Isaca  CISA Certified Information Systems Auditor Exam  Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 6 Q 101- 120

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Question 101

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that third-party service providers have not signed updated data protection agreements. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Service providers may delay project deliverables
B) Sensitive data may be exposed due to lack of contractual obligations
C) IT staff may spend more time coordinating with vendors
D) Users may experience minor service interruptions

Answer: B)

Explanation

Sensitive data being exposed due to lack of contractual obligations is the most significant risk when third-party service providers have not signed updated data protection agreements. Third-party vendors often handle critical organizational data, including personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, or intellectual property. Updated agreements typically outline responsibilities for data security, confidentiality, breach notification, and compliance with regulatory standards.

A) Delays in project deliverables are an operational concern. While vendor delays may affect schedules, they do not present the critical risk of data exposure.

B) Exposure of sensitive data represents a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and regulatory compliance. Without signed agreements, vendors may not be legally obligated to implement proper security controls, adhere to privacy regulations, or report security incidents. Auditors emphasize the importance of binding contracts, including data protection clauses, service level agreements, and compliance requirements, to mitigate third-party risk. Third-party breaches have caused significant financial and reputational damage to organizations because attackers often target vendors with weaker security controls. Regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS require organizations to ensure that third-party vendors adequately protect sensitive information. The absence of updated agreements undermines accountability, making it challenging to enforce security obligations or pursue remediation after a breach. Without contractual protections, sensitive data could be mishandled, exposed, or shared without authorization, resulting in regulatory penalties, litigation, and loss of trust.

C) IT staff spending more time coordinating with vendors is an administrative concern. While communication may increase, it is secondary to the high-impact risk of data exposure.

D) Minor service interruptions are operational issues. Although inconvenient, they are less critical than the potential breach of sensitive data due to inadequate contractual controls.

Ensuring that third-party service providers sign updated data protection agreements is a critical control for safeguarding sensitive information. The most significant risk is that sensitive data may be exposed because vendors are not contractually obligated to implement appropriate security measures.

Question 102

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that privileged accounts do not require unique credentials. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may forget shared credentials
B) Accountability may be compromised, and unauthorized activities may go undetected
C) IT staff may spend more time managing access
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Compromised accountability and undetected unauthorized activities is the most significant risk when privileged accounts do not require unique credentials. Privileged accounts allow administrative access to systems, applications, and data. If multiple users share the same credentials, it becomes impossible to identify the responsible individual in case of an incident, making accountability ineffective.

A) Forgetting shared credentials is an operational concern. While it may affect login processes, it is insignificant compared to the potential security and compliance risks associated with shared credentials.

B) Undetected unauthorized activities and compromised accountability are direct threats to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Shared credentials make it difficult to trace actions, monitor access, and detect malicious activities. Auditors assess identity and access management practices to ensure that each privileged account is uniquely assigned to an individual, allowing proper logging, monitoring, and enforcement of policies. Regulatory frameworks, including ISO 27001, SOX, PCI DSS, and HIPAA, emphasize the principle of individual accountability for system access and sensitive operations. The absence of unique credentials increases the likelihood of unauthorized actions, data manipulation, and delayed detection of security incidents. Shared credentials may be misused by insiders or attackers who gain access, resulting in operational disruption, data compromise, and potential legal consequences. Without proper accountability, investigating incidents and enforcing disciplinary actions becomes extremely challenging. Implementing unique credentials strengthens access control, enhances monitoring, and ensures that security policies can be effectively enforced and audited.

C) IT staff spending more time managing access is an administrative burden. Although proper credential management requires additional effort, the critical risk lies in unauthorized activities and lack of accountability.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational and negligible. The major concern is security and accountability, not performance.

Requiring unique credentials for privileged accounts is essential for accountability, traceability, and security. The most significant risk is that shared credentials compromise accountability and allow unauthorized actions to go undetected.

Question 103

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that backup tapes are stored on-site without encryption. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Backup restoration may take longer
B) Confidential data may be accessed if tapes are lost or stolen
C) IT staff may spend more time tracking tapes
D) Users may experience minor delays in system recovery

Answer: B)

Explanation

Confidential data being accessed if tapes are lost or stolen is the most significant risk when backup tapes are stored on-site without encryption. Backup tapes often contain sensitive information, including customer data, financial records, or proprietary business information. Without encryption, anyone obtaining the tape can directly access the stored data.

A) Longer backup restoration times are an operational concern. While it may affect recovery processes, it is less critical than potential data exposure.

