CISM Information Security Programme Practice Question
A security manager is designing a security awareness program. Which TWO metrics are leading indicators of program effectiveness?
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
✓
Knowledge assessment scores from training.
Leading indicators predict future performance. Phishing click rate and knowledge assessment scores measure current behavior and knowledge, which can predict future incidents.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Knowledge assessment scores from training.
Why this is correct
Indicates retention of training content.
- ✓
Phishing simulation click rate.
Why this is correct
Measures susceptibility to social engineering.
- ✗
Number of security incidents reported by employees.
Why it's wrong here
This is a lagging indicator.
- ✗
Number of phishing emails reported by users.
Why it's wrong here
This is a lagging indicator of user behavior.
- ✗
Mean time to detect (MTTD) a phishing attack.
Why it's wrong here
Lagging indicator of detection capability.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This CISM question is part of Courseiva's 871-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. 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.