- A
Include speculative root causes to show thoroughness
Why wrong: Speculation should be avoided to preserve credibility and legal privilege.
- B
Wait until the incident is fully resolved before communicating
Why wrong: Executives need timely updates to make decisions; waiting is not appropriate.
- C
Send hourly situation reports (sitreps) focusing on business impact and key actions
Hourly sitreps are appropriate for P1 incidents, focusing on impact and response actions.
- D
Provide detailed technical analysis in every update
Why wrong: Executives need high-level status, not deep technical details.
Question 783 of 905
CISM Incident Management Practice Question
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of incident management. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 a P1 incident involving a ransomware attack, the incident response manager needs to communicate with executives. Which of the following is the most appropriate approach for executive communication?
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
✓
Send hourly situation reports (sitreps) focusing on business impact and key actions
For critical incidents, hourly sitreps (situation reports) are recommended to keep executives informed. Avoiding speculation and preserving legal privilege with counsel involvement are also key.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Include speculative root causes to show thoroughness
Why it's wrong here
Speculation should be avoided to preserve credibility and legal privilege.
- ✗
Wait until the incident is fully resolved before communicating
Why it's wrong here
Executives need timely updates to make decisions; waiting is not appropriate.
- ✓
Send hourly situation reports (sitreps) focusing on business impact and key actions
Why this is correct
Hourly sitreps are appropriate for P1 incidents, focusing on impact and response actions.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Provide detailed technical analysis in every update
Why it's wrong here
Executives need high-level status, not deep technical details.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CISM questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Incident Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISM question test?
Incident Management — This question tests Incident Management — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Send hourly situation reports (sitreps) focusing on business impact and key actions — For critical incidents, hourly sitreps (situation reports) are recommended to keep executives informed. Avoiding speculation and preserving legal privilege with counsel involvement are also key.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CISM questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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