Isaca CISM Certified Information Security Manager Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 3 Q41-60

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Question 41

An organization is planning to implement a formal governance framework for information security. The CISM is asked to define the first step. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Establish governance objectives aligned with business goals, define policies, assign accountability, and communicate roles and responsibilities
B) Purchase security technologies without defining governance
C) Focus solely on compliance requirements without linking to business strategy
D) Allow individual departments to define their own security governance independently

Answer: Establish governance objectives aligned with business goals, define policies, assign accountability, and communicate roles and responsibilities

Explanation:

Information security governance ensures that security programs support organizational objectives, comply with regulatory requirements, and provide value. The CISM’s role is to establish a structured framework where security initiatives are aligned with business priorities, risk appetite, and regulatory obligations.

The first step is defining governance objectives based on strategic goals. These objectives guide policy creation, determine roles and responsibilities, and establish accountability. Policies articulate expectations, acceptable use, security requirements, and management oversight. Assigning accountability ensures that specific individuals or committees own security outcomes, facilitating oversight and decision-making. Communication of roles and responsibilities ensures clarity across the enterprise.

Purchasing technologies without governance (Option B) risks misalignment, underutilization, or ineffective implementation. Focusing solely on compliance (Option C) addresses legal requirements but may ignore business risk and operational efficiency. Allowing independent departmental governance (Option D) introduces inconsistency, gaps, and fragmented reporting.

The CISM also ensures the framework incorporates risk management, monitoring, and continuous improvement. Metrics are defined to measure effectiveness, support audits, and communicate progress to stakeholders. Periodic reviews ensure policies remain aligned with business changes, emerging threats, and regulatory updates.

By prioritizing governance objectives, policy definition, accountability, and communication, the organization strengthens oversight, aligns security with strategy, and fulfills the CISM mandate of governance, risk management, and value delivery.

Question 42

A company is planning to implement a data classification and protection program to reduce the risk of sensitive data exposure. The CISM is asked to provide guidance. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Classify data based on sensitivity, apply appropriate protection controls, and train employees on handling and usage
B) Protect all data uniformly without classification
C) Focus only on regulatory-required data, ignoring other sensitive information
D) Allow employees to determine how sensitive data should be handled

Answer: Classify data based on sensitivity, apply appropriate protection controls, and train employees on handling and usage

Explanation:

Data classification allows an organization to identify which information is sensitive, critical, or public, enabling appropriate protection based on risk and business requirements. The CISM ensures that a structured program addresses data sensitivity, legal and regulatory obligations, and organizational priorities.

Classification categories typically include public, internal, confidential, and restricted. Protection mechanisms vary by classification, including encryption, access control, DLP solutions, and monitoring. Employee training ensures proper handling of data according to classification rules, reducing accidental exposure or misuse.

Protecting all data uniformly (Option B) can be inefficient, costly, and may overprotect low-risk information, while neglecting operational efficiency. Focusing only on regulatory-required data (Option C) leaves other sensitive business information exposed. Allowing employees to determine handling (Option D) introduces inconsistency and compliance risks.

The CISM ensures that the program integrates with access management, retention policies, incident response, and auditing. Metrics and reporting validate adherence, effectiveness, and identify areas for improvement. Continuous updates incorporate emerging threats, regulatory changes, and organizational growth.

By prioritizing classification, protection, and employee training, the organization reduces the risk of data breaches, ensures compliance, supports business operations, and fulfills CISM responsibilities for governance and risk management.

Question 43

A financial organization is planning to enhance its security incident response capabilities. The CISM is asked to recommend improvements. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Define formal incident response procedures, establish roles and escalation paths, integrate monitoring tools, and conduct regular testing
B) Handle incidents informally without documentation
C) Focus only on containment without communication or lessons learned
D) Rely entirely on outsourced incident response services without internal oversight

Answer: Define formal incident response procedures, establish roles and escalation paths, integrate monitoring tools, and conduct regular testing

Explanation

Effective incident response reduces damage, ensures rapid recovery, and supports regulatory compliance. The CISM ensures that incidents are handled consistently, with structured procedures that cover identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident analysis.

