CISM Information Security Program Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are critical success factors for implementing an information security program?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'compliance' with 'security,' assuming that meeting regulatory standards (like PCI DSS or HIPAA) automatically ensures a robust security posture, when in fact compliance is a baseline, not a success factor for an effective program.
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
✓
Risk-based approach to prioritize controls.
A risk-based approach (B) is critical because it ensures that security controls are prioritized based on the actual threats and vulnerabilities facing the organization, rather than applying controls uniformly. This aligns resources with the highest risks, optimizing the cost-benefit ratio of the security program and directly supporting business resilience.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Compliance as the primary driver.
Why it's wrong here
May lead to checkbox approach; should be risk-driven.
- ✓
Risk-based approach to prioritize controls.
Why this is correct
Focuses resources on highest risk.
- ✓
Executive management sponsorship and support.
Why this is correct
Provides authority and resources.
- ✗
Deployment of the latest security technology.
Why it's wrong here
Technology is a means, not a success factor.
- ✓
Alignment with business objectives.
Why this is correct
Ensures relevance and acceptance.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CISM question from scratch — 871 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.