CISM Information Security Program Practice Question
A company's security program includes a policy that all employees must use strong passwords and change them every 90 days. However, the recent internal audit shows that 60% of employees have passwords that do not meet the strength requirements. What is the most effective corrective action?
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 technical controls to enforce password strength
Implementing technical controls, such as password complexity requirements and automated enforcement, ensures compliance without relying solely on user behavior. Option A is wrong because manual audits detect non-compliance but do not prevent it. Option B is wrong because training alone is insufficient to enforce policy. Option D is wrong because extending the password change interval does not address the root cause of weak passwords.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Conduct quarterly password audits with manual checks
Why it's wrong here
Audits are detective, not preventive.
- ✗
Increase the frequency of security awareness training
Why it's wrong here
Training is important but does not enforce compliance.
- ✓
Implement technical controls to enforce password strength
Why this is correct
Technical enforcement (e.g., complexity rules) ensures compliance.
- ✗
Extend the password change interval to 180 days
Why it's wrong here
This weakens security and does not enforce strength.
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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.