Isaca CISM Practice Test 44
Question 430
A franchise organization lets branch managers accept local cyber risks without written limits. For the next governance decision, the team must address a branch accepting risk above its limit. Which choice BEST provides that outcome?
- Maintain risk decisions with reason, expiry and compensating controls
- Escalate it to the enterprise risk committee before relying on the exception
- Assign named accountable business owners for cross-branch services
- Review residual risk periodically and when circumstances change
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Unauthorized decisions do not establish formal acceptance. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:An audit trail supports timely challenge. That action primarily serves the different objective to prevent undocumented permanent exceptions. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to address a branch accepting risk above its limit.
C:Shared platforms require enterprise-wide ownership. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify risk owners for shared customer systems. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to address a branch accepting risk above its limit.
D:Acceptance is not a one-off event. That action primarily serves the different objective to check that accepted risks stay acceptable. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to address a branch accepting risk above its limit.
Question 431
A healthcare supplier introduces an AI summarization service handling sensitive medical notes. The AI service's data-flow inventory, retention rules and authorized-access safeguards are already approved and operating. The business now needs ongoing evidence of their effectiveness as outputs and the supplier evolve. The security program has been tasked specifically to monitor whether safeguards remain effective. Which approach should be selected?
- Map prompts, outputs, provider access and retention paths
- Require safeguards for authorized access, data minimization and monitoring before rollout
- Track high-risk outputs, access exceptions and provider changes against thresholds
- Assign a business service owner and specialist control owners
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:New-model risks need continuing assurance. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Data-flow mapping exposes security and privacy obligations. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify relevant information assets and flows. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to monitor whether safeguards remain effective.
B:Controls should reflect sensitive clinical data. That action primarily serves the different objective to choose a treatment appropriate to risk tolerance. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to monitor whether safeguards remain effective.
D:Vendor technology cannot replace internal risk ownership. That action primarily serves the different objective to ensure accountability for model risk. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to monitor whether safeguards remain effective.
Question 432
An e-commerce firm estimates its cyber risk using a single average annual loss number despite highly variable holiday traffic. A security manager has a defined assignment: recalibrate risk after a peak shopping season. Which action BEST fulfills that specific assignment?
- Use actual incident, fraud and downtime evidence to revise assumptions
- Include trust, contractual commitments and recovery time in the risk report
- Document assumptions and confidence limits on frequency and financial severity
- Compare extreme-loss scenarios with tolerance and response costs
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Operational experience updates the model. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
B:Business impact is broader than invoices. That action primarily serves the different objective to present financial and nonfinancial consequences. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to recalibrate risk after a peak shopping season.
C:Uncertain estimates should not masquerade as facts. That action primarily serves the different objective to separate uncertainty from controllable risk. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to recalibrate risk after a peak shopping season.
D:Peak conditions may drive treatment. That action primarily serves the different objective to select risk treatment against seasonal appetite. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to recalibrate risk after a peak shopping season.
Question 433
A utilities operator has many risk exceptions but no way to know which are approaching expiration. The accountable executive now asks the team to prevent automatic rollovers. What should the security manager recommend?
- Require new risk evidence and authorized acceptance before each renewal
- Measure overdue reviews and exceptions without verified safeguards
- Notify the risk owner and invoke the defined tolerance escalation process
- Sort by materiality, upcoming expiry and changes in threat conditions
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Old approval does not justify indefinite exposure. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
B:Process quality can be measured. That action primarily serves the different objective to evaluate exception-management effectiveness. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prevent automatic rollovers.
C:A failed compensating control changes residual risk. That action primarily serves the different objective to escalate an exception whose safeguard stopped operating. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prevent automatic rollovers.
D:Review effort should focus on greatest risk. That action primarily serves the different objective to prioritize review of exceptional exposures. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prevent automatic rollovers.
Question 434
A transportation platform has a partner integration whose legacy protocol cannot support the new encryption standard. After reviewing the situation, the management objective is to decide whether to suspend the integration after a new exploit appears. Which response MOST directly addresses it?
- Agree on a protocol migration plan with partner milestones and contractual duties
- Restrict connectivity and add compensating transport controls with a sunset date
- Obtain documented acceptance from the owner of the transport business process
- Reassess severity against tolerance and authorize continuity or disconnection
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:New threat information can invalidate prior acceptance. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Partner dependencies require joint remediation. That action primarily serves the different objective to create a sustainable treatment path. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to decide whether to suspend the integration after a new exploit appears.
B:Interim controls can narrow impact. That action primarily serves the different objective to reduce exposure while a replacement is built. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to decide whether to suspend the integration after a new exploit appears.
C:The business owns consequences of residual risk. That action primarily serves the different objective to determine who may retain the exposure temporarily. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to decide whether to suspend the integration after a new exploit appears.
Question 435
A software company discovers that privileged users can bypass the approval workflow in its production pipeline. For the next governance decision, the team must validate that the exploit path is closed. Which choice BEST provides that outcome?
