Isaca CISA Practice Test 69
Question 680
An IS auditor is preparing recommendations after reviewing this situation: A cloud move assumes existing encryption keys will work in the target without import or custody testing. Which recommendation would BEST address the identified weakness?
- Recommend approved configuration-as-code or logged emergency change control.
- Recommend controlled key migration testing and secure escrow or recovery planning.
- Recommend removing unnecessary launch privileges and recording any approved residual risk.
- Recommend controlled cutover sequencing, idempotency and monitoring for duplicate events.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Recommend controlled key migration testing and secure escrow or recovery planning. The relevant control principle is: Migration design must preserve cryptographic dependencies and data accessibility. A meaningful follow-up should establish: A migrated encrypted sample is accessible to authorized users and remains protected.
Incorrect Answers
A:Recommend approved configuration-as-code or logged emergency change control. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A production release changes database permissions manually after the reviewed deployment package was approved. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend controlled key migration testing and secure escrow or recovery planning. The governing distinction is: Migration design must preserve cryptographic dependencies and data accessibility.
C:Recommend removing unnecessary launch privileges and recording any approved residual risk. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: After a new billing platform launches, unresolved temporary broad administrator permissions are treated as permanent. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend controlled key migration testing and secure escrow or recovery planning. The governing distinction is: Migration design must preserve cryptographic dependencies and data accessibility.
D:Recommend controlled cutover sequencing, idempotency and monitoring for duplicate events. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An ERP cutover leaves the old interface running and duplicates orders in both systems. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend controlled key migration testing and secure escrow or recovery planning. The governing distinction is: Migration design must preserve cryptographic dependencies and data accessibility.
Question 681
Before reaching an audit conclusion, consider: An accounts-payable supervisor can both create vendors and approve their first payments. Which evidence should the auditor review FIRST to evaluate this risk?
- Reconcile device inventory, agent heartbeat, signature status and unmanaged endpoints.
- Review virtual infrastructure roles, snapshot events, datastore permissions and monitoring.
- Compare role matrices, effective privileges, transaction history and compensating reviews.
- Review access paths, authentication factors, bypass methods and login activity.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Compare role matrices, effective privileges, transaction history and compensating reviews. The governing principle is: Conflicting business permissions create opportunities for unauthorized transactions.
Incorrect Answers
A:Reconcile device inventory, agent heartbeat, signature status and unmanaged endpoints. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An endpoint protection console reports agents installed but several laptops have not checked in for months. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Compare role matrices, effective privileges, transaction history and compensating reviews. The governing distinction is: Conflicting business permissions create opportunities for unauthorized transactions.
B:Review virtual infrastructure roles, snapshot events, datastore permissions and monitoring. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A virtualization administrator can snapshot and download regulated production virtual machines without oversight. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Compare role matrices, effective privileges, transaction history and compensating reviews. The governing distinction is: Conflicting business permissions create opportunities for unauthorized transactions.
D:Review access paths, authentication factors, bypass methods and login activity. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A remote-access gateway accepts a password alone for high-impact production administrators. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Compare role matrices, effective privileges, transaction history and compensating reviews. The governing distinction is: Conflicting business permissions create opportunities for unauthorized transactions.
Question 682
Before reaching an audit conclusion, consider: A technology steering group approves projects without showing how they support the organization's strategic priorities. Which evidence should the auditor review FIRST to evaluate this risk?
- Trace project approvals to business strategies, benefit owners and funding criteria.
- Review subprocessor lists, data flows, consent terms and audit rights.
- Review committee charters, delegation matrices and a sample of disputed approvals.
- Assess the processor's actual need, contractual safeguards and available masking methods.
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Trace project approvals to business strategies, benefit owners and funding criteria. The governing principle is: IT governance should align technology investment decisions with enterprise objectives and expected benefits.
Incorrect Answers
B:Review subprocessor lists, data flows, consent terms and audit rights. 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 audit step is: Trace project approvals to business strategies, benefit owners and funding criteria. The governing distinction is: IT governance should align technology investment decisions with enterprise objectives and expected benefits.
C:Review committee charters, delegation matrices and a sample of disputed approvals. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: Two subsidiaries have overlapping IT decision boards with conflicting authority to approve enterprise architecture exceptions. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Trace project approvals to business strategies, benefit owners and funding criteria. The governing distinction is: IT governance should align technology investment decisions with enterprise objectives and expected benefits.
