CISM Information Security Programme Practice Question
Which control framework is structured around Implementation Groups (IG1, IG2, IG3) to help organizations prioritize security controls based on risk?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap in the CISM exam is that candidates often confuse the CIS Controls Implementation Groups with NIST SP 800-53's impact-based baselines (Low, Moderate, High), but the key distinction is that IG1/IG2/IG3 are risk-prioritized tiers based on organizational resources and threat exposure, not just data impact levels.
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
✓
CIS Controls v8
The CIS Controls v8 framework is uniquely structured around Implementation Groups (IG1, IG2, IG3) to provide a prioritized, risk-based approach to security control implementation. IG1 represents basic cyber hygiene for organizations with limited resources, IG2 adds more advanced controls for those with moderate risk, and IG3 includes comprehensive controls for high-risk environments. This tiered structure directly aligns with the CISM focus on aligning security controls with business risk and resource constraints.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
CIS Controls v8
Why this is correct
CIS Controls v8 uses IG1 (basic), IG2 (intermediate), and IG3 (advanced) for prioritization.
- ✗
COBIT 2019
Why it's wrong here
COBIT is a governance framework, not a control framework with Implementation Groups.
- ✗
ISO 27001 Annex A
Why it's wrong here
ISO 27001 Annex A lists controls under domains, not Implementation Groups.
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NIST SP 800-53
Why it's wrong here
NIST SP 800-53 organizes controls into families, not Implementation Groups.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.