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CISA Practice Question: During a disaster recovery test, the team…
During a disaster recovery test, the team discovers that the backup server is unable to restore data because of incompatible software versions. Which TWO controls should have been implemented to prevent this?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse operational controls like backup frequency or security tools with the configuration and version management controls needed to ensure restore compatibility, leading them to select options that improve data availability but not data recoverability.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Maintaining a configuration management database
A configuration management database (CMDB) is the correct control because it maintains a detailed record of software versions, patches, and configurations across all IT assets. By referencing the CMDB during disaster recovery planning, the team ensures that backup and restore environments are compatible, preventing version mismatch failures. Without this, the backup server may have outdated or incompatible software, as seen in the scenario.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Maintaining a configuration management database
Why this is correct
Correct: CMDB tracks software versions across environments.
- ✗
Using cloud-based backup solutions
Why it's wrong here
Cloud does not inherently solve version incompatibility.
- ✗
Implementing intrusion detection systems
Why it's wrong here
IDS is unrelated to backup compatibility.
- ✗
Increasing the frequency of full backups
Why it's wrong here
Frequency does not address compatibility.
- ✓
Performing regular patch management
Why this is correct
Correct: Patch management ensures software stacks are consistent.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.