CISM Information Security Programme Practice Question
A company has implemented a security awareness program with quarterly phishing simulations. The click rate has remained at 15% for the past two quarters. What is the most effective next step?
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
✓
Implement mandatory remediation training for users who click
Since the click rate is stagnating, the program needs to be adjusted. Remediation training targeted at those who click, combined with increased simulation complexity, can drive improvement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the frequency of simulations to monthly
Why it's wrong here
Frequency alone may not address the root cause of clicking.
- ✓
Implement mandatory remediation training for users who click
Why this is correct
Targeted training addresses behavior and reinforces learning.
- ✗
Discontinue simulations as they are not effective
Why it's wrong here
Discontinuing would remove a key awareness tool.
- ✗
Reduce the difficulty of simulations to lower the click rate
Why it's wrong here
Reducing simulation difficulty would mask the click rate without addressing the underlying security culture, failing the requirement to improve actual user detection of real phishing attempts. This approach is tempting because lowering difficulty often yields immediate metric improvements in training environments, and it would be correct if the goal were solely to demonstrate compliance with a low click-rate target rather than to build genuine resilience.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CISM 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 CISM exam.