D:Assess the processor's actual need, contractual safeguards and available masking methods. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A service provider requests full identity documents when a masked identifier would satisfy a support task. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Trace project approvals to business strategies, benefit owners and funding criteria. The governing distinction is: IT governance should align technology investment decisions with enterprise objectives and expected benefits.
Question 683
Management reports that this issue has been corrected: A DLP tool blocks confidential document attachments but ignores similar files uploaded through approved web browsers. Which result would provide the STRONGEST assurance that the issue is corrected?
- DLP alerts retain useful coverage while confirmed legitimate workflows have fewer unjustified blocks.
- Image hashes match and each custody transfer is attributable and time-stamped.
- Controlled sensitive-data tests trigger correct actions over both mail and web channels.
- Representative allowed and denied flows match the intended restrictive rules.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Controlled sensitive-data tests trigger correct actions over both mail and web channels. It addresses data loss prevention. Underlying audit concern: Exfiltration control assessment should cover relevant channels, not only email.
Incorrect Answers
A:DLP alerts retain useful coverage while confirmed legitimate workflows have fewer unjustified blocks. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A research team labels every file confidential, generating excessive DLP false positives and routine overrides. In the present case, the most directly relevant verification is: Controlled sensitive-data tests trigger correct actions over both mail and web channels. The governing distinction is: Exfiltration control assessment should cover relevant channels, not only email.
B:Image hashes match and each custody transfer is attributable and time-stamped. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An investigator copies a suspect laptop disk without recording who handled it or whether the image changed. In the present case, the most directly relevant verification is: Controlled sensitive-data tests trigger correct actions over both mail and web channels. The governing distinction is: Exfiltration control assessment should cover relevant channels, not only email.
D:Representative allowed and denied flows match the intended restrictive rules. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A firewall has a broad any-to-any allow rule placed ahead of new restrictions for a regulated application. In the present case, the most directly relevant verification is: Controlled sensitive-data tests trigger correct actions over both mail and web channels. The governing distinction is: Exfiltration control assessment should cover relevant channels, not only email.
Question 684
An IS auditor is preparing recommendations after reviewing this situation: A company implements a network intrusion detector but does not assign anyone to triage severe alerts. Which recommendation would BEST address the identified weakness?
- Recommend risk-appropriate multifactor authentication with secure recovery methods.
- Recommend least-privileged segmentation with controlled exception review.
- Recommend prioritized alert ownership, response playbooks and independent oversight.
- Recommend promptly preserving appropriately scoped logs and cloud snapshots with custody records.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Recommend prioritized alert ownership, response playbooks and independent oversight. The relevant control principle is: Detection requires an accountable response workflow to reduce business impact. A meaningful follow-up should establish: Simulated high-severity events reach qualified responders within defined limits.
Incorrect Answers
A:Recommend risk-appropriate multifactor authentication with secure recovery methods. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A remote-access gateway accepts a password alone for high-impact production administrators. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend prioritized alert ownership, response playbooks and independent oversight. The governing distinction is: Detection requires an accountable response workflow to reduce business impact.
B:Recommend least-privileged segmentation with controlled exception review. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A production network permits unrestricted traffic from user workstations to a sensitive payment database. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend prioritized alert ownership, response playbooks and independent oversight. The governing distinction is: Detection requires an accountable response workflow to reduce business impact.
D:Recommend promptly preserving appropriately scoped logs and cloud snapshots with custody records. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A cloud incident investigator exports only the latest activity logs, omitting records from the suspected initial compromise. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend prioritized alert ownership, response playbooks and independent oversight. The governing distinction is: Detection requires an accountable response workflow to reduce business impact.
Question 685
Management reports that this issue has been corrected: An auditor cannot decide whether to review a high-impact legacy billing interface because no recent incidents are recorded. Which result would provide the STRONGEST assurance that the issue is corrected?
- Confirmed duplicates and legitimate reversals are separately documented and reproducible.
- A revised audit universe and schedule explicitly cover newly material acquisition risks.
- The final communication accurately distinguishes advice from an independently supported assurance opinion.
