Digital Risk Management Certification

Digital Risk Management is the continuous process of identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and treating positive and negative risks to optimize their impact on the enterprise’s objectives. Effective Digital Risk Management helps enterprises thrive in an increasingly hypercompetitive digital landscape.

All companies undergoing digital transformation use digital risk management, including but not limited to: banking and insurance service providers, public sector entities, healthcare and life sciences organizations, technology and telecommunications firms, retail and e-commerce businesses, energy and utilities companies, as well as consulting firms.

All digital risk management frameworks and methodologies related to digital transformation highlight the critical need for robust risk management capabilities. At the same time, the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) environment makes each organization’s journey unique and highly context-specific, making the ability to model risk a key driver of success.

However, existing digital risk management frameworks tend to be either too generic or narrowly focused on negative risks (threats), primarily within the realm of cybersecurity.

Our approach to Digital Risk goes further: it enables organizations to design controls not only for threats but also for opportunities, while incorporating quantitative analysis across various types of risks. This allows for effective prioritization within enterprise backlogs. Moreover, the model is applicable at the strategic, program, and project levels — enabling risk-informed decision-making across the entire organization, rather than reducing risk management to a mere compliance exercise.

Yes, training is mandatory. The full list of Digital Risk Management Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) can be found on this website page, in the ‘Find a Training Provider’ section.

Training for Digital Risk Management is available from the network of Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) who are assessed and certified by APMG-International.

The full list of Digital Risk Management ATOs can be found on this website page, in the ‘Find a Training Provider’ section. Only these organizations and registered partners/affiliates are authorized to deliver Digital Risk Management training.

Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) will include the examination as part of their training course – please check with your ATO before booking.

The cost of the Digital Risk Management exam is generally included in the course fee but please check with your training provider at the time of booking.

The cost of the Digital Risk Management training course is set by the training provider. Training providers may offer public courses (where individuals can book a place on an advertised course date) as well as in-company training for you and your colleagues.

Most training providers offer online, self-paced training as well as virtual classroom delivery, so please check their websites for details of the course formats, availability and prices. We recommend that you check the course details and prices with several providers before making a booking.

There are no pre-requisites for the Digital Risk Management Foundation examination. However, please note that attendance at an accredited training course is required before taking the exam.

The Digital Risk Management Foundation exam is based on the Dare25 Handbook, which will be provided to you by your training provider when you register for the course.

The Digital Risk Management Foundation exam is available in English.

The Dare25 Reference book is available in English only.

The Digital Risk Management Foundation course is generally delivered over 3 days.

It is well worth investigating with individual providers, as some will offer tailored, online or blended learning solutions.

The Digital Risk Management Foundation exam format is below:

• 50 multiple choice questions
• 60 minutes
• Pass mark: 35 out of 50 (70%)
• Closed Book (no reference materials permitted)

No books or supporting materials are permitted in the Digital Risk Management Foundation exam.

Yes, all candidates can access a sample exam paper to practice on via the Candidate Portal. Access to the Candidate Portal is given once your ATO has registered your exam date and time with APMG.

The Digital Risk Management Foundation exam is valid indefinitely and does not expire.

The Digital Risk Management Foundation examination can be marked at the end of your exam with provisional results provided.

APMG will issue formal notification of your exam result once your exam paper has been received back into our office. All results will be made available in your Candidate Portal.

Candidates will be able to claim their digital badge and electronic certificate from their APMG Candidate Portal within two business days of their Digital Risk Management exam result being issued.

Digital badges allow you to easily showcase your achievements online.

When you pass the Digital Risk Management exam - you'll instantly have the option to claim a digital badge representing your new certificate.

Your badge can be embedded on an email signature, website, social media or digital CV.

With just one click, employers, customers and clients can easily view and verify your credentials and skills.

For more information, see our guidelines on sharing digital badges.

Once you’ve been notified that you’ve passed your Digital Risk Management exam, you will have the option to create a digital badge in APMG's Candidate Portal.

Visit APMG's Candidate Portal, view your exam results and select 'Create Badge'.

This takes you to the Credly website where the digital badges are hosted. You will be guided through the Credly account creation process.

Once you have created an account with Credly, login into the account and accept your pending badge.

You can always access all your electronic certificates and badges via the APMG Candidate Portal. Once you have logged on to the Candidate Portal, click on the ‘Badges and Certificates’ option from the menu bar at the top of screen. From here you should click on the ‘Create Badge/Certificate’ button. This will take you to the Credly platform to create an account and download your badge and certificate.

Step-by-step guidance is available to download from the ‘Badges and Certificates’ area in your Candidate Portal.

Electronic certificates are environmentally friendly, but you can print the certificate yourself at home or work, if required.

If you have any problems with accessing your digital certificate, please contact our Customer Interaction Team on customerservice@apmg-international.com

The pass mark for the Digital Risk Management examination is 35 marks or more out of 50.

To be eligible to apply to become a Digital Risk Management trainer, one of the minimum requirements is for individuals to hold the Digital Risk Management Foundation certificate. To find out more about becoming a trainer, please contact your local APMG representative.

An organization wishing to become a Digital Risk Management ATO should contact customerservice@apmgroup.co.uk who will connect you with your local business development manager who can discuss the accreditation process with you. 

Only organizations licensed to do so are allowed to use the Digital Risk Management logo. Such organizations include Digital Risk Management ATOs (Accredited Training Organizations) who have been approved by APMG-International.

Individuals are not permitted to use the Digital Risk Management logo, however, all individuals who pass the exam are awarded with a digital badge which can be shared on social media and embedded into your CV/résumé.