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CISA Practice Question: An IS auditor is assessing the effectiveness of…
An IS auditor is assessing the effectiveness of an organization's IT governance framework. Which THREE of the following are key indicators of a mature governance process?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often mistake basic financial oversight (annual budget approval) for a sign of governance maturity, when in reality mature governance requires continuous monitoring, defined decision rights, and performance measurement beyond periodic approvals.
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
✓
Defined roles and responsibilities for IT decisions
Defined roles and responsibilities for IT decisions (Option A) are a key indicator of a mature IT governance process because they establish clear accountability and authority, aligning with frameworks like COBIT 5. This ensures that decision-making rights are assigned to specific roles (e.g., IT steering committee, CIO, business process owners), reducing ambiguity and enabling effective oversight. Without such definition, governance lacks the structural foundation needed for consistent and auditable decision-making.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Defined roles and responsibilities for IT decisions
Why this is correct
Clear accountability is a hallmark of governance maturity.
- ✗
Annual IT budget approval by senior management
Why it's wrong here
Budget approval is a basic financial control, not a strong governance indicator.
- ✓
Existence of an IT steering committee
Why this is correct
A steering committee provides strategic oversight and alignment.
- ✗
Outsourcing of all IT operations
Why it's wrong here
Outsourcing itself is not an indicator of governance maturity.
- ✓
Regular measurement of IT performance against metrics
Why this is correct
Metrics and monitoring demonstrate governance effectiveness.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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