Isaca CISM Certified Information Security Manager Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 8 Q141-160

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Question 141

A company wants to implement formal secure cloud adoption policies. The CISM is asked to ensure alignment with risk management and regulatory compliance. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Define cloud governance policies, classify data and workloads, enforce encryption and access controls, monitor cloud usage, and review policies periodically
B) Allow employees to migrate data to cloud services freely
C) Focus only on cost management without security considerations
D) Review cloud security only after breaches

Answer: Define cloud governance policies, classify data and workloads, enforce encryption and access controls, monitor cloud usage, and review policies periodically

Explanation:

Cloud adoption introduces operational, security, and compliance risks. The CISM ensures adoption is structured, risk-based, and aligned with enterprise risk management.

Defining governance policies ensures standardization, accountability, and compliance. Classifying data and workloads identifies which assets require stronger controls based on sensitivity and regulatory requirements. Enforcing encryption and access controls protects confidentiality and integrity. Monitoring cloud usage detects policy violations, shadow IT, or anomalies. Periodic review ensures policies evolve with emerging threats, changing business needs, and regulatory updates.

Allowing employees to migrate data freely (Option B) increases the risk of data leakage. Focusing only on cost management (Option C) ignores critical security and compliance issues. Reviewing cloud security post-breach (Option D) is reactive and may result in regulatory penalties.

Metrics track policy adherence, security incidents, unauthorized access, and audit compliance. Continuous review ensures cloud adoption remains secure, resilient, and aligned with organizational risk posture.

By defining policies, classifying data, enforcing controls, monitoring, and reviewing, the organization strengthens cloud security, reduces risk, and aligns with CISM governance, risk, and operational responsibilities.

Question 142

A company wants to implement formal encryption key management practices. The CISM is asked to ensure secure storage, lifecycle management, and regulatory compliance. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Define key lifecycle policies, enforce secure generation, distribution, rotation, storage, and destruction, monitor usage, and review policies regularly
B) Use default application keys without oversight
C) Store keys in plaintext for accessibility
D) Rotate keys only after compromise

Answer: Define key lifecycle policies, enforce secure generation, distribution, rotation, storage, and destruction, monitor usage, and review policies regularly

Explanation:

Encryption protects sensitive data, but key management determines its effectiveness. The CISM ensures a structured, risk-based approach aligned with governance and compliance requirements.

Defining lifecycle policies standardizes processes for key generation, usage, rotation, and destruction. Secure key generation ensures cryptographic strength. Distribution and storage must protect against unauthorized access. Regular rotation reduces the risk of compromise. Monitoring usage detects misuse or anomalies. Periodic review ensures policies remain effective as technologies, threats, and regulatory requirements evolve.

Using default application keys (Option B) introduces predictable vulnerabilities. Storing keys in plaintext (Option C) exposes encryption to compromise. Rotating keys only after compromise (Option D) is reactive and increases exposure.

Metrics track key compliance, rotation frequency, unauthorized access attempts, and incidents. Continuous review ensures encryption effectiveness, regulatory adherence, and alignment with organizational risk.

By defining lifecycle policies, securing keys, monitoring usage, and reviewing procedures, the organization protects data, reduces risk, and aligns with CISM governance, risk, and operational responsibilities.

Question 143

A company wants to implement formal incident response training for IT staff. The CISM is asked to ensure preparedness for security events. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Develop scenario-based training, conduct periodic exercises, evaluate response effectiveness, identify gaps, and update procedures regularly
B) Provide only theoretical lectures without hands-on exercises
C) Train staff only after incidents occur
D) Focus only on senior IT staff while ignoring operational teams

Answer: Develop scenario-based training, conduct periodic exercises, evaluate response effectiveness, identify gaps, and update procedures regularly

Explanation:

Incident response training ensures staff can react effectively to mitigate operational, security, and compliance impacts. The CISM ensures training is practical, risk-based, and integrated into enterprise risk management.

