The head of the business unit that creates and uses the data is the correct choice for the data owner role because they hold ultimate accountability for the dataset's value, legal requirements, and usage context. Unlike the CISO, who is a custodian focused on security controls, or the SysAdmin, who manages technical access, the business unit head understands the data's lifecycle and business purpose, making them best positioned to classify it and authorize access under a data classification policy. On the CISA exam, this question tests your grasp of governance versus operational roles—a common trap is confusing the data owner (strategic accountability) with the data custodian (tactical protection). Remember the memory tip: "Owner owns the business risk, custodian owns the technical fix."
CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of protection of information assets. 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.
An organization is implementing a data classification policy and needs to assign ownership for sensitive data. Which of the following is the most appropriate role to assign as the data owner?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The head of the business unit that creates and uses the data
The data owner is the person or entity with ultimate accountability for a specific dataset, typically a senior business manager who understands the data's value, legal requirements, and usage context. In this scenario, the head of the business unit that creates and uses the data is best positioned to classify the data, authorize access, and ensure compliance with the data classification policy, as they have direct business responsibility for the data's lifecycle.
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 chief information security officer (CISO)
Why it's wrong here
The CISO is responsible for security strategy, not data ownership.
✗
The system administrator of the database
Why it's wrong here
System administrators manage systems, not data ownership.
✓
The head of the business unit that creates and uses the data
Why this is correct
The business unit head is accountable for the data's classification and protection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The legal counsel responsible for compliance
Why it's wrong here
Legal counsel advises on compliance but does not own data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing the data owner (business accountability) with the data custodian (technical implementation) or the data steward (compliance oversight), leading candidates to incorrectly select the CISO or system administrator.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, data ownership is tied to the principle of 'need-to-know' and 'least privilege' as defined in frameworks like NIST SP 800-53 (AC-2, AC-6). The data owner approves access requests, while the data custodian (e.g., DBA) implements technical controls such as role-based access control (RBAC) or attribute-based access control (ABAC). In a real-world scenario, if a marketing department owns customer purchase history, the marketing head (data owner) decides who can view it, while the database administrator (custodian) configures the SQL views and permissions.
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: The head of the business unit that creates and uses the data — The data owner is the person or entity with ultimate accountability for a specific dataset, typically a senior business manager who understands the data's value, legal requirements, and usage context. In this scenario, the head of the business unit that creates and uses the data is best positioned to classify the data, authorize access, and ensure compliance with the data classification policy, as they have direct business responsibility for the data's lifecycle.
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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Question Discussion
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