The correct answer is to implement immutable backups and store them offsite or in a separate air-gapped environment. Immutable backups are write-once, read-many (WORM) copies that cannot be altered, encrypted, or deleted by ransomware, even if the backup software or administrative credentials are compromised. By placing these backups in an offsite or air-gapped location, you eliminate the single point of failure that caused the three-week recovery delay—simultaneous loss of primary and secondary data within the same infected building. On the CISA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the backup and recovery domain within the Protection of Information Assets, specifically the principle of defense in depth for ransomware resilience. A common trap is choosing “more frequent backups” or “stronger antivirus,” which do not prevent deletion of existing backups. Memory tip: “Immutable is unmutable”—if ransomware can’t change it, it can’t hold it hostage.
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems operations and business resilience. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 medium-sized financial services firm recently suffered a ransomware attack that encrypted critical servers and backups. The recovery process took three weeks because the backup tapes were stored in the same building (which was also infected) and the backup software had a vulnerability that allowed the ransomware to delete old backups. The firm's BCP did not account for simultaneous loss of primary and secondary data. As the IS auditor, you are asked to recommend the most effective improvement to the backup strategy to prevent recurrence and improve resilience. Which of the following actions should the firm implement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement immutable backups and store them offsite or in a separate air-gapped environment
Immutable backups prevent modification or deletion by ransomware, even if the backup software or administrative credentials are compromised. Storing them offsite or in an air-gapped environment ensures that a simultaneous physical or logical attack cannot destroy both primary and secondary data, directly addressing the root cause of the three-week recovery delay.
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.
✓
Implement immutable backups and store them offsite or in a separate air-gapped environment
Why this is correct
Immutable backups prevent unauthorized deletion or modification, directly mitigating the risk from ransomware.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the frequency of full backups to daily
Why it's wrong here
More frequent backups may reduce data loss but do not protect existing backups from deletion or encryption.
✗
Conduct quarterly tabletop exercises to test recovery procedures
Why it's wrong here
Tabletop exercises improve preparedness but do not fix the underlying backup vulnerability.
✗
Move all backups to a cloud storage provider with default settings
Why it's wrong here
Cloud storage alone does not ensure immutability; without specific configuration, backups can still be deleted.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose increased backup frequency or cloud migration, thinking they improve resilience, but they overlook the critical requirement that backups must be protected from deletion or encryption by the same attack that compromises the primary systems.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Immutable backups are typically implemented using object lock (e.g., AWS S3 Object Lock with Governance or Compliance mode) or write-once-read-many (WORM) storage, which enforces a retention period during which data cannot be altered or deleted even by the root user. An air-gapped environment physically or logically isolates the backup repository from the production network, often using a separate tape library, a disconnected NAS, or a cloud storage bucket with a virtual private cloud endpoint and no public access, ensuring that ransomware cannot propagate to the backup target. In real-world scenarios, attackers often target backup repositories first; immutable and air-gapped backups force them to attempt exfiltration or extortion without the ability to destroy the recovery copy.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Implement immutable backups and store them offsite or in a separate air-gapped environment — Immutable backups prevent modification or deletion by ransomware, even if the backup software or administrative credentials are compromised. Storing them offsite or in an air-gapped environment ensures that a simultaneous physical or logical attack cannot destroy both primary and secondary data, directly addressing the root cause of the three-week recovery delay.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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