hardMultiple Choice
CISA Practice Question: During an incident, the IT team identifies that a…
During an incident, the IT team identifies that a critical patch was not applied due to an expired software maintenance contract. Which of the following is the BEST long-term remediation?
⚠ Common exam trap
CISA often tests the distinction between tactical fixes and strategic root-cause remediation, so candidates may choose 'Apply the patch immediately' because it seems urgent, but the question asks for the BEST long-term remediation.
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
✓
Implement a vulnerability management program
The root cause is not the expired contract itself but the absence of a systematic process to identify, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities before they are exploited. A vulnerability management program provides ongoing identification, classification, remediation, and verification of vulnerabilities across all assets, ensuring patches are applied regardless of contract status. Renewing the contract or applying the patch addresses only the immediate symptom, while isolation is a containment tactic. Thus, implementing a vulnerability management program is the best long-term remediation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Renew the maintenance contract
Why it's wrong here
Renewing the contract restores vendor entitlement but does not itself install the missing patch or fix the underlying patch-management process gap. It tempts because the expired contract is the stated root cause, yet renewal alone leaves systems unpatched; the lasting fix requires governance ensuring patches are applied.
- ✗
Apply the patch immediately
Why it's wrong here
Applying the patch resolves the immediate exposure but is a tactical response, not a long-term remediation; the expired contract and absent patch process remain. It tempts because patching is the obvious technical fix, and it would be correct as immediate containment, but the stem asks for the enduring remedy.
- ✗
Isolate the affected system
Why it's wrong here
Isolation mitigates immediate risk but does not fix the process.
- ✓
Implement a vulnerability management program
Why this is correct
The expired maintenance contract is a symptom; the absent control is ongoing identification and remediation of vulnerabilities. A vulnerability management programme continuously scans, prioritises and tracks patching, ensuring contract lapses or missed patches are detected before exploitation rather than after an incident.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISACA exam blueprint
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.