B) Exposure of confidential data is a direct threat to confidentiality and compliance. Unencrypted tapes stored on-site are vulnerable to theft, loss, or unauthorized access. Auditors emphasize encryption as a control to protect data at rest, ensuring that sensitive information remains unreadable if physical media is compromised. Compliance requirements under GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS mandate that sensitive backup data be encrypted and securely stored. Failure to encrypt backup tapes can result in data breaches, regulatory penalties, financial losses, and reputational damage. Additionally, storing unencrypted tapes on-site exposes them to natural disasters, fires, or insider threats. Proper encryption, along with secure off-site storage or cloud backup solutions, mitigates these risks and strengthens organizational data protection. Without encryption, data recovery may become a liability if unauthorized access occurs, increasing the severity of incidents.

C) IT staff spending more time tracking tapes is an operational concern. While managing backups may require effort, it does not mitigate the higher risk of sensitive data exposure.

D) Minor delays in system recovery are operational. Although important for business continuity, they are secondary to the security threat posed by unencrypted backups.

Encrypting backup media is essential to safeguard sensitive data. The most significant risk is that confidential information may be accessed if backup tapes are lost, stolen, or mishandled.

Question 104

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that network segmentation is not implemented between sensitive and non-sensitive systems. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Network performance may be slightly reduced
B) A security breach in non-sensitive systems may affect critical systems
C) IT staff may spend more time troubleshooting network issues
D) Users may experience minor connectivity issues

Answer: B)

Explanation

A security breach in non-sensitive systems affecting critical systems is the most significant risk when network segmentation is not implemented. Network segmentation divides networks into isolated segments to control traffic, limit exposure, and contain security incidents. Without segmentation, a compromise in one area can easily propagate to other systems, including critical servers, financial applications, or sensitive databases.

A) Slight reduction in network performance is an operational concern. While segmentation may introduce complexity, it is minor compared to the risk of a breach spreading across critical systems.

B) Cross-system compromise is a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers exploiting vulnerabilities in non-sensitive systems can gain access to critical assets, exfiltrate sensitive data, deploy malware, or disrupt operations. Auditors evaluate network segmentation strategies to ensure that sensitive systems are isolated, access controls are applied, and traffic between segments is monitored. Segmentation also helps contain malware, ransomware, or unauthorized access, limiting potential damage. Regulatory standards such as PCI DSS and ISO 27001 require network segmentation for sensitive environments to prevent exposure of critical assets. Without segmentation, a single vulnerability can cascade, affecting multiple systems and increasing the organization’s operational and security risks. Effective network segmentation enhances defense-in-depth, reduces attack surface, and simplifies monitoring and incident response.

C) IT staff spending more time troubleshooting is an operational concern. While segmentation may require additional management, the major risk is security compromise due to unsegmented networks.

D) Minor connectivity issues are operational. They are far less critical than the threat posed by uncontrolled access between sensitive and non-sensitive systems.

Network segmentation is essential for limiting the impact of breaches and protecting critical systems. The most significant risk is that a security breach in non-sensitive systems may compromise sensitive systems, leading to data loss or operational disruption.

Question 105

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that system development projects do not have formal risk assessments. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Project timelines may be extended
B) Security vulnerabilities may remain undetected, affecting production systems
C) IT staff may spend more time troubleshooting
D) Users may experience minor inconvenience

Answer: B)

Explanation

Undetected security vulnerabilities affecting production systems is the most significant risk when system development projects do not include formal risk assessments. Risk assessments identify potential threats, vulnerabilities, and impacts during the design and development phase. Without this evaluation, security flaws may be introduced into applications or systems that later go into production.

A) Extended project timelines are an operational concern. While lack of risk assessment may indirectly affect schedules, it does not pose the same critical security risk.

B) Security vulnerabilities are a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Applications developed without risk assessments may contain coding errors, configuration weaknesses, or design flaws that can be exploited by attackers. Auditors review risk assessment processes to ensure that security considerations are integrated into project lifecycles, including threat modeling, code reviews, penetration testing, and adherence to secure development standards. Without risk assessments, vulnerabilities may remain undetected, increasing the likelihood of breaches, data loss, or operational disruption. Regulatory standards such as ISO 27001, NIST, and OWASP emphasize embedding risk management within development processes to prevent the introduction of insecure systems. Undetected vulnerabilities may also result in costly remediation after deployment, reputational damage, and non-compliance penalties. Proactively assessing risks allows organizations to mitigate threats early, apply appropriate security controls, and ensure that production systems operate securely.

