- A
Focus on areas where management has requested review
Why wrong: Management requests may not align with risk priorities.
- B
Allocate more audit resources to areas with higher risk and lower control effectiveness
High risk and weak controls warrant more attention.
- C
Concentrate solely on areas with the highest inherent risk
Why wrong: Controls can mitigate risk; both risk and controls matter.
- D
Focus equally on all areas of the audited entity
Why wrong: Equal focus is inefficient and not risk-based.
Question 855 of 984
CISA Information System Auditing Process Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information system auditing process. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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.
In a risk-based audit approach, which of the following BEST describes how an IS auditor should prioritize audit coverage?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Allocate more audit resources to areas with higher risk and lower control effectiveness
A risk-based approach focuses on areas with higher inherent risk and weaker controls to maximize effectiveness.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Focus on areas where management has requested review
Why it's wrong here
Management requests may not align with risk priorities.
- ✓
Allocate more audit resources to areas with higher risk and lower control effectiveness
Why this is correct
High risk and weak controls warrant more attention.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
- ✗
Concentrate solely on areas with the highest inherent risk
Why it's wrong here
Controls can mitigate risk; both risk and controls matter.
- ✗
Focus equally on all areas of the audited entity
Why it's wrong here
Equal focus is inefficient and not risk-based.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
- Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
- OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
- A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
- Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
- Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
- Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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. OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough. 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.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related CISA OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
- →
Information System Auditing Process — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Information System Auditing Process practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CISA questions
984 questions across all exam domains
- →
Certified Information Systems Auditor CISA study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
CISA practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related CISA practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Governance and Management of IT practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Governance and Management of IT.
Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation.
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience.
Information System Auditing Process practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Information System Auditing Process.
Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation.
Protection of Information Assets practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Protection of Information Assets.
CISA fundamentals practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to CISA fundamentals.
CISA scenario practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to CISA scenario.
CISA troubleshooting practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to CISA troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free CISA practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Information System Auditing Process — This question tests Information System Auditing Process — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Allocate more audit resources to areas with higher risk and lower control effectiveness — A risk-based approach focuses on areas with higher inherent risk and weaker controls to maximize effectiveness.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related CISA OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.