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CISA Practice Question: A university's research department stores…
A university's research department stores sensitive research data on a file server that is shared among faculty and graduate students. The server is accessible from the campus network and via VPN for remote access. Recently, a student downloaded a large dataset containing personally identifiable information (PII) of research subjects to a personal laptop. The laptop was later stolen. The university's incident response team determines that the student had legitimate access to the data for research purposes. Which control would have most effectively prevented the data exposure?
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
✓
Implement a DLP solution that restricts downloads of sensitive data to unmanaged devices
A Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution can inspect the content of files being transferred and block downloads of sensitive data like PII to unmanaged devices such as a personal laptop. This would prevent the initial data exposure. Option A, full-disk encryption, protects data on the stolen laptop but does not prevent the download. Option B, restricting VPN access to university-issued devices, would not stop the student from downloading data while on campus or via VPN with a personal device if allowed. Option C, annual access reviews, is a periodic control that would not prevent this real-time action.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Require full-disk encryption on all laptops
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects data at rest on the laptop but does not prevent the initial download.
- ✗
Restrict VPN access to only university-issued devices
Why it's wrong here
This would not have prevented a student using a university device.
- ✗
Conduct annual access reviews for the file server
Why it's wrong here
Access reviews are administrative and do not prevent real-time data exfiltration.
- ✓
Implement a DLP solution that restricts downloads of sensitive data to unmanaged devices
Why this is correct
DLP can block transfer of sensitive data to unauthorized devices.
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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.