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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
[2024-06-15 14:23:45] ERROR: Constraint violation on table 'ORDERS' - foreign key 'CUST_ID' referencing 'CUSTOMERS.CUST_ID' - record with CUST_ID = 9999 not found in target.
[2024-06-15 14:24:10] WARNING: Data type mismatch for column 'AMOUNT' in table 'ORDERS' - source decimal(10,2), target integer - truncation may occur.
[2024-06-15 14:25:30] ERROR: Duplicate key value 'INV-1001' on table 'INVOICES' violates unique constraint.
[2024-06-15 14:26:00] INFO: Rollback segment 'RBS1' is growing rapidly - check for long-running transactions.
During a data migration from a legacy system to a new ERP, the following log entries were generated. Which TWO issues should the IS auditor flag as high risk?
Refer to the exhibit.
[2024-06-15 14:23:45] ERROR: Constraint violation on table 'ORDERS' - foreign key 'CUST_ID' referencing 'CUSTOMERS.CUST_ID' - record with CUST_ID = 9999 not found in target.
[2024-06-15 14:24:10] WARNING: Data type mismatch for column 'AMOUNT' in table 'ORDERS' - source decimal(10,2), target integer - truncation may occur.
[2024-06-15 14:25:30] ERROR: Duplicate key value 'INV-1001' on table 'INVOICES' violates unique constraint.
[2024-06-15 14:26:00] INFO: Rollback segment 'RBS1' is growing rapidly - check for long-running transactions.
A
Source system downtime
Why wrong: This issue is not observed in the provided log entries.
B
Rapid growth of rollback segment
Why wrong: This is a performance-related informational message, not a data integrity error.
C
Constraint violation due to missing parent records
This error indicates a foreign key violation where a parent record is missing, compromising referential integrity.
D
Duplicate key violation
This error violates a unique constraint, leading to data duplication and integrity issues.
E
Data type mismatch between source and target
Why wrong: This is a warning; while it may cause data truncation, it is less critical than actual errors.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Constraint violation due to missing parent records
Option C is correct because a constraint violation due to missing parent records indicates a referential integrity failure. In a data migration, this means child records are being inserted without their corresponding parent records, which can cause orphaned data and application logic errors. This is a high-risk issue as it compromises data consistency and may require complex reconciliation or rollback.
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.
✗
Source system downtime
Why it's wrong here
This issue is not observed in the provided log entries.
✗
Rapid growth of rollback segment
Why it's wrong here
This is a performance-related informational message, not a data integrity error.
✓
Constraint violation due to missing parent records
Why this is correct
This error indicates a foreign key violation where a parent record is missing, compromising referential integrity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Duplicate key violation
Why this is correct
This error violates a unique constraint, leading to data duplication and integrity issues.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Data type mismatch between source and target
Why it's wrong here
This is a warning; while it may cause data truncation, it is less critical than actual errors.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse operational issues (downtime, performance) with data integrity issues, or they underestimate the severity of referential integrity and duplicate key violations during migration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Referential integrity violations (Option C) occur when foreign key constraints are enforced but parent keys are missing, often due to incorrect extraction order or missing lookup tables. Duplicate key violations (Option D) arise when unique constraints or primary keys are violated, commonly from repeated source records or improper deduplication. Both issues require manual data cleansing and can cascade into application failures if not addressed before go-live.
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: Constraint violation due to missing parent records — Option C is correct because a constraint violation due to missing parent records indicates a referential integrity failure. In a data migration, this means child records are being inserted without their corresponding parent records, which can cause orphaned data and application logic errors. This is a high-risk issue as it compromises data consistency and may require complex reconciliation or rollback.
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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