Quick Answer
The answer is including security requirements in contracts and conducting periodic audits, as this method creates a legally binding obligation while providing direct, verifiable evidence of ongoing compliance. This approach is superior to self-assessments or certifications because audits allow the organization to actively inspect controls and configurations, aligning with the NIST SP 800-53 continuous monitoring framework central to third-party risk management. On the CompTIA SecurityX CAS-004 exam, this tests your understanding of vendor compliance enforcement methods within the governance, risk, and compliance domain, where the common trap is choosing a one-time certification or vendor self-reporting as sufficient. Remember the memory tip: “Contract and audit, never trust a vendor’s word without it”—this reinforces that legal teeth plus active inspection form the most effective enforcement method.
This CAS-004 practice question tests your understanding of governance, risk and compliance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An organization wants to ensure that its third-party vendors comply with the company's security policies. Which of the following is the MOST effective method?
Include security requirements in contracts and conduct periodic audits
Legally binding and verifiable
Require vendors to obtain ISO 27001 certification
Why wrong: Certification does not guarantee compliance
Send annual self-assessment questionnaires
Why wrong: Self-reported and may not be accurate
Perform quarterly penetration tests on vendor networks
Why wrong: Narrow scope and not continuous
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Include security requirements in contracts and conduct periodic audits
Including security requirements in contracts and conducting periodic audits is the most effective method because it creates a legally binding obligation for vendors to adhere to the organization's security policies, and audits provide direct, verifiable evidence of compliance. Unlike self-assessments or certifications, audits allow the organization to actively inspect controls, configurations, and processes, ensuring ongoing adherence rather than relying on a point-in-time assertion. This approach aligns with the NIST SP 800-53 continuous monitoring framework and is a core principle of third-party risk management (TPRM) in the CAS-004 domain.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Include security requirements in contracts and conduct periodic audits
Why this is correct
Legally binding and verifiable
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Require vendors to obtain ISO 27001 certification
Why it's wrong here
Certification does not guarantee compliance
Send annual self-assessment questionnaires
Why it's wrong here
Self-reported and may not be accurate
Perform quarterly penetration tests on vendor networks
Why it's wrong here
Narrow scope and not continuous
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that a one-time certification or a technical test like a penetration test is sufficient to ensure ongoing compliance, when in reality, continuous contractual obligations and independent audits are required to enforce and verify policy adherence over time.
Detailed technical explanation
Periodic audits should follow a structured framework such as SOC 2 Type II or ISO 19011, where auditors examine evidence like access logs, patch management records, and configuration baselines against the organization's specific policy requirements. Under the hood, this involves reviewing audit trails from SIEM systems, verifying that vendor systems enforce least-privilege access via IAM policies, and checking that encryption standards (e.g., AES-256 for data at rest, TLS 1.3 for data in transit) are consistently applied. In a real-world scenario, a financial institution might audit a cloud service provider's compliance with PCI DSS by inspecting their firewall rule sets, change management logs, and quarterly vulnerability scan reports, which a self-assessment or certification alone cannot validate.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CAS-004 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Governance, Risk and Compliance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Governance, Risk and Compliance practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All CAS-004 questions
510 questions across all exam domains
CompTIA SecurityX CAS-004 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
CAS-004 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CAS-004 questions linked to Scripting, Containers and Automation.
Practise CAS-004 questions linked to Application Environment, Configuration and Security.
Practise CAS-004 questions linked to Governance, Risk and Compliance.
Practise CAS-004 questions linked to Security Engineering.
Practise CAS-004 questions linked to Security Architecture.
Practise CAS-004 questions linked to Security Operations.
Practise CAS-004 questions linked to CAS-004 fundamentals.
Practise CAS-004 questions linked to CAS-004 scenario.
Practise CAS-004 questions linked to CAS-004 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Governance, Risk and Compliance — This question tests Governance, Risk and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Include security requirements in contracts and conduct periodic audits — Including security requirements in contracts and conducting periodic audits is the most effective method because it creates a legally binding obligation for vendors to adhere to the organization's security policies, and audits provide direct, verifiable evidence of compliance. Unlike self-assessments or certifications, audits allow the organization to actively inspect controls, configurations, and processes, ensuring ongoing adherence rather than relying on a point-in-time assertion. This approach aligns with the NIST SP 800-53 continuous monitoring framework and is a core principle of third-party risk management (TPRM) in the CAS-004 domain.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CAS-004 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CAS-004 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.