Formal documentation of roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths ensures accountability and timely decision-making. Integration with monitoring tools (SIEM, EDR, network logs) provides situational awareness and detection capabilities. Regular testing, including tabletop exercises and simulations, validates readiness, identifies gaps, and ensures alignment with business priorities.

Handling incidents informally (Option B) leads to inconsistent responses, delayed mitigation, and possible regulatory violations. Focusing only on containment (Option C) ignores communication, lessons learned, and future prevention. Relying entirely on outsourced services (Option D) without internal oversight reduces visibility, accountability, and control.

The CISM also ensures integration with business continuity, disaster recovery, and governance frameworks. Metrics, such as mean time to detect/respond and incident resolution effectiveness, are tracked to improve performance and demonstrate value to executives.

By defining procedures, establishing roles, integrating tools, and testing regularly, the organization enhances resilience, reduces business impact, and aligns with CISM principles of risk management, governance, and program development.

Question 44

An organization is evaluating cloud vendors to host sensitive financial applications. The CISM is asked to ensure that vendor selection mitigates risk. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Assess cloud vendor security posture, compliance certifications, contractual obligations, data segregation, and incident response capabilities
B) Choose vendors solely based on cost and performance metrics
C) Assume the vendor’s default security configurations are sufficient
D) Select vendors without evaluating regulatory compliance

Answer: Assess cloud vendor security posture, compliance certifications, contractual obligations, data segregation, and incident response capabilities

Explanation:

Cloud adoption introduces shared responsibility risks, where the organization retains accountability for data and regulatory compliance. The CISM ensures that vendor selection incorporates security, compliance, operational, and contractual considerations.

Security posture evaluation includes reviewing certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2), prior incidents, and technical controls. Regulatory compliance ensures that services meet obligations like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. Contractual obligations define incident notification, audit rights, SLAs, and liabilities. Data segregation ensures the isolation and protection of sensitive information. Vendor incident response capabilities determine how quickly and effectively security events are addressed.

Selecting vendors based solely on cost or performance (Option B) ignores critical security and compliance requirements. Assuming default security configurations (Option C) may leave gaps in protection. Ignoring regulatory compliance (Option D) risks fines, penalties, or operational disruption.

The CISM integrates vendor evaluation with risk management, monitoring, and contractual enforcement. Metrics track vendor compliance, incidents, and remediation. Continuous review ensures evolving threats and regulatory changes are addressed.

By prioritizing comprehensive vendor assessment, the organization reduces risk exposure, ensures regulatory compliance, and aligns cloud adoption with CISM governance, risk management, and program oversight responsibilities.

Question 45

A company experiences repeated insider threats due to excessive privileges and a lack of monitoring. The CISM is asked to mitigate this risk. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Implement least privilege access, role-based access control, continuous monitoring, and regular access reviews
B) Grant all users administrative privileges to simplify operations
C) Rely solely on security awareness training without technical controls
D) Monitor only after incidents occur

Answer: Implement least privilege access, role-based access control, continuous monitoring, and regular access reviews

Explanation:

Insider threats arise when employees, contractors, or partners misuse privileges, either maliciously or inadvertently. The CISM ensures that access management, monitoring, and control mechanisms reduce exposure.

Role-based access control (RBAC) assigns permissions according to job responsibilities. The principle of least privilege ensures that users only have access required to perform their duties. Continuous monitoring identifies anomalous activity or policy violations in real time, enabling proactive response. Regular access reviews detect orphaned accounts, excessive privileges, or unauthorized changes.

Granting all users administrative privileges (Option B) increases the attack surface and risk of misuse. Relying solely on awareness training (Option C) addresses human behavior but cannot prevent technical misuse. Monitoring only after incidents (Option D) is reactive and allows breaches to occur undetected.

The CISM also ensures integration with IAM, audit, and incident response processes. Metrics track privilege assignments, policy violations, and anomalous activity, enabling continuous improvement. This approach reduces insider threat risk, ensures compliance, strengthens accountability, and aligns with CISM principles of risk management, governance, and program effectiveness.