C) IT staff spending more time troubleshooting is an operational issue. While support may increase for insecure systems, the critical risk is the presence of exploitable vulnerabilities.

D) Minor user inconvenience is operational. The main threat is security-related, not inconvenience from project processes.

Formal risk assessments in system development are essential for identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities before production deployment. The most significant risk is that undetected security weaknesses may compromise production systems, leading to potential breaches, data loss, or operational failure.

Question 106

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that encryption keys are stored in plaintext on the same server as encrypted data. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may experience minor delays accessing encrypted data
B) Confidential data may be exposed if the server is compromised
C) IT staff may spend more time managing encryption keys
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Confidential data being exposed if the server is compromised is the most significant risk when encryption keys are stored in plaintext on the same server as the encrypted data. Encryption is designed to protect the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information. If the encryption keys are stored alongside the data in an unprotected format, any unauthorized individual gaining access to the server can decrypt and access the sensitive information immediately.

A) Minor delays in accessing encrypted data are operational concerns. While encryption may slightly affect processing times, this is negligible compared to the risk of data exposure.

B) Exposure of confidential data is a direct threat to confidentiality and compliance. Storing encryption keys in plaintext undermines the very purpose of encryption, making it ineffective. Auditors emphasize proper key management practices, including the separation of keys from data, use of hardware security modules (HSMs), periodic key rotation, and strict access controls. Without these controls, attackers or insiders can easily bypass encryption and compromise sensitive information. Regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS require encryption key protection to prevent unauthorized access. The potential consequences include data breaches, regulatory penalties, financial losses, and reputational damage. Additionally, storing keys on the same server increases the risk during server compromise events such as malware infection, insider theft, or physical theft of hardware. Proper key management ensures that encryption remains a reliable security control, protecting data even if other defenses are breached.

C) IT staff spending more time managing encryption keys is an operational concern. While key management can be resource-intensive, this is necessary to maintain security; the real risk lies in key exposure if improper storage practices are followed.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational. Any minor impact on performance is far outweighed by the security implications of storing keys insecurely.

Effective encryption relies not only on strong algorithms but also on secure key management practices. The most significant risk is that sensitive data may be exposed if encryption keys are stored in plaintext on the same server as the encrypted data.

Question 107

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that default security configurations on cloud services have not been modified. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Cloud service performance may be slightly reduced
B) Sensitive data and systems may be exposed to unauthorized access
C) IT staff may spend more time configuring services later
D) Users may experience minor service interruptions

Answer: B)

Explanation

Sensitive data and systems being exposed to unauthorized access is the most significant risk when default security configurations on cloud services have not been modified. Cloud providers often ship services with default settings, such as open ports, shared credentials, or permissive access controls. Attackers are aware of these defaults and often exploit them to gain access to cloud environments.

A) Slight cloud service performance reduction is an operational concern. While misconfigured defaults may impact efficiency, it is secondary to the risk of security exposure.

B) Exposure of sensitive data represents a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Default configurations often include weak access control, default administrative credentials, or unnecessary service ports. Auditors evaluate cloud security practices to ensure that default settings are hardened according to organizational policies and security best practices. Failure to modify defaults allows attackers to bypass controls, exploit vulnerabilities, and compromise critical systems. Regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001 require organizations to ensure that cloud deployments maintain adequate security measures. The consequences of exposure include data breaches, regulatory penalties, financial losses, and damage to customer trust. Furthermore, attackers can use default settings as an entry point for lateral movement, enabling access to additional systems or escalating privileges. Regular review and hardening of cloud configurations are essential to maintain a strong security posture and prevent exploitation of known default settings.

C) IT staff spending more time configuring services is an operational concern. While additional effort is required to harden cloud services, this does not outweigh the critical risk posed by default configurations.

D) Minor service interruptions are operational. Although inconvenient, they do not present the severe security risk associated with exposed cloud systems or sensitive data.

Properly configuring cloud services and eliminating default security settings is essential to prevent unauthorized access. The most significant risk is that sensitive data and systems may be exposed if default configurations are left unchanged.

Question 108

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that incident response procedures are not documented. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Incident response may take longer, increasing damage
B) IT staff may spend more time planning responses
C) Users may experience minor inconvenience
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: A)

Explanation

Incident response taking longer, increasing damage, is the most significant risk when procedures are not documented. Incident response procedures provide a structured approach for detecting, containing, and resolving security incidents efficiently. Without documentation, teams may act inconsistently, delay actions, or fail to follow best practices, exacerbating the impact of security events.

