hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: An IT auditor is reviewing the business…
An IT auditor is reviewing the business continuity plan (BCP) for a financial services firm. The plan includes a hot site that is shared with another organization under a reciprocal agreement. Which of the following findings should be of MOST concern to the auditor?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates may focus on technical details like ISP diversity or testing frequency, but the core BCP principle is that a shared resource without guaranteed exclusive access is a fundamental design flaw that can render the entire plan ineffective during a concurrent disaster.
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 reciprocal agreement does not guarantee exclusive use of the hot site during a disaster
A reciprocal agreement for a shared hot site does not guarantee exclusive access during a disaster. If both organizations declare a disaster simultaneously, the site may become oversubscribed, leading to resource contention and potential failure of the BCP. This directly undermines the recovery capability, making it the most critical finding.
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 hot site uses a different internet service provider than the primary site
Why it's wrong here
This is a best practice for diversity, not a concern.
- ✗
The hot site has not been tested in the past 12 months
Why it's wrong here
While testing is important, the reciprocal agreement's lack of exclusivity is a more fundamental risk.
- ✓
The reciprocal agreement does not guarantee exclusive use of the hot site during a disaster
Why this is correct
If both organizations activate simultaneously, the hot site may not have sufficient capacity for both.
- ✗
The hot site is located in the same seismic zone as the primary site
Why it's wrong here
Geographic risk is relevant but not as urgent as the capacity sharing issue.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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