assess monitoring breakdowns✔ What evidence auditors must review: reporting logs, configuration, inventory, alerts✔ How to evaluate SOC monitoring maturity and alert thresholds✔ How CISA uses monitoring gaps to test judgment and governance awareness✔ Why stale agents represent high operational and security riskThis episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real audit leadership — the heart of the CyberLex Audit Judgment Series.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: System Interfaces & Data IntegrityThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a scenario-based learning path focused on Domains 4 and 5, the highest-weighted areas of the CISA exam.In this episode, we examine a scenario where an interface file arrives on time, processes without error, and passes all scheduler checks — yet contains zero records. No alerts were triggered. No completeness checks fired. And Finance only discovered the issue when their totals didn’t match.You’ll learn:✔ Why interface failures are a top CISA Domain 4 exam theme✔ Why “Success” in an interface log does NOT mean complete or accurate data✔ How junior auditors interpret interface issues vs. how audit leaders evaluate them✔ What evidence auditors must review for interface integrity✔ How to assess completeness, reconciliation, exception handling, and monitoring✔ What CISA really tests in interface-related questions✔ The operational and financial impact of silent data lossThis episode blends CISA exam judgment with real audit leadership — the foundation of the CyberLex Audit Judgment Series.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 5: Authentication & Access ControlsThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured, scenario-based learning path focused on Domains 4 and 5, the highest-weighted sections of the CISA exam.In this episode, we examine a scenario where a user resets their mobile device — but their old MFA token continues to authenticate across multiple systems. While the technology appears to work, the underlying governance has failed. This situation reveals a critical weakness in MFA lifecycle controls, token revocation, and identity assurance.You’ll learn:✔ Why MFA lifecycle governance is a major CISA Domain 5 topic✔ Why technical fixes are not the point — governance is✔ How junior auditors interpret authentication failures vs. how audit leaders see them✔ What evidence auditors must review for MFA and IAM audits✔ How to evaluate token issuance, revocation, and multi-system integration✔ How to identify systemic IAM weaknesses using a CISA exam mindset✔ The real risk when old credentials continue to authenticateThis episode blends CISA exam reasoning with real audit leadership judgment — the foundation of the CyberLex Audit Judgment Series.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: Availability & Capacity ManagementThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured, scenario-based learning path focused on Domains 4 and 5, the highest-weighted areas of the exam.In this episode, we explore a real audit scenario involving a production database consistently running near maximum capacity — with no alerts, no escalation, and no capacity planning.This situation reveals one of the most overlooked weaknesses in IT operations: the normalization of chronic system strain.You’ll learn:✔ Why availability & capacity management are major CISA exam topics✔ How junior auditors think vs. how audit leaders assess the risk✔ What controls should exist around monitoring, forecasting, and thresholds✔ What evidence auditors should review during capacity-related audits✔ How to evaluate long-term operational resilience✔ How to identify systemic failures in governance and SLA performanceThis episode teaches both CISA exam reasoning and real audit leadership judgment.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 5: Identity & Access ManagementThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured learning path designed to teach CISA exam reasoning through real audit scenarios. We are currently covering Domain 4 and Domain 5, the heaviest-weighted areas of the exam.Identity & Access Management questions are some of the trickiest in CISA Domain 5 because the exam focuses on governance, not technology.In this episode, we break down a real scenario where a terminated employee’s badge still worked weeks after separation — and why this failure reveals a deeper breakdown in identity lifecycle controls.You’ll learn:✔ Why IAM is a top CISA exam topic✔ Why governance failures matter more than technical ones✔ How junior auditors interpret IAM gaps vs. how audit leaders evaluate them✔ Evidence auditors must review in real-world IAM audits✔ How to think in terms of lifecycle, de-provisioning, monitoring, and reconciliation✔ How to identify and escalate systemic IAM weaknesses✔ The risk implications when termination processes failThis is CISA exam mastery combined with real-world audit leadership.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
CISA Domain 4: Job Scheduling & Processing IntegrityThis episode is part of the CISA Audit Judgment Series — a structured, scenario-based learning path designed to teach CISA exam judgment, real audit reasoning, and governance-first decision-making.We’re currently covering Domain 4 and Domain 5, the heaviest-weighted domains in the CISA exam.Episodes alternate between the two domains to maximize learning, clarity, and exam readiness.CISA Domain 4 (Information Systems Operations) is full of traps — and batch jobs are one of the biggest. Many candidates focus on whether a job “ran successfully,” but CISA is testing something deeper: processing integrity, completeness, reconciliation controls, and governance accountability.In this episode, we break down:✔ Why CISA tests batch scheduling so heavily✔ Why “Job Status: SUCCESS” means almost nothing in an audit✔ How data can be incomplete even when all jobs ran✔ The difference between junior-level checking and audit-leader reasoning✔ The real controls that matter: reconciliation, exception handling, monitoring, and ownership✔ How this scenario appears in CISA exam questions✔ What evidence auditors must review in real life✔ How leaders calibrate risk when completeness fails silentlyBy the end of this episode, you’ll understand both:CISA exam mastery AND real-world audit practice.This is how auditors think, escalate, and assess operational risk at a professional level.If you’re serious about passing CISA and becoming audit-leadership ready, this episode gives you the mental model you need.If you’re preparing for CISA or sharpening your audit judgment,explore the CISA Gold Standard Series by M.G. Vance on Amazon.📘 Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX526S3VWe don’t just help you pass.We prepare you to become formidable in the field.
This Access Management scenario was originally part of our Audit Judgment series, but we’ve moved it as a bonus episode for learners needing deeper clarity on CISA Domain 2.It covers:✔ Identity and access principles✔ How junior auditors interpret IAM gaps✔ How audit leaders evaluate access failures✔ What CISA actually tests in IAM-based questions✔ Real-world evidence, governance, and risk reasoningUse this episode as a supplemental learning tool while we release the main CISA Domain 4 & Domain 5 series focused on operational controls, resilience, and protection of information assets. CISA Audit Judgment Series.
Episode 10 — The Access No One Should Have CombinedA user has both creation and approval access — a classic segregation-of-duties conflict.This episode teaches you how audit leaders evaluate SoD failures, privilege misuse, system control gaps, and governance exposure.You’ll learn:• segregation of duties• privilege creep• access governance• monitoring effectiveness• system control failures• escalation judgment• integrity risk calibrationPerfect for CISA aspirants and IT auditors.CyberLex Leadership Audio Series —CISA Audit Judgment Series.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States