A) Delays in incident response are a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Documented procedures outline responsibilities, escalation paths, communication protocols, and remediation steps, ensuring timely and effective response. Auditors assess whether organizations maintain up-to-date incident response plans, including testing and training, to minimize operational, financial, and reputational impact. Lack of documentation increases the likelihood of errors during incidents, delays in containment, and miscommunication among stakeholders. Regulatory standards such as ISO 27001, NIST, and PCI DSS require organizations to maintain formal incident response procedures to ensure preparedness and accountability. Undocumented procedures also hinder forensic investigations, making it difficult to identify the root cause, assess damage, or recover from incidents. Organizations without documented procedures face higher risks of prolonged downtime, data loss, and regulatory non-compliance. Formal documentation provides a clear roadmap for responders, ensuring that critical steps are not overlooked and that incidents are resolved efficiently.

B) IT staff spending more time planning responses is an operational burden. While planning is important, the critical risk arises from delayed or ineffective response during actual incidents.

C) Users experiencing minor inconvenience is operational. Any temporary disruption is less critical than the potential impact of delayed response during security incidents.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational. The major concern is ensuring timely and effective handling of security incidents to protect sensitive information and maintain operational continuity.

Documenting incident response procedures is essential for preparedness, efficiency, and minimizing the impact of security events. The most significant risk is that incidents may take longer to resolve, increasing damage to systems, data, and organizational reputation.

Question 109

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that password complexity requirements are not enforced. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may forget passwords more easily
B) Weak passwords may be easily guessed or cracked, allowing unauthorized access
C) IT staff may spend more time resetting passwords
D) Users may experience minor inconvenience

Answer: B)

Explanation

Weak passwords being easily guessed or cracked is the most significant risk when password complexity requirements are not enforced. Passwords serve as the primary authentication mechanism for most systems. Simple or common passwords can be compromised through brute force attacks, dictionary attacks, or social engineering.

A) Users forgetting passwords is an operational concern. While it may cause inconvenience and require support, it is far less critical than the risk of unauthorized access.

B) Unauthorized access due to weak passwords is a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Auditors evaluate password policies to ensure sufficient length, complexity, expiration, and uniqueness, which reduce the likelihood of compromise. Weak password controls can result in account hijacking, privilege escalation, data theft, and unauthorized system modifications. Regulatory standards such as ISO 27001, NIST, PCI DSS, and HIPAA mandate strong authentication practices to protect sensitive information. Attackers often exploit weak passwords to bypass technical controls and gain unauthorized access, causing operational disruption, data breaches, financial loss, and reputational harm. Enforcing complexity requirements mitigates these risks, making it harder for attackers to compromise accounts and ensuring compliance with organizational and regulatory security standards. Additionally, complexity requirements protect against automated attacks that attempt large numbers of password combinations rapidly.

C) IT staff spending more time resetting passwords is an operational issue. While administrative effort may increase with stronger password policies, the critical risk is unauthorized access due to weak credentials.

D) Minor user inconvenience is operational. Temporary inconvenience is acceptable compared to the potential impact of compromised accounts.

Enforcing password complexity requirements is essential to prevent unauthorized access. The most significant risk is that weak passwords can be easily guessed or cracked, leading to security breaches and operational compromise.

Question 110

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that access to sensitive applications is not reviewed periodically. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may experience minor inconvenience
B) Unauthorized users may retain access, leading to data breaches or fraud
C) IT staff may spend more time managing access
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Unauthorized users retaining access, potentially causing data breaches or fraud, is the most significant risk when access to sensitive applications is not reviewed periodically. Access reviews ensure that only authorized personnel have appropriate privileges and that access rights align with job responsibilities.

A) Minor user inconvenience is an operational concern. Temporary disruptions are insignificant compared to the potential impact of unauthorized access.

B) Unauthorized access is a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Auditors assess access review processes to identify inactive accounts, privilege creep, and inappropriate access. Failure to review access regularly can allow former employees, contractors, or users with escalated privileges to maintain access to sensitive applications, resulting in data theft, fraud, or operational disruptions. Regulatory frameworks such as SOX, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS require periodic access reviews to maintain security, ensure compliance, and prevent insider threats. Without these controls, malicious or negligent users can exploit excessive privileges, alter data, bypass internal controls, or compromise system integrity. Periodic access review also helps enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring users have only the access necessary for their roles, which reduces exposure to insider threats and external compromises.

C) IT staff spending more time managing access is operational. While administrative effort is necessary, the critical risk lies in retaining unauthorized access, not the additional work involved.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational. Any minor performance impact does not pose the significant risk associated with unreviewed access privileges.

