CISM Information Security Programme Practice Question
Which of the following is the primary objective of a security champions programme?
⚠ Common exam trap
CISM often tests the difference between a security champions programme and other security functions; candidates may confuse it with enforcement or incident response, but the key is 'embedding' security advocates in development teams.
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
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To embed security advocates within development teams
The primary objective of a security champions programme is to embed security advocates within development teams, creating a decentralized network of individuals who promote secure practices and act as a liaison between security and development. This helps scale security knowledge and culture without adding full-time security staff to every team. Enforcement, phishing simulations, and escalation paths are not the core purpose of the programme.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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To enforce security policies across the organization
Why it's wrong here
Policy enforcement is a compliance function owned by security governance, not champions, who act as embedded advocates translating central guidance into team practise. The programme's aim is cultural: raising security awareness and reporting within delivery teams. Enforcement would be the correct mechanism where mandated control adherence must be audited.
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To conduct phishing simulations for employees
Why it's wrong here
Phishing simulations are a security-awareness delivery tactic, not the champions programme's objective. Champions embed security thinking into team workflows and act as a liaison to the security function. Running simulations would be the right choice where the requirement is measuring employee susceptibility to email-based social engineering.
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To provide an escalation path for security incidents
Why it's wrong here
A champions programme embeds security advocates within development teams to shift left and influence secure design; it is not an incident escalation channel, which established response procedures already provide. It is tempting because champions do raise security concerns, yet their remit is prevention and culture, not incident routing.
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To embed security advocates within development teams
Why this is correct
Embedding advocates within development teams shifts security left, giving each team a local point of contact who promotes secure coding and threat modelling during daily work. This satisfies the objective of scaling security expertise without adding headcount, influencing decisions at the point code is written.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISACA exam blueprint
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.