CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
An IS auditor is reviewing an organization's backup and recovery procedures for a critical database. The backup policy states that full backups are performed weekly and transaction log backups every 15 minutes. The recovery point objective (RPO) for the database is 5 minutes. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate recommendation?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse RPO with recovery time objective (RTO) and recommending faster restoration rather than more frequent data capture.
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
✓
Increase the frequency of transaction log backups to meet the 5-minute RPO.
The RPO of 5 minutes means the organization can tolerate losing at most 5 minutes of data. Transaction log backups every 15 minutes create a potential 15-minute data loss window, exceeding the RPO. The auditor should recommend increasing the frequency of transaction log backups to 5 minutes or less to meet the stated recovery objective.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implement database mirroring to provide a real-time copy and eliminate the need for transaction log backups.
Why it's wrong here
Database mirroring can reduce data loss, but it is a availability solution, not a replacement for backups. Backups protect against data corruption, accidental deletion, and logical errors, which mirroring would replicate. Even with mirroring, transaction log backups are still needed for point-in-time recovery. Recommending mirroring as a substitute for log backups misinterprets its role and does not directly address the RPO gap.
- ✗
Document the current backup schedule as an accepted risk because the RPO is only a guideline.
Why it's wrong here
An RPO is a business requirement, not a guideline, and accepting a risk that violates a stated RPO without approval is inappropriate. The auditor's role is to recommend alignment with the requirement. Documenting the gap as accepted risk without management's formal risk acceptance would be a control failure. This option avoids the necessary corrective action and mischaracterizes the RPO.
- ✓
Increase the frequency of transaction log backups to meet the 5-minute RPO.
Why this is correct
The RPO defines the maximum acceptable data loss, measured in time. With transaction log backups every 15 minutes, up to 15 minutes of transactions could be lost, exceeding the 5-minute RPO. Reducing the interval to 5 minutes or less aligns the backup frequency with the RPO. This is the most direct and appropriate recommendation to close the gap between policy and requirement.
- ✗
Perform full backups more frequently, such as daily, to reduce the potential data loss.
Why it's wrong here
Full backups capture the entire database at a point in time, but the amount of data loss after a failure is determined by the transaction log backup frequency, not the full backup frequency. Daily full backups would still leave up to 15 minutes of transaction loss. Increasing full backup frequency increases resource consumption without addressing the RPO gap, so it is not the most appropriate recommendation.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISACA exam blueprint
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