Regularly reviewing user access to sensitive applications is essential for maintaining security, preventing fraud, and ensuring compliance. The most significant risk is that unauthorized users retain access, potentially causing data breaches, fraud, or operational compromise.

Question 111

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that multi-user generic accounts are used to access critical applications. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may forget shared login credentials
B) Accountability may be lost, allowing unauthorized activities to go undetected
C) IT staff may spend more time managing accounts
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Accountability being lost, allowing unauthorized activities to go undetected, is the most significant risk when multi-user generic accounts are used to access critical applications. Generic accounts are shared by multiple individuals, preventing the organization from identifying who performed a specific action. This weakens traceability and increases the risk of misuse.

A) Users forgetting shared credentials is an operational issue. While it may cause inconvenience and require IT support for login issues, it is far less critical than the security implications of shared access.

B) Loss of accountability is a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. When multiple individuals share a generic account, it becomes impossible to monitor actions, enforce responsibility, or detect unauthorized activities effectively. Auditors evaluate identity and access management controls to ensure that each user has a unique account tied to their role. Without unique identifiers, malicious activities can be hidden under the generic account, and security events may go uninvestigated. Regulatory standards such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX emphasize the principle of individual accountability to support monitoring, auditing, and compliance. Generic accounts also make it easier for attackers or insiders to misuse credentials, as it is difficult to attribute actions or revoke access selectively. Unauthorized changes, data manipulation, and system misuse are more likely to go unnoticed when generic accounts are used. Enforcing unique user accounts enhances traceability, accountability, and incident response capabilities, mitigating risks from both internal and external threats.

C) IT staff spending more time managing accounts is operational. While additional effort may be needed for account administration, the critical concern is preventing unauthorized or untraceable actions.

D) Slight system performance degradation is an operational concern. Performance impact is minimal and insignificant compared to the threat of compromised accountability and undetected unauthorized activity.

Using multi-user generic accounts undermines accountability and increases the likelihood that unauthorized activities may go undetected. The most significant risk is the inability to identify and trace actions performed in critical applications, potentially resulting in security breaches or operational disruptions.

Question 112

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that sensitive data is transmitted without encryption over internal networks. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Data may arrive with minor delays
B) Data may be intercepted or altered by unauthorized parties
C) IT staff may spend more time monitoring network traffic
D) Users may experience minor inconvenience accessing applications

Answer: B)

Explanation

Data being intercepted or altered by unauthorized parties is the most significant risk when sensitive information is transmitted without encryption over internal networks. Encryption ensures confidentiality and integrity, preventing attackers or unauthorized insiders from accessing or manipulating the data in transit.

A) Minor delays in data transmission are operational concerns. While latency may affect efficiency, it is far less critical than the risk of unauthorized access or tampering.

B) Intercepted or altered data represents a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and regulatory compliance. Auditors review network communication practices to ensure encryption protocols such as TLS, IPsec, or VPNs are applied for sensitive data. Without encryption, attackers can perform man-in-the-middle attacks, sniff network traffic, or inject malicious data, compromising systems or stealing sensitive information. Regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001 mandate encryption for sensitive data in transit. Internal networks may be considered secure, but insider threats, misconfigured devices, or malware infections make internal transmissions vulnerable. Unencrypted transmission may expose personally identifiable information, financial records, or intellectual property, leading to regulatory penalties, financial losses, or reputational damage. Ensuring proper encryption protects against interception, tampering, and unauthorized disclosure, maintaining both operational security and compliance requirements.

C) IT staff spending more time monitoring network traffic is an operational concern. Monitoring alone cannot mitigate the risks associated with unencrypted transmissions.

D) Minor user inconvenience is operational. Any temporary disruption or latency is insignificant compared to the potential exposure of sensitive data.

Encrypting sensitive data during transmission over internal networks is essential for maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and compliance. The most significant risk is that unauthorized parties may intercept or alter unencrypted data, causing breaches and operational or regulatory consequences.

Question 113

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that backup verification is not performed regularly. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Backup media may degrade over time
B) Data restoration may fail when needed, affecting business continuity
C) IT staff may spend more time managing backups
D) Users may experience minor delays in data access

Answer: B)

Explanation

Data restoration failing when needed, affecting business continuity, is the most significant risk when backup verification is not performed regularly. Backups are essential for recovering data after hardware failures, cyberattacks, accidental deletions, or disasters. Without verification, there is no assurance that backups are complete, intact, or restorable.

