The answer is that the network share \\BACKUPSRV\DBBackups\DB01\ is offline or unreachable. This is the most likely cause because the error "backup destination unreachable" specifically indicates a failure to establish connectivity to the target UNC path, not a permissions or capacity issue. In a CISA exam context, this tests your understanding that backup failures often stem from network-layer problems rather than logical access controls, and the trap is to immediately suspect insufficient disk space or incorrect credentials. A memory tip is to think "UNC = Unreachable Network Connection" — if the path cannot be resolved or the server is down, the backup will fail before any authentication or storage checks occur.
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Server: DB01
Backup Job: Full_Backup_DB01
Status: Failed
Error: 0x80070003 - The system cannot find the path specified.
Backup Destination: \\BACKUPSRV\DBBackups\DB01\
Last Successful Backup: 2023-03-15 03:00 AM
Scheduled Backup Time: Daily 02:00 AM
An administrator sees the above error after a failed backup job. What is the MOST likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
Server: DB01
Backup Job: Full_Backup_DB01
Status: Failed
Error: 0x80070003 - The system cannot find the path specified.
Backup Destination: \\BACKUPSRV\DBBackups\DB01\
Last Successful Backup: 2023-03-15 03:00 AM
Scheduled Backup Time: Daily 02:00 AM
A
The backup service account does not have write permissions to the destination
Why wrong: This would typically result in an access denied error, not 'path not found'.
B
The network share \\BACKUPSRV\DBBackups\DB01\ is offline or unreachable
The error indicates the path specified does not exist or is unavailable.
C
The SQL Server backup client is not installed
Why wrong: That would cause a different error, such as 'backup client not found'.
D
The backup destination disk is full
Why wrong: A full disk would result in an 'insufficient space' error.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The network share \\BACKUPSRV\DBBackups\DB01\ is offline or unreachable
The error message indicates that the backup destination path \BACKUPSRV\DBBackups\DB01\ is inaccessible. This is most commonly caused by the network share being offline, unreachable due to network issues, or the target server being down. Without connectivity to the UNC path, the backup job cannot proceed, even if permissions and disk space are adequate.
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 backup service account does not have write permissions to the destination
Why it's wrong here
This would typically result in an access denied error, not 'path not found'.
✓
The network share \\BACKUPSRV\DBBackups\DB01\ is offline or unreachable
Why this is correct
The error indicates the path specified does not exist or is unavailable.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The SQL Server backup client is not installed
Why it's wrong here
That would cause a different error, such as 'backup client not found'.
✗
The backup destination disk is full
Why it's wrong here
A full disk would result in an 'insufficient space' error.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a failed backup is always due to permissions or disk space, but the error message's specific wording about the path being 'offline or unreachable' directly points to a network connectivity issue, not authorization or capacity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When SQL Server performs a backup to a UNC path, it uses the SMB protocol (typically SMB 2.0 or 3.0) to connect to the remote share. The backup operation first attempts to resolve the hostname via DNS or NetBIOS, then establishes a TCP session on port 445. If the target server is down, the network is segmented, or the share name is mistyped, the connection fails with a network path error. SQL Server error logs often record the exact Win32 error code (e.g., 53 for 'The network path was not found'), which helps differentiate this from permission or space issues.
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 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: The network share \\BACKUPSRV\DBBackups\DB01\ is offline or unreachable — The error message indicates that the backup destination path \BACKUPSRV\DBBackups\DB01\ is inaccessible. This is most commonly caused by the network share being offline, unreachable due to network issues, or the target server being down. Without connectivity to the UNC path, the backup job cannot proceed, even if permissions and disk space are adequate.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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