Quick Answer
The answer is memory usage exceeding 90% for more than 5 minutes as the best automated failover trigger for a memory leak. This is because memory leaks cause gradual, sustained consumption of available RAM, and a prolonged high-usage threshold directly captures the condition’s progressive nature, unlike transient CPU spikes or disk latency which can stem from unrelated processes. On the CISA exam, this tests your understanding of monitoring controls and incident response triggers—specifically, the need to distinguish a memory-specific symptom from general system stress. A common trap is choosing CPU utilization, but memory leaks primarily starve the system of RAM, not processing power. Remember the mnemonic “RAMping up slowly” to recall that sustained memory growth, not a sudden spike, is the key indicator for automated failover.
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.
A company is experiencing frequent server crashes due to memory leaks. The operations team has implemented a monitoring solution. Which of the following is the BEST indicator to trigger an automated failover to a standby server?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Memory usage exceeding 90% for more than 5 minutes
Correct: Directly reflects memory leak condition.
Disk I/O latency greater than 10ms
Why wrong: Disk latency is unrelated to memory leaks.
CPU utilization spikes above 80% for 1 minute
Why wrong: CPU spikes may indicate other issues, not specific to memory leaks.
Network packet loss exceeding 1%
Why wrong: Packet loss indicates network issues, not memory.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Memory usage exceeding 90% for more than 5 minutes
Memory leaks cause gradual memory consumption; sustained high memory usage directly indicates the condition. CPU spikes, disk latency, and packet loss are less specific to memory leaks.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Memory usage exceeding 90% for more than 5 minutes
Why this is correct
Correct: Directly reflects memory leak condition.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Disk I/O latency greater than 10ms
Why it's wrong here
Disk latency is unrelated to memory leaks.
CPU utilization spikes above 80% for 1 minute
Why it's wrong here
CPU spikes may indicate other issues, not specific to memory leaks.
Network packet loss exceeding 1%
Why it's wrong here
Packet loss indicates network issues, not memory.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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.
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All CISA questions
509 questions across all exam domains
Certified Information Systems Auditor CISA study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
CISA practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CISA questions linked to Governance and Management of IT.
Practise CISA questions linked to Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation.
Practise CISA questions linked to Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience.
Practise CISA questions linked to Protection of Information Assets.
Practise CISA questions linked to Information System Auditing Process.
Practise CISA questions linked to CISA fundamentals.
Practise CISA questions linked to CISA scenario.
Practise CISA questions linked to CISA troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — This question tests Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Memory usage exceeding 90% for more than 5 minutes — Memory leaks cause gradual memory consumption; sustained high memory usage directly indicates the condition. CPU spikes, disk latency, and packet loss are less specific to memory leaks.
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.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.