- The audit priority follows supported exposure and control evidence, not incident counts alone.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:The audit priority follows supported exposure and control evidence, not incident counts alone. It addresses risk-based audit planning. Underlying audit concern: Absence of reported incidents is not proof of low inherent or residual risk.
Incorrect Answers
A:Confirmed duplicates and legitimate reversals are separately documented and reproducible. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An auditor flags duplicated supplier invoices by invoice number alone and ignores vendor identifiers and credit notes. In the present case, the most directly relevant verification is: The audit priority follows supported exposure and control evidence, not incident counts alone. The governing distinction is: Absence of reported incidents is not proof of low inherent or residual risk.
B:A revised audit universe and schedule explicitly cover newly material acquisition risks. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A merger adds a regulated customer database after the audit plan was approved, but the plan is treated as unchangeable. In the present case, the most directly relevant verification is: The audit priority follows supported exposure and control evidence, not incident counts alone. The governing distinction is: Absence of reported incidents is not proof of low inherent or residual risk.
C: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: The audit priority follows supported exposure and control evidence, not incident counts alone. The governing distinction is: Absence of reported incidents is not proof of low inherent or residual risk.
Question 686
An IS auditor evaluates this situation: A completed software project is archived without documenting incidents and change causes from the first operating month. Which audit principle MOST directly applies to this situation?
- Post-implementation assurance should confirm transition controls and residual exposures are closed.
- Confidentiality does not replace integrity and completeness controls for converted data.
- Feasibility studies should test technical, operational and compliance constraints before selection.
- Lessons learned and operational handoff should feed governance and future improvements.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Lessons learned and operational handoff should feed governance and future improvements. The corresponding audit procedure is: Examine initial incidents, defect trends, handover documents and user support readiness.
Incorrect Answers
A:Post-implementation assurance should confirm transition controls and residual exposures are closed. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: After a new billing platform launches, unresolved temporary broad administrator permissions are treated as permanent. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Lessons learned and operational handoff should feed governance and future improvements. The governing distinction is: Lessons learned and operational handoff should feed governance and future improvements.
B:Confidentiality does not replace integrity and completeness controls for converted data. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A data migration design encrypts transfers but does not detect missing or duplicated customer records. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Lessons learned and operational handoff should feed governance and future improvements. The governing distinction is: Lessons learned and operational handoff should feed governance and future improvements.
C:Feasibility studies should test technical, operational and compliance constraints before selection. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A hospital chooses a cloud imaging service without confirming network reliability or clinical response needs. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Lessons learned and operational handoff should feed governance and future improvements. The governing distinction is: Lessons learned and operational handoff should feed governance and future improvements.
Question 687
An IS auditor evaluates this situation: A regional business copies a global security baseline but has no documented exceptions for local privacy restrictions. Which audit principle MOST directly applies to this situation?
- Testing results should distinguish initial indicators from validated compromise outcomes.
- Framework implementation should address local constraints without unreviewed security gaps.
- Cloud shared responsibility includes customer configuration and continuous misconfiguration detection.
- Security program maturity requires operational evidence rather than documentation counts alone.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Framework implementation should address local constraints without unreviewed security gaps. The corresponding audit procedure is: Review regulatory differences, baseline requirements, risk assessments and exception approvals.
Incorrect Answers
A:Testing results should distinguish initial indicators from validated compromise outcomes. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A red-team exercise reports success based on one simulated phishing click without demonstrating access or business impact. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Framework implementation should address local constraints without unreviewed security gaps. The governing distinction is: Framework implementation should address local constraints without unreviewed security gaps.
C:Cloud shared responsibility includes customer configuration and continuous misconfiguration detection. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A cloud storage bucket used for personnel data becomes publicly readable after a template change. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Framework implementation should address local constraints without unreviewed security gaps. The governing distinction is: Framework implementation should address local constraints without unreviewed security gaps.
D:Security program maturity requires operational evidence rather than documentation counts alone. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A compliance dashboard reports all policies published but does not measure whether their security controls operate. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Framework implementation should address local constraints without unreviewed security gaps. The governing distinction is: Framework implementation should address local constraints without unreviewed security gaps.
Question 688
Before reaching an audit conclusion, consider: A cloud move assumes existing encryption keys will work in the target without import or custody testing. Which evidence should the auditor review FIRST to evaluate this risk?
