CISM Practice Test 3 — 25 Questions

Question 1

During a merger, two companies with different information security programs are being integrated. The combined entity must maintain compliance with PCI DSS and GDPR. The CISO is concerned about gaps in coverage due to differing maturity levels. Which of the following is the BEST approach to harmonize the programs?

Accepted Answer

Perform a gap analysis against the requirements and prioritize remediation.. Option D is correct because a gap analysis identifies where controls are missing or insufficient, allowing for a prioritized remediation plan. Option A is wrong because adopting the higher standard may be unnecessary and costly. Option B is wrong because merging without analysis could introduce risks. Option C is wrong because a new framework from scratch may not leverage existing investments.

Answer

Adopt the more stringent security program from the acquirer across the entire entity.

Answer

Merge the two programs by combining all controls from each.

Answer

Implement a completely new framework that meets both regulations.

Question 2

Refer to the exhibit. An information security manager reviews the risk register and sees that Risk ID R001 has a residual risk of High with a treatment of Accept. Which of the following best explains why this situation may indicate a governance failure?

Accepted Answer

Accepting a high residual risk likely exceeds the board-approved risk appetite.. Accepting a high residual risk means the organization has decided to tolerate a level of risk that likely exceeds the board-approved risk appetite. This is a governance failure because the board sets the risk appetite, and management must ensure that all accepted risks fall within that threshold. If the residual risk is high and the treatment is 'Accept,' it indicates a disconnect between the risk acceptance process and the governance framework.

Answer

The risk register should not contain risks with residual risk above low.

Answer

The control effectiveness rating of 'Partially effective' is too vague.

Answer

The risk owner should be a business unit head, not the CISO.

Question 3

Which TWO of the following are key responsibilities of an information security governance committee?

Accepted Answer

Approve major changes to information security policies.. The information security governance committee is a high-level body responsible for strategic oversight. Approving major changes to information security policies (Option C) is a core governance function, ensuring that policy updates align with business objectives and regulatory requirements before implementation. This is distinct from operational tasks like vulnerability assessments or daily monitoring.

Answer

Perform vulnerability assessments on critical systems.

Answer

Set the organization's risk appetite.

Answer

Conduct daily monitoring of security events.

Question 4

An information security manager is developing a security strategy for a financial institution. Which of the following should be the PRIMARY driver for selecting security controls?

Accepted Answer

Business requirements derived from risk assessment and compliance obligations.. Business requirements derived from risk assessment and compliance obligations are the primary driver because they directly align security controls with the institution's specific risk appetite, regulatory mandates (e.g., PCI DSS, SOX, GDPR), and operational needs. This ensures controls are cost-effective and prioritized based on actual exposure rather than reactive or budget-driven decisions.

Answer

The latest cybersecurity threats reported in the industry.

Answer

Past security incidents that caused significant financial loss.

Answer

The security budget allocated for the fiscal year.

Question 5

During an audit, it was found that the organization's information security policy is not being followed by business units. Which of the following is the MOST effective way for the information security manager to improve compliance?

Accepted Answer

Establish a policy review committee with business unit representatives to align policy with operational needs.. The most effective way to improve compliance is to align the policy with operational realities by involving business unit representatives in a policy review committee. When policies conflict with business processes, users will bypass them; adjusting the policy to be both secure and practical increases voluntary adherence. This addresses the root cause—policy misalignment—rather than treating symptoms like lack of awareness or enforcement.

Answer

Provide additional security awareness training focused on policy requirements.

Answer

Escalate non-compliance to senior management for disciplinary action.

Answer

Increase the frequency of automated policy compliance checks.

Question 6

An organization has decided to adopt a risk-based approach to information security. What is the FIRST step the information security manager should take to implement this approach?

Accepted Answer

Identify and assess information assets and their associated threats and vulnerabilities.. The first step in implementing a risk-based approach is to identify and assess information assets along with their associated threats and vulnerabilities. This foundational activity provides the necessary context for all subsequent risk management decisions, including defining risk appetite, selecting a framework, and implementing controls. Without a clear understanding of what assets exist and what risks they face, any further steps would be based on assumptions rather than evidence.

