- A
Risk assessments are not performed on a regular basis.
Regular risk assessments are fundamental to governance to ensure risk is managed.
- B
No formal security steering committee exists.
A steering committee provides strategic direction and oversight, which is a core governance function.
- C
The information security policy is not available on the intranet.
Why wrong: Policy availability is an operational issue; governance would require that policies exist and are reviewed, not necessarily their distribution method.
- D
Employees have not completed annual security awareness training.
Why wrong: Lack of training is an operational issue, not a governance gap.
- E
Antivirus software is not updated on all endpoints.
Why wrong: This is a technical control deficiency, not a governance failure.
Quick Answer
The answer is the absence of a formal security steering committee and a lack of periodic risk assessments. These two indicators directly reveal weak information security governance because governance is fundamentally about oversight, alignment, and accountability—a steering committee provides strategic direction and resource approval, while regular risk assessments ensure that security controls evolve with the threat landscape and business needs. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this concept tests your ability to distinguish governance failures from operational failures; a common trap is confusing a missing policy (an operational issue) with a missing oversight body (a governance issue). When evaluating indicators of weak information security governance, remember that governance is about the “who” and “why” of decision-making, not just the “what” of controls. Memory tip: think “Committee and Compliance”—if either the steering committee or the risk assessment cadence is missing, governance is broken.
CISM Information Security Governance Practice Question
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of information security governance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A security audit has identified several governance weaknesses. Which TWO of the following are most likely to indicate a lack of effective information security governance? (Choose two.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
Risk assessments are not performed on a regular basis.
A is correct because regular risk assessments are a foundational requirement of information security governance, as they ensure that security controls remain aligned with evolving threats and business objectives. Without periodic risk assessments, the organization cannot demonstrate due diligence or maintain an accurate risk profile, which is a direct indicator of governance failure.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Risk assessments are not performed on a regular basis.
Why this is correct
Regular risk assessments are fundamental to governance to ensure risk is managed.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
No formal security steering committee exists.
Why this is correct
A steering committee provides strategic direction and oversight, which is a core governance function.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The information security policy is not available on the intranet.
Why it's wrong here
Policy availability is an operational issue; governance would require that policies exist and are reviewed, not necessarily their distribution method.
- ✗
Employees have not completed annual security awareness training.
Why it's wrong here
Lack of training is an operational issue, not a governance gap.
- ✗
Antivirus software is not updated on all endpoints.
Why it's wrong here
This is a technical control deficiency, not a governance failure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISACA often tests the distinction between governance (strategic oversight, risk management, committee structures) and operational controls (training, patching, policy distribution), leading candidates to mistake operational deficiencies for governance weaknesses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Information security governance encompasses the framework of policies, roles, and accountability structures that guide security decisions, such as the existence of a steering committee and the mandate for periodic risk assessments. In practice, governance failures often manifest as missing oversight bodies (e.g., no steering committee) or lack of systematic risk management processes, which cannot be remedied by simply updating software or posting a policy online. Real-world frameworks like ISO/IEC 27001 explicitly require top management to review risk assessments and establish governance committees, highlighting that these are strategic, not tactical, controls.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CISM exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Information Security Governance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISM question test?
Information Security Governance — This question tests Information Security Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Risk assessments are not performed on a regular basis. — A is correct because regular risk assessments are a foundational requirement of information security governance, as they ensure that security controls remain aligned with evolving threats and business objectives. Without periodic risk assessments, the organization cannot demonstrate due diligence or maintain an accurate risk profile, which is a direct indicator of governance failure.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on CISM
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Based on the exhibit, which role is missing from the governance policy that would be essential for enforcing accountability?
hard- A.External auditor
- B.Internal audit function
- ✓ C.A role with authority to enforce compliance and impose consequences
- D.Chief compliance officer
Why C: Option D is correct because without defined consequences or enforcement responsibilities, accountability is weak. Option A is wrong because audit provides assurance, not enforcement. Option B is wrong because compliance officer may exist but isn't defined. Option C is wrong because external auditor is not internal governance.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
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