CISM Information Security Programme Practice Question
Which role is primarily responsible for designing and reviewing an organization's security architecture?
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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Security architect
The security architect designs and reviews security architecture to ensure it aligns with business requirements and security standards.
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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Security analyst
Why it's wrong here
Security analysts focus on monitoring and incident response.
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GRC analyst
Why it's wrong here
A GRC analyst focuses on aligning security controls with regulatory compliance and policy frameworks, not on designing technical security architecture. This role lacks the authority to define network segmentation, encryption standards, or identity boundaries. It is tempting because GRC analysts review security documentation, but they do not create the architectural blueprints—that responsibility belongs to a security architect. In a scenario requiring compliance gap analysis against a standard like ISO 27001, a GRC analyst would be the correct choice.
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Security architect
Why this is correct
Correct. The security architect designs the security architecture.
- ✗
SOC analyst
Why it's wrong here
SOC analysts monitor and respond to security events.
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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.