CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation
During a spiral SDLC project, the project team has completed a risk analysis and created a prototype. What is the most likely next step in the spiral model?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse the spiral model's iterative prototyping with a linear waterfall approach, mistakenly thinking that a prototype leads directly to deployment or formal sign-off, rather than understanding that the spiral model uses risk-driven iteration to progressively refine the product.
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
✓
Develop the next level of the product based on the risk analysis
In the spiral model, each iteration begins with identifying objectives, evaluating alternatives, and resolving risks through risk analysis. After completing risk analysis and building a prototype, the next step is to develop the next level of the product, incorporating the risk analysis findings to refine requirements and design. This ensures that high-risk areas are addressed incrementally before proceeding to subsequent phases.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Deploy the system to production
Why it's wrong here
Deployment follows full development, integration and acceptance testing across later spirals; releasing after one prototype ignores the model's risk-driven iteration. Spiral suits large, high-risk projects precisely because each cycle ends in evaluation and replanning rather than release.
- ✗
Obtain formal sign-off from the business owner on requirements
Why it's wrong here
Spiral iterations begin with determining objectives and end with the customer evaluating the engineered artefact, so sign-off on requirements belongs to the earlier requirements phase, not after prototyping. The prototype exists to elicit feedback that feeds the next spiral.
- ✓
Develop the next level of the product based on the risk analysis
Why this is correct
The spiral model's defining sequence is risk analysis followed by engineering the next prototype or increment, so the team builds the next level of the product informed by the completed risk analysis. This iterative risk-driven cycle distinguishes spiral from waterfall's linear progression.
- ✗
Conduct user acceptance testing (UAT)
Why it's wrong here
UAT occurs once a complete build exists, typically in waterfall or V-model phases; in spiral, the prototype is evaluated by the customer to refine objectives and risk before the next iteration. Testing an unfinished prototype against acceptance criteria is premature.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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