- A
Incompatibility with new applications
Why wrong: Incompatibility is a concern but less critical than security.
- B
Increased licensing costs
Why wrong: EOL software may not incur additional licensing costs.
- C
Lack of vendor support
Why wrong: Lack of support is a risk, but the greatest is security vulnerabilities.
- D
Unpatched security vulnerabilities
This is the greatest risk as it can lead to exploitation.
Question 892 of 984
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems operations and business resilience. 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 IT asset management, the IS auditor finds that several servers are running an operating system that has reached end-of-life (EOL). The organization has not deployed any compensating controls. Which of the following is the GREATEST risk?
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
✓
Unpatched security vulnerabilities
An operating system that has reached end-of-life (EOL) no longer receives security patches from the vendor. Without compensating controls, any newly discovered vulnerabilities remain unpatched, exposing the organization to exploitation, data breaches, and system compromise. This directly undermines the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the IT assets, making unpatched security vulnerabilities the greatest risk.
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.
- ✗
Incompatibility with new applications
Why it's wrong here
Incompatibility is a concern but less critical than security.
- ✗
Increased licensing costs
Why it's wrong here
EOL software may not incur additional licensing costs.
- ✗
Lack of vendor support
Why it's wrong here
Lack of support is a risk, but the greatest is security vulnerabilities.
- ✓
Unpatched security vulnerabilities
Why this is correct
This is the greatest risk as it can lead to exploitation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'lack of vendor support' (Option C) as the greatest risk, but the actual risk is the resulting unpatched security vulnerabilities that directly threaten the organization's security posture.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When an OS reaches EOL, the vendor stops releasing security updates, meaning any Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) discovered after that date remain unaddressed. For example, Windows Server 2008 R2 EOL in January 2020 left systems vulnerable to exploits like EternalBlue (MS17-010) unless extended security updates (ESU) were purchased. Without compensating controls such as a web application firewall (WAF), network segmentation, or host-based intrusion detection, attackers can leverage these unpatched vulnerabilities to gain remote code execution or escalate privileges.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — This question tests Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Unpatched security vulnerabilities — An operating system that has reached end-of-life (EOL) no longer receives security patches from the vendor. Without compensating controls, any newly discovered vulnerabilities remain unpatched, exposing the organization to exploitation, data breaches, and system compromise. This directly undermines the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the IT assets, making unpatched security vulnerabilities the greatest risk.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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