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Isaca CISA Practice Test 4

Question 30

An IS auditor evaluates this situation: A nightly settlement batch fails halfway but the scheduler marks the entire chain successful. Which audit principle MOST directly applies to this situation?

  1. Severe incidents require priority-based classification and timely escalation paths.
  2. Automated jobs require dependency, exception and completion controls for reliable processing.
  3. Log retention should align with business, legal, incident and privacy requirements.
  4. Job automation changes should be authorized, versioned and attributable.

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Automated jobs require dependency, exception and completion controls for reliable processing. The corresponding audit procedure is: Inspect job exit codes, dependency configuration, completion records and reconciliation totals.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Severe incidents require priority-based classification and timely escalation paths. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A major cyber outage is escalated only after normal helpdesk response times expire. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Automated jobs require dependency, exception and completion controls for reliable processing. The governing distinction is: Automated jobs require dependency, exception and completion controls for reliable processing.

C:

Log retention should align with business, legal, incident and privacy requirements. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A financial application retains operational logs for only a week although investigation rules require six months. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Automated jobs require dependency, exception and completion controls for reliable processing. The governing distinction is: Automated jobs require dependency, exception and completion controls for reliable processing.

D:

Job automation changes should be authorized, versioned and attributable. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An operator can edit scheduled payroll scripts directly in production without independent approval. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Automated jobs require dependency, exception and completion controls for reliable processing. The governing distinction is: Automated jobs require dependency, exception and completion controls for reliable processing.

Question 31

An IS auditor is preparing recommendations after reviewing this situation: An endpoint dashboard displays every system as healthy even though remote devices have stopped forwarding telemetry. Which recommendation would BEST address the identified weakness?

  1. Recommend a risk-based coordinated containment protocol with defined emergency powers.
  2. Recommend coverage and ingestion-gap alarms alongside threat detections.
  3. Recommend compliant device controls and prompt token invalidation or managed wipe.
  4. Recommend risk-based detection rules linking authentication anomalies to privileged activity.

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Recommend coverage and ingestion-gap alarms alongside threat detections. The relevant control principle is: Monitoring reliability requires completeness, heartbeat and sensor-health validation. A meaningful follow-up should establish: A disconnected device is quickly identified as unmonitored rather than healthy.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Recommend a risk-based coordinated containment protocol with defined emergency powers. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A security team isolates a suspicious server without informing its critical care business owner, interrupting clinical operations. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend coverage and ingestion-gap alarms alongside threat detections. The governing distinction is: Monitoring reliability requires completeness, heartbeat and sensor-health validation.

C:

Recommend compliant device controls and prompt token invalidation or managed wipe. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A lost employee phone still accesses confidential mail because device compliance and remote wipe were never enabled. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend coverage and ingestion-gap alarms alongside threat detections. The governing distinction is: Monitoring reliability requires completeness, heartbeat and sensor-health validation.

D:

Recommend risk-based detection rules linking authentication anomalies to privileged activity. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A SOC receives repeated login alerts but does not correlate them with high-value account privilege changes. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend coverage and ingestion-gap alarms alongside threat detections. The governing distinction is: Monitoring reliability requires completeness, heartbeat and sensor-health validation.

Question 32

An IS auditor evaluates this situation: A threat-intelligence feed generates blocks for obsolete indicators without regular relevance review. Which audit principle MOST directly applies to this situation?

  1. Threat monitoring should assess indicator freshness, context and false-positive effects.
  2. Encryption at rest does not control authorized-account misuse or data access in processing.
  3. Conflicting business permissions create opportunities for unauthorized transactions.
  4. Security monitoring should correlate relevant signals into actionable risk scenarios.

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Threat monitoring should assess indicator freshness, context and false-positive effects. The corresponding audit procedure is: Inspect feed timestamps, matched events, expiration rules and legitimate-traffic impact.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Encryption at rest does not control authorized-account misuse or data access in processing. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A database encrypts storage disks but application administrators can export plaintext sensitive records without monitoring. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Threat monitoring should assess indicator freshness, context and false-positive effects. The governing distinction is: Threat monitoring should assess indicator freshness, context and false-positive effects.

C:

Conflicting business permissions create opportunities for unauthorized transactions. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An accounts-payable supervisor can both create vendors and approve their first payments. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Threat monitoring should assess indicator freshness, context and false-positive effects. The governing distinction is: Threat monitoring should assess indicator freshness, context and false-positive effects.

