CISM Quick Quiz — 10 Questions

Question 1

A financial institution is implementing a new online banking platform. The risk assessment identified that the authentication module has a high likelihood of exploitation due to weak password policies. The risk owner has decided to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk. This is an example of which risk response strategy?

Accepted Answer

Risk mitigation. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) reduces the likelihood or impact of a security risk by adding additional authentication factors (e.g., something you know, something you have, something you are) beyond a weak password. This directly aligns with risk mitigation, which seeks to decrease the residual risk to an acceptable level through controls. The decision does not eliminate the risk entirely (avoidance), accept it without action, or transfer it to a third party.

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Risk avoidance

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Risk acceptance

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Risk transfer

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A set of security policies and standards. A set of security policies and standards is a key component because it establishes the governance framework that defines acceptable use, access control, and compliance requirements for the entire organization. Without documented policies and standards, the security program lacks the authoritative baseline to enforce controls or measure effectiveness. These documents are the foundation for all other security activities, including training, audits, and incident response.

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A network architecture diagram

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An incident response log

Question 3

A multinational corporation is implementing an information security governance framework. The board has requested a mechanism to ensure that security investments align with business objectives. Which of the following is the BEST approach to achieve this alignment?

Accepted Answer

Develop a risk-based prioritization framework linking security initiatives to business risk appetite.. Option D is correct because a risk-based prioritization framework directly maps security initiatives to the organization's risk appetite, ensuring that investments target the most critical business risks. This aligns with the CISM principle that governance must link security activities to business objectives through risk management, not through arbitrary cost-cutting or blanket compliance.

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Minimize security spending to maximize ROI.

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Adopt a best-practice framework such as NIST CSF and implement all controls.

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Focus on regulatory compliance to ensure legal requirements are met.

Question 4

A healthcare organization is developing an information security strategy. The board has mandated that the strategy must support innovation while protecting patient data. Which governance approach BEST balances these priorities?

Accepted Answer

Establish a risk appetite framework that defines acceptable risk levels for innovation initiatives.. A risk appetite framework (Option B) is the correct governance approach because it explicitly defines the level of risk the organization is willing to accept in pursuit of innovation, allowing the board to balance patient data protection with strategic growth. This framework provides a decision-making boundary for security controls, ensuring that innovation initiatives are not stifled by overly restrictive measures while still maintaining compliance with healthcare regulations like HIPAA and HITECH.

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Implement strict access controls and encryption for all data.

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Adopt a 'security by design' approach for all new projects.

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Create a separate innovation sandbox with limited data access.

Question 5

A newly appointed CISO wants to establish an information security governance committee. What is the PRIMARY purpose of this committee?

Accepted Answer

To ensure security strategy aligns with business objectives and provide oversight.. The primary purpose of an information security governance committee is to ensure that the security strategy aligns with business objectives and to provide oversight. This committee does not execute day-to-day operations or implement controls; instead, it sets direction, reviews risk posture, and ensures that security investments support organizational goals, as defined in frameworks like COBIT and ISO 38500.

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To manage day-to-day security operations.

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To implement security controls across the organization.

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To approve technical security solutions.

Question 6

Which TWO of the following are primary objectives of information security governance? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Align security strategy with business goals.. Option B is correct because information security governance's primary objective is to ensure that security strategy is aligned with business goals, enabling the organization to protect assets while supporting its mission. This alignment is achieved through governance frameworks like COBIT or ISO 38500, which mandate that security investments and controls are directly tied to business objectives, not isolated technical measures.

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Eliminate all information security risks.

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Maximize profitability through security investments.

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Achieve compliance with all applicable regulations.

Question 7

A financial services firm has a mature information security program but is struggling to demonstrate the value of security investments to the board. Which metric would BEST communicate the effectiveness of the security program in business terms?

Accepted Answer

Reduction in average cost per security incident over the past year.. The reduction in average cost per security incident directly translates security program outcomes into financial terms that resonate with the board. This metric demonstrates the program's effectiveness by quantifying the monetary value of improved prevention, detection, and response capabilities, aligning with the CISM focus on governance and business alignment.

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Number of security alerts triaged per day.

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Time to patch critical vulnerabilities.

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Percentage of systems with endpoint protection installed.

Question 8

You are the CISO of a mid-sized e-commerce company with 500 employees. The company recently suffered a data breach where an attacker exfiltrated customer credit card data from the production database. The investigation revealed that the breach originated from a compromised developer workstation. The developer had been granted direct access to the production database for troubleshooting purposes, a practice that had been in place for years. The security governance framework currently lacks a formal process for managing privileged access. The board has asked for immediate improvements to prevent recurrence. Which course of action BEST addresses the governance gap?

Accepted Answer

Implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with just-in-time access and session recording.. The core governance gap is the lack of a formal process for managing privileged access. Implementing a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution with just-in-time (JIT) access and session recording directly addresses this by enforcing time-bound, auditable, and approved access to the production database, eliminating standing privileges. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and provides a governance mechanism to control, monitor, and revoke elevated access, which is the root cause of the breach.

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Segment the network to isolate production databases from developer workstations.

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Conduct security awareness training for all developers on password security.

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Deploy endpoint protection and patch management for all workstations.

Question 9

A company is considering outsourcing its security operations center (SOC). Which governance consideration is MOST critical before finalizing the decision?

Accepted Answer

The ability to maintain oversight and accountability for security outcomes.. Option D is correct because governance requires that the organization retains ultimate responsibility for security outcomes, even when functions are outsourced. Without the ability to maintain oversight and accountability, the company cannot ensure that its security posture aligns with business risk tolerance and regulatory compliance requirements. This is a fundamental principle of information security governance, as the board and senior management cannot delegate accountability.

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The vendor's service level agreements (SLAs) for incident response times.

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The vendor's technical expertise and certifications.

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The cost savings compared to in-house operations.

Question 10

A security analyst detects unusual outbound network traffic from a database server to an unknown IP address. The traffic uses encrypted connections on port 443. Which type of attack is MOST likely occurring?

Accepted Answer

Data exfiltration. The encrypted outbound traffic on port 443 (HTTPS) from a database server to an unknown IP is a classic indicator of data exfiltration. Attackers often use encrypted channels to bypass network security controls, as the contents of the traffic cannot be inspected by DLP or IDS/IPS systems. The database server is a high-value target for sensitive data, making this the most likely attack scenario.

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SQL injection

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Ransomware

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Denial of service