- Perform a controlled retest of blocked self-approved releases and monitor exceptions
- Name the release process owner and privileged access control owner
- Check independent monitoring and approval evidence for privileged changes
- Implement enforceable separation of approval and production deployment duties
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Policy text without effective enforcement is insufficient. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
B:Cross-functional weaknesses need explicit accountability. That action primarily serves the different objective to assign responsibility for remediation. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to validate that the exploit path is closed.
C:Dual evidence may reduce exposure while fixing access. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify effective compensating controls. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to validate that the exploit path is closed.
D:Preventive controls eliminate unauthorized self-approval. That action primarily serves the different objective to choose an enduring control improvement. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to validate that the exploit path is closed.
Question 436
A municipality finds network-connected water equipment installed by a maintenance contractor without a security review. The security program has been tasked specifically to establish ongoing risk monitoring. Which approach should be selected?
- Restrict unneeded remote access while coordinating with plant operations
- Track new device connections and remote sessions against an approved baseline
- Evaluate credible cyber pathways with plant engineers and safety specialists
- Update maintenance contracts with authorized access and reporting requirements
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Monitoring detects drift after remediation. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Protection must not interrupt vital processes. That action primarily serves the different objective to choose an immediately safe exposure reduction. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to establish ongoing risk monitoring.
C:Operational risk is not only data loss. That action primarily serves the different objective to assess safety and continuity consequences. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to establish ongoing risk monitoring.
D:Contractor access needs enforceable limits. That action primarily serves the different objective to assign vendor responsibilities. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to establish ongoing risk monitoring.
Question 437
A cloud company has accepted several high risks, and new regulations impose tighter customer data handling duties. The remediation work is reported complete, but the risk owner has not received any independently validated operating-control results. A security manager has a defined assignment: confirm treatment obligations are fulfilled. Which action BEST fulfills that specific assignment?
- Present legal consequences, affected services and accountable risk owners
- Treat the signed remediation budget and completion plan as proof the required customer-data controls operate effectively
- Reassess residual exposures against updated risk appetite and mandatory compliance
- Collect independent operating evidence before closing regulatory risk items
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:A planned control is not an implemented control. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Executive decisions require explicit impact. That action primarily serves the different objective to communicate required decisions to leaders. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to confirm treatment obligations are fulfilled.
B:Funding and a plan demonstrate management commitment, not fulfillment of mandatory obligations. Independent test evidence of the implemented safeguards is required before closure.
C:Acceptance cannot override law. That action primarily serves the different objective to determine whether previous acceptance is still valid. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to confirm treatment obligations are fulfilled.
Question 438
A manufacturer is adopting a cloud-hosted production forecasting engine that shares sensitive recipes with a technology supplier. The accountable executive now asks the team to monitor risks after the supplier adds new AI features. What should the security manager recommend?
- Require segregation, minimal data transfer and verified provider controls before rollout
- Reassess stored data, new subprocessors and access paths after each material change
- Assess audit rights, subcontractor restrictions and incident notice against the data flow
- Have the product business owner decide with legal and security advice
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Service evolution can create new exposure. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Technical and contractual controls can lower risk. That action primarily serves the different objective to select additional treatment when residual risk exceeds appetite. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to monitor risks after the supplier adds new AI features.
C:Contract terms must reflect the actual processing. That action primarily serves the different objective to determine whether contractual controls address the risk. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to monitor risks after the supplier adds new AI features.
D:The owner of recipe value accepts business risk. That action primarily serves the different objective to assign acceptance authority for remaining exposure. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to monitor risks after the supplier adds new AI features.
Question 439
A regional bank is implementing the security program approved by its new digital banking strategy. After reviewing the situation, the management objective is to evaluate whether program investments deliver outcomes. Which response MOST directly addresses it?
- Name owners for controls, funding, integration and reporting
- Create a funded roadmap tied to the digital platform milestones
- Measure risk-reducing control performance against approved targets
- Use a workforce plan that combines training, recruitment and qualified external support
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Completed purchase orders do not demonstrate risk reduction. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Clear responsibility supports execution. That action primarily serves the different objective to assign accountability for program delivery. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to evaluate whether program investments deliver outcomes.
B:Program dependencies affect delivery order. That action primarily serves the different objective to sequence work with dependent projects. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to evaluate whether program investments deliver outcomes.
D:Capability gaps need sustainable solutions. That action primarily serves the different objective to resolve scarce specialist capacity. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to evaluate whether program investments deliver outcomes.
Question 440
A hospital's data inventory excludes confidential imaging archives managed by a research partner. For the next governance decision, the team must verify classification remains correct after research scope changes. Which choice BEST provides that outcome?
- Reassess permitted use, retention and access with the asset owner
- Define contractually required safeguards derived from the classification
- Classify patient imaging using sensitivity, clinical need and applicable duties
- Integrate discovery and owner review into the data lifecycle
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Information sensitivity changes with purpose. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
B:Outside custody does not eliminate handling obligations. That action primarily serves the different objective to ensure the partner applies correct handling protections. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to verify classification remains correct after research scope changes.
C:Business impact and regulation guide classification. That action primarily serves the different objective to assign classification based on harm and obligations. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to verify classification remains correct after research scope changes.
D:Periodic discovery limits inventory drift. That action primarily serves the different objective to detect newly created unclassified datasets. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to verify classification remains correct after research scope changes.