Practice Free CISA Exam Online Questions
Question #181
A steering committee established to oversee an organization’s digital transformation program is MOST likely to be involved with which of the following activities?
- A . Preparing project status reports
- B . Designing interface controls
- C . Reviewing escalated project issues
- D . Documenting requirements
Correct Answer: C
Question #182
Which of the following should be restricted from a network administrator’s privileges in an adequately segregated IT environment?
- A . Monitoring network traffic
- B . Changing existing configurations for applications
- C . Hardening network ports
- D . Ensuring transmission protocols are functioning correctly
Correct Answer: B
Question #183
An organization’s strategy to source certain IT functions from a Software as a Service (SaaS) provider should be approved by the:
- A . chief financial officer (CFO).
- B . chief risk officer (CRO).
- C . IT steering committee.
- D . IT operations manager.
Correct Answer: C
Question #184
Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when implementing a Zero Trust strategy for mobile, wireless, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices?
- A . Ensuring the latest firmware updates are applied regularly to all devices
- B . Validating the identity of all devices and users before granting access to resources
- C . Focusing on user training and awareness to prevent phishing attacks
- D . Implementing strong encryption protocols for data in transit and at rest
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step
Zero Trustis based on the principle of"never trust, always verify, "makingidentity validationthe most critical aspect.
Option A (Incorrect): Firmware updatesare important for security but are onlyone partof aZero Trustapproach.
Option B (Correct): Device and user identity validationensures that onlyauthorizedentities can accesscritical resources, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Option C (Incorrect): User awarenessis important but does not enforce access control, which isfundamentalto Zero Trust.
Option D (Incorrect): Encryptionsecures data but does not controlwho can access resources, which is the primary focus of Zero Trust.
Reference: ISACA CISA Review Manual CDomain 5: Protection of Information AssetsC CoversZero Trust security models and access control best practices.
B
Explanation:
Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step
Zero Trustis based on the principle of"never trust, always verify, "makingidentity validationthe most critical aspect.
Option A (Incorrect): Firmware updatesare important for security but are onlyone partof aZero Trustapproach.
Option B (Correct): Device and user identity validationensures that onlyauthorizedentities can accesscritical resources, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Option C (Incorrect): User awarenessis important but does not enforce access control, which isfundamentalto Zero Trust.
Option D (Incorrect): Encryptionsecures data but does not controlwho can access resources, which is the primary focus of Zero Trust.
Reference: ISACA CISA Review Manual CDomain 5: Protection of Information AssetsC CoversZero Trust security models and access control best practices.
Question #185
Which of the following applications should an IS auditor consider to be the HIGHEST priority when reviewing disaster recovery planning (DRP) tests for an commerce company?
- A . An application for IT performance monitoring
- B . An application for HR management
- C . An application for financial management
- D . An application for traffic load balancing
Correct Answer: C
Question #186
Which of the following is the MOST important control for virtualized environments?
- A . Regular updates of policies for the operation of the virtualized environment
- B . Hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines
- C . Redundancy of hardware resources and network components
- D . Monitoring utilization of resources at the guest operating system level
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
The most important control for virtualized environments is hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines. Hardening is the process of applying security measures and configurations to reduce the vulnerabilities and risks of a system or device. Hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines is essential for protecting the virtualized environments from attacks, as they are exposed to various threats from both the physical and virtual layers. Hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines involves the following steps:
Applying the latest patches and updates for the hypervisor and guest operating systems, as well as the applications and drivers running on them.
Configuring the firewall and network settings for the hypervisor and guest machines, to restrict and monitor the network traffic and prevent unauthorized access or communication.
Disabling or removing any unnecessary or unused features, services, accounts, or ports on the hypervisor and guest machines, to minimize the attack surface and reduce the potential entry points for attackers.
Enforcing strong authentication and authorization policies for the hypervisor and guest machines, to ensure that only authorized users or administrators can access or manage them.
Encrypting the data and communication for the hypervisor and guest machines, to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the information stored or transmitted on them.
