Question 159 of 871
CISM First step in program establishment Practice Question
An information security manager is designing a program for a healthcare organization. Which of the following should be the FIRST step in establishing the program?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISACA often tests the misconception that policy development is the logical starting point, but CISM emphasizes that risk assessment must precede all other program elements to ensure alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
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
✓
Conduct a risk assessment
Conducting a risk assessment is the foundational first step because it identifies and prioritizes the specific threats and vulnerabilities facing the healthcare organization's sensitive data (e.g., PHI under HIPAA). Without this baseline understanding, any subsequent policies, controls, or metrics would be misaligned with actual risk exposure, leading to ineffective or wasteful security investments.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Develop information security policies and procedures
Why it's wrong here
Policies should be based on risk assessment results, not developed first.
- ✗
Select and implement security controls
Why it's wrong here
Controls are selected after risks are identified.
- ✗
Define security metrics and reporting
Why it's wrong here
Metrics are defined after program objectives and controls are established.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The CISM exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Conduct a risk assessmentCorrect answer▾
✗Develop information security policies and proceduresWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Policies should be based on risk assessment results, not developed first.
✗Select and implement security controlsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Controls are selected after risks are identified.
✗Define security metrics and reportingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Metrics are defined after program objectives and controls are established.
Analysis generated from the official CISMblueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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