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CISM Practice Question: Which THREE of the following are key components…
Which THREE of the following are key components of an incident response plan? (Select THREE)
⚠ Common exam trap
The distinction between operational plan components (like procedures, roles, and communication matrix) versus supporting or administrative elements (like budgets or full employee directories) is commonly tested to see if candidates understand what is essential for executing the response, not just managing the 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
✓
Communication and escalation matrix
The communication and escalation matrix is a key component of an incident response plan because it defines the chain of command, contact paths, and escalation triggers for notifying stakeholders during an incident. This ensures that the right people are informed at the right time, preventing delays in decision-making and response actions. Without this matrix, critical incidents may be mishandled due to miscommunication or failure to escalate to senior management or legal teams.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
List of all employees' contact information
Why it's wrong here
Not necessary; only key personnel are included.
- ✗
Annual budget for incident response tools
Why it's wrong here
Budget is a resource document, not part of the plan.
- ✓
Communication and escalation matrix
Why this is correct
Clear communication paths are critical during an incident.
- ✓
Incident response procedures
Why this is correct
Procedures define steps for each incident type.
- ✓
Roles and responsibilities of team members
Why this is correct
Defined roles ensure efficient response.
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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.