CISM Information Security Programme Practice Question
Which TWO metrics are considered leading indicators for information security program performance?
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
✓
Patch compliance percentage
Leading indicators predict future performance; phishing click rate and patch compliance are proactive measures.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Patch compliance percentage
Why this is correct
High patch compliance reduces vulnerability risk, predicting fewer future exploits.
- ✓
Phishing click rate
Why this is correct
Indicates user susceptibility and predicts future incidents.
- ✗
Number of data breaches
Why it's wrong here
Breach count is a lagging indicator.
- ✗
Mean time to detect (MTTD)
Why it's wrong here
MTTD is a lagging indicator of detection efficiency.
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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.