The correct answer is to perform a risk assessment to prioritize changes. This is because the first step in any BCP update process must be a risk assessment to identify and evaluate new threats—such as those introduced by cloud-based applications—and to determine which updates are most critical. On the CISA exam, this question tests your understanding of the BCP lifecycle, where risk assessment always precedes planning, testing, or implementation. A common trap is to jump to testing or updating the plan directly, but without a current risk assessment, those efforts may address low-priority issues while ignoring high-impact vulnerabilities. Remember the memory tip: "Assess before you address"—always start with risk assessment to guide the BCP update.
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, the IS auditor finds that the business continuity plan (BCP) was last updated two years ago and does not include new cloud-based applications. The organization has not conducted a BCP test in 18 months. What should the auditor recommend FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Perform a risk assessment to prioritize changes
Option B is correct because a risk assessment is needed to prioritize which updates are critical. Option A is premature without understanding current risks; C is part of the update process but should follow risk assessment; D is later in the process.
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.
✗
Obtain management approval for BCP updates
Why it's wrong here
Approval is necessary but should come after identifying what needs to be updated.
✓
Perform a risk assessment to prioritize changes
Why this is correct
A risk assessment identifies the most critical gaps, enabling efficient allocation of resources.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Immediately schedule a full-scale test
Why it's wrong here
Testing without an updated BCP and risk assessment could be ineffective and risky.
✗
Update the BCP to include cloud applications
Why it's wrong here
Updating without prioritizing could lead to overlooking other critical areas.
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 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: Perform a risk assessment to prioritize changes — Option B is correct because a risk assessment is needed to prioritize which updates are critical. Option A is premature without understanding current risks; C is part of the update process but should follow risk assessment; D is later in the process.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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