Scenario-based training simulates real-world incidents, reinforcing knowledge and procedural adherence. Periodic exercises ensure staff readiness and adaptability. Evaluating response effectiveness identifies gaps in skills, procedures, or coordination. Updating procedures ensures alignment with evolving threats, technologies, and regulatory requirements.

Theoretical lectures only (Option B) are insufficient for real-world application. Training post-incident (Option C) is reactive and reduces effectiveness. Focusing solely on senior staff (Option D) neglects operational personnel critical for response execution.

Metrics track exercise performance, gap remediation, incident response times, and adherence to procedures. Continuous review ensures training remains relevant, effective, and aligned with organizational risk priorities.

By developing scenario-based training, conducting exercises, evaluating effectiveness, identifying gaps, and updating procedures, the organization improves preparedness, reduces incident impact, and aligns with CISM governance, risk, and operational responsibilities.

Question 144

A company wants to implement formal access reviews for critical systems. The CISM is asked to ensure compliance and risk reduction. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Define review frequency, identify account owners, evaluate access against roles and policies, remediate inappropriate access, and document review results
B) Review access only after security incidents
C) Rely solely on user self-assessment for access validation
D) Conduct access reviews only for administrators

Answer: Define review frequency, identify account owners, evaluate access against roles and policies, remediate inappropriate access, and document review results

Explanation:

Regular access reviews ensure that permissions align with business roles and minimize the risk of unauthorized access. The CISM ensures reviews are structured, consistent, and aligned with governance and compliance obligations.

Defining review frequency ensures timely detection of inappropriate access. Identifying account owners clarifies accountability. Evaluating access against roles and policies ensures compliance with least privilege principles. Remediation addresses gaps proactively. Documenting review results provides audit evidence and accountability.

Reviewing access only post-incident (Option B) is reactive. Relying solely on user self-assessment (Option C) risks inaccuracies and omissions. Conducting reviews only for administrators (Option D) ignores risks associated with non-privileged accounts.

Metrics track access violations, remediation completion, review coverage, and compliance. Continuous review ensures access management adapts to organizational changes, regulatory updates, and evolving risks.

By defining frequency, identifying owners, evaluating access, remediating gaps, and documenting results, the organization reduces access risk, strengthens compliance, and aligns with CISM governance, risk, and operational responsibilities.

Question 145

A company wants to implement formal vulnerability management for all IT assets. The CISM is asked to ensure risk-based prioritization and remediation. Which approach should the CISM prioritize?

A) Identify assets, scan for vulnerabilities, assess risk based on likelihood and impact, prioritize remediation, track progress, and review program effectiveness
B) Scan assets only annually without remediation
C) Focus only on high-profile servers while ignoring endpoints
D) Remediate vulnerabilities only after exploitation

Answer: Identify assets, scan for vulnerabilities, assess risk based on likelihood and impact, prioritize remediation, track progress, and review program effectiveness

Explanation:

Vulnerability management reduces exposure to threats and supports compliance and operational resilience. The CISM ensures the program is comprehensive, risk-based, and aligned with enterprise risk management.

Identifying assets ensures all critical systems are included. Scanning for vulnerabilities identifies potential weaknesses. Risk assessment evaluates the likelihood and impact, allowing prioritization of remediation. Tracking progress ensures accountability and completion. Reviewing program effectiveness ensures continuous improvement, alignment with emerging threats, and regulatory compliance.

Scanning only annually without remediation (Option B) is ineffective. Focusing solely on high-profile servers (Option C) neglects endpoints that may serve as attack vectors. Remediating only post-exploitation (Option D) is reactive and increases risk.

Metrics track vulnerabilities discovered, remediation timelines, risk reduction, and compliance coverage. Continuous review ensures the program remains effective and aligned with organizational priorities and regulatory requirements.

By identifying assets, scanning, assessing risk, prioritizing remediation, tracking progress, and reviewing effectiveness, the organization reduces vulnerabilities, strengthens security posture, and aligns with CISM governance, risk, and operational responsibilities.

Question 146

An organization is implementing a new data classification program. Which action should the information security manager take FIRST?