D:

Security monitoring should correlate relevant signals into actionable risk scenarios. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A SOC receives repeated login alerts but does not correlate them with high-value account privilege changes. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Threat monitoring should assess indicator freshness, context and false-positive effects. The governing distinction is: Threat monitoring should assess indicator freshness, context and false-positive effects.

Question 33

An IS auditor evaluates this situation: Multiple servers use unsynchronized clocks so a transaction appears to complete before it begins. Which audit principle MOST directly applies to this situation?

  1. Recovery objectives must include process dependencies and end-to-end recovery viability.
  2. Log retention should align with business, legal, incident and privacy requirements.
  3. Configuration accuracy is necessary for impact analysis and controlled service changes.
  4. Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance.

Explanation

Correct Answer

D:

Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance. The corresponding audit procedure is: Compare NTP status, clock drift, timezone settings and source event timestamps.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Recovery objectives must include process dependencies and end-to-end recovery viability. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A business owner specifies a one-hour RTO but has never identified which external dependencies must also be restored. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance. The governing distinction is: Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance.

B:

Log retention should align with business, legal, incident and privacy requirements. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A financial application retains operational logs for only a week although investigation rules require six months. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance. The governing distinction is: Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance.

C:

Configuration accuracy is necessary for impact analysis and controlled service changes. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A configuration database lists a retired server as the active owner of a production application. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance. The governing distinction is: Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance.

Question 34

An IS auditor is preparing recommendations after reviewing this situation: A highly available application uses only one privileged administrator who is unavailable during a holiday. Which recommendation would BEST address the identified weakness?

  1. Recommend tested alternate operator coverage and controlled emergency access.
  2. Recommend dependency register updates and tested risk-based failover procedures.
  3. Recommend protected incident evidence retention and audited deletion rules.
  4. Recommend proactive log management and capacity alarms without impairing recovery.

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Recommend tested alternate operator coverage and controlled emergency access. The relevant control principle is: Resilience depends on trained personnel and procedures as well as redundant technology. A meaningful follow-up should establish: A qualified alternate restores service without bypassing authorization or audit trails.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Recommend dependency register updates and tested risk-based failover procedures. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A supplier dependency map omits a critical cloud DNS service used by every customer-facing application. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend tested alternate operator coverage and controlled emergency access. The governing distinction is: Resilience depends on trained personnel and procedures as well as redundant technology.

C:

Recommend protected incident evidence retention and audited deletion rules. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A service desk deletes incident attachments when tickets are closed, preventing later regulatory review. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend tested alternate operator coverage and controlled emergency access. The governing distinction is: Resilience depends on trained personnel and procedures as well as redundant technology.

D:

Recommend proactive log management and capacity alarms without impairing recovery. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: Database transaction logs fill the only disk volume and cause a payment service outage. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend tested alternate operator coverage and controlled emergency access. The governing distinction is: Resilience depends on trained personnel and procedures as well as redundant technology.

Question 35

Before reaching an audit conclusion, consider: A board report includes hundreds of raw test details but fails to distinguish enterprise-critical findings. Which evidence should the auditor review FIRST to evaluate this risk?

  1. Separate audit-period evidence, remediation date and independent retest results.
  2. Recalculate the deviation rate, sample size, population and observed exceptions.
  3. Analyze risk ratings, affected processes, residual exposure and stakeholder decisions needed.
  4. Reconcile HR departures and access history against the access extract's coverage dates.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Analyze risk ratings, affected processes, residual exposure and stakeholder decisions needed. The governing principle is: Risk-based communication should prioritize material implications and provide traceable support.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Separate audit-period evidence, remediation date and independent retest results. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An auditee disputes an audit exception by supplying a later control fix, then asks to erase the historical finding. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Analyze risk ratings, affected processes, residual exposure and stakeholder decisions needed. The governing distinction is: Risk-based communication should prioritize material implications and provide traceable support.

B:

Recalculate the deviation rate, sample size, population and observed exceptions. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A sample of authorized changes contains failures, yet the auditor extrapolates a zero-percent exception rate. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Analyze risk ratings, affected processes, residual exposure and stakeholder decisions needed. The governing distinction is: Risk-based communication should prioritize material implications and provide traceable support.

