- A
Perform a vulnerability assessment on the fourth party.
Why wrong: Without legal right, this may not be possible.
- B
Include a right-to-audit clause for all subcontractors in the contract.
This provides direct oversight over fourth parties.
- C
Terminate the contract with the vendor.
Why wrong: Termination is an extreme measure; the issue can be addressed contractually.
- D
Require the vendor to provide evidence of fourth-party compliance.
Why wrong: While helpful, it does not replace the organization's right to audit.
Question 204 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. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 third-party vendor for application support. The vendor has subcontracted some support activities to another firm (fourth party). The contract with the vendor requires the vendor to ensure fourth-party compliance, but there is no direct oversight. What is the IS auditor's primary recommendation?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
✓
Include a right-to-audit clause for all subcontractors in the contract.
The primary recommendation is to include a right-to-audit clause for all subcontractors in the contract. This ensures the organization retains direct oversight and contractual leverage over fourth-party risks, as relying solely on the vendor's assurance without audit rights creates a blind spot in the supply chain. Without such a clause, the organization cannot independently verify the fourth party's compliance with security controls, which is critical for maintaining business resilience.
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 a vulnerability assessment on the fourth party.
Why it's wrong here
Without legal right, this may not be possible.
- ✓
Include a right-to-audit clause for all subcontractors in the contract.
Why this is correct
This provides direct oversight over fourth parties.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Terminate the contract with the vendor.
Why it's wrong here
Termination is an extreme measure; the issue can be addressed contractually.
- ✗
Require the vendor to provide evidence of fourth-party compliance.
Why it's wrong here
While helpful, it does not replace the organization's right to audit.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse operational verification (Option D) with contractual governance, failing to recognize that without a right-to-audit clause, the organization has no enforceable mechanism to independently validate fourth-party compliance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In third-party risk management, a right-to-audit clause (often referencing SOC 2 Type II reports or ISO 27001 certification) provides the legal basis to perform on-site assessments, review logs, and test controls of subcontractors. Without this clause, the organization is limited to relying on the vendor's attestations, which may not cover all fourth-party activities (e.g., privileged access to production systems or handling of sensitive data). Real-world breaches, such as the Target incident, highlight how fourth-party vulnerabilities can cascade when direct oversight is absent.
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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Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — study guide chapter
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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: Include a right-to-audit clause for all subcontractors in the contract. — The primary recommendation is to include a right-to-audit clause for all subcontractors in the contract. This ensures the organization retains direct oversight and contractual leverage over fourth-party risks, as relying solely on the vendor's assurance without audit rights creates a blind spot in the supply chain. Without such a clause, the organization cannot independently verify the fourth party's compliance with security controls, which is critical for maintaining business resilience.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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