A) Classify all existing data assets
B) Develop classification labels and definitions
C) Obtain senior management approval for classification criteria
D) Train users on the new classification program

Answer: C) Obtain senior management approval for classification criteria

 Explanation:

The first and most essential step in establishing an effective data classification program is acquiring senior management approval for the classification criteria. Without executive support, the classification scheme will lack authority, visibility, and organizational alignment. Senior leadership ensures adequate resources, funding, stakeholder support, and business alignment, which are foundational to a successful implementation. Management endorsement also ensures that the classification criteria reflect the organization’s risk appetite, compliance obligations, and business priorities.
If an information security manager were to classify existing data or design labels before gaining leadership approval, the program would be misaligned with strategic goals and could eventually require rework, wasting both time and resources. Business leaders—not the security team—own the data and therefore must determine how it should be classified, protected, and governed. Their involvement ensures that classification levels reflect true business sensitivity, operational impact, regulatory requirements, and legal risks.
Developing classification labels and definitions is indeed important, but it must occur after management establishes and approves the criteria. Otherwise, the labels may contradict business processes or fail to meet regulatory obligations. Training users also cannot occur until the classification structure is finalized and approved. Training based on an unapproved or incomplete classification model would lead to confusion and inconsistent implementation throughout the organization.
In the CISM domain 1 (Information Security Governance), management involvement is emphasized as critical for any governance-driven initiative. A data classification program is a core governance function because it defines how an organization identifies and protects its sensitive information. Without senior leadership approval, security managers lack the authority to enforce classification across departments. This often results in various business units using their own classification schemes, undermining organizational consistency and increasing the risk of data exposure.
Furthermore, senior leaders oversee business impact analysis (BIA), regulatory requirements review, and risk assessments that determine how data should be categorized. Their involvement ensures that classification criteria align with compliance needs such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Their endorsement also strengthens accountability for business data owners, who play a key role in classifying assets and maintaining data integrity.
Therefore, while all other steps are essential, securing senior management approval ensures governance alignment, clarity of roles, and organizational authority—making it the correct first step in establishing a robust data classification program.

Question 147

During the development of a new information security policy, which stakeholder group is MOST important for ensuring alignment with business objectives?

A) The IT operations team
B) Senior business management
C) The internal audit function
D) External compliance consultants

Answer: B) Senior business management

Explanation:

Senior business management plays the most critical role in ensuring that information security policies align with business objectives. They define the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, risk appetite, and long-term business goals. Security policies must support—not hinder—these objectives. Therefore, involving senior management ensures that policies are practical, acceptable, and aligned with organizational direction.
Policies created without business alignment may impose unnecessary restrictions, reduce productivity, or fail to protect critical assets. Senior leadership also ensures cross-departmental buy-in and provides authority for enforcing policies. Including IT operations, internal audit, or external consultants is useful, but none of them possess the organization-wide strategic viewpoint necessary to drive policy alignment with core business requirements.

Question 148

What is the PRIMARY reason for conducting a risk assessment before developing security controls?

A) To ensure budget allocation is available
B) To identify vulnerabilities and threats relevant to assets
C) To comply with regulatory audit requirements
D) To avoid unnecessary documentation

Answer: B) To identify vulnerabilities and threats relevant to assets

Explanation:

Risk assessments serve as the foundation of control design by identifying vulnerabilities, threats, and asset impacts. Without understanding actual risks, security controls may be misaligned, ineffective, or wastefully over-engineered. The risk assessment reveals what needs protection, how it may be compromised, and the business consequences, allowing security managers to design proportionate and cost-effective controls.

Question 149

Which of the following BEST ensures the ongoing effectiveness of an information security awareness program?

A) Requiring annual certification for all employees
B) Delivering static training modules
C) Monitoring user behavior metrics over time
D) Outsourcing all training material development

Answer: C) Monitoring user behavior metrics over time

Explanation:

Continuous monitoring of user behavior metrics—such as phishing response rates, policy compliance, and incident trends—provides measurable evidence of an awareness program’s effectiveness. Awareness programs must evolve to address emerging risks, and behavioral data enables targeted improvements. Annual certifications or outsourcing do not ensure actual behavioral change, which is the real goal of awareness training.