D:

Reconcile HR departures and access history against the access extract's coverage dates. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A database access audit receives a file containing only current active users although it must assess leavers over the last quarter. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Analyze risk ratings, affected processes, residual exposure and stakeholder decisions needed. The governing distinction is: Risk-based communication should prioritize material implications and provide traceable support.

Question 36

An IS auditor evaluates this situation: A critical provider exits the market and the customer has no usable data export or transition rights. Which audit principle MOST directly applies to this situation?

  1. Vendor exit planning is necessary to manage concentration and operational continuity risk.
  2. Privacy response effectiveness depends on a reliable data inventory and ownership.
  3. Third-party governance must extend material controls and data obligations to subcontractors.
  4. Risk exceptions require periodic review against changing exposure and acceptance authority.

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Vendor exit planning is necessary to manage concentration and operational continuity risk. The corresponding audit procedure is: Inspect portability clauses, data format, transition timing and alternative service readiness.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Privacy response effectiveness depends on a reliable data inventory and ownership. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An organization receives data subject requests but cannot locate personal records spread across cloud and on-premise systems. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Vendor exit planning is necessary to manage concentration and operational continuity risk. The governing distinction is: Vendor exit planning is necessary to manage concentration and operational continuity risk.

C:

Third-party governance must extend material controls and data obligations to subcontractors. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A subcontractor stores confidential records in a region excluded by the prime provider's contract. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Vendor exit planning is necessary to manage concentration and operational continuity risk. The governing distinction is: Vendor exit planning is necessary to manage concentration and operational continuity risk.

D:

Risk exceptions require periodic review against changing exposure and acceptance authority. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A vendor incident triggers a temporary exception but the residual risk is never reconsidered after six months. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Vendor exit planning is necessary to manage concentration and operational continuity risk. The governing distinction is: Vendor exit planning is necessary to manage concentration and operational continuity risk.

Question 37

Before reaching an audit conclusion, consider: A compliance audit is due in four weeks but its only database specialist is assigned to an unrelated engagement. Which evidence should the auditor review FIRST to evaluate this risk?

  1. Compare approved charter, new testing requests, risk justification and effort forecast.
  2. Inspect extraction provenance, timestamps, privileges used and original system records.
  3. Review required technical tests, skill inventory, schedules and critical-path tasks.
  4. Reconcile unique user IDs, row counts and cardinality before and after joins.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Review required technical tests, skill inventory, schedules and critical-path tasks. The governing principle is: Audit project plans must match specialist resources to scope, dependencies and deadlines.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Compare approved charter, new testing requests, risk justification and effort forecast. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: Fieldwork expands to a new subsidiary without updating the approved engagement scope or communicating budget impact. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Review required technical tests, skill inventory, schedules and critical-path tasks. The governing distinction is: Audit project plans must match specialist resources to scope, dependencies and deadlines.

B:

Inspect extraction provenance, timestamps, privileges used and original system records. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A system owner provides a screenshot of an access list without a timestamp or source-system identification. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Review required technical tests, skill inventory, schedules and critical-path tasks. The governing distinction is: Audit project plans must match specialist resources to scope, dependencies and deadlines.

D:

Reconcile unique user IDs, row counts and cardinality before and after joins. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An audit query joins employee and privilege tables but mistakenly duplicates rows for users with multiple roles. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Review required technical tests, skill inventory, schedules and critical-path tasks. The governing distinction is: Audit project plans must match specialist resources to scope, dependencies and deadlines.

Question 38

An IS auditor evaluates this situation: A vendor's audit log is editable by the same administrator whose changes are under investigation. Which audit principle MOST directly applies to this situation?

  1. Service-provider assurance must cover the actual period and relevant control objectives.
  2. Evidence integrity and independence are weakened when subjects can alter the only record.
  3. Audit resources should be allocated according to assessed risk and organizational priorities.
  4. Advisory assessments and assurance engagements have different scopes, evidence needs and reporting obligations.

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Evidence integrity and independence are weakened when subjects can alter the only record. The corresponding audit procedure is: Check event forwarding, immutable storage controls, access logs and clock accuracy.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Service-provider assurance must cover the actual period and relevant control objectives. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A supplier gives the audit team a third-party control report that expired before the review period. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Evidence integrity and independence are weakened when subjects can alter the only record. The governing distinction is: Evidence integrity and independence are weakened when subjects can alter the only record.