- Inspect emergency approval, impact assessment, configuration snapshots and recovery steps.
- Compare throughput thresholds, test environment parity and unresolved bottlenecks.
- Review key ownership, import support, encrypted data types and restoration requirements.
- Compare balances, unique IDs, rejects, cutoff times and migration mapping rules.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Review key ownership, import support, encrypted data types and restoration requirements. The governing principle is: Migration design must preserve cryptographic dependencies and data accessibility.
Incorrect Answers
A:Inspect emergency approval, impact assessment, configuration snapshots and recovery steps. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: An emergency patch goes live without a rollback plan or verification of required interfaces. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Review key ownership, import support, encrypted data types and restoration requirements. The governing distinction is: Migration design must preserve cryptographic dependencies and data accessibility.
B:Compare throughput thresholds, test environment parity and unresolved bottlenecks. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A cloud platform is declared ready despite failed high-load tests and no capacity remediation plan. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Review key ownership, import support, encrypted data types and restoration requirements. The governing distinction is: Migration design must preserve cryptographic dependencies and data accessibility.
D:Compare balances, unique IDs, rejects, cutoff times and migration mapping rules. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A bank converts 20 years of loan records into a new core system and reconciles only total record counts. In the present case, the most directly relevant audit step is: Review key ownership, import support, encrypted data types and restoration requirements. The governing distinction is: Migration design must preserve cryptographic dependencies and data accessibility.
Question 689
An IS auditor is preparing recommendations after reviewing this situation: Contractor onboarding omits data-handling training although contractors access classified research files. Which recommendation would BEST address the identified weakness?
- Recommend developer-focused secure coding education with secret detection controls.
- Recommend a risk-based coordinated containment protocol with defined emergency powers.
- Recommend minimal export entitlements and monitoring or blocking of unauthorized bulk transfers.
- Recommend role-based training prerequisites and tracked renewal for external users.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Recommend role-based training prerequisites and tracked renewal for external users. The relevant control principle is: Awareness programs must reach all relevant roles before sensitive access is granted. A meaningful follow-up should establish: Users cannot obtain sensitive access until required training is recorded.
Incorrect Answers
A:Recommend developer-focused secure coding education with secret detection controls. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: Developers complete general security videos but continue committing cloud keys into source repositories. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend role-based training prerequisites and tracked renewal for external users. The governing distinction is: Awareness programs must reach all relevant roles before sensitive access is granted.
B: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 role-based training prerequisites and tracked renewal for external users. The governing distinction is: Awareness programs must reach all relevant roles before sensitive access is granted.
C:Recommend minimal export entitlements and monitoring or blocking of unauthorized bulk transfers. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A customer service portal allows employees to export unrestricted copies of all customer identity documents. In the present case, the most directly relevant recommendation is: Recommend role-based training prerequisites and tracked renewal for external users. The governing distinction is: Awareness programs must reach all relevant roles before sensitive access is granted.
Question 690
An IS auditor evaluates this situation: Database transaction logs fill the only disk volume and cause a payment service outage. Which audit principle MOST directly applies to this situation?
- Database operations require monitored storage, retention and recovery capacity.
- Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance.
- Critical end-user computing requires integrity, access and change controls proportionate to risk.
- Database least privilege should restrict access by actual application function.
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Database operations require monitored storage, retention and recovery capacity. The corresponding audit procedure is: Inspect log growth, alert thresholds, backups and space utilization trends.
Incorrect Answers
B:Reliable log correlation depends on consistent time and original event provenance. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: Multiple servers use unsynchronized clocks so a transaction appears to complete before it begins. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Database operations require monitored storage, retention and recovery capacity. The governing distinction is: Database operations require monitored storage, retention and recovery capacity.
C:Critical end-user computing requires integrity, access and change controls proportionate to risk. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A spreadsheet with editable formulas calculates regulatory capital but has no validation or change history. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Database operations require monitored storage, retention and recovery capacity. The governing distinction is: Database operations require monitored storage, retention and recovery capacity.
D:Database least privilege should restrict access by actual application function. This would be relevant to a different issue such as: A production database account has unrestricted privileges for a read-only reporting integration. In the present case, the most directly relevant principle is: Database operations require monitored storage, retention and recovery capacity. The governing distinction is: Database operations require monitored storage, retention and recovery capacity.