Question 46

A company wants to implement an enterprise-wide encryption strategy for data at rest and in transit. The CISM is asked to ensure it aligns with business and regulatory requirements. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Conduct a data classification assessment, identify sensitive information, select appropriate encryption technologies, and enforce key management policies
B) Encrypt all data using a single algorithm without considering sensitivity
C) Rely solely on operating system-level encryption
D) Ignore encryption for cloud-hosted data, assuming provider security is sufficient

Answer: Conduct a data classification assessment, identify sensitive information, select appropriate encryption technologies, and enforce key management policies

Explanation:

Encryption protects the confidentiality and integrity of data, supporting compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. The CISM ensures that encryption aligns with organizational risk, regulatory obligations, and business objectives.

A data classification assessment identifies which information requires protection. Highly sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information (PII) or financial records, requires stronger encryption standards. Encryption technologies are selected based on algorithm strength, performance, interoperability, and compliance. Key management policies, including key generation, rotation, storage, and access, are critical to maintaining security effectiveness.

Encrypting all data using a single algorithm (Option B) may be inefficient, slow, or non-compliant for highly sensitive data. Relying solely on operating system-level encryption (Option C) may not protect against external threats, multi-tenant cloud risks, or application-level vulnerabilities. Ignoring cloud-hosted data (Option D) overlooks shared responsibility models and exposes sensitive data to breaches.

The CISM ensures integration with IAM, backup systems, and monitoring, ensuring encrypted data remains accessible only to authorized users and is auditable. Policies define encryption usage for mobile devices, removable media, and third-party exchanges. Periodic review ensures cryptographic algorithms and practices evolve with emerging threats.

By prioritizing classification, technology selection, and robust key management, the organization protects sensitive data, ensures compliance, reduces breach impact, and aligns with CISM responsibilities for governance, risk management, and program oversight.

Question 47

A financial organization is concerned about cyber threats targeting its operational technology (OT) environment. The CISM is asked to recommend a security strategy. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Implement network segmentation, monitoring, access control, and integration of OT security with enterprise IT security governance
B) Treat OT systems the same as IT systems without special consideration
C) Allow unrestricted access to OT systems for operational convenience
D) Rely solely on antivirus solutions for OT protection

Answer: Implement network segmentation, monitoring, access control, and integration of OT security with enterprise IT security governance

Explanation:

Operational technology (OT) environments, such as industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA, and critical infrastructure, have unique requirements for availability, safety, and resilience. The CISM ensures a risk-based strategy that mitigates threats while maintaining operational continuity.

Network segmentation isolates OT systems from IT networks, limiting the spread of malware and unauthorized access. Monitoring detects anomalies in real time, identifying attacks, unauthorized changes, or policy violations. Access control enforces least privilege, multi-factor authentication, and separation of duties for operators and administrators.

Integration with IT security governance ensures that OT risks are visible to leadership, aligned with organizational risk appetite, and included in incident response and risk management frameworks. Policies, training, and auditing reinforce compliance and operational security.

Treating OT systems identically to IT (Option B) ignores the unique availability and safety requirements. Unrestricted access (Option C) increases exposure to attacks and human error. Relying solely on antivirus software (Option D) is insufficient for sophisticated threats targeting OT environments.

The CISM emphasizes continuous assessment, monitoring, and coordination with IT and business stakeholders. Incident response and disaster recovery plans account for OT-specific constraints. Metrics track security posture, anomalies, and remediation effectiveness.

By prioritizing segmentation, monitoring, access control, and governance integration, the organization reduces OT risk, enhances resilience, and fulfills CISM responsibilities for risk management and strategic oversight.

Question 48

A company is planning to implement a continuous monitoring program for its critical applications. The CISM is asked to ensure effectiveness and alignment with risk management. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Define monitoring objectives based on risk, business priorities, and compliance requirements; integrate automated alerting, logging, and reporting mechanisms
B) Monitor applications only after security incidents occur
C) Focus solely on network monitoring without application-level insights
D) Avoid monitoring to reduce operational costs

Answer: Define monitoring objectives based on risk, business priorities, and compliance requirements; integrate automated alerting, logging, and reporting mechanisms

Explanation:

Continuous monitoring provides proactive detection of vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and anomalous activity in critical applications. The CISM ensures monitoring aligns with organizational risk appetite, regulatory compliance, and business objectives.

