easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: When implementing a commercial off-the-shelf…
When implementing a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) system, what is the MOST important factor?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse 'customization' (modifying source code) with 'configuration' (using built-in parameters), and mistakenly believe that tailoring the software to every requirement is the goal, when in fact minimizing modification is the key to preserving the COTS benefits of low cost and easy maintenance.
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
✓
Alignment with business processes with minimal modification
When implementing a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) system, the most important factor is alignment with business processes with minimal modification. COTS systems are designed to provide standardized functionality; extensive customization undermines the core benefits of reduced cost, faster deployment, and easier vendor support. Modifying the COTS codebase creates a 'forked' version that complicates patch management, increases testing overhead, and risks incompatibility with future vendor updates, directly contradicting the acquisition rationale.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Customization to fit all requirements
Why it's wrong here
Excessive customization defeats the purpose of COTS.
- ✗
Lowest total cost
Why it's wrong here
Lowest cost may not align with business needs and could increase long-term costs.
- ✗
Vendor reputation
Why it's wrong here
Reputation is important but alignment with business processes is key.
- ✓
Alignment with business processes with minimal modification
Why this is correct
Minimal modification reduces risk and cost.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CISA question from scratch — 995 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.