Drag steps to the numbered slots on the right, or tap a step then tap a slot.
Steps
Order
1Step 1
2Step 2
3Step 3
4Step 4
5Step 5
mediumDrag & DropObjective-mapped
CISM Practice Question: Arrange the steps for responding to a data breach…
Arrange the steps for responding to a data breach involving personally identifiable information (PII).
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
✓
Step 1: Containment, Step 2: Evidence Preservation, Step 3: Internal Notification, Step 4: Impact Assessment, Step 5: External Notification
Incident response begins with containment, then evidence preservation, internal notification, impact assessment, and external notification.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Step 1: Containment, Step 2: Evidence Preservation, Step 3: Internal Notification, Step 4: Impact Assessment, Step 5: External Notification
Why this is correct
This is the correct order because containing the breach first prevents further damage, then preserving evidence ensures data integrity for investigation, internal notification alerts key stakeholders, impact assessment evaluates the scope and legal obligations, and finally external notification meets regulatory and public disclosure requirements.
- ✗
Step 1: Impact Assessment, Step 2: Containment, Step 3: Evidence Preservation, Step 4: Internal Notification, Step 5: External Notification
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because performing an impact assessment before containment allows the breach to continue and potentially escalate, and evidence may be destroyed or altered during assessment.
- ✗
Step 1: External Notification, Step 2: Internal Notification, Step 3: Containment, Step 4: Evidence Preservation, Step 5: Impact Assessment
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because notifying external parties before containment and evidence preservation violates regulatory requirements and may cause unnecessary panic or legal issues; containment and investigation must precede notification.
- ✗
Step 1: Evidence Preservation, Step 2: Containment, Step 3: Internal Notification, Step 4: Impact Assessment, Step 5: External Notification
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because preserving evidence without first containing the breach allows the incident to continue causing harm, and evidence may become irrelevant if the breach is not stopped immediately.
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.