Implementing logging and auditing mechanisms for the hypervisor and guest machines, to record and track any activities or events that occur on them, and enable detection and investigation of any incidents or anomalies.
Hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines can help prevent or mitigate common attacks on virtualized environments, such as:
Hypervisor escape: An attack where a malicious guest machine breaks out of its isolated environment and gains access to the hypervisor or other guest machines.
Hypervisor compromise: An attack where an attacker exploits a vulnerability or misconfiguration in the hypervisor to gain control over it or its resources.
Guest compromise: An attack where an attacker exploits a vulnerability or misconfiguration in a guest machine to gain access to its data or applications.
Guest impersonation: An attack where an attacker creates a fake or cloned guest machine to trick other guests or users into interacting with it.
Guest denial-of-service: An attack where an attacker consumes or exhausts the resources of a guest machine to disrupt its availability or performance.
Therefore, hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines is the most important control for virtualized environments, as it can enhance their security, reliability, and performance. For more information about hardening for virtualized environments, you can refer to some of these web sources:
Hypervisor security on the Azure fleet
Chapter 2: Hardening the Hyper-V host
Plan for Hyper-V security in Windows Server
B
Explanation:
The most important control for virtualized environments is hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines. Hardening is the process of applying security measures and configurations to reduce the vulnerabilities and risks of a system or device. Hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines is essential for protecting the virtualized environments from attacks, as they are exposed to various threats from both the physical and virtual layers. Hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines involves the following steps:
Applying the latest patches and updates for the hypervisor and guest operating systems, as well as the applications and drivers running on them.
Configuring the firewall and network settings for the hypervisor and guest machines, to restrict and monitor the network traffic and prevent unauthorized access or communication.
Disabling or removing any unnecessary or unused features, services, accounts, or ports on the hypervisor and guest machines, to minimize the attack surface and reduce the potential entry points for attackers.
Enforcing strong authentication and authorization policies for the hypervisor and guest machines, to ensure that only authorized users or administrators can access or manage them.
Encrypting the data and communication for the hypervisor and guest machines, to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the information stored or transmitted on them.
Implementing logging and auditing mechanisms for the hypervisor and guest machines, to record and track any activities or events that occur on them, and enable detection and investigation of any incidents or anomalies.
Hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines can help prevent or mitigate common attacks on virtualized environments, such as:
Hypervisor escape: An attack where a malicious guest machine breaks out of its isolated environment and gains access to the hypervisor or other guest machines.
Hypervisor compromise: An attack where an attacker exploits a vulnerability or misconfiguration in the hypervisor to gain control over it or its resources.
Guest compromise: An attack where an attacker exploits a vulnerability or misconfiguration in a guest machine to gain access to its data or applications.
Guest impersonation: An attack where an attacker creates a fake or cloned guest machine to trick other guests or users into interacting with it.
Guest denial-of-service: An attack where an attacker consumes or exhausts the resources of a guest machine to disrupt its availability or performance.
Therefore, hardening for the hypervisor and guest machines is the most important control for virtualized environments, as it can enhance their security, reliability, and performance. For more information about hardening for virtualized environments, you can refer to some of these web sources:
Hypervisor security on the Azure fleet
Chapter 2: Hardening the Hyper-V host
Plan for Hyper-V security in Windows Server
Question #187
Which of the following is the BEST justification for deferring remediation testing until the next audit?
- A . The auditor who conducted the audit and agreed with the timeline has left the organization.
- B . Management’s planned actions are sufficient given the relative importance of the observations.
- C . Auditee management has accepted all observations reported by the auditor.
- D . The audit environment has changed significantly.
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
Deferring remediation testing until the next audit is justified only when there are significant changes in the audit environment that affect the relevance or validity of the audit observations and recommendations. For example, if there are changes in the business processes, systems, regulations, or risks that require a new audit scope or approach. The other options are not valid justifications for deferring remediation testing, as they do not address the timeliness or quality of the audit follow-up process. The auditor who conducted the audit and agreed with the timeline has left the organization does not affect the responsibility of the audit function to ensure that remediation testing is performed as planned. Management’s planned actions are sufficient given the relative importance of the observations does not guarantee that management will actually implement those actions or that they will be effective in addressing the audit issues. Auditee management has accepted all observations reported by the auditor does not eliminate the need for verification of remediation actions by an independent party.