A) Backup media degradation is an operational concern. While it can affect data recovery, the critical risk is the inability to successfully restore data when required.

B) Restoration failure represents a direct threat to availability and operational continuity. Auditors assess backup verification practices to ensure data can be reliably restored. Verification includes testing backup media, validating file integrity, and performing trial restorations. Failure to conduct these checks may result in critical business systems being unavailable after incidents, prolonged downtime, data loss, and financial or reputational damage. Compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST, HIPAA, and PCI DSS require regular testing of backup procedures to ensure readiness for recovery. Lack of verification can also complicate disaster recovery planning, increase incident response time, and undermine confidence in organizational resiliency. Even if backups exist, untested media or corrupted files can render recovery efforts ineffective, resulting in significant operational disruption. Regular verification ensures that backup processes meet recovery objectives and maintain data integrity, reducing downtime and mitigating business impact.

C) IT staff spending more time managing backups is an operational burden. While verification requires effort, the main risk is the failure to restore data during critical incidents.

D) Minor delays in data access are operational. Although inconvenience may occur, it is insignificant compared to the threat of unsuccessful data recovery.

Regular backup verification is essential for business continuity and disaster recovery readiness. The most significant risk is that data may not be restorable when needed, potentially causing operational disruption and financial loss.

Question 114

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that mobile devices are not configured to require authentication before accessing corporate data. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may experience minor delays when accessing data
B) Unauthorized individuals may access corporate information if devices are lost or stolen
C) IT staff may spend more time configuring devices
D) Network performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Unauthorized individuals accessing corporate information if devices are lost or stolen is the most significant risk when mobile devices are not configured to require authentication. Mobile devices often contain emails, documents, and application data. Without authentication, any person with physical access can gain unrestricted access to sensitive corporate resources.

A) Minor delays in accessing data are operational concerns. While login requirements may introduce slight inconvenience, this is negligible compared to the security threat of unauthorized access.

B) Unauthorized access represents a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and compliance. Auditors evaluate mobile device management (MDM) policies, including the enforcement of passwords, PINs, biometrics, and remote wipe capabilities. Devices that lack authentication can lead to data breaches if lost or stolen, exposing sensitive information to malicious actors. Regulatory standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS mandate device-level access controls to protect sensitive data. The absence of authentication also increases the risk of insider threats and accidental exposure. Without proper access controls, attackers or unauthorized personnel can bypass perimeter defenses, manipulate corporate applications, exfiltrate data, or deploy malware. Authentication mechanisms on mobile devices are essential to maintain organizational security, minimize risk from device theft or loss, and enforce accountability.

C) IT staff spending more time configuring devices is an operational burden. While MDM setup requires effort, the critical risk arises from unprotected corporate data on mobile devices.

D) Slight network performance degradation is operational. Performance impacts from authentication enforcement are minimal compared to the potential exposure of sensitive information.

Configuring mobile devices to require authentication is critical for protecting corporate information. The most significant risk is that unauthorized individuals may access sensitive data if devices are lost or stolen.

Question 115

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that system logs are retained for only a few days. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may experience minor inconvenience accessing logs
B) Security incidents may not be detectable, hindering investigations
C) IT staff may spend more time reviewing logs
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Security incidents not being detectable, hindering investigations, is the most significant risk when system logs are retained for only a few days. Logs provide a historical record of events, including user activity, system changes, and security alerts. Short retention periods limit the ability to analyze incidents after they occur.

A) Minor inconvenience for users accessing logs is operational. Temporary difficulties do not present the critical risk associated with inadequate log retention.

B) Undetectable security incidents represent a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Auditors evaluate log retention policies to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal security objectives. Retaining logs only for a few days limits forensic analysis, preventing identification of unauthorized access, policy violations, or system failures. Regulatory frameworks such as SOX, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and HIPAA specify minimum log retention periods to support auditing, incident response, and compliance reporting. Short retention can result in missed indicators of compromise, delayed detection of attacks, and incomplete investigations. Attackers may exploit the lack of historical logs to hide their activities, increasing the severity and impact of breaches. Adequate log retention supports accountability, monitoring, and post-incident analysis, allowing organizations to identify threats, determine causes, and implement corrective actions. Without proper retention, organizations cannot reliably detect attacks, reconstruct events, or provide evidence for legal or regulatory purposes.

C) IT staff spending more time reviewing logs is an operational concern. While reviewing logs requires effort, the primary risk lies in undetected security incidents due to insufficient retention.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational. Performance issues are minimal compared to the security risks associated with inadequate log retention.

