Isaca COBIT 2019 Practice Test Questions, Exam Dumps

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COBIT 2019 Isaca Practice Test Questions and Exam Dumps

Question 1

In the context of enterprise governance of information and technology (EGIT), who holds the ultimate responsibility for ensuring appropriate structures, processes, and oversight mechanisms are in place?

A. Individual departments or business units
B. External oversight authorities or regulators
C. The board of directors

Correct Answer: C. The board of directors

Explanation:

In frameworks like COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies), enterprise governance of information and technology (EGIT) refers to the system by which current and future use of IT is directed and controlled. This involves evaluating stakeholder needs, conditions, and options; setting direction through prioritization and decision-making; and monitoring performance and compliance against agreed-on direction and objectives.

The board of directors is recognized as the body that holds the ultimate accountability for governance. While various stakeholders—such as business units, CIOs, or external regulators—play supporting roles, only the board has the authority and broad organizational view to:

Set and approve strategic IT goals
Ensure alignment between business and IT
Oversee risk management and compliance
Delegate responsibility through formal structures

Why not the others?

A. Individual business units may manage execution but not enterprise-wide governance.
B. External regulators can influence compliance and standards but do not govern internal IT structures.

Thus, COBIT 2019 and other governance frameworks consistently assign oversight of EGIT to the board.

Question 2

According to COBIT, how is stakeholder value achieved in an enterprise when utilizing IT resources?

A. Delivering benefits while reducing resource costs and mitigating risk
B. Achieving benefits at a controlled resource cost while controlling risk
C. Delivering benefits at an optimal resource cost while optimizing risk

Correct Answer: C. Delivering benefits at an optimal resource cost while optimizing risk

Explanation:

In COBIT’s core principles, the creation of stakeholder value through IT is central. Stakeholder value isn’t simply about minimizing costs or risks, but about finding the optimal balance between benefits realization, resource optimization, and risk optimization.

Here’s how the three elements are defined:

Benefits realization: Ensuring that the business gets value from IT services, such as enhanced performance, innovation, or customer satisfaction.
Resource optimization: Making the most efficient and effective use of information, infrastructure, applications, and people.
Risk optimization: Keeping enterprise risk at an acceptable level while still achieving desired business outcomes.

COBIT emphasizes that value is not achieved by merely controlling or reducing cost and risk—it is about optimization, which suggests a tailored, context-sensitive approach. This may sometimes mean spending more if the expected value (benefits or risk reduction) justifies it.

Why not the others?

A and B suggest "controlled" or "reduced" costs and risk, which might limit business value.
C correctly reflects COBIT’s concept of “value creation through optimization” of all three dimensions.

Thus, option C reflects COBIT's accurate philosophy: Realizing benefits at an optimal resource cost while optimizing risk.

Question 3

What is the guiding principle for the kind of value that Information and Technology (I&T) should provide to an organization?

A. The value should be closely aligned with the strategic priorities and values of the business.
B. The value should be measured solely in terms of financial returns from I&T investments.
C. The value should be limited to sustaining and enhancing benefits from existing technology investments.

Correct Answer: A. The value should be closely aligned with the strategic priorities and values of the business.

Explanation:

In COBIT 2019, the concept of value delivery from information and technology (I&T) is not isolated or limited to financial returns or existing systems. Instead, value must align with the overall business strategy and goals. This means I&T initiatives should support and enable business objectives such as innovation, customer satisfaction, market growth, and operational efficiency.

Option A aligns with the COBIT principle of "Meeting Stakeholder Needs"—which stresses that I&T must contribute to achieving enterprise goals and delivering stakeholder value. This can include:

Enabling new digital business models
Improving time-to-market
Enhancing customer experience
Ensuring compliance and risk management

Why not the other options?

Option B is too narrow. While financial performance is important, COBIT recognizes that value also includes non-financial benefits such as agility, trust, and information quality.
Option C is restrictive, implying that value should only come from existing investments, which contradicts COBIT's focus on innovation and transformation through I&T.

Hence, the correct perspective is that I&T should deliver value that is aligned with what the business needs to achieve strategically.

Question 4

How does COBIT help organizations address governance-related challenges?

