- A
Report the issue to senior management as a critical finding
Why wrong: While reporting is important, the auditor should first verify the justification and propose a solution.
- B
Recommend immediate removal of the rule
Why wrong: Removing without understanding the business impact may disrupt operations.
- C
Accept the risk as a compensating control
Why wrong: Accepting risk without proper assessment and approval is not appropriate.
- D
Determine if there is a business justification for the rule and, if not, recommend removal or restriction to specific IPs
This approach ensures that necessary access is maintained while reducing risk.
Question 553 of 984
CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of protection of information assets. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An IS auditor is reviewing firewall rule sets and discovers a rule that permits any source IP to access the internal database server on TCP port 1433 (Microsoft SQL). The rule was documented as a temporary measure but has been in place for 18 months. What is the auditor's BEST course of action?
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
✓
Determine if there is a business justification for the rule and, if not, recommend removal or restriction to specific IPs
Overly permissive rules that are not justified create significant risk. The auditor should first confirm the business need and then recommend removal or tightening of the rule. If no valid justification exists, the rule should be removed.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Report the issue to senior management as a critical finding
Why it's wrong here
While reporting is important, the auditor should first verify the justification and propose a solution.
- ✗
Recommend immediate removal of the rule
Why it's wrong here
Removing without understanding the business impact may disrupt operations.
- ✗
Accept the risk as a compensating control
Why it's wrong here
Accepting risk without proper assessment and approval is not appropriate.
- ✓
Determine if there is a business justification for the rule and, if not, recommend removal or restriction to specific IPs
Why this is correct
This approach ensures that necessary access is maintained while reducing risk.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related CISA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Protection of Information Assets — This question tests Protection of Information Assets — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Determine if there is a business justification for the rule and, if not, recommend removal or restriction to specific IPs — Overly permissive rules that are not justified create significant risk. The auditor should first confirm the business need and then recommend removal or tightening of the rule. If no valid justification exists, the rule should be removed.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related CISA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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