Quick Answer
The answer is Design, as it is one of the three typical phases in the system development life cycle (SDLC), alongside Implementation and Planning. The SDLC is a structured framework that guides the creation of information systems from initial concept through retirement, and Design is the critical phase where the system’s architecture, data flows, and user interfaces are specified based on gathered requirements. On the Certified Information Systems Auditor CISA exam, this concept tests your understanding of the SDLC’s sequential nature and the auditor’s role in verifying that each phase produces proper deliverables. A common trap is confusing Design with Analysis—remember that Analysis defines what the system must do, while Design defines how it will be built. For the CISA, focus on the fact that Design precedes Implementation, where the system is actually coded and deployed. A useful memory tip is the acronym PADDIE: Planning, Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation—keeping Design in the middle helps you recall it as the bridge between requirements and coding.
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.
Which THREE of the following are typical phases in the system development life cycle (SDLC)?
Unit testing.
Why wrong: Unit testing is part of development phase, not a separate phase.
Implementation.
Implementation phase involves coding, testing, and deployment.
Patch management.
Why wrong: Patch management is an operational activity, not an SDLC phase.
Requirements analysis.
Requirements analysis is a key phase in SDLC.
Design.
Design phase translates requirements into system architecture.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Implementation.
Implementation is a standard phase in the SDLC where the designed system is built, coded, and deployed into the production environment. This phase follows design and precedes testing and maintenance, ensuring the solution is operational and meets the specified requirements.
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.
Unit testing.
Why it's wrong here
Unit testing is part of development phase, not a separate phase.
Implementation.
Why this is correct
Implementation phase involves coding, testing, and deployment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Patch management.
Why it's wrong here
Patch management is an operational activity, not an SDLC phase.
Requirements analysis.
Why this is correct
Requirements analysis is a key phase in SDLC.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Design.
Why this is correct
Design phase translates requirements into system architecture.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing operational activities like patch management or specific testing techniques with the high-level phases of the SDLC, leading candidates to select activities that occur post-deployment or are sub-steps of a phase.
Detailed technical explanation
The SDLC typically follows a structured sequence: planning, requirements analysis, design, implementation (coding and deployment), testing, and maintenance. Implementation involves actual code writing, database creation, and system configuration, often using version control systems like Git and CI/CD pipelines to automate builds and releases. A real-world scenario is deploying a new ERP module where implementation includes data migration, user training, and go-live cutover.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — This question tests Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Implementation. — Implementation is a standard phase in the SDLC where the designed system is built, coded, and deployed into the production environment. This phase follows design and precedes testing and maintenance, ensuring the solution is operational and meets the specified requirements.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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.
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