The answer is repeated access attempts to sensitive databases by unauthorized users, as this pattern directly signals reconnaissance or credential misuse preceding data theft. This is correct because data exfiltration indicators often involve anomalous transfers that bypass security controls through unauthorized encryption or tunneling protocols, such as SSH over port 443 or custom VPNs, which encapsulate stolen data to evade deep packet inspection and data loss prevention systems. On the CISA exam, this concept tests your ability to distinguish between normal network behavior and exfiltration attempts, with a common trap being to focus solely on large data volumes rather than the context of unauthorized access. A useful memory tip is to remember the triad of "Repeated, Unauthorized, Encrypted" — if you see repeated access by unauthorized users combined with unexpected encryption, suspect exfiltration.
CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of protection of information assets. 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.
Which THREE are indicators of a possible data exfiltration attempt via the network? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use of unauthorized encryption or tunneling protocols
Option A is correct because data exfiltration often involves bypassing security controls by using unauthorized encryption or tunneling protocols (e.g., SSH over port 443, IPsec over UDP, or custom VPNs) to hide malicious traffic within legitimate-looking flows. Such protocols can encapsulate stolen data and evade deep packet inspection (DPI) or data loss prevention (DLP) systems, making them a strong indicator of exfiltration attempts.
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.
✓
Use of unauthorized encryption or tunneling protocols
Why this is correct
Unauthorized encryption can hide exfiltration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Unusual outbound data transfer volumes during non-business hours
Why this is correct
Data exfiltration often occurs outside business hours.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase in phishing emails targeting executives
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is a delivery mechanism, not direct indicator of exfiltration.
✓
Repeated access attempts to sensitive databases by unauthorized users
Why this is correct
Access attempts may precede exfiltration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Large number of HTTPS connections to legitimate cloud services
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISACA often tests the distinction between precursors to an attack (like phishing) and actual indicators of exfiltration (like unauthorized tunneling or unusual outbound volumes), so candidates mistakenly choose phishing because it is a common attack vector, but it is not a network-level exfiltration indicator.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Data exfiltration via tunneling often leverages protocols like DNS tunneling (e.g., using `dnscat2` or `iodine`) or HTTP/HTTPS covert channels, where data is encoded in DNS queries or HTTP headers. Under the hood, these methods exploit the fact that many firewalls allow outbound DNS and HTTPS traffic by default, and the exfiltrated data is chunked into small packets to avoid triggering volume-based alerts. A real-world scenario involves an attacker using `socat` to create an encrypted tunnel over TCP port 443, making the traffic indistinguishable from normal HTTPS to a simple firewall.
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.
Protection of Information Assets — This question tests Protection of Information Assets — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use of unauthorized encryption or tunneling protocols — Option A is correct because data exfiltration often involves bypassing security controls by using unauthorized encryption or tunneling protocols (e.g., SSH over port 443, IPsec over UDP, or custom VPNs) to hide malicious traffic within legitimate-looking flows. Such protocols can encapsulate stolen data and evade deep packet inspection (DPI) or data loss prevention (DLP) systems, making them a strong indicator of exfiltration attempts.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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
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