CISM Information Security Programme Practice Question
A security awareness program includes phishing simulations. Which metric best measures the long-term effectiveness of the program?
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
✓
Click rate trend over multiple simulation cycles
A sustained downward trend in click rate over time indicates improved awareness and behavior, while single-click rate or reported emails may vary.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Number of phishing simulation campaigns per year
Why it's wrong here
Frequency alone doesn't measure effectiveness.
- ✓
Click rate trend over multiple simulation cycles
Why this is correct
Shows sustained improvement in user vigilance.
- ✗
Pass rate on phishing simulation knowledge test
Why it's wrong here
Knowledge test measures understanding, not behavior.
- ✗
Number of employees who report phishing emails
Why it's wrong here
Reporting is good but not the primary measure of behavior change.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 871 original CISM practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.