Reference: CISA Review Manual (Digital Version), Chapter 2, Section 2.4
D
Explanation:
Deferring remediation testing until the next audit is justified only when there are significant changes in the audit environment that affect the relevance or validity of the audit observations and recommendations. For example, if there are changes in the business processes, systems, regulations, or risks that require a new audit scope or approach. The other options are not valid justifications for deferring remediation testing, as they do not address the timeliness or quality of the audit follow-up process. The auditor who conducted the audit and agreed with the timeline has left the organization does not affect the responsibility of the audit function to ensure that remediation testing is performed as planned. Management’s planned actions are sufficient given the relative importance of the observations does not guarantee that management will actually implement those actions or that they will be effective in addressing the audit issues. Auditee management has accepted all observations reported by the auditor does not eliminate the need for verification of remediation actions by an independent party.
Reference: CISA Review Manual (Digital Version), Chapter 2, Section 2.4
Question #188
Which of the following is MOST important to consider when developing a service level agreement (SLAP)?
- A . Description of the services from the viewpoint of the provider
- B . Detailed identification of work to be completed
- C . Provisions for regulatory requirements that impact the end users’ businesses
- D . Description of the services from the viewpoint of the client organization
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
The most important factor to consider when developing a service level agreement (SLA) is the description of the services from the viewpoint of the client organization, because the SLA should reflect the needs and expectations of the client and specify the measurable outcomes and performance indicators that the provider must deliver34. The description of the services from the viewpoint of the provider, the detailed identification of work to be completed, and the provisions for regulatory requirements that impact the end users’ businesses are also important elements of an SLA, but not as crucial as the client’s perspective.
Reference: 3: CISA Review Manual (Digital Version), Chapter 5, Section 5.3.1 4: CISA Online Review Course, Module 5, Lesson 3
D
Explanation:
The most important factor to consider when developing a service level agreement (SLA) is the description of the services from the viewpoint of the client organization, because the SLA should reflect the needs and expectations of the client and specify the measurable outcomes and performance indicators that the provider must deliver34. The description of the services from the viewpoint of the provider, the detailed identification of work to be completed, and the provisions for regulatory requirements that impact the end users’ businesses are also important elements of an SLA, but not as crucial as the client’s perspective.
Reference: 3: CISA Review Manual (Digital Version), Chapter 5, Section 5.3.1 4: CISA Online Review Course, Module 5, Lesson 3
Question #189
What should an IS auditor recommend to management as the MOST important action before selecting a Software as a Service (SaaS) vendor?
- A . Determine service level requirements.
- B . Complete a risk assessment.
- C . Perform a business impact analysis (BIA)
- D . Conduct a vendor audit.
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
Before selecting a SaaS vendor, the most important action is to complete a risk assessment. A risk assessment is a process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the potential risks associated with outsourcing software and IT infrastructure to a third-party provider. A risk assessment helps to determine the impact and likelihood of various threats, such as data breaches, service disruptions, vendor lock-in, compliance issues, and legal disputes. A risk assessment also helps to identify the mitigation strategies and controls that can reduce or eliminate the risks.
A risk assessment is more important than determining service level requirements, performing a business impact analysis (BIA), or conducting a vendor audit because it provides the basis for these other actions. Service level requirements are the expectations and obligations that define the quality and quantity of service that the vendor must provide to the customer. A BIA is a process of assessing the potential effects of an interruption or disruption of critical business functions or processes due to an incident or disaster. A vendor audit is a process of verifying the vendor’s compliance with the contract terms, service levels, security policies, and best practices.