Question 150

Which of the following is the MOST important reason for integrating information security governance into enterprise governance

A) To reduce the workload of the IT department
B) To ensure compliance audits run smoothly
C) To align security initiatives with organizational goals
D) To justify increased security budgets

Answer: C) To align security initiatives with organizational goals

Explanation:

Integrating information security governance into enterprise governance ensures that security decisions directly support business strategy. This alignment ensures that security investments deliver business value, support resilience, and enable safe innovation. Governance integration also helps synchronize risk management, resource allocation, and compliance activities with business priorities, strengthening the overall security posture.

Question 151

A new regulatory requirement mandates stronger protection for customer financial data. What should the information security manager do FIRST to ensure compliance?

A) Implement new technical controls immediately
B) Conduct a gap analysis against current controls
C) Update the enterprise risk register
D) Notify all department heads of upcoming changes

Answer: B) Conduct a gap analysis against current controls

Explanation:

A gap analysis is the essential first step when responding to new regulatory requirements because it identifies precisely where current security controls fail to meet the new obligations. Without understanding the gaps between existing measures and mandated standards, any new controls implemented may be misdirected, excessive, or insufficient. A gap assessment provides clarity on what has already been achieved, what needs adjustment, and what controls must be added or enhanced.
Jumping directly into technical implementation without analysis risks misalignment with compliance expectations and could result in wasted resources. Technical changes must be strategic and based on documented compliance gaps. Updating the risk register is a later step that results from identifying compliance-related risks during the analysis. Similarly, notifying departments prematurely can create confusion, especially when requirements and impacts are not yet fully understood.
A gap analysis also helps prioritize compliance efforts based on risk and regulatory impact. Some requirements may be easier to remediate, while others may require process redesign, new technologies, or updated documentation. The information security manager uses the analysis to determine budget needs, staffing impact, and realistic implementation timelines.
In addition to identifying control weaknesses, the gap analysis can highlight strengths—control areas where the organization already meets or exceeds regulatory requirements—allowing resources to be focused where they are truly needed. It also provides evidence for auditors, demonstrating that the organization is proactively and systematically working toward compliance.
By starting with a gap analysis, the security manager ensures a structured, efficient, and risk-based response that aligns with both regulatory expectations and business operations.

Question 152

Which activity is MOST essential for ensuring the successful implementation of an incident response plan across the organization?

A) Purchasing advanced forensic tools
B) Defining communication protocols and escalation paths
C) Ensuring external auditors review the plan
D) Hiring additional security analysts

Answer: B) Defining communication protocols and escalation paths

Explanation:

Clear communication protocols and escalation paths are the backbone of an effective incident response plan because they determine how stakeholders coordinate actions during an incident. Incident response requires rapid, accurate information sharing under time pressure, and confusion over roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines can lead to delayed containment and increased damage.
Purchasing tools or hiring staff enhances capability but does not guarantee a coordinated response. External audits play a role in assurance, but do not ensure operational readiness.
Communication planning includes defining who declares an incident, who gets notified, acceptable response timeframes, when to involve legal and HR, interactions with law enforcement, and how to keep executives and customers informed. Without these protocols, responders may duplicate work, overlook critical steps, or miscommunicate sensitive information.
Testing and tabletop exercises further validate these communication paths, ensuring that responders understand expectations and workflows. Ultimately, communication is the single most critical factor in ensuring that the incident response plan functions effectively during real security events.

Question 153

A business unit is resisting the implementation of a new access control policy because it believes the controls will reduce productivity. What should the information security manager do FIRST?

