CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
An organization is implementing a public key infrastructure (PKI) to issue digital certificates for internal applications. Which THREE of the following are essential elements of PKI governance that an IS auditor should review?
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
✓
Certificate lifecycle management procedures (issuance, renewal, revocation).
PKI governance includes CA policies, certificate lifecycle management, and revocation mechanisms.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Certificate lifecycle management procedures (issuance, renewal, revocation).
Why this is correct
Lifecycle management is a core governance component.
- ✓
Certificate revocation list (CRL) distribution points.
Why this is correct
CRLs are critical for certificate status validation.
- ✓
Certificate policy (CP) defining the legal and technical requirements.
Why this is correct
CP is the foundation of PKI governance.
- ✗
Key length and algorithm specifications.
Why it's wrong here
While important, this is more of a technical standard than governance element.
- ✗
Number of certificates issued per month.
Why it's wrong here
This is a metric, not a governance element.
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