A. By organizing governance components into measurable objectives that can be assessed for capability
B. By providing a detailed, end-to-end model of the enterprise IT landscape
C. By prescribing specific governance processes for unique enterprise circumstances

Correct Answer: A. By organizing governance components into measurable objectives that can be assessed for capability

Explanation:

COBIT 2019 provides a structured framework for implementing effective governance over enterprise I&T. One of the core ways it does this is by grouping governance components—such as processes, policies, information, structures, and people—into "Governance and Management Objectives".

Each objective in COBIT is tied to a specific goal (e.g., "Ensure Risk Optimization") and comes with a detailed set of practices and capability levels. This enables organizations to:

Evaluate current governance maturity
Identify gaps or improvement opportunities
Establish measurable targets for governance performance

Option A correctly reflects this structured and scalable approach. Organizations can tailor their governance to suit enterprise needs and maturity levels.

Why not the other options?

Option B refers to mapping the entire IT environment, which is beyond COBIT's scope—COBIT focuses on governance and management frameworks, not full environment documentation.
Option C implies COBIT mandates specific processes per situation, but in fact, it provides guidelines and best practices that organizations can adapt.

Thus, Option A is accurate: COBIT addresses governance issues by grouping components into actionable, measurable objectives.

Question 5

Which statement best reflects a core guiding principle behind the design and development of COBIT?

A. COBIT ensures alignment with other established and relevant I&T frameworks, standards, and regulatory requirements.
B. COBIT incorporates selected content directly from various I&T standards, frameworks, and regulatory sources.
C. COBIT is intended to operate as a fully standalone framework, independent of other industry approaches or standards.

Correct Answer: A. COBIT ensures alignment with other established and relevant I&T frameworks, standards, and regulatory requirements.

Explanation:

One of the key design principles of COBIT 2019 is that it aligns with other widely accepted standards and frameworks in the information and technology (I&T) governance space. This principle ensures COBIT does not operate in isolation, but rather works in harmony with frameworks such as:

ITIL for service management
TOGAF for enterprise architecture
ISO/IEC 27001 for information security
NIST, COSO, GDPR, and others

COBIT’s goal is to provide an integrated governance model, enabling enterprises to leverage existing investments and processes while filling in governance gaps. Rather than copying or duplicating content from other frameworks (as Option B suggests), COBIT offers a high-level governance framework that maps to and complements these standards.

Why not the other options?

Option B incorrectly suggests COBIT includes direct content from other frameworks. COBIT references and aligns with, but does not copy or embed other frameworks' content.
Option C is misleading because COBIT does not aim to be completely standalone; it is intentionally integrative to support multiple standards cohesively.

Thus, the most accurate statement is Option A: COBIT aligns with other standards, making it both comprehensive and compatible.

Question 6

Which of the following actions represents a key component of governance according to COBIT?

A. Developing implementation plans that align with strategic goals defined by governance
B. Tracking and executing activities that help achieve enterprise objectives
C. Assessing stakeholder expectations in order to define enterprise strategic goals

Correct Answer: C. Assessing stakeholder expectations in order to define enterprise strategic goals

Explanation:

According to COBIT 2019, governance is defined as the system by which an enterprise evaluates, directs, and monitors its information and technology (I&T) usage to create stakeholder value. The first key function of governance is to evaluate stakeholder needs, conditions, and options—which is the basis for setting organizational direction and objectives.

This makes Option C the correct answer, as it highlights the "evaluate" function that initiates governance.

COBIT describes three governance tasks:

Evaluate – Assess stakeholder needs and environmental context.
Direct – Set strategic direction and policies.
Monitor – Ensure performance and compliance against the set direction.

Why not the other options?

Option A refers to building plans and aligning them to strategy. This is a management responsibility, not a governance activity.
Option B relates to executing and monitoring operational tasks. Again, this falls under management, not governance.

Therefore, the correct governance activity per COBIT's definition is Option C, which reflects the initial step of evaluating stakeholder needs to define objectives.

Question 7

In the majority of organizations, who holds the primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the enterprise?

A. The project management office (PMO)
B. The executive leadership team
C. The board of directors

Correct Answer: B. The executive leadership team

Explanation:

In a standard governance structure, the board of directors is responsible for governance—that is, providing strategic oversight, setting direction, and monitoring performance. However, the day-to-day management of the organization is the responsibility of the executive management team (also known as senior management or executive leadership).

