The answer is Phase 4: Recovery. This is the correct choice because the entire purpose of the Recovery phase is to restore systems and data to a known good state using clean backups; when the backup server itself is encrypted during a ransomware incident, the primary recovery mechanism is destroyed, forcing the team to rely on decryption keys, offline copies, or full system rebuilds. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how incident response phases interconnect and why backup integrity is a critical control—a common trap is assuming encryption impacts containment or eradication, but the core failure is in the ability to restore operations. Remember the memory tip: “If you can’t restore, you’re stuck in Recovery’s door.”
CISM Incident Management Practice Question
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of incident management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
---
Incident Response Playbook: Ransomware
Phase 1: Identification - Confirm ransomware via user reports and endpoint alerts.
Phase 2: Containment - Disconnect affected systems from the network. Do not power off.
Phase 3: Eradication - Remove malware using approved tools; reimage if necessary.
Phase 4: Recovery - Restore data from clean backups; verify integrity.
Phase 5: Post-Incident - Conduct lessons learned.
---
Refer to the exhibit. During a ransomware incident, the response team discovers that the backup server is also encrypted. Which phase of the playbook is MOST impacted?
Refer to the exhibit.
---
Incident Response Playbook: Ransomware
Phase 1: Identification - Confirm ransomware via user reports and endpoint alerts.
Phase 2: Containment - Disconnect affected systems from the network. Do not power off.
Phase 3: Eradication - Remove malware using approved tools; reimage if necessary.
Phase 4: Recovery - Restore data from clean backups; verify integrity.
Phase 5: Post-Incident - Conduct lessons learned.
---
A
Phase 5: Post-Incident
Why wrong: Post-incident is after recovery.
B
Phase 3: Eradication
Why wrong: Eradication can still remove malware.
C
Phase 2: Containment
Why wrong: Containment is not directly affected; systems can still be isolated.
D
Phase 4: Recovery
Recovery relies on clean backups; encrypted backups hinder restoration.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Phase 4: Recovery
Option D is correct because the Recovery phase (Phase 4) is most impacted when the backup server is encrypted during a ransomware incident. Without clean, unencrypted backups, the organization cannot restore systems and data to a known good state, which is the primary goal of the Recovery phase. The encryption of backups directly undermines the ability to recover, forcing the team to consider alternative recovery methods such as decryption keys, offline backups, or system rebuilds.
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.
✗
Phase 5: Post-Incident
Why it's wrong here
Post-incident is after recovery.
✗
Phase 3: Eradication
Why it's wrong here
Eradication can still remove malware.
✗
Phase 2: Containment
Why it's wrong here
Containment is not directly affected; systems can still be isolated.
✓
Phase 4: Recovery
Why this is correct
Recovery relies on clean backups; encrypted backups hinder restoration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the Recovery phase with the Eradication phase, thinking that removing the ransomware will automatically restore access to backups, but in reality, encrypted backups require separate decryption or restoration processes that are part of Recovery, not Eradication.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In ransomware incidents, backup servers are often targeted because attackers enumerate network shares and backup agents (e.g., VSS, Veeam, or NetBackup) to delete or encrypt shadow copies and backup files. The Recovery phase typically relies on the 3-2-1 backup rule (three copies, two media types, one offsite), but if the backup server is on the same network segment and lacks immutable or air-gapped storage, it becomes vulnerable. Real-world scenarios, such as the NotPetya or Ryuk attacks, demonstrated that encrypted backups force organizations to either pay the ransom, use partial backups, or rebuild from scratch, significantly extending downtime.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Phase 4: Recovery — Option D is correct because the Recovery phase (Phase 4) is most impacted when the backup server is encrypted during a ransomware incident. Without clean, unencrypted backups, the organization cannot restore systems and data to a known good state, which is the primary goal of the Recovery phase. The encryption of backups directly undermines the ability to recover, forcing the team to consider alternative recovery methods such as decryption keys, offline backups, or system rebuilds.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.