CISM Incident Management Practice Question
Which of the following is the primary reason for conducting a lessons learned meeting after an incident?
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
✓
To update the IR plan and playbooks
The lessons learned meeting aims to identify improvements to the incident response process.
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 document the incident for insurance
Why it's wrong here
Insurance documentation is a by-product, not the purpose; lessons learned exists to identify control gaps and improve future response. It is tempting because incident records do support claims, but that administrative use does not drive the meeting's primary objective of preventing recurrence.
- ✓
To update the IR plan and playbooks
Why this is correct
Capturing what worked and failed during response feeds directly into revising the IR plan and playbooks, satisfying the stem's demand for the primary reason. This closes the improvement loop, embedding corrective actions into future response procedures rather than merely documenting the incident for compliance or post-mortem reporting purposes.
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To satisfy regulatory requirements
Why it's wrong here
Regulatory compliance may require post-incident review, but the primary driver is improving the security programme through identified weaknesses. It is tempting because many frameworks mandate reviews, yet satisfying an auditor is a consequence, not the reason the meeting is held.
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To assign blame
Why it's wrong here
Assigning blame contradicts the incident management objective of identifying systemic control failures, not individual fault. A lessons learned meeting focuses on root cause analysis and process improvement to prevent recurrence. This option is tempting because post-incident reviews in non-IT contexts often include accountability measures, and in a disciplinary or legal investigation scenario, determining responsibility would be the primary goal.
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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.