CISM Information Security Programme Practice Question
A security architect is designing a defense-in-depth strategy. Which combination of controls best exemplifies this approach?
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
✓
Firewall, antivirus, encryption, and security awareness training
Defense-in-depth uses multiple layers of security. Firewall (network), antivirus (host), encryption (data), and security awareness (human) provide overlapping layers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Physical security, background checks, and non-disclosure agreements
Why it's wrong here
These are administrative and physical, not technical layers for defense-in-depth.
- ✗
Encryption, data loss prevention, and backup
Why it's wrong here
These are data-centric but lack network and host layers.
- ✗
Firewall, intrusion detection system, and SIEM
Why it's wrong here
These are mostly network and monitoring layers, missing host and data layers.
- ✓
Firewall, antivirus, encryption, and security awareness training
Why this is correct
Correct. All four represent different layers: network, host, data, and human.
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About these practice questions
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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.