Service level requirements, BIA, and vendor audit are all important actions for selecting a SaaS vendor, but they depend on the results of the risk assessment. For example, service level requirements should reflect the risk appetite and tolerance of the customer, which are determined by the risk assessment. A BIA should prioritize the recovery of the most critical and vulnerable business functions or processes, which are identified by the risk assessment. A vendor audit should focus on the areas of highest risk and concern, which are highlighted by the risk assessment.
Therefore, an IS auditor should recommend to management that completing a risk assessment is the most important action before selecting a SaaS vendor.
Reference: SaaS checklist: Nine factors to consider when selecting a vendor
SaaS vendor management: 10 best practices to achieve success
Best Practices for Software SaaS Vendor Selection and Negotiation
How to Evaluate SaaS Providers and Solutions by Developing … – Gartner
B
Explanation:
Before selecting a SaaS vendor, the most important action is to complete a risk assessment. A risk assessment is a process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the potential risks associated with outsourcing software and IT infrastructure to a third-party provider. A risk assessment helps to determine the impact and likelihood of various threats, such as data breaches, service disruptions, vendor lock-in, compliance issues, and legal disputes. A risk assessment also helps to identify the mitigation strategies and controls that can reduce or eliminate the risks.
A risk assessment is more important than determining service level requirements, performing a business impact analysis (BIA), or conducting a vendor audit because it provides the basis for these other actions. Service level requirements are the expectations and obligations that define the quality and quantity of service that the vendor must provide to the customer. A BIA is a process of assessing the potential effects of an interruption or disruption of critical business functions or processes due to an incident or disaster. A vendor audit is a process of verifying the vendor’s compliance with the contract terms, service levels, security policies, and best practices.
Service level requirements, BIA, and vendor audit are all important actions for selecting a SaaS vendor, but they depend on the results of the risk assessment. For example, service level requirements should reflect the risk appetite and tolerance of the customer, which are determined by the risk assessment. A BIA should prioritize the recovery of the most critical and vulnerable business functions or processes, which are identified by the risk assessment. A vendor audit should focus on the areas of highest risk and concern, which are highlighted by the risk assessment.
Therefore, an IS auditor should recommend to management that completing a risk assessment is the most important action before selecting a SaaS vendor.
Reference: SaaS checklist: Nine factors to consider when selecting a vendor
SaaS vendor management: 10 best practices to achieve success
Best Practices for Software SaaS Vendor Selection and Negotiation
How to Evaluate SaaS Providers and Solutions by Developing … – Gartner
Question #190
An IS auditor Is renewing the deployment of a new automated system.
Which of the following findings presents the MOST significant risk?
- A . The new system has resulted m layoffs of key experienced personnel.
- B . Users have not been trained on the new system.
- C . Data from the legacy system is not migrated correctly to the new system.
- D . The new system is not platform agnostic
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
The finding that presents the most significant risk when reviewing the deployment of a new automated system is that data from the legacy system is not migrated correctly to the new system. Data migration is a critical process that involves transferring data from one system to another, ensuring its accuracy, completeness, integrity, and usability. If data migration is not performed correctly, it can result in data loss, corruption, inconsistency, or duplication, which can affect the functionality, performance, reliability, and security of the new system. Data migration errors can also have serious business implications, such as affecting decision making, reporting, compliance, customer service, and revenue. The other findings (A, B and D) are less significant risks, as they can be mitigated by rehiring or retraining personnel, providing user training, or adapting the system to different platforms.
C
Explanation:
The finding that presents the most significant risk when reviewing the deployment of a new automated system is that data from the legacy system is not migrated correctly to the new system. Data migration is a critical process that involves transferring data from one system to another, ensuring its accuracy, completeness, integrity, and usability. If data migration is not performed correctly, it can result in data loss, corruption, inconsistency, or duplication, which can affect the functionality, performance, reliability, and security of the new system. Data migration errors can also have serious business implications, such as affecting decision making, reporting, compliance, customer service, and revenue. The other findings (A, B and D) are less significant risks, as they can be mitigated by rehiring or retraining personnel, providing user training, or adapting the system to different platforms.