Defining monitoring objectives includes identifying critical applications, relevant data flows, compliance obligations, and potential threats. Automated alerting, centralized logging, and reporting enable timely detection, investigation, and remediation. Integration with incident response ensures that detected issues are addressed consistently and efficiently.

Monitoring only after incidents (Option B) is reactive and fails to prevent or mitigate breaches. Focusing solely on network monitoring (Option C) ignores application vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and insider threats. Avoiding monitoring (Option D) exposes critical systems to prolonged risk.

The CISM ensures metrics track incident response times, alert frequency, and remediation effectiveness. Policies define thresholds, escalation paths, and documentation for audit and compliance purposes. Periodic review incorporates emerging threats, regulatory changes, and lessons learned.

By prioritizing risk-aligned objectives, automated monitoring, and integrated alerting, the organization improves threat detection, reduces downtime, ensures regulatory compliance, and aligns with CISM responsibilities for governance, risk management, and program oversight.

Question 49

A healthcare organization is implementing a third-party vendor program to manage sensitive patient data. The CISM is asked to mitigate risks associated with third-party access. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Conduct security and compliance assessments, define contractual obligations, monitor vendor activities, and enforce least privilege access
B) Assume vendors follow security best practices without verification
C) Allow full access to patient data for convenience
D) Focus only on vendor financial stability

Answer: Conduct security and compliance assessments, define contractual obligations, monitor vendor activities, and enforce least privilege access

Explanation:

Third-party risk management is critical in healthcare to protect patient data, maintain regulatory compliance (HIPAA, GDPR), and reduce operational and reputational risk. The CISM ensures a structured process for assessing and monitoring vendors that handle sensitive information.

Security assessments review technical controls, access methods, and historical incident records. Compliance assessments confirm adherence to regulations and standards. Contracts specify responsibilities, data handling, breach notification, and audit rights. Monitoring vendor activities ensures ongoing compliance and identifies anomalous or risky behavior. Least privilege access restricts vendor permissions to only what is necessary for their role.

Assuming vendors follow best practices (Option B) is risky and may result in exposure or regulatory violations. Allowing full access (Option C) increases the risk of accidental or intentional data leakage. Focusing solely on financial stability (Option D) ignores security, privacy, and compliance considerations.

The CISM integrates vendor risk management with enterprise risk frameworks, monitoring, incident response, and reporting. Metrics track vendor compliance, incidents, and remediation efforts. Periodic review ensures evolving threats, regulations, and business needs are addressed.

By prioritizing assessment, contractual obligations, monitoring, and least privilege, the organization mitigates vendor-related risks, strengthens regulatory compliance, and aligns with CISM governance and risk management responsibilities.

Question 50

A company wants to implement a security awareness program to reduce the likelihood of social engineering attacks. The CISM is asked to design the program. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Implement role-based training, simulated attacks, periodic assessments, and continuous feedback for improvement
B) Provide generic annual training without practical exercises
C) Focus solely on technical controls and ignore human behavior
D) Punish employees for errors without educational components

Answer: Implement role-based training, simulated attacks, periodic assessments, and continuous feedback for improvement

Explanation:

Social engineering exploits human vulnerabilities rather than technical weaknesses. The CISM ensures that a security awareness program targets specific behaviors and roles, reinforcing safe practices and reducing risk.

Role-based training ensures that content is relevant to employee responsibilities. High-risk roles, such as finance, HR, and IT administrators, receive specialized instruction. Simulated phishing and social engineering exercises provide practical experience and measurable results. Periodic assessments measure comprehension and retention, while feedback loops allow continuous program improvement.

Generic annual training (Option B) is often ineffective and may fail to engage employees. Focusing solely on technical controls (Option C) ignores human risk, which is often the most exploited attack vector. Punishing employees without education (Option D) creates fear and discourages reporting incidents.

The CISM integrates awareness programs with incident response, IAM, and monitoring systems to identify and mitigate risks effectively. Metrics track participation, simulated attack outcomes, and improvement trends. Continuous updates reflect emerging threats, regulatory changes, and organizational priorities.

By prioritizing role-based training, simulations, assessment, and feedback, the organization strengthens its human defenses, reduces incident risk, ensures compliance, and aligns with CISM principles of governance, risk management, and program development.

