CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
An IS auditor is assessing the effectiveness of network segmentation for a payment card processing environment. Which of the following is the PRIMARY benefit of network segmentation in meeting PCI DSS requirements?
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
✓
Reduced scope of the PCI DSS assessment
Network segmentation reduces the scope of the PCI DSS assessment by isolating the cardholder data environment from other networks, so only systems that handle card data need to comply with PCI DSS.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Reduced scope of the PCI DSS assessment
Why this is correct
Segmenting the cardholder data environment from corporate systems isolates it behind controlled conduits, so only that zone falls within PCI DSS assessment boundaries. This directly satisfies the stem's requirement by shrinking the systems, networks and business processes requiring validation, lowering audit effort and residual risk exposure.
- ✗
Improved network performance
Why it's wrong here
Throughput is not a PCI DSS requirement; segmentation's benefit is reducing the scope of cardholder data environment systems subject to assessment. Performance gains would justify segmentation in a bandwidth-constrained design, but the stem asks about compliance, where scope reduction is the driver.
- ✗
Elimination of the need for firewalls
Why it's wrong here
Segmentation narrows the cardholder data environment and restricts lateral movement, but firewalls still filter traffic between segments; they are not eliminated. Segmentation is correct for scoping and reducing PCI DSS assessment boundaries, not removing perimeter controls.
- ✗
Simplified patch management
Why it's wrong here
Patch management is unaffected by segmentation; PCI DSS scoping reduction is the actual benefit, since isolating cardholder data flows shrinks the systems requiring assessment. Segmentation would be chosen when the goal is limiting audit scope, not when remediating patch cadence across a flat estate.
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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.