- A
Perform full backups every 24 hours
Why wrong: Full daily backups provide a maximum RPO of 24 hours, which exceeds the 15-minute requirement.
- B
Implement synchronous replication to a standby server
Why wrong: Synchronous replication is a high-availability solution, not a backup method, and can introduce performance overhead; it does not replace backup for data corruption or logical errors.
- C
Perform incremental backups with transaction log backups every 15 minutes
Transaction log backups enable point-in-time recovery to within 15 minutes, meeting the RPO, while incremental backups reduce storage and performance overhead.
- D
Perform differential backups every 6 hours
Why wrong: Differential backups still rely on a full backup and do not provide log-level granularity; recovery would be to the last differential, not to a specific point in time within 15 minutes.
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems operations and business resilience. 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 organization is implementing a backup strategy for its critical database. The database is updated continuously during business hours, and the recovery point objective (RPO) is 15 minutes. Which backup method should be used to meet the RPO while minimizing backup storage and performance impact?
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
Perform incremental backups with transaction log backups every 15 minutes
Incremental backups with transaction log backups every 15 minutes meets the 15-minute RPO by capturing all changes since the last full or incremental backup, while transaction log backups record every individual database transaction. This method minimizes storage by only backing up changes and reduces performance impact compared to continuous replication, as log backups are lightweight and can be scheduled without constant I/O overhead.
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.
- ✗
Perform full backups every 24 hours
Why it's wrong here
Full daily backups provide a maximum RPO of 24 hours, which exceeds the 15-minute requirement.
- ✗
Implement synchronous replication to a standby server
Why it's wrong here
Synchronous replication is a high-availability solution, not a backup method, and can introduce performance overhead; it does not replace backup for data corruption or logical errors.
- ✓
Perform incremental backups with transaction log backups every 15 minutes
Why this is correct
Transaction log backups enable point-in-time recovery to within 15 minutes, meeting the RPO, while incremental backups reduce storage and performance overhead.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Perform differential backups every 6 hours
Why it's wrong here
Differential backups still rely on a full backup and do not provide log-level granularity; recovery would be to the last differential, not to a specific point in time within 15 minutes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse synchronous replication (Option B) with a backup method, but it is a high-availability solution that does not meet RPO requirements without additional log backups and introduces performance degradation, whereas transaction log backups are the correct granular backup technique for low RPOs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Transaction log backups in databases like SQL Server or Oracle capture every committed transaction in the log sequence number (LSN) order, allowing point-in-time recovery to any second within the backup interval. Under the hood, the database engine marks the log as reusable only after a log backup, so frequent log backups prevent log file growth and ensure recoverability; in a real-world scenario, a bank using this method can restore to exactly 10:45 AM if a failure occurs at 10:46 AM, provided the last log backup was at 10:45 AM.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Perform incremental backups with transaction log backups every 15 minutes — Incremental backups with transaction log backups every 15 minutes meets the 15-minute RPO by capturing all changes since the last full or incremental backup, while transaction log backups record every individual database transaction. This method minimizes storage by only backing up changes and reduces performance impact compared to continuous replication, as log backups are lightweight and can be scheduled without constant I/O overhead.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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