Quick Answer
The answer is to enforce MFA for all users accessing any application. This is the best recommendation because a cloud-based identity provider (IdP) for single sign-on (SSO) creates a single trust boundary; if one password is compromised, an attacker gains access to every integrated application, so universal multi-factor authentication implementation is the only control that directly mitigates credential theft across the entire environment. On the CISA exam, this tests your understanding of access control in cloud SSO architectures and the principle of universal enforcement—a common trap is recommending MFA only for external-facing apps, which leaves internal applications vulnerable. Remember the memory tip: “One key opens every door, so lock every door with a second key.”
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of protection of information assets. 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, an IS auditor finds that the organization uses a cloud-based identity provider (IdP) for single sign-on (SSO) but does not enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users. Which of the following is the BEST recommendation to reduce risk?
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.
Require MFA only for external-facing applications
Why wrong: Internal threats remain unaddressed.
Disable SSO and require separate passwords for each application
Why wrong: Would increase password fatigue and likely reduce security.
Reduce session timeout to 15 minutes
Why wrong: Does not prevent credential compromise.
Enforce MFA for all users accessing any application
Comprehensive MFA reduces risk of unauthorized access.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Enforce MFA for all users accessing any application
Enforcing MFA for all users accessing any application is the best recommendation because it directly addresses the lack of a second authentication factor, which is the primary control to mitigate credential theft and unauthorized access. In a cloud-based IdP SSO environment, a single compromised password grants access to all integrated applications, so MFA must be applied universally to protect the entire trust boundary, not just external-facing apps. This aligns with NIST SP 800-63B and zero-trust principles, ensuring that every authentication request is verified with something the user knows and something they have.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Require MFA only for external-facing applications
Why it's wrong here
Internal threats remain unaddressed.
Disable SSO and require separate passwords for each application
Why it's wrong here
Would increase password fatigue and likely reduce security.
Reduce session timeout to 15 minutes
Why it's wrong here
Does not prevent credential compromise.
Enforce MFA for all users accessing any application
Why this is correct
Comprehensive MFA reduces risk of unauthorized access.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option A (MFA only for external-facing apps) because they mistakenly believe internal apps are safe behind a corporate network perimeter, failing to recognize that cloud-based SSO eliminates network boundaries and that the IdP is the single point of authentication for all apps.
Detailed technical explanation
In a cloud-based IdP SSO architecture (e.g., using SAML 2.0 or OIDC), the IdP issues a signed assertion or token after successful authentication, which is then presented to each service provider (SP). Without MFA, this token is generated based solely on a single-factor password, meaning that if the password is phished or leaked, the attacker can obtain a valid token for any SP without additional checks. Real-world attacks like the 2020 SolarWinds breach exploited single-factor SSO to move laterally across cloud applications, demonstrating that MFA must be enforced at the IdP level for all relying parties, not selectively.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
Protection of Information Assets — This question tests Protection of Information Assets — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Enforce MFA for all users accessing any application — Enforcing MFA for all users accessing any application is the best recommendation because it directly addresses the lack of a second authentication factor, which is the primary control to mitigate credential theft and unauthorized access. In a cloud-based IdP SSO environment, a single compromised password grants access to all integrated applications, so MFA must be applied universally to protect the entire trust boundary, not just external-facing apps. This aligns with NIST SP 800-63B and zero-trust principles, ensuring that every authentication request is verified with something the user knows and something they have.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. During a security assessment, an auditor discovers that employees are sharing passwords to access a critical system. Which of the following controls would BEST mitigate this risk?
easyWhy B: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) mitigates the risk of password sharing because even if credentials are shared, an attacker cannot authenticate without the second factor (e.g., a one-time passcode from a hardware token or authenticator app). MFA decouples authentication from a single shared secret, making shared passwords insufficient for access. This directly addresses the root cause—reliance on passwords alone—rather than attempting to prevent sharing behavior.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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