ISACA Chennai Chapter – 40 Years of Building Digital Trust and Community
During our 40th anniversary in 2026, we proudly look back at a legacy of leadership, learning, and lasting impact.Founded in 1986, we are India’s first ISACA Chapter and one of the oldest in Asia, standing tall among 220+ chapters worldwide with over 1700 members.Over the years, our journey has been defined by passion, volunteerism, and a relentless drive to advance the profession of Digital Trust, IT Governance, Risk, Audit, and Cybersecurity.
ISACA Chennai is a not-for-profit organization run entirely by dedicated volunteer professionals who believe in the power of networking, knowledge-sharing and community spirit. What makes Chennai truly special is its vibrant member community—energetic, enthusiastic, and ever-evolving.
About ISACA Global
ISACA is a nonprofit professional association with over 185,000 members globally focused on Information Systems (IS), Governance, Assurance, Security, Risk, Privacy, and related domains. Originally known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), ISACA is now recognized simply by its acronym. Its globally recognized certifications include CISA, CISM, and CRISC, among others.
Mission: Empower our members throughout their careers by providing comprehensive knowledge, skills, credentials and access to a global community—ensuring they are well-prepared to meet today’s challenges and drive tomorrow’s innovations.
Vision: Champion a workforce committed to advancing trust in technology.
Visit us at: www.isaca.org
Learning Never Stops at Chennai
Every second or third Saturday in a month, our members gather for the much-loved Professional Development Meeting (PDM)— a knowledge powerhouse that is open to all members. These sessions feature expert speakers from across industries, covering emerging technologies and core topics that enhance Digital Trust—from cybersecurity and risk management to AI governance and privacy.
Empowering Careers through Certification
We take immense pride in conducting ISACA’s globally recognized Certification Review Programs for CISA, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, and CDPSE over 3 decades. These programs have empowered countless professionals in South India and beyond – foreign participants have also attended at times to achieve global credentials and career milestones.
Collaboration with Educational Institutions
Our Chapter has actively partnered with leading academic institutions to promote learning and awareness in the field of Information Security.
We instituted a Certificate Course in Information Security in collaboration with the Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA). The program was entirely designed and delivered by our Chapter volunteers. Spanning three months and conducted over weekends, the course concluded with an examination to certify eligible participants.
At the Bharathidasan Institute of Management (BIM), Tiruchirappalli), we supported the delivery of a one-credit course on Information Security for MBA second-year students. Our volunteers regularly travelled to Trichy to conduct sessions, design the syllabus jointly with BIM faculty, deliver lectures and seminars, and administer the examinations and evaluations.
Students from the University of Madras pursuing their Post Graduate studies in Information Security were also given opportunities to present a “Security News Roundup of the Month” during our Professional Development Meetings (PDMs), enhancing their practical exposure and presentation skills.
In addition, we collaborated with students from the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) as part of our ongoing research initiatives. These students actively participated in and contributed to a study exploring how privacy is impacted in end-user technologies, gaining valuable insights into the intersection of privacy and emerging digital trends.
Innovation through Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
What truly sets our Chapter apart is our Special Interest Group (SIG) initiative—a collaborative platform where members deep-dive into niche domains and step out of their comfort zones. Started a decade ago, current SIGs include Cybersecurity, SecOps, Privacy, and the trending Prompt Engineering SIG, with plans to launch an exciting Quantum Computing SIG soon. These groups have become incubators of skill growth, innovation, and real-world impact.
Our Flagship Annual Conference – A Celebration of Excellence
Mahesh Balakrishnan (ISACA Chennai Chapter Board member) welcomes the delegates and introduces the ISACA Chennai Conference 2025 Theme.
If there’s one event that embodies the spirit of ISACA Chennai and eagerly anticipated by members and other professionals, it’s our annual flagship conference—a grand celebration of knowledge, networking, and camaraderie. Each year, over 400–450 delegates gather at one of Chennai’s premier venues for three pre-conference workshops and two days of power-packed sessions across multiple tracks.
Leading global and Indian organizations—Microsoft, CA (Computer Associates), Sophos, RSA, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Federal Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, TUV SUD, DNV, and many more—have proudly partnered with us as sponsors.
The Chapter also honours ISACA Certification toppers with medals and awards endowed by our esteemed members and past Board members—celebrating both excellence and community contribution.
Mr. Vittalraj R (our Chapter’s Past President, Global Hall of Fame Awardee and past ISACA Global Board member) awarding the rank holders during ISACA Chennai Conference 2025
Chief Guest address of Reserve Bank Information Technology Private Limited (ReBIT) CEO Mr. Santosh George addresses our ISACA Chennai Conference 2025
We also provided Lifetime Achievement Awards to Dr. Revathy Sriram and Mr. P.K. Ramanan, whose contributions have been instrumental in shaping the growth and success of our chapter over the decades.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
When the world came to a standstill in 2020 afflicted by the pandemic, ISACA Chennai stood strong. We organized online review courses as usual and with the support of ISACA Global, we hosted the Asia CACS 2020 Conference—proving that even during a pandemic, learning and connection could thrive in the digital realm.
Celebrating Our People
Each year, we host Member’s Day (formerly Founders’ Day)—a heartfelt occasion to honour our Founders and Past Presidents for their vision and service. The event also features sessions on topics of general and cultural interest, reminding us that growth is not only professional but also personal.
Global Recognition and Local Pride
Our excellence has not gone unnoticed. ISACA Chennai has consistently won global awards for innovation, communication, and member engagement—including the Innovative Chapter Program Award in 2025, Communication Award, and the prestigious Wayne Snipes Award in the previous years.
Charting the Future
As we step into a new era, our current Board (2025-27) has identified five focus areas that define our path forward:
- Nurturing Young Talent
- Reviving In-person Connections
- Celebrating Achievements
- Driving Greater Participation
- Amplifying Digital Presence
These priorities will guide our continued efforts in hosting flagship conferences, expanding our SIGs, advancing research, and deepening our community impact.
From left to right: Mr. Sivva Kannan (Director Training), Ms. Choodamani (Director Research), Ms. Jayasree Chandrasekaran (Director Membership), Ms. Deepthi R (Director Certification), Ms. Sangeetha Sathish (Honorary Treasurer), Mr. Sripathy Raagav (President), Mr. Balachandar Natarajan (Vice President), Mr. Mahesh Balakrishnan (Honorary Secretary), Cdr. Kumar M Ramanathan (Director Special Interest Group – SIG), Mr. Prashanth Kavirala (Director Outreach and Social Media), Mr. CM Krishnaswamy (Director Audit) and Mr. Vaidyanathan Chandramouli (Immediate Past President). Please note Mr. Sriram Srinivasan (Director Program) is not in the photo.
At ISACA Chennai, we don’t just build digital trust—we build people, partnerships, and purpose. The trust is mutual between members and the Chapter which enabled us to purchase our own office in Mylapore in 2005, at which point we were the only chapter in the whole of Asia to operate from its own premises.
Join us in our journey as we continue to inspire, innovate, and ignite the future of governance, risk, and cybersecurity.
Visit us:
www.isaca-chennai.org
