CISM Information Security Programme Practice Question
Which of the following is a leading indicator of security program effectiveness?
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
✓
Phishing click rate
Leading indicators are proactive measures that predict future performance. Phishing click rate is a leading indicator because it measures current user behavior that can be improved before an incident occurs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Number of security incidents
Why it's wrong here
This is a lagging indicator reflecting historical incidents.
- ✗
Number of data breaches
Why it's wrong here
This is a lagging indicator, as it reflects past incidents.
- ✓
Phishing click rate
Why this is correct
Correct. Phishing click rate is a leading indicator that measures current user susceptibility.
- ✗
Mean time to detect (MTTD)
Why it's wrong here
MTTD is a lagging indicator that measures past detection efficiency.
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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.