Quick Answer
The answer is alignment with business objectives, executive support, and a risk-based approach. These three elements are critical success factors for implementing an information security program because they ensure the program is strategically integrated into the organization’s core mission rather than operating as an isolated technical function. Alignment with business objectives guarantees that security investments directly support organizational goals, while executive sponsorship provides the authority and resources needed for enforcement, and a risk-based approach prioritizes controls based on actual threat exposure rather than compliance checklists. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this concept tests your understanding that security programs fail when driven solely by technology or regulatory mandates, a common trap where candidates mistakenly select “latest technology” or “compliance as sole driver.” To remember, think of the mnemonic “EAR” — Executive support, Alignment, and Risk-based approach — and avoid the shiny-object fallacy of chasing tools without business context.
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of information security program. 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.
Which THREE of the following are critical success factors for implementing an information security program?
Compliance as the primary driver.
Why wrong: May lead to checkbox approach; should be risk-driven.
Risk-based approach to prioritize controls.
Focuses resources on highest risk.
Executive management sponsorship and support.
Provides authority and resources.
Deployment of the latest security technology.
Why wrong: Technology is a means, not a success factor.
Alignment with business objectives.
Ensures relevance and acceptance.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Risk-based approach to prioritize controls.
Executive support, alignment with business, and risk-based approach are critical. Having the latest technology and compliance as sole driver are not success factors.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Compliance as the primary driver.
Why it's wrong here
May lead to checkbox approach; should be risk-driven.
Risk-based approach to prioritize controls.
Why this is correct
Focuses resources on highest risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Executive management sponsorship and support.
Why this is correct
Provides authority and resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Deployment of the latest security technology.
Why it's wrong here
Technology is a means, not a success factor.
Alignment with business objectives.
Why this is correct
Ensures relevance and acceptance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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.
Information Security Program — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Information Security Program — This question tests Information Security Program — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Risk-based approach to prioritize controls. — Executive support, alignment with business, and risk-based approach are critical. Having the latest technology and compliance as sole driver are not success factors.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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