A) Enforce the policy despite resistance
B) Escalate the issue to the CIO
C) Conduct a business impact analysis with the unit
D) Provide additional technical training

Answer: C) Conduct a business impact analysis with the unit

Explanation:

The appropriate first step is to conduct a business impact analysis (BIA) with the concerned business unit to understand how the proposed access control changes might affect their workflows. The BIA ensures that both security and business needs are properly evaluated before policy enforcement.
Enforcing controls without understanding legitimate concerns can lead to operational disruption, user frustration, and lowered cooperation. Escalation should be a last resort, not a first action. Technical training may help later, but only after understanding the business context.
A collaborative BIA helps identify process bottlenecks, efficiency concerns, or technology limitations. It may reveal alternative control options that still satisfy security requirements without harming productivity. Engaging the business unit demonstrates respect for their operations and fosters trust, encouraging cooperation in adopting new controls.
This approach also supports security governance principles by ensuring that controls are risk-based, business-aligned, and minimally disruptive. The goal is to balance protection with usability, and the BIA is the most effective tool for achieving that balance.

Question 154

What is the PRIMARY objective of continuous security monitoring within an organization?

A) To satisfy internal audit requirements
B) To detect and respond to security events in real time
C) To reduce the cost of annual penetration testing
D) To enforce disciplinary action on negligent employees

Answer: B) To detect and respond to security events in real time

Explanation:

Continuous monitoring provides real-time visibility into security events, enabling rapid detection and response to emerging threats. This is essential for minimizing the impact of attacks, identifying suspicious activity early, and maintaining situational awareness across networks, systems, and applications.
While satisfying audit requirements or reducing testing costs may be side benefits, they are not the primary goal. Likewise, monitoring is not intended for employee punishment; rather, it enhances security resilience.
Effective continuous monitoring incorporates log analysis, SIEM correlation, endpoint telemetry, network analytics, behavioral anomaly detection, and automated alerting. Together, these tools provide early warning indicators that allow organizations to contain attacks before they escalate.
By supporting rapid response, continuous monitoring plays a crucial role in protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical information assets.

Question 155

Which of the following BEST helps ensure accountability in an information security program?

A) Documenting all controls in detailed procedures
B) Assigning clear roles and responsibilities to data owners
C) Outsourcing responsibility for monitoring controls
D) Ensuring strict password policies

Answer: B) Assigning clear roles and responsibilities to data owners

Explanation:

Accountability requires clearly defined roles and responsibilities—especially for data owners, who are responsible for determining classification, access levels, and protection requirements. When data ownership is formally assigned, individuals understand what they are accountable for, enabling proper enforcement of controls and better governance.
Documenting controls is helpful, but it does not ensure ownership. Outsourcing monitoring does not guarantee accountability because responsibility remains internal. Strict password policies improve security but do not address accountability at the governance level.
Data owners ensure that organizational information is managed appropriately throughout its lifecycle, supporting governance, risk management, and compliance. Clear ownership also reduces ambiguity, prevents mismanagement of sensitive data, and strengthens auditability.

Question 156

An organization has multiple systems with inconsistent security configurations. What is the MOST effective way for the CISM to ensure a secure baseline?

A) Allow each department to maintain its own configuration
B) Define, enforce, and monitor standardized configuration baselines
C) Review system configurations only during security incidents
D) Apply patch updates only to critical servers

Answer: B) Define, enforce, and monitor standardized configuration baselines

Explanation:

Establishing standardized configuration baselines is critical to ensure consistency, reduce vulnerabilities, and enforce security controls across all systems. A baseline defines the minimum security requirements, including account policies, access controls, logging, encryption, and patching. By enforcing baselines, deviations can be automatically identified and corrected, reducing exposure to misconfigurations, insider errors, and cyber attacks.
Allowing departments to maintain separate configurations creates inconsistency, undermines compliance, and increases operational risk. Reviewing configurations only during incidents is reactive, leaving systems exposed until an event occurs. Patching only critical servers does not address misconfigurations on other systems, which could be exploited as attack vectors.
Standardized baselines support operational efficiency, simplify auditing, and ensure that security controls are consistently applied in alignment with organizational policies and regulatory requirements. The CISM must also implement monitoring to detect deviations, enforce compliance, and regularly review baselines as systems, threats, and business needs evolve.

Question 157

Which approach MOST effectively reduces insider threat risk?