C:

Audit resources should be allocated according to assessed risk and organizational priorities. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: The annual audit plan gives equal effort to a low-risk intranet and a newly acquired payment processing platform. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Evidence integrity and independence are weakened when subjects can alter the only record. The governing distinction is: Evidence integrity and independence are weakened when subjects can alter the only record.

D:

Advisory assessments and assurance engagements have different scopes, evidence needs and reporting obligations. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: Management calls a readiness workshop a completed audit even though no testing or assurance opinion was planned. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Evidence integrity and independence are weakened when subjects can alter the only record. The governing distinction is: Evidence integrity and independence are weakened when subjects can alter the only record.

Question 39

Before reaching an audit conclusion, consider: The annual audit plan gives equal effort to a low-risk intranet and a newly acquired payment processing platform. Which evidence should the auditor review FIRST to evaluate this risk?

  1. Compare transaction value, exposure, change velocity, recent incidents and prior assurance coverage.
  2. Review required technical tests, skill inventory, schedules and critical-path tasks.
  3. Inspect extraction provenance, timestamps, privileges used and original system records.
  4. Examine threat scenarios, regulatory exposure, process dependencies and proposed exclusions.

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Compare transaction value, exposure, change velocity, recent incidents and prior assurance coverage. The governing principle is: Audit resources should be allocated according to assessed risk and organizational priorities.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Review required technical tests, skill inventory, schedules and critical-path tasks. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A compliance audit is due in four weeks but its only database specialist is assigned to an unrelated engagement. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Compare transaction value, exposure, change velocity, recent incidents and prior assurance coverage. The governing distinction is: Audit resources should be allocated according to assessed risk and organizational priorities.

C:

Inspect extraction provenance, timestamps, privileges used and original system records. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A system owner provides a screenshot of an access list without a timestamp or source-system identification. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Compare transaction value, exposure, change velocity, recent incidents and prior assurance coverage. The governing distinction is: Audit resources should be allocated according to assessed risk and organizational priorities.

D:

Examine threat scenarios, regulatory exposure, process dependencies and proposed exclusions. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A business unit requests that internal audit review only controls selected by its system owner. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Compare transaction value, exposure, change velocity, recent incidents and prior assurance coverage. The governing distinction is: Audit resources should be allocated according to assessed risk and organizational priorities.

Question 40

Management reports that this issue has been corrected: A financial reporting controls audit tests only the cloud provider's availability status but ignores the customer's application controls. Which result would provide the STRONGEST assurance that the issue is corrected?

  1. The engagement record shows independent decisions and an appropriately handled ethics disclosure.
  2. The issued report contains an evidence-grounded assessment and documented management response.
  3. Workpapers trace each material reporting risk to an appropriate control and test result.
  4. The final communication accurately distinguishes advice from an independently supported assurance opinion.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Workpapers trace each material reporting risk to an appropriate control and test result. It addresses types of audits, assessments, and reviews. Underlying audit concern: An audit must cover the controls relevant to the stated reporting objective across service-provider boundaries.

Incorrect Answers

A:

The engagement record shows independent decisions and an appropriately handled ethics disclosure. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An external contractor offers the auditor a valuable gift while a supplier compliance assessment is being finalized. In the present case, the most directly relevant verification is: Workpapers trace each material reporting risk to an appropriate control and test result. The governing distinction is: An audit must cover the controls relevant to the stated reporting objective across service-provider boundaries.

B:

The issued report contains an evidence-grounded assessment and documented management response. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A chief information officer asks the audit lead to remove a supported high-risk finding before it reaches the audit committee. In the present case, the most directly relevant verification is: Workpapers trace each material reporting risk to an appropriate control and test result. The governing distinction is: An audit must cover the controls relevant to the stated reporting objective across service-provider boundaries.

D:

The final communication accurately distinguishes advice from an independently supported assurance opinion. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: Management calls a readiness workshop a completed audit even though no testing or assurance opinion was planned. In the present case, the most directly relevant verification is: Workpapers trace each material reporting risk to an appropriate control and test result. The governing distinction is: An audit must cover the controls relevant to the stated reporting objective across service-provider boundaries.

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Practice Tests