CISM Information Security Program Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are key components of an information security program governance structure? (Select TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
ISACA often tests the distinction between governance (strategic oversight and decision-making) and management (operational execution and controls), so candidates mistakenly select operational items like incident response plans or vulnerability schedules as governance components.
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
✓
A steering committee that includes senior management and business unit leaders.
A steering committee that includes senior management and business unit leaders is a key component of an information security program governance structure because it provides strategic oversight, aligns security initiatives with business objectives, and ensures accountability at the executive level. This committee typically authorizes policies, reviews risk appetite, and approves resource allocation, which are essential for effective governance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A steering committee that includes senior management and business unit leaders.
Why this is correct
A steering committee ensures alignment with business strategy and provides oversight.
- ✗
An incident response plan that defines roles and procedures.
Why it's wrong here
Incident response is operational, not governance.
- ✓
Regular reporting to the board of directors on security metrics and risks.
Why this is correct
Reporting to the board ensures visibility and accountability.
- ✗
A vulnerability scanning schedule and remediation SLAs.
Why it's wrong here
This is a technical control, not a governance element.
- ✗
A firewall policy that specifies allowed and denied traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Firewall policy is a technical control, not governance.
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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.