- A
Proceed with go-live but apply a compensating control to mitigate the vulnerability until the patch is applied
Why wrong: Compensating controls may not fully mitigate, and policy requires patching within 30 days of release.
- B
Continue with the current version, go live as planned, and schedule the security patch installation after go-live within the 30-day window
Why wrong: Even if applied within 30 days, the system would be vulnerable for up to 30 days, violating the spirit of the policy which likely requires patching before production.
- C
Delay the go-live and integrate the security patch before going live
This ensures compliance with the patching policy and protects sensitive data from the vulnerability.
- D
Negotiate with the vendor to obtain an early fix for the vulnerability without the new features to minimize delay
Why wrong: Negotiations may not succeed and would still cause some delay.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to delay the go-live and integrate the security patch before going live. This decision is driven by the organization’s strict policy requiring all systems processing sensitive data to have the latest security patches within 30 days of release; going live without the patch would constitute a security patch before go live policy violation, exposing payroll and employee data to a known data leakage vulnerability. On the CISA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of governance and compliance over project deadlines—specifically, that internal policies and risk management must override business pressure to meet a go-live date. A common trap is assuming compensating controls can substitute for patching, but the policy mandates the patch itself, not just risk mitigation. Memory tip: “Policy before project—patch before production.”
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development and implementation. 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 large organization is implementing a new HR management system to handle payroll and employee data. The project is currently in the build phase with a planned go-live in three months. Recently, the vendor notified the project team that a critical security patch will be released in two months that addresses a data leakage vulnerability present in the current version. The patch includes new features that are not in the contract. The project manager estimates that integrating the patch and re-testing will delay the project by at least four months. Business stakeholders insist on meeting the original go-live date because the legacy system is being decommissioned. The organization has a strict policy that all systems processing sensitive data must have the latest security patches within 30 days of release. What should the project team do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Delay the go-live and integrate the security patch before going live
Option D is correct because the organization's policy requires the patch within 30 days; going live without the patch would violate policy. Delaying go-live ensures compliance and avoids risk of data leakage. Option A is wrong even if compensating control is applied, the policy requires patching, and the vulnerability remains. Option B is wrong negotiations may not succeed and would still cause delay. Option C is wrong even if patch is applied after go-live, the system would be vulnerable for up to 30 days, violating policy.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Proceed with go-live but apply a compensating control to mitigate the vulnerability until the patch is applied
Why it's wrong here
Compensating controls may not fully mitigate, and policy requires patching within 30 days of release.
- ✗
Continue with the current version, go live as planned, and schedule the security patch installation after go-live within the 30-day window
Why it's wrong here
Even if applied within 30 days, the system would be vulnerable for up to 30 days, violating the spirit of the policy which likely requires patching before production.
- ✓
Delay the go-live and integrate the security patch before going live
Why this is correct
This ensures compliance with the patching policy and protects sensitive data from the vulnerability.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Negotiate with the vendor to obtain an early fix for the vulnerability without the new features to minimize delay
Why it's wrong here
Negotiations may not succeed and would still cause some delay.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — This question tests Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Delay the go-live and integrate the security patch before going live — Option D is correct because the organization's policy requires the patch within 30 days; going live without the patch would violate policy. Delaying go-live ensures compliance and avoids risk of data leakage. Option A is wrong even if compensating control is applied, the policy requires patching, and the vulnerability remains. Option B is wrong negotiations may not succeed and would still cause delay. Option C is wrong even if patch is applied after go-live, the system would be vulnerable for up to 30 days, violating policy.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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