The answer is that the system administrator having the ability to modify both configuration and production data represents the most significant weakness. This finding directly violates the principle of segregation of duties (SoD), which is a critical control in ERP configuration management. When a single user, especially a system admin, can alter system settings and then manipulate live data, they can conceal unauthorized changes, effectively bypassing audit trails and undermining the integrity of the entire system. On the CISA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of SoD as a core internal control concept, often appearing in questions about COTS ERP systems with customizations. A common trap is to focus on technical vulnerabilities rather than control weaknesses; remember that the IS auditor’s primary concern is governance, not just functionality. Memory tip: “Admin + Data = SoD Disaster” — if one person can both configure and modify, the control is broken.
CISA Information System Auditing Process Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information system auditing process. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 uses a COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) ERP system with significant customizations. The IS auditor is reviewing the system's configuration management. Which of the following findings would MOST indicate a weakness?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The system administrator has the ability to modify both configuration and production data.
Option B is correct because in a COTS ERP system with significant customizations, allowing the system administrator to modify both configuration and production data violates the principle of segregation of duties (SoD). This creates a risk of unauthorized or undetected changes, as the same individual can alter system configurations and then manipulate production data to conceal the impact, bypassing audit trails and controls.
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.
✗
The vendor releases quarterly patches but the organization only applies critical security patches.
Why it's wrong here
While not ideal, focusing on critical patches is common.
✓
The system administrator has the ability to modify both configuration and production data.
Why this is correct
This is a direct violation of segregation of duties, significantly increasing risk of unauthorized changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Customizations are not tracked in a separate change management system.
Why it's wrong here
Lack of tracking is a weakness but not the highest risk.
✗
The organization does not have a formal testing environment for customizations.
Why it's wrong here
Lack of testing environment increases risk of errors but is less direct than segregation of duties.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often focus on patch management or testing environments as the most critical weakness, but the CISA exam prioritizes segregation of duties as a fundamental control, especially in customized COTS systems where configuration changes can directly impact data integrity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In ERP systems like SAP or Oracle E-Business Suite, configuration parameters (e.g., in tables like TCODE or FND_FORM) control business rules, while production data resides in transactional tables (e.g., BKPF for accounting). When the same user has access to both, they can alter a configuration to bypass validation (e.g., disable a mandatory field) and then directly modify production data (e.g., change a GL account balance) without triggering change logs. This is a classic SoD conflict that undermines the integrity of the entire system, as audit trails may only log the data change, not the preceding configuration change.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
Information System Auditing Process — This question tests Information System Auditing Process — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The system administrator has the ability to modify both configuration and production data. — Option B is correct because in a COTS ERP system with significant customizations, allowing the system administrator to modify both configuration and production data violates the principle of segregation of duties (SoD). This creates a risk of unauthorized or undetected changes, as the same individual can alter system configurations and then manipulate production data to conceal the impact, bypassing audit trails and controls.
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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Question Discussion
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