- A
Implement a hot standby site
Hot standby can achieve fast failover within RTO.
- B
Adopt a manual workaround process
Why wrong: Manual processes are unlikely to meet the 2-hour RTO.
- C
Store backup tape at an offsite location
Why wrong: Tape restoration would take too long for a 2-hour RTO.
- D
Use synchronous data replication to a secondary site
Synchronous replication ensures data is mirrored in near real-time, meeting RPO.
- E
Perform daily full backups to tape
Why wrong: Daily backups would result in up to 24 hours of data loss, exceeding RPO.
Question 156 of 1,000
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems operations and business resilience. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 organization is developing a business continuity strategy for its key customer-facing application. The BIA determined an RTO of 2 hours and an RPO of 30 minutes. Which TWO strategies are most appropriate to meet these objectives?
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
✓
Implement a hot standby site
A hot standby site provides near-real-time failover, which supports a 2-hour RTO. Synchronous data replication ensures data loss is minimal, supporting a 30-minute RPO.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 a hot standby site
Why this is correct
Hot standby can achieve fast failover within RTO.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Adopt a manual workaround process
Why it's wrong here
Manual processes are unlikely to meet the 2-hour RTO.
- ✗
Store backup tape at an offsite location
Why it's wrong here
Tape restoration would take too long for a 2-hour RTO.
- ✓
Use synchronous data replication to a secondary site
Why this is correct
Synchronous replication ensures data is mirrored in near real-time, meeting RPO.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Perform daily full backups to tape
Why it's wrong here
Daily backups would result in up to 24 hours of data loss, exceeding RPO.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CISA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which CISA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — This question tests Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement a hot standby site — A hot standby site provides near-real-time failover, which supports a 2-hour RTO. Synchronous data replication ensures data loss is minimal, supporting a 30-minute RPO.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which CISA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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