Question 51

An organization is planning to implement a formal patch management program to reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities. The CISM is asked to define the program priorities. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Establish an inventory of assets, categorize criticality, schedule timely patching, test patches, and track remediation progress
B) Apply patches only when users report issues
C) Rely solely on antivirus updates to protect systems
D) Patch only after security incidents occur

Answer: Establish an inventory of assets, categorize criticality, schedule timely patching, test patches, and track remediation progress

Explanation:

Patch management is essential for reducing the risk of vulnerabilities being exploited by attackers. The CISM ensures that the program is proactive, structured, and aligned with organizational risk priorities.

A comprehensive asset inventory identifies all systems, software, and devices, enabling prioritization of patch deployment based on criticality, business impact, and exposure. High-risk systems, such as servers hosting sensitive data or critical applications, require immediate patching. Patches should be tested in controlled environments to prevent disruption or incompatibility. Scheduling ensures timely application while maintaining operational stability. Tracking remediation progress through metrics and reporting demonstrates program effectiveness and accountability.

Applying patches only when users report issues (Option B) is reactive, leaving systems vulnerable. Relying solely on antivirus updates (Option C) does not address software vulnerabilities unrelated to malware. Patching only after incidents (Option D) exposes the organization to unnecessary risk and potential breaches.

The CISM ensures integration with change management, vulnerability management, and monitoring processes. Metrics such as patch compliance rate, time-to-patch, and recurring vulnerabilities help assess program efficiency. Periodic review identifies gaps, incorporates new threats, and aligns the program with regulatory requirements.

By prioritizing asset inventory, criticality assessment, timely patching, testing, and monitoring, the organization minimizes security risks, enhances operational resilience, and aligns with CISM governance and risk management principles.

Question 52

A financial organization is concerned about ransomware attacks on critical systems. The CISM is asked to recommend preventive measures. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Implement comprehensive backup and recovery strategies, endpoint protection, network segmentation, user training, and incident response integration
B) Rely solely on antivirus solutions for ransomware protection
C) Ignore user awareness and assume technical controls are sufficient
D) Allow unrestricted network access to maintain operational efficiency

Answer: Implement comprehensive backup and recovery strategies, endpoint protection, network segmentation, user training, and incident response integration

Explanation:

Ransomware can disrupt operations, encrypt sensitive data, and result in financial loss or regulatory fines. The CISM ensures a multi-layered approach combining technical, administrative, and operational controls.

Comprehensive backup and recovery strategies ensure that critical systems and data can be restored in the event of an attack. Backups should be offline or immutable and tested regularly for reliability. Endpoint protection, including EDR, antivirus, and behavioral monitoring, detects and prevents malware execution. Network segmentation limits lateral movement and contains infections.

User training increases awareness of phishing and social engineering techniques, reducing the likelihood of ransomware entry. Integration with incident response procedures ensures timely containment, eradication, and recovery.

Relying solely on antivirus software (Option B) is insufficient against modern ransomware variants. Ignoring user awareness (Option C) leaves a significant attack vector unaddressed. Allowing unrestricted network access (Option D) increases exposure to lateral propagation and potential system compromise.

The CISM ensures alignment with enterprise risk management, business continuity, and disaster recovery plans. Metrics track detection rates, backup success, and incident response effectiveness. Periodic evaluation and testing strengthen the resilience of systems against evolving ransomware threats.

By implementing a layered approach, the organization reduces operational disruption, maintains regulatory compliance, and aligns with CISM responsibilities for risk management, governance, and operational resilience.

Question 53

A company is planning to implement a vulnerability disclosure program to allow external parties to report security flaws. The CISM is asked to ensure program effectiveness. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Establish clear guidelines, legal safe harbor, reporting channels, triage procedures, and timely remediation processes
B) Ignore vulnerability reports from external sources
C) Allow unstructured reporting without documentation
D) Focus only on internal testing without engaging the community

Answer: Establish clear guidelines, legal safe harbor, reporting channels, triage procedures, and timely remediation processes

Explanation:

A vulnerability disclosure program (VDP) encourages ethical reporting of security issues, enabling proactive identification and mitigation of vulnerabilities. The CISM ensures the program is structured, transparent, and legally protected.