A) Conduct background checks during hiring only
B) Monitor user activity, enforce least privilege, and provide security awareness training
C) Restrict access to all systems for junior staff
D) Investigate only after malicious activity is detected

Answer: B) Monitor user activity, enforce least privilege, and provide security awareness training

Explanation:

Reducing insider threat risk requires a proactive and multi-layered strategy. Monitoring user activity allows early detection of abnormal behavior, such as unauthorized access attempts or policy violations. Enforcing the principle of least privilege ensures that users can access only the systems and data necessary to perform their job functions, minimizing potential damage from misuse or compromised accounts. Security awareness training educates employees about acceptable use, social engineering, phishing, and reporting suspicious activity, creating a culture of vigilance.
Relying solely on background checks is insufficient because behavioral risks can evolve. Restricting access arbitrarily can hinder productivity without addressing risk effectively. Investigating only after incidents occur is reactive and allows potential damage to accumulate.
A comprehensive insider threat program combines technical controls, policy enforcement, monitoring, and training. Regular audits, reporting mechanisms, and review of access privileges further strengthen the program, aligning with CISM principles in risk management, security governance, and program development.

Question 158

A company wants to enhance its phishing prevention efforts. Which strategy BEST supports this goal?

A) Conduct phishing awareness training and simulate phishing attacks periodically
B) Block all external emails
C) Train only executives and IT staff
D) Respond only after successful phishing attacks

Answer: A) Conduct phishing awareness training and simulate phishing attacks periodically

Explanation:

Phishing prevention requires ongoing awareness and reinforcement. Regular training educates all employees about the risks of phishing, how to recognize suspicious emails, and proper reporting procedures. Simulated phishing exercises test awareness, reinforce training, and provide measurable data on user susceptibility.
Blocking all external emails is impractical and disruptive to business operations. Training only executives or IT staff neglects the majority of users who are most likely targets. Responding only after attacks occur is reactive and fails to reduce risk proactively.
Combining education with testing enables the organization to track improvements, adjust training, and continuously reduce the likelihood of successful phishing attacks. It also supports a culture of security, ensuring employees become the first line of defense against social engineering.

Question 159

Which of the following is the MOST important reason for centralizing log management?

A) To reduce storage costs
B) To provide consistent monitoring, correlation, and audit capability
C) To simplify user access to logs
D) To avoid creating too many log files

Answer: B) To provide consistent monitoring, correlation, and audit capability

Explanation:

Centralizing log management ensures that logs from multiple systems, applications, and network devices are collected, normalized, and retained in a single location for consistent analysis. This approach enables the timely detection of security events, correlation of incidents across systems, and comprehensive auditing for compliance purposes.
Reducing storage costs or simplifying access are secondary benefits, but they do not address the primary security and governance objectives. Avoiding multiple log files without centralization still leaves gaps in detection and correlation.
A centralized logging system enhances visibility into the organization’s security posture, supports incident response, and provides evidence for regulatory compliance, aligning with the CISM domains of monitoring, risk management, and governance.

Question 160

An organization wants to ensure timely patch management across all IT assets. Which approach BEST achieves this goal?

A) Identify and classify assets, test patches, deploy based on risk, track completion, and review metrics
B) Apply all patches immediately without testing
C) Patch systems only once per year
D) Patch only the most critical servers

Answer: A) Identify and classify assets, test patches, deploy based on risk, track completion, and review metrics

Explanation:

Effective patch management requires a structured, risk-based approach. Identifying and classifying IT assets ensures critical systems are prioritized according to their business impact. Testing patches before deployment prevents operational disruption and unintended service outages. Deploying patches based on risk allows the organization to focus on vulnerabilities that could cause the greatest harm.
Tracking completion assures that all systems have been updated, while metrics enable evaluation of the program’s effectiveness and continuous improvement.
Applying patches immediately without testing may cause downtime or failures. Annual patching is insufficient to mitigate rapidly emerging vulnerabilities. Patching only critical servers leaves other systems exposed, creating potential attack vectors.
By combining inventory management, risk prioritization, testing, deployment tracking, and performance review, organizations maintain a secure, reliable, and compliant IT environment, consistent with the CISM principles of risk management and program implementation.