The answer is implementing continuous integration and automated testing. This combination best mitigates the risk of insufficient testing with frequent agile deliveries because it ensures that every code change is automatically built, integrated, and tested, providing immediate feedback on defects without relying on slow manual processes. In the context of the Certified Information Systems Auditor CISA exam, this question tests your understanding of how to balance speed and quality in agile development—a common scenario where auditors must evaluate control effectiveness. A frequent trap is choosing “more manual testing” or “longer sprints,” but these fail to scale with delivery velocity. Remember the memory tip: “CI + automated tests = safety net for speed.”
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development and implementation. 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 is developing a critical application using an agile methodology. The project sponsor demands frequent deliveries but the development team is concerned about insufficient testing. Which of the following BEST mitigates this risk?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement continuous integration and automated testing
Option D is correct because continuous integration (CI) and automated testing enable frequent, reliable code integration and immediate feedback on defects, directly addressing the tension between rapid delivery and insufficient testing. Automated tests run on every commit, catching regressions early without manual overhead, which is essential for agile sprints where manual testing alone cannot scale to match delivery velocity.
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.
✗
Deploy with known defects and fix them in the next sprint
Why it's wrong here
This approach increases operational risk and may not be acceptable for critical applications.
✗
Increase manual testing effort at the end of each sprint
Why it's wrong here
Manual testing may not be scalable for frequent releases and could cause bottlenecks.
✗
Extend the release cycle to allow more time for testing
Why it's wrong here
This goes against the sponsor's demand for frequent deliveries and may not address the root cause.
✓
Implement continuous integration and automated testing
Why this is correct
CI and automated testing enable fast feedback and maintain quality, supporting frequent releases.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option B (increase manual testing) because they equate 'more testing' with 'better quality,' failing to recognize that manual testing cannot keep pace with agile's rapid delivery cycles and that automation is the only scalable solution to integrate testing into every iteration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Continuous integration pipelines typically use tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions to automatically build, unit test, and run integration tests on every commit. Automated testing frameworks (e.g., Selenium for UI, JUnit for unit tests) execute in minutes, providing rapid feedback that manual testing cannot match. In a real-world scenario, a financial application using CI/CD can run thousands of regression tests in under 10 minutes, ensuring that each sprint's delivery is production-ready without sacrificing quality.
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.
Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — This question tests Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement continuous integration and automated testing — Option D is correct because continuous integration (CI) and automated testing enable frequent, reliable code integration and immediate feedback on defects, directly addressing the tension between rapid delivery and insufficient testing. Automated tests run on every commit, catching regressions early without manual overhead, which is essential for agile sprints where manual testing alone cannot scale to match delivery velocity.
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: "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.
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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