CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
An IS auditor is assessing the data inventory of a financial institution to ensure compliance with privacy regulations. Which TWO of the following are essential elements that should be included in the data inventory?
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
✓
The location (systems and physical) where PII is stored
A data inventory should identify where PII is stored and the business purpose for processing, as these are critical for managing privacy risks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The encryption algorithm used to protect the data
Why it's wrong here
Encryption details are part of security controls, not necessarily the inventory.
- ✓
The location (systems and physical) where PII is stored
Why this is correct
Knowing where PII resides is fundamental to protecting it.
- ✗
The cost of storing the data
Why it's wrong here
Cost is not a privacy compliance element.
- ✓
The retention period for each type of PII
Why this is correct
Retention periods are important for compliance with data minimization and deletion requirements.
- ✗
The names of all employees who process the data
Why it's wrong here
Employee names are not typically required in a data inventory; roles may be relevant but not individual names.
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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.