The answer is to determine the scope of the breach by analyzing which resources the compromised account accessed. This step is critical because effective containment and notification depend on knowing exactly what data was exfiltrated, which systems were touched, and whether lateral movement occurred. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this question tests your understanding of the incident response lifecycle, specifically the phase where you must prioritize investigation over reaction. A common trap is jumping to re-enable the account or notify stakeholders before confirming impact, which can destroy evidence or cause unnecessary panic. Remember the memory tip: “Scope before stop”—always map the blast radius before taking any irreversible action like deletion or notification.
CISM Incident Management Practice Question
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of incident management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
During an incident investigation, the team discovers that a compromised account was used to exfiltrate data. Which of the following should the team do NEXT?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Determine the scope of the breach by analyzing accessed resources.
Option B is correct because understanding the scope is critical to effective containment and notification. Option A is wrong because re-enabling without analysis could allow continued access. Option C is wrong because notification should be based on confirmed impact. Option D is wrong because deletion may destroy evidence.
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.
✓
Determine the scope of the breach by analyzing accessed resources.
Why this is correct
Option B is correct because understanding the scope is critical to effective containment and notification.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Reset the password and re-enable the account immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Option A is wrong because re-enabling without analysis could allow continued access.
✗
Notify the affected users and customers.
Why it's wrong here
Option C is wrong because notification should be based on confirmed impact.
✗
Delete the compromised account from the system.
Why it's wrong here
Option D is wrong because deletion may destroy evidence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 CISM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Incident Management — This question tests Incident Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Determine the scope of the breach by analyzing accessed resources. — Option B is correct because understanding the scope is critical to effective containment and notification. Option A is wrong because re-enabling without analysis could allow continued access. Option C is wrong because notification should be based on confirmed impact. Option D is wrong because deletion may destroy evidence.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Identify which CISM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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