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CISA Practice Question: A security auditor discovers that a server has…
A security auditor discovers that a server has been compromised due to an unpatched vulnerability. Which of the following would have most effectively prevented this incident?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates choose a detective or preventive control (like a firewall or HIDS) that mitigates the attack surface or detects the breach, rather than recognizing that patching is the only option that eliminates the root cause of the vulnerability itself.
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
✓
Implementing a vulnerability management program with regular patching.
A vulnerability management program with regular patching directly addresses the root cause of the compromise: the unpatched vulnerability. By systematically identifying, prioritizing, and applying security patches, the organization eliminates the known weakness that the attacker exploited. This proactive measure prevents the initial compromise, whereas other controls only detect or limit the attack after the vulnerability is exploited.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enabling firewall rules to limit access.
Why it's wrong here
Firewalls may reduce attack surface but cannot mitigate the specific vulnerability if accessible.
- ✓
Implementing a vulnerability management program with regular patching.
Why this is correct
Correct. Regular patching addresses root cause by eliminating known vulnerabilities.
- ✗
Installing a host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS).
Why it's wrong here
HIDS can detect but not prevent a compromise if the vulnerability is unpatched.
- ✗
Using strong passwords on the server.
Why it's wrong here
Strong passwords help prevent unauthorized access but do not address the unpatched vulnerability.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.