The answer is unauthorized access to sensitive data and unusual outbound traffic. These two are key indicators of a data breach because unauthorized access directly signals that a threat actor has bypassed controls to reach protected information, while unusual outbound traffic often reveals data exfiltration—the actual theft of that data being sent to an external destination. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between symptoms of a breach and other security events; a common trap is confusing multiple failed logins, which indicate a brute-force attempt, with a confirmed breach, or mistaking vague performance degradation for a definitive indicator. Remember that a breach is about confirmed access and data leaving the network, not just suspicious activity. A useful memory tip is “Access + Egress = Breach”—if you see both unauthorized access and data leaving, you have your two key indicators.
CISM Incident Management Practice Question
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of incident management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO are key indicators of a data breach? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Unusual outbound network traffic
Unusual outbound traffic and unauthorized access to sensitive data are classic indicators of a data breach. Multiple failed logins may indicate brute force, spam relates to phishing, and performance degradation is too vague.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
System performance degradation
Why it's wrong here
Performance degradation can have many causes and is not a key indicator of a breach.
✓
Unusual outbound network traffic
Why this is correct
Unusual outbound traffic, especially to unknown IPs, is a common sign of data exfiltration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increased spam emails to the organization
Why it's wrong here
Spam is more associated with phishing campaigns, not a breach indicator.
✓
Unauthorized access to sensitive data
Why this is correct
Unauthorized access to sensitive data is a direct indicator of a breach.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Multiple failed login attempts from a single user
Why it's wrong here
Failed logins may indicate brute force but not necessarily a data breach.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CISM exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which CISM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Incident Management — This question tests Incident Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Unusual outbound network traffic — Unusual outbound traffic and unauthorized access to sensitive data are classic indicators of a data breach. Multiple failed logins may indicate brute force, spam relates to phishing, and performance degradation is too vague.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Identify which CISM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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