CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development and implementation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
A company decides to outsource the development of a customer portal. Which of the following is the MOST critical control to include in the contract?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Service level agreements
Service level agreements (SLAs) are the most critical control because they define measurable performance targets (e.g., uptime, response time, throughput) for the outsourced customer portal. Without enforceable SLAs, the company has no contractual mechanism to ensure the portal meets availability and responsiveness requirements, directly impacting customer experience and business operations.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Service level agreements
Why this is correct
SLAs specify measurable performance targets and remedies for non-compliance, directly impacting business operations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Fixed price clause
Why it's wrong here
Fixed price controls cost but does not guarantee performance or quality.
✗
Non-disclosure agreement
Why it's wrong here
NDA is important for confidentiality but does not address service delivery quality.
✗
Termination for convenience clause
Why it's wrong here
This clause allows early termination but does not ensure quality during the contract period.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) thinking data protection is paramount, but the question asks for the MOST critical control in a development contract, where performance and availability (via SLAs) are more directly tied to project success.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SLAs typically include specific metrics such as 99.9% uptime (measured monthly), maximum response time under 2 seconds for API calls, and resolution time for critical incidents (e.g., 4 hours). In practice, SLAs are tied to service credits or penalties, creating a financial incentive for the vendor to maintain performance. Without SLAs, the company may have no recourse if the portal suffers frequent outages or slow load times, which can lead to customer churn and revenue loss.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — This question tests Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Service level agreements — Service level agreements (SLAs) are the most critical control because they define measurable performance targets (e.g., uptime, response time, throughput) for the outsourced customer portal. Without enforceable SLAs, the company has no contractual mechanism to ensure the portal meets availability and responsiveness requirements, directly impacting customer experience and business operations.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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