Clear guidelines communicate acceptable submission methods, reporting expectations, and the scope of engagement. Legal safe harbor protects researchers from legal action when reporting in good faith. Reporting channels provide an accessible means for submission, ensuring timely communication. Triage procedures prioritize vulnerabilities based on severity, business impact, and exploitability. Timely remediation reduces exposure and operational risk.

Ignoring external reports (Option B) may allow critical vulnerabilities to remain unaddressed. Unstructured reporting (Option C) risks confusion, delays, and inconsistency. Focusing solely on internal testing (Option D) misses the benefits of a wider security community perspective.

The CISM ensures integration with incident response, patch management, and risk assessment processes. Metrics track submissions, remediation times, and recurring vulnerabilities. Program updates incorporate lessons learned, emerging threats, and regulatory requirements.

By implementing clear guidelines, legal protection, structured reporting, triage, and remediation, the organization strengthens its security posture, encourages responsible disclosure, reduces exploit risk, and aligns with CISM governance and risk management responsibilities.

Question 54

A healthcare organization is deploying mobile devices to access patient data. The CISM is asked to mitigate associated security risks. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Implement mobile device management (MDM), enforce encryption, authentication, access controls, and remote wipe capabilities
B) Allow unrestricted device usage without security controls
C) Rely solely on endpoint antivirus software
D) Ignore regulatory requirements for mobile data access

Answer: Implement mobile device management (MDM), enforce encryption, authentication, access controls, and remote wipe capabilities

Explanation:

Mobile devices introduce risk of unauthorized access, data loss, and regulatory non-compliance. The CISM ensures that controls address confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive patient data.

Mobile device management (MDM) solutions provide centralized control, policy enforcement, and monitoring. Encryption protects data at rest and in transit. Authentication mechanisms, including MFA, ensure only authorized users access sensitive data. Access controls enforce least privilege and role-based access. Remote wipe capabilities allow compromised devices to be sanitized, reducing breach impact.

Allowing unrestricted use (Option B) increases the risk of data leakage. Relying solely on antivirus software (Option C) does not address lost, stolen, or unauthorized device use. Ignoring regulatory requirements (Option D) exposes the organization to legal penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruption.

The CISM ensures integration of mobile security with IAM, incident response, and monitoring systems. Metrics track device compliance, policy violations, and incidents. Continuous review ensures updates for emerging threats, application vulnerabilities, and regulatory changes.

By implementing MDM, encryption, authentication, access control, and remote wipe, the organization secures mobile access, ensures regulatory compliance, and aligns with CISM responsibilities for governance, risk management, and operational security.

Question 55

A company wants to ensure that its disaster recovery (DR) plan aligns with business continuity objectives. The CISM is asked to provide guidance. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Conduct business impact analysis (BIA), define recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO), implement DR solutions, and test periodically
B) Develop a DR plan without analyzing business impact
C) Focus only on IT systems without considering business processes
D) Avoid testing the DR plan to save resources

Answer: Conduct business impact analysis (BIA), define recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO), implement DR solutions, and test periodically.

Explanation:

Disaster recovery ensures the timely restoration of IT systems, minimizing business disruption. The CISM ensures that DR planning aligns with overall business continuity objectives.

A business impact analysis (BIA) identifies critical systems, applications, and processes, determining the operational and financial impact of outages. Recovery time objectives (RTO) define acceptable downtime, and recovery point objectives (RPO) define acceptable data loss. DR solutions, such as backup, replication, and failover systems, support these objectives.

Periodic testing validates the effectiveness of DR procedures, identifies gaps, and ensures staff readiness. Integration with incident response, business continuity, and risk management frameworks ensures coordinated recovery efforts.

Developing a plan without BIA (Option B) risks misaligned recovery priorities. Focusing only on IT systems (Option C) ignores interdependencies with business processes, potentially prolonging recovery. Avoiding testing (Option D) leaves plans unvalidated and ineffective.

Metrics track DR readiness, recovery performance, and gaps identified during testing. Periodic reviews ensure alignment with organizational changes, emerging threats, and regulatory requirements.