Answer

Define the organization's risk appetite and risk tolerance levels.

Answer

Implement security controls based on industry best practices.

Answer

Select a risk management framework such as ISO 31000 or NIST RMF.

Question 7

An information security manager is developing a security scorecard for the board. Which of the following should be included to BEST demonstrate governance performance?

Accepted Answer

Number of risk acceptances approved vs. rejected. The number of risk acceptances approved vs. rejected directly reflects the board's governance of risk appetite and decision-making. It shows how management formally accepts residual risk, which is a key governance function, unlike operational metrics that measure tactical execution.

Answer

Total number of security incidents this quarter

Answer

Percentage of systems patched within 30 days

Answer

Employee security training completion rate

Question 8

An organization's security monitoring system detects multiple failed login attempts from an internal IP address to a critical database server. The attempts are occurring every few seconds. What is the FIRST step the incident response team should take?

Accepted Answer

Verify whether the activity is legitimate.. The first step is to verify if the activity is legitimate or malicious to avoid false positives and understand the context.

Answer

Block the IP address at the firewall immediately.

Answer

Disable the database server to prevent data breach.

Answer

Reset the password of the database service account.

Question 9

An organization has an incident response plan that designates a primary and alternate incident response team. During a simulated ransomware attack, the primary team is unavailable. What should the alternate team do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Assess the situation and then activate the plan.. Option D is correct because the alternate team must first assess the situation to understand the scope, impact, and validity of the ransomware attack before activating the plan. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-61 incident response lifecycle, where detection and analysis precede containment, eradication, and recovery. Jumping directly to execution without assessment could lead to inappropriate response actions, such as isolating systems that are not affected or failing to preserve critical forensic evidence.

Answer

Contact the primary team members for instructions.

Answer

Declare a disaster and escalate to senior management.

Answer

Execute the incident response plan as documented.

Question 10

After a major security incident, the incident response team completes the containment, eradication, and recovery phases. The CISO is now planning the post-incident activities. Which activity is MOST critical to ensure that lessons learned are effectively incorporated?

Accepted Answer

Conducting a post-incident review and updating policies.. Conducting a post-incident review and updating policies is the most critical post-incident activity because it ensures that the root cause, response gaps, and process deficiencies are formally documented and translated into actionable improvements. This directly supports the continuous improvement cycle required by NIST SP 800-61 and ISO 27035, preventing recurrence of similar incidents.

Answer

Publishing a public disclosure of the incident.

Answer

Terminating the incident response team's engagement.

Answer

Restoring all systems to full production status.

Question 11

Which TWO of the following are key components of an effective incident response plan?

Accepted Answer

A clear chain of command and escalation procedures.. A clear chain of command and escalation procedures ensure that during an incident, decision-making authority and notification paths are predefined, reducing confusion and enabling rapid, coordinated response. This aligns with NIST SP 800-61 incident response guidelines, which emphasize the need for defined roles and communication hierarchies to avoid delays or missteps in critical situations.

Answer

Automatic detection and response tools.

Answer

Predefined response scripts for every possible incident.

Question 12

During an incident investigation, the forensic analyst discovers that a malware sample communicates with an external IP address. The organization's incident response plan requires a decision on whether to block the IP at the firewall. What should the incident response team do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Check threat intelligence feeds to confirm maliciousness.. Option D is correct because the incident response team must first validate the maliciousness of the IP address using threat intelligence feeds before taking any irreversible action. Blocking an IP without confirmation could disrupt legitimate business operations or tip off an attacker, and the CISM framework emphasizes evidence-based decision-making during incident response.

Answer

Monitor the connection further without taking action.

Answer

Block the IP address immediately to prevent data exfiltration.

Answer

Notify law enforcement about the IP address.

Question 13

Which TWO of the following are indicators of a potential security incident?

