The answer is that data from different clients may be commingled and accessible, which is the greatest concern. This is because application-level access controls, while useful, can be bypassed through vulnerabilities such as SQL injection or misconfigured permissions, directly exposing client data in a shared database environment. On the CISA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the shared database application-level controls risk, emphasizing that logical segregation via application code is weaker than database-level or physical separation. A common trap is to focus on segregation of duties or backup issues, but the core audit concern is that a single vulnerability can collapse the entire data isolation model. Remember the mnemonic: “App controls can crack; shared data can’t take that back.”
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development and implementation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 a third-party software vendor audit, the IS auditor discovers that the vendor uses a common shared database for multiple clients and relies on application-level access controls. Which of the following is the GREATEST concern?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Data from different clients may be commingled and accessible.
Option D is correct because application-level controls can be bypassed if there are vulnerabilities, leading to data exposure. Option A is less critical as segregation of duties can be managed. Option B is not a direct control issue. Option C is not the primary concern.
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.
✓
Data from different clients may be commingled and accessible.
Why this is correct
Application-level access controls can be circumvented, causing data leakage between clients.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The database does not encrypt data at rest.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is important but not the greatest concern given shared database.
✗
The vendor does not perform regular penetration testing.
Why it's wrong here
Pen testing is good but absence is less critical than the shared database risk.
✗
The vendor lacks segregation of duties among administrators.
Why it's wrong here
Segregation is important but not as critical as the risk of data leakage between clients.
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 Acquisition, Development and Implementation — This question tests Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Data from different clients may be commingled and accessible. — Option D is correct because application-level controls can be bypassed if there are vulnerabilities, leading to data exposure. Option A is less critical as segregation of duties can be managed. Option B is not a direct control issue. Option C is not the primary concern.
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.
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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