Maintaining adequate system log retention is essential for security monitoring, incident investigation, and regulatory compliance. The most significant risk is that security incidents may not be detectable, hindering investigations and allowing malicious activities to go unaddressed.

Question 116

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that system administrators share privileged accounts to perform daily tasks. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may forget login credentials
B) Accountability may be lost, making unauthorized activities difficult to detect
C) IT staff may spend more time managing accounts
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Loss of accountability and difficulty detecting unauthorized activities is the most significant risk when system administrators share privileged accounts. Privileged accounts provide high-level access to critical systems and sensitive data. Shared use prevents clear attribution of actions to specific individuals, undermining auditing, monitoring, and incident investigation capabilities.

A) Forgetting login credentials is an operational concern. While shared accounts may cause inconvenience, this risk is minor compared to the security implications of shared privileges.

B) Loss of accountability is a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Auditors evaluate identity and access management controls to ensure unique accounts are assigned to each administrator. When multiple people use the same privileged account, it becomes impossible to determine who performed system changes, installed software, or accessed sensitive data. This can mask malicious activities, allow unauthorized modifications, and delay the detection of incidents. Regulatory frameworks such as ISO 27001, SOX, PCI DSS, and HIPAA require individual accountability for privileged access. Without it, organizations cannot reliably perform forensic investigations, track policy violations, or enforce disciplinary actions. Shared privileged accounts also increase the risk of insider threats and misuse, as multiple individuals may conceal unauthorized actions under a generic account. Effective controls, including unique credentials, logging, and monitoring, strengthen security posture and enable proper detection of unauthorized activities.

C) IT staff spending more time managing accounts is an operational concern. While administrative effort increases with proper account management, it is not as critical as the risk of untraceable privileged actions.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational. Performance is minimally impacted by account management practices, and the primary concern remains security and accountability.

Sharing privileged accounts undermines accountability and increases the risk of unauthorized or untraceable activities. The most significant risk is the inability to detect and attribute actions performed on critical systems.

 

Question 117

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that users can bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) under certain conditions. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may forget MFA credentials
B) Unauthorized access may occur, compromising sensitive systems and data
C) IT staff may spend more time troubleshooting MFA issues
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Unauthorized access compromising sensitive systems and data is the most significant risk when users can bypass multi-factor authentication. MFA strengthens security by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access. Any bypass weakens the control, allowing attackers or unauthorized individuals to gain access with reduced barriers.

A) Users forgetting MFA credentials is an operational concern. While it may cause inconvenience or require support, it does not pose a direct security threat compared to bypass vulnerabilities.

B) Unauthorized access is a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Auditors assess authentication controls to ensure MFA is consistently enforced and bypass mechanisms are adequately controlled or eliminated. Bypassing MFA may result from misconfigurations, policy exceptions, or application-specific loopholes. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses to compromise accounts, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data. Regulatory frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST, PCI DSS, and HIPAA mandate strong authentication to protect sensitive systems and data. Exploitable MFA gaps increase the risk of data breaches, fraud, operational disruptions, and reputational damage. Proper testing, monitoring, and enforcement of MFA policies are essential to ensure robust access control and reduce the attack surface. Organizations must address all bypass scenarios to prevent circumvention of this critical security measure.

C) IT staff spending more time troubleshooting MFA issues is an operational concern. While resolving user access problems requires effort, the critical risk lies in unauthorized access due to MFA bypass.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational. The primary concern is access security, not performance impact from MFA mechanisms.

Ensuring MFA cannot be bypassed is critical for protecting sensitive systems and data. The most significant risk is unauthorized access, which can lead to data breaches, fraud, and operational compromise.

Question 118

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that configuration changes are made to production systems without proper approval or testing. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may experience minor inconvenience
B) Unauthorized or erroneous changes may disrupt system functionality or compromise data integrity
C) IT staff may spend more time managing systems
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Unauthorized or erroneous changes disrupting functionality or compromising data integrity is the most significant risk when production systems are modified without proper approval or testing. Production systems are critical for business operations, and unapproved changes can introduce errors, vulnerabilities, or system downtime.

A) Minor user inconvenience is operational. While users may notice disruptions, this is less critical than the potential operational and security impact.