By conducting BIA, defining RTO/RPO, implementing DR solutions, and testing regularly, the organization ensures operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and aligns with CISM governance and risk management responsibilities.

Question 56

An organization wants to ensure secure software development practices across all projects. The CISM is asked to recommend a strategy. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Implement a secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC), including code reviews, threat modeling, secure coding standards, and automated testing
B) Focus solely on post-deployment vulnerability scanning
C) Allow developers to implement security at their discretion
D) Rely exclusively on perimeter security to protect applications

Answer: Implement a secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC), including code reviews, threat modeling, secure coding standards, and automated testing

Explanation:

Secure software development is critical to prevent vulnerabilities, data breaches, and business disruption. The CISM ensures that security is integrated throughout the software development lifecycle, from planning to deployment and maintenance.

Threat modeling identifies potential security risks during design, enabling developers to mitigate vulnerabilities before they manifest in code. Secure coding standards enforce best practices, reducing exposure to common exploits such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and buffer overflows. Code reviews and peer assessments detect flaws early. Automated testing, including static and dynamic analysis, validates code against security policies and compliance requirements.

Focusing only on post-deployment scanning (Option B) is reactive, leaving software vulnerable during development. Allowing developers discretion (Option C) leads to inconsistent security practices and increased risk. Relying solely on perimeter security (Option D) is insufficient because application-layer vulnerabilities can bypass network defenses.

The CISM ensures that SSDLC is aligned with enterprise risk management, regulatory requirements, and governance frameworks. Metrics such as defect density, vulnerability detection rate, and remediation time track effectiveness. Continuous improvement integrates lessons learned, emerging threats, and evolving technologies.

By implementing a structured SSDLC with proactive security measures, the organization reduces risk, ensures compliance, and aligns with CISM responsibilities for governance, risk management, and program development.

Question 57

A financial company wants to improve its identity and access management (IAM) program. The CISM is asked to recommend best practices. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Implement role-based access control, enforce least privilege, apply multi-factor authentication, and conduct regular access reviews
B) Grant broad access to all users for operational convenience
C) Rely solely on passwords without additional controls
D) Allow users to manage access requests independently without oversight

Answer: Implement role-based access control, enforce least privilege, apply multi-factor authentication, and conduct regular access reviews

Explanation:

IAM ensures that users have appropriate access to systems and data based on roles and responsibilities. The CISM ensures that access controls reduce the risk of unauthorized access, insider threats, and regulatory non-compliance.

Role-based access control (RBAC) assigns permissions according to job function, streamlining management while maintaining security. Least privilege ensures users only have access necessary for their role, reducing attack surfaces. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) strengthens security by requiring additional verification beyond passwords. Regular access reviews validate permissions, detect anomalies, and correct excessive privileges.

Granting broad access (Option B) increases the risk of unauthorized actions or data exposure. Relying solely on passwords (Option C) is insufficient against phishing or credential compromise. Allowing users to manage access independently (Option D) introduces inconsistency, a lack of accountability, and regulatory risk.

The CISM ensures IAM integrates with governance, risk management, incident response, and audit programs. Metrics track access compliance, policy violations, and timely revocation of privileges. Continuous improvement addresses evolving threats, organizational changes, and regulatory updates.

By prioritizing RBAC, least privilege, MFA, and access reviews, the organization strengthens identity controls, reduces risk, ensures compliance, and aligns with CISM governance and security program objectives.

Question 58

A company is planning to implement continuous risk monitoring for its IT systems. The CISM is asked to ensure the program aligns with business objectives. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Define risk appetite, categorize assets, monitor threats and vulnerabilities, report metrics to management, and integrate with decision-making processes
B) Monitor IT systems only after incidents occur
C) Focus solely on technical controls without evaluating business impact
D) Avoid monitoring to reduce operational costs

Answer: Define risk appetite, categorize assets, monitor threats and vulnerabilities, report metrics to management, and integrate with decision-making processes

Explanation:

Continuous risk monitoring allows the organization to identify, assess, and mitigate risks proactively. The CISM ensures that monitoring aligns with enterprise risk management and supports informed business decisions.

