- A
Log backup
Why wrong: Incorrect: Log backups are used for point-in-time recovery, not for full restore speed.
- B
Full backup
Correct: Restoring from a full backup is fastest because it does not require applying subsequent incremental or differential backups.
- C
Incremental backup
Why wrong: Incorrect: Incremental backup restores require applying multiple backup sets, which is slower.
- D
Differential backup
Why wrong: Incorrect: Differential restores are faster than incremental but still require the last full backup plus one differential.
Question 628 of 984
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems operations and business resilience. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 performs daily full backups of its database and weekly incremental backups. The backup retention policy requires keeping full backups for 30 days and incremental backups for 7 days. An auditor reviews the backup schedule. Which backup type provides the fastest restore?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Full backup
A full backup contains all data and requires only one restore operation, making it faster than restoring from incremental or differential backups.
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.
- ✗
Log backup
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Log backups are used for point-in-time recovery, not for full restore speed.
- ✓
Full backup
Why this is correct
Correct: Restoring from a full backup is fastest because it does not require applying subsequent incremental or differential backups.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Incremental backup
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Incremental backup restores require applying multiple backup sets, which is slower.
- ✗
Differential backup
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Differential restores are faster than incremental but still require the last full backup plus one differential.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 practitioner preparing for the CISA 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which CISA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — This question tests Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Full backup — A full backup contains all data and requires only one restore operation, making it faster than restoring from incremental or differential backups.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which CISA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CISA exam.
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