The correct first step is to review the SLA to determine responsibility for network performance. This is because a service level agreement (SLA) defines the specific performance benchmarks and, critically, delineates which party is accountable for each component of the infrastructure—such as network bandwidth, server capacity, or application tuning. Without first consulting the SLA’s responsibility terms, any further action, like recommending a bandwidth increase or performing independent tests, would be premature and could waste resources. On the CISA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the audit process and the principle of verifying contractual obligations before assuming technical fault. A common trap is jumping to a technical solution or escalation without first checking the SLA, which is the foundational document for any performance dispute. Remember the mnemonic: **SLA First, Blame Last**—always let the contract guide the investigation.
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development and implementation. 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 a post-implementation review, an IS auditor identifies that the system's actual transaction processing time is significantly higher than the benchmark specified in the service level agreement (SLA). The vendor claims it is due to inadequate network bandwidth provided by the client. What should the auditor do 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
✓
Review the SLA to determine responsibility for network performance
Option C is correct because the auditor should review the SLA terms to determine responsibility for network bandwidth and clarify performance expectations. Option A is incorrect because recommending bandwidth increase without analysis is premature. Option B is incorrect (but it's D in list? Actually options: A Review SLA, B Recommend bandwidth increase, C Escalate to management, D Perform independent tests. I set A as Review SLA, correct. So explanation: Option A is correct because the SLA defines responsibilities. Option B is incorrect because it assumes vendor claim is correct. Option C is incorrect but escalation is not first step. Option D is incorrect because independent testing may be unnecessary if SLA clarifies responsibility.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Review the SLA to determine responsibility for network performance
Why this is correct
The SLA should specify who is responsible for network bandwidth.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Recommend increasing network bandwidth
Why it's wrong here
Premature action without verifying responsibility.
✗
Escalate the issue to senior management
Why it's wrong here
Escalation is premature without first understanding contractual obligations.
✗
Perform independent performance testing
Why it's wrong here
Independent testing may be useful but first step is to review SLA.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — This question tests Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Review the SLA to determine responsibility for network performance — Option C is correct because the auditor should review the SLA terms to determine responsibility for network bandwidth and clarify performance expectations. Option A is incorrect because recommending bandwidth increase without analysis is premature. Option B is incorrect (but it's D in list? Actually options: A Review SLA, B Recommend bandwidth increase, C Escalate to management, D Perform independent tests. I set A as Review SLA, correct. So explanation: Option A is correct because the SLA defines responsibilities. Option B is incorrect because it assumes vendor claim is correct. Option C is incorrect but escalation is not first step. Option D is incorrect because independent testing may be unnecessary if SLA clarifies responsibility.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISA NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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