This team includes roles such as the CEO, CIO, CFO, COO, and other C-level or senior executives. They are accountable for:

Implementing strategies as defined by the board
Executing business operations
Managing risk and resources
Ensuring performance targets are met

Why not the other options?

Option A (PMO): The Project Management Office manages specific projects and ensures project alignment to organizational goals but does not oversee the enterprise as a whole.
Option C (Board of Directors): The board provides governance and strategic oversight but does not engage in daily operational decision-making.

Thus, the executive management team (Option B) is primarily responsible for managing the enterprise.

Question 8

Which benefit offered by the COBIT framework is most directly relevant to external stakeholders, such as regulators or auditors?

A. COBIT outlines how to structure and monitor enterprise-wide I&T performance.
B. COBIT assists in managing reliance on third-party IT service providers.
C. COBIT supports compliance with laws and regulatory requirements.

Correct Answer: C. COBIT supports compliance with laws and regulatory requirements

Explanation:

While COBIT provides multiple benefits to both internal and external stakeholders, one of the primary advantages for external stakeholders—such as regulators, auditors, or investors—is its support for compliance and accountability.

Option C is correct because:

COBIT 2019 helps enterprises align their governance practices with external laws, regulations, and industry standards, such as GDPR, SOX, ISO/IEC 27001, etc.
It provides a structured control framework, enabling enterprises to demonstrate compliance more effectively.
This transparency builds trust with external parties, who often need assurance that I&T-related activities are secure, ethical, and compliant.

Why not the other options?

Option A (organizing and monitoring I&T performance) is valuable but is more relevant to internal management practices.
Option B (managing third-party dependencies) is useful but primarily supports internal governance and risk management, not external stakeholder needs.

Therefore, the benefit most directly tied to external stakeholder expectations is COBIT’s ability to help ensure compliance—making Option C the correct choice.

Question 9

Who is the primary audience that COBIT is intended to serve?

A. Individuals involved in developing and implementing governance solutions
B. Auditors and compliance officers responsible for evaluating control effectiveness
C. Business and IT leaders tasked with managing and deploying information and technology solutions

Correct Answer: C. Business and IT leaders tasked with managing and deploying information and technology solutions

Explanation:

COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies) is a comprehensive governance and management framework designed to help enterprise leaders ensure that their IT systems are aligned with business goals and deliver value. The primary audience for COBIT consists of business executives and IT management, who are responsible for setting direction, implementing systems, and ensuring I&T is governed and managed effectively.

The main users of COBIT include:

CIOs, CTOs, and senior IT managers
Business leaders responsible for aligning IT with strategic goals
Governance professionals involved in implementing policies and practices

Why not the other options?

Option A refers to individuals designing governance systems, which is a narrower scope. COBIT’s audience is broader and includes leadership roles.
Option B refers to assurance professionals (auditors), who may use COBIT, but they are not its primary audience.

Thus, Option C is the most accurate, as COBIT's core goal is to guide business and IT leaders in aligning IT operations with enterprise objectives.

Question 10

According to COBIT's governance principles, how should the value delivered from information and technology (I&T) be understood?

A. As a measure of cost savings compared to expected service delivery
B. As a balance between benefits realized, risks managed, and resources optimized
C. As the financial returns achieved across all I&T-related investments

Correct Answer: B. As a balance between benefits realized, risks managed, and resources optimized

Explanation:

One of the core principles of the COBIT framework is the idea that the value generated from I&T should not be viewed in purely financial terms. Instead, it reflects a balanced consideration of three critical components:

Benefit realization – Ensuring that IT initiatives support business goals and provide measurable value.
Risk optimization – Managing and minimizing potential threats or disruptions to I&T systems.
Resource optimization – Efficient use of available resources such as people, infrastructure, and budgets.

This holistic approach is critical to aligning IT with business strategy and justifying investments in technology through governance oversight.

Why not the other options?

Option A only looks at cost vs. service level, which is too narrow.
Option C focuses only on financial return, while COBIT emphasizes a broader value perspective, including non-financial benefits like compliance, innovation, and security.

Therefore, Option B is the correct answer, as it aligns with COBIT’s principle that value creation results from a balanced approach involving benefits, risk, and resource considerations.