Vision 2000: How EDPAA Became ISACA

Tech innovations were coming fast and furious by 1990. EDP Auditors Association leaders recognized that “Increasingly, the EDPAA … will be required to respond to the global needs of the information systems control and security professional,” not just EDP auditors. Richard Tuck, then a vice president of Region 1, pointed out, “Most members drop out [of EDPAA] when they make the career move out of audit into other functional areas of the company, although they are often still working with computers, making business decisions, and doing work very similar to what they did [before].”

Taking a logical, methodical approach true to their profession, EDPAA leaders formed an “Image 2000” committee, wrote a “Vision 2000” long-range mission statement, and executed a three-year plan to move toward the ISACA of today.

As of 1990, EDPAA was experiencing consistent growth in North America and Europe, but a leveling-off of growth elsewhere. As the association, its regions and chapters began to survey members, conduct market research and talk through opportunities and options, the value of a new name and identity became clear to many. As one committee member put it, “Remove EDP from our name as EDP is considered archaic.” Nearly a dozen names were considered, including OASIS (Organization for Audit of Systems and Information Security).

Not everyone was happy about a name change. “An attempt to bring together several disparate disciplines, which have different agendas, can only succeed in sorely damaging the Association,” wrote one member. Added another, “I got the feeling that the Association was trying to distance itself from [EDP auditors] … What is wrong with the current base of members? Why do we want to be a bigger organization?” But over time, most members voted for change.

At the end of the process in 1994, EDPAA became ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association) – fulfilling the Vision 2000 plan and positioning us for the 21^st Century.

Article from Global Communique, Volume 1, 1992