The correct recommendation is to conduct a DRP test and document the results within the next quarter. This is because a disaster recovery plan that has not been tested in 18 months provides no assurance of its effectiveness, and without documented test results, the organization cannot demonstrate due diligence or identify gaps for improvement. On the CISA exam, this scenario tests your understanding that an IS auditor’s role is to identify control deficiencies and recommend actionable, risk-based remediation—not to dictate arbitrary frequencies or assume management’s responsibilities. A common trap is to default to a fixed testing schedule like semiannually, but the correct focus is on the absence of both recent testing and documentation, which together undermine the DRP’s reliability. Remember the memory tip: “No test, no doc, no assurance—recommend a test and record within the quarter.”
CISA Information System Auditing Process Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information system auditing process. 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.
During an audit of an organization's disaster recovery plan (DRP), the IS auditor finds that the plan was last tested 18 months ago and no test results were documented. What should the auditor recommend?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Conduct a DRP test and document the results within the next quarter
Option C is correct because a recent test with documented results provides assurance. Option A is incorrect because testing frequency should be based on risk, not necessarily semiannual. Option B is wrong because the recommendation should address the lack of testing and documentation. Option D is incorrect because that is management's role; the auditor recommends.
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.
✗
Test the DRP semiannually
Why it's wrong here
Recommended frequency depends on risk; annual is common.
✗
Document the results of all past tests
Why it's wrong here
Past tests are not available; focus on future.
✓
Conduct a DRP test and document the results within the next quarter
Why this is correct
Immediate testing and documentation address the gap.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Assign responsibility for DRP testing to the IT manager
Why it's wrong here
Responsibility should be defined, but the immediate need is testing.
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.
Information System Auditing Process — This question tests Information System Auditing Process — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Conduct a DRP test and document the results within the next quarter — Option C is correct because a recent test with documented results provides assurance. Option A is incorrect because testing frequency should be based on risk, not necessarily semiannual. Option B is wrong because the recommendation should address the lack of testing and documentation. Option D is incorrect because that is management's role; the auditor recommends.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
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.
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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