The answer is changing employee security behavior and reducing security incidents. These two objectives are the core of any security awareness program because they directly target the human element of risk: by altering how employees interact with data and systems, organizations lower the likelihood of successful phishing, social engineering, or accidental data leaks. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this concept tests your understanding that awareness programs are not about compliance checkboxes or budget increases, but about measurable behavioral change and incident reduction. A common trap is mistaking compliance as a primary objective—while it is a beneficial byproduct, the CISM framework emphasizes that awareness must drive action, not just policy acknowledgment. Remember the mnemonic “BIR” for Behavior, Incidents, Reduction—if an option doesn’t directly change what people do or lower the number of security events, it is not a primary objective.
CISM Information Security Program Practice Question
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 TWO of the following are primary objectives of a security awareness program?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reduce the number of security incidents
Options A and B are correct. Changing employee behavior and reducing security incidents are core objectives. Option C is wrong compliance is a benefit but not the primary objective. Option D is wrong increasing budget is not an awareness objective. Option E is wrong improving password sharing is counterproductive.
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.
✗
Improve password sharing practices
Why it's wrong here
Password sharing should be discouraged, not improved.
✗
Increase the security budget
Why it's wrong here
Budget increase is not an objective of awareness.
✓
Reduce the number of security incidents
Why this is correct
Reducing incidents is a direct outcome of effective awareness.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Change employee security behavior
Why this is correct
Behavior change is a primary goal of awareness programs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ensure compliance with regulations
Why it's wrong here
Compliance is secondary; awareness aims to educate, not enforce.
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.
Information Security Program — This question tests Information Security Program — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Reduce the number of security incidents — Options A and B are correct. Changing employee behavior and reducing security incidents are core objectives. Option C is wrong compliance is a benefit but not the primary objective. Option D is wrong increasing budget is not an awareness objective. Option E is wrong improving password sharing is counterproductive.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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