B) Disruption or compromise is a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Auditors assess change management processes to ensure that modifications are properly approved, tested, documented, and implemented. Lack of controls increases the risk of system outages, data corruption, security vulnerabilities, and service interruptions. Regulatory frameworks such as ISO 27001, ITIL, PCI DSS, and SOX require structured change management to minimize risk and maintain operational stability. Unauthorized changes may bypass security reviews, potentially introducing malware, misconfigurations, or unauthorized access points. Uncontrolled changes hinder troubleshooting, forensic investigations, and incident response, as there is no clear record of modifications. Implementing formal change control ensures that all system updates are assessed for risk, tested for compatibility, and authorized by appropriate personnel. This mitigates operational disruptions, maintains data integrity, and supports regulatory compliance.

C) IT staff spending more time managing systems is an operational concern. While proper change management may require additional effort, the major risk lies in potential disruptions or compromised data due to uncontrolled changes.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational. Performance impacts are minimal compared to the critical risks of unapproved changes affecting functionality and security.

Implementing formal approval and testing for production system changes is essential for operational stability and security. The most significant risk is unauthorized or erroneous changes that disrupt functionality or compromise data integrity.

Question 119

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that antivirus software signatures are not updated regularly on endpoints. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may experience minor inconvenience when scanning files
B) Malware infections may occur due to outdated antivirus signatures
C) IT staff may spend more time managing antivirus updates
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Malware infections occurring due to outdated antivirus signatures is the most significant risk when antivirus software is not regularly updated. Antivirus signatures are used to identify known malware and threats. Outdated signatures cannot detect the latest threats, leaving systems vulnerable to infection.

A) Minor inconvenience to users is operational. While scanning delays may occur, this is insignificant compared to the threat of malware infection.

B) Malware infection represents a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Auditors review endpoint protection practices, including automated signature updates, centralized management, and monitoring for compliance. Outdated antivirus signatures can result in the compromise of endpoint systems, data theft, ransomware attacks, or propagation of malware across the network. Regulatory frameworks such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and HIPAA require maintaining up-to-date protective measures to prevent malware infections. Attackers frequently release new variants that evade detection by outdated antivirus definitions, making signature updates critical for defense. Failure to update signatures may also affect the organization’s ability to respond to incidents promptly, as infections may go undetected for extended periods. Proper maintenance of antivirus solutions ensures endpoint security, minimizes infection risk, and supports overall cybersecurity posture.

C) IT staff spending more time managing updates is an operational concern. While updates require administrative effort, the main risk is malware infection due to outdated protection.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational. Performance impact is minimal compared to the risk of malware compromising sensitive systems and data.

Regularly updating antivirus signatures is essential for protecting endpoints and maintaining organizational security. The most significant risk is malware infections occurring due to outdated signatures, potentially leading to data breaches and operational disruption.

Question 120

During an audit, the IS auditor finds that users’ access rights are not removed promptly when they leave the organization. Which risk is MOST significant?

A) Users may experience minor inconvenience during onboarding
B) Former employees may retain access, leading to unauthorized activities or data breaches
C) IT staff may spend more time reviewing accounts
D) System performance may slightly degrade

Answer: B)

Explanation

Former employees retaining access, leading to unauthorized activities or data breaches, is the most significant risk when users’ access rights are not promptly revoked. Accounts belonging to departed employees represent a significant insider threat, as they can be exploited intentionally or unintentionally to compromise systems or data.

A) Minor onboarding inconvenience is operational. While account management is part of user onboarding, it is not a critical security risk.

B) Unauthorized activities are a direct threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Auditors evaluate identity and access management controls to ensure timely deactivation of accounts upon employee separation. Failure to promptly revoke access allows former employees or contractors to access sensitive systems, modify data, exfiltrate information, or bypass internal controls. Regulatory standards such as SOX, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and HIPAA require timely termination of access rights to prevent insider threats and maintain accountability. Retained access increases the likelihood of malicious activity, fraudulent transactions, or data breaches, potentially resulting in operational disruption, financial loss, and reputational harm. Effective offboarding procedures include account deactivation, password changes, retrieval of devices, and auditing access logs to ensure that no unauthorized activities have occurred prior to departure. Proper account management mitigates risks associated with human resources changes, protecting sensitive data and supporting compliance obligations.

C) IT staff spending more time reviewing accounts is operational. While additional effort is necessary for compliance, the critical risk lies in former employees retaining access and the potential consequences.

D) Slight system performance degradation is operational. Performance is minimally affected, and the primary concern remains security and risk management related to retained access.

Promptly revoking access for departing employees is critical for maintaining security, preventing unauthorized activity, and ensuring compliance. The most significant risk is that former employees retain access, potentially causing data breaches, operational disruption, or regulatory violations.