Question 156 of 509

Governance and Management of IT →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is 365 days. This is the default retention period for data as explicitly defined in the policy’s JSON configuration, where the parameter `"retentionPeriodDays": 365` sets the baseline duration before any role-based extensions apply. On the Certified Information Systems Auditor CISA exam, this concept tests your ability to read and interpret a data retention policy’s technical specifications, often presented in structured formats like JSON or XML, and to distinguish the default period from conditional overrides. A common trap is confusing the 30-day extension granted to the Legal role with the default period, but remember that extensions are exceptions, not the baseline. For a quick memory tip, think “365 for the year, 30 for the lawyer”—the default covers the full calendar cycle, while legal holds are short-term add-ons.

CISA Governance and Management of IT Practice Question

This CISA practice question tests your understanding of governance and management of it. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.

{
  "policyName": "Data Retention",
  "retentionPeriodDays": 365,
  "enforcement": "automatic",
  "exceptions": [
    {
      "role": "Legal",
      "extendDays": 30
    }
  ]
}

Based on the exhibit, what is the default retention period for data?

Question 1easymultiple choice

Full question →

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

{
  "policyName": "Data Retention",
  "retentionPeriodDays": 365,
  "enforcement": "automatic",
  "exceptions": [
    {
      "role": "Legal",
      "extendDays": 30
    }
  ]
}

A
365 days
Correct. The default retention period is 365 days.
B
30 days for Legal role only
Why wrong: Incorrect. That is an exception, not the default.
C
The policy does not specify a default period
Why wrong: Incorrect. The policy explicitly specifies 365 days.
D
30 days
Why wrong: Incorrect. 30 days is the extension for Legal role, not default.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

365 days

Option B is correct because the JSON clearly shows 'retentionPeriodDays': 365. Option A is incorrect; 30 days is the extension for the Legal role. Option C is incorrect as the extension applies only to Legal. Option D is incorrect because the policy explicitly specifies the default period.

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.

✓
365 days
Why this is correct
Correct. The default retention period is 365 days.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
30 days for Legal role only
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. That is an exception, not the default.
✗
The policy does not specify a default period
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The policy explicitly specifies 365 days.
✗
30 days
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 30 days is the extension for Legal role, not default.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

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

How to think about this question

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.

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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

Underline the problem statement mentally.
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 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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this CISA question test?

Governance and Management of IT — This question tests Governance and Management of IT — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: 365 days — Option B is correct because the JSON clearly shows 'retentionPeriodDays': 365. Option A is incorrect; 30 days is the extension for the Legal role. Option C is incorrect as the extension applies only to Legal. Option D is incorrect because the policy explicitly specifies the default period.

What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

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