Accepted Answer

Multiple unexpected system reboots.. Multiple unexpected system reboots (B) are a strong indicator of a potential security incident because they may result from malware, kernel-level exploits, or denial-of-service attacks that crash the operating system. Unusual outbound network traffic from a server (E) often indicates data exfiltration, command-and-control (C2) communication, or a compromised service sending sensitive data to an external host. Both behaviors deviate from baseline operations and warrant immediate investigation under the Incident Management domain.

Answer

Low disk space on a file server.

Answer

A new version of a critical software released.

Answer

A successful login by an authorized user.

Question 14

Based on the exhibit, what is the MOST likely issue?

Accepted Answer

A system is infected with malware that is beaconing to a command and control server.. The IDS alert indicates a malware beacon, and the firewall log shows periodic outbound connections to an external IP, which is typical of command and control traffic.

Answer

A user is streaming video from a legitimate site.

Answer

A software update is being downloaded from an external site.

Answer

A network scan is being performed from the internal IP.

Question 15

Which of the following are key components of an Information Security Risk Management program? (Select TWO.)

Accepted Answer

Establishing a risk management framework. A is correct because establishing a risk management framework is the foundational component of an Information Security Risk Management program. It defines the policies, procedures, and governance structure for identifying, assessing, and treating risks, aligning with standards like ISO 31000 or NIST SP 800-39. Without a framework, risk management activities lack consistency and accountability.

Answer

Conducting vulnerability scanning

Answer

Performing internal audits

Question 16

An information security manager has identified a risk with a high likelihood and high impact. The cost of mitigating the risk exceeds the potential loss. What is the MOST appropriate risk treatment strategy?

Accepted Answer

Risk acceptance. When mitigation cost exceeds potential loss, risk acceptance is appropriate if the risk is within the organization's risk appetite. Alternatively, risk transfer (e.g., insurance) could be considered, but acceptance is often the primary choice when the cost-benefit is negative.

Answer

Risk mitigation

Answer

Risk transfer

Answer

Risk avoidance

Question 17

After a major security incident, the board of directors requests a review of the information security program. Which of the following metrics would be MOST useful to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program over the past year?

Accepted Answer

Number of security incidents detected and contained within defined SLAs. The number of incidents detected and contained within defined SLAs directly measures the program's ability to detect and respond to threats, which is a key indicator of operational effectiveness. Other metrics may be useful but do not directly measure the program's performance in protecting the organization.

Answer

Percentage of employees who completed security awareness training

Answer

Total cost of security investments compared to industry benchmarks

Answer

Number of vulnerabilities identified in the latest penetration test

Question 18

During a risk assessment, a security manager discovers that the residual risk after implementing planned controls is still above the risk appetite threshold. What should the manager do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Escalate the residual risk to senior management. When residual risk exceeds the risk appetite threshold after planned controls, the security manager cannot simply accept or ignore it; the risk must be escalated to senior management because they hold the authority to decide whether to accept the risk, allocate additional budget for further controls, or adjust the risk appetite. This aligns with the CISM domain of Information Security Risk Management, where risk acceptance is a management decision, not an operational one.

Answer

Implement additional controls immediately

Answer

Document the risk as accepted

Answer

Reassess the risk using a different methodology

Question 19

Which of the following are key components of an information security risk management program? (Select TWO)

Accepted Answer

Risk assessment. Risk assessment is a core component of an information security risk management program because it systematically identifies, analyzes, and evaluates risks to information assets. It provides the foundational understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and impacts necessary for informed decision-making. Without a formal risk assessment, the program lacks the data needed to prioritize and justify security investments.

Answer

Vulnerability scanning

Answer

Incident response

Question 20

A security manager is presenting risk analysis results to the board. Which of the following should the manager include to effectively communicate risk? (Select THREE)

Accepted Answer

Monetary value of potential losses. Monetary value of potential losses (A) is correct because it translates technical risk into financial terms that board members understand, enabling informed decisions on resource allocation for risk mitigation. This aligns with the CISM focus on business-aligned risk communication, where quantitative metrics like Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE) directly support cost-benefit analysis.

Answer

Detailed technical vulnerabilities

Answer

Anecdotal stories of past incidents