Defining risk appetite establishes thresholds for acceptable risk exposure. Categorizing assets by criticality and sensitivity focuses monitoring on systems with the greatest business impact. Monitoring threats, vulnerabilities, and compliance metrics enables early detection of potential issues. Reporting to management supports oversight, resource allocation, and prioritization. Integration with decision-making ensures that risk treatment aligns with strategic objectives.

Monitoring only after incidents (Option B) is reactive and allows risks to persist. Focusing solely on technical controls (Option C) ignores organizational priorities and business impact. Avoiding monitoring (Option D) increases exposure to undetected threats and potential breaches.

The CISM ensures that metrics, dashboards, and KPIs provide actionable insights. Continuous assessment, trend analysis, and periodic reviews support risk reduction, regulatory compliance, and alignment with organizational goals.

By prioritizing structured monitoring aligned with risk appetite, asset categorization, and business objectives, the organization strengthens risk management, supports governance, and fulfills CISM responsibilities for oversight and strategic guidance.

Question 59

A company wants to implement a formal data retention and disposal program to reduce legal and operational risk. The CISM is asked to provide guidance. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Define retention periods based on regulatory, contractual, and business requirements, implement secure disposal methods, and monitor compliance
B) Retain all data indefinitely without disposal
C) Dispose of data randomly to save storage costs
D) Rely solely on the IT staff’s discretion without policies

Answer: Define retention periods based on regulatory, contractual, and business requirements, implement secure disposal methods, and monitor compliance

Explanation:

Data retention and disposal policies protect the organization from legal liability, reduce storage costs, and minimize the risk of data breaches. The CISM ensures that policies are structured, enforceable, and aligned with business and regulatory requirements.

Retention periods are defined according to regulatory obligations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), contractual agreements, and business needs. Secure disposal methods, such as shredding, degaussing, or secure deletion, prevent unauthorized access. Monitoring ensures compliance, identifies gaps, and supports audits.

Retaining all data indefinitely (Option B) increases storage costs and breach risk. Random disposal (Option C) may result in loss of critical information and non-compliance. Relying solely on IT staff discretion (Option D) introduces inconsistency and a lack of accountability.

The CISM integrates data retention with IAM, backup, and incident response processes. Metrics track retention compliance, disposal activities, and policy violations. Periodic reviews ensure policies reflect changes in regulatory requirements, business processes, and technology.

By prioritizing retention based on requirements, secure disposal, and monitoring, the organization reduces risk, ensures compliance, and aligns with CISM governance and risk management responsibilities.

Question 60

A company wants to ensure that all security incidents are reported and escalated effectively. The CISM is asked to define an incident reporting framework. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Establish clear reporting channels, define incident categories, assign roles and responsibilities, and integrate with escalation and response procedures
B) Rely on employees to report incidents informally
C) Focus only on critical incidents without documenting lower-severity events
D) Avoid escalation to management to reduce concern

Answer: Establish clear reporting channels, define incident categories, assign roles and responsibilities, and integrate with escalation and response procedures

Explanation:

Effective incident reporting ensures timely detection, investigation, and resolution, reducing operational, financial, and reputational impact. The CISM ensures a structured reporting framework that aligns with governance, risk management, and compliance requirements.

Clear reporting channels provide an accessible means for employees, vendors, and third parties to report incidents. Incident categories define severity, type, and priority, enabling appropriate response. Roles and responsibilities assign accountability for detection, reporting, escalation, and remediation. Integration with escalation procedures ensures incidents are communicated to management, legal, and regulatory bodies as needed, while response procedures facilitate containment, recovery, and post-incident analysis.

Relying on informal reporting (Option B) leads to delays, missed incidents, and inconsistent documentation. Focusing only on critical incidents (Option C) may allow low- or medium-severity incidents to escalate unnoticed into major events. Avoiding escalation (Option D) prevents management from making informed decisions and fulfilling compliance obligations.

The CISM ensures integration with monitoring, metrics, and audit systems to track reporting compliance, response times, and lessons learned. Continuous improvement ensures the framework adapts to emerging threats, regulatory changes, and organizational priorities.

By implementing clear channels, defined categories, assigned responsibilities, and integrated escalation, the organization ensures comprehensive incident management, reduces risk exposure, and aligns with CISM governance, risk management, and program oversight responsibilities.