The answer is an employee logging in during non-business hours and downloading files, as this directly signals a key indicator of a potential insider threat incident. This behavior deviates from established user baselines, often flagged by security information and event management systems as a precursor to data exfiltration, where an insider collects sensitive information for unauthorized purposes. On the Certified Information Security Manager CISM exam, this tests your ability to distinguish behavioral red flags from false positives, such as legitimate after-hours work by authorized staff. A common trap is confusing policy violations with malicious intent, so focus on anomalies like accessing large volumes of data unrelated to job function. Memory tip: think "Off-Hours + Off-Role" to recall the two core red flags—unusual timing and irrelevant data access.
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 of the following are key indicators of a potential insider threat incident? (Select exactly 2)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A user accessing large volumes of data not related to their job function
Option C is correct because a user accessing large volumes of data unrelated to their job function is a classic behavioral anomaly indicating potential data exfiltration. This pattern often precedes an insider threat incident, as the user may be collecting sensitive information for unauthorized purposes, such as selling it or using it for personal gain. Security information and event management (SIEM) systems typically flag such access based on deviations from baseline user behavior, triggering further investigation.
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.
✗
Multiple failed login attempts from an external IP address
Why it's wrong here
This indicates external brute-force, not insider.
✗
An increase in network traffic to a known malicious domain
Why it's wrong here
This points to external malware or command and control.
✓
A user accessing large volumes of data not related to their job function
Why this is correct
This suggests data theft or espionage.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
An employee logging in during non-business hours and downloading files
Why this is correct
Unusual working hours can indicate malicious activity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A user updating their password as required by policy
Why it's wrong here
This is normal and expected behavior.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse external attack indicators (like failed logins or malicious domain traffic) with insider threat indicators, failing to recognize that insider threats are characterized by anomalous internal behavior, not external network events.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This points to external malware or command and control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) engines use machine learning models to establish baselines of normal data access patterns, such as the volume, frequency, and types of files accessed. A sudden spike in data downloads, especially to removable media or cloud storage, can trigger alerts for potential data loss prevention (DLP) incidents. In real-world scenarios, insiders like Edward Snowden exploited legitimate credentials to access and exfiltrate large volumes of classified data, which would have been detected by such behavioral analytics if properly tuned.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: A user accessing large volumes of data not related to their job function — Option C is correct because a user accessing large volumes of data unrelated to their job function is a classic behavioral anomaly indicating potential data exfiltration. This pattern often precedes an insider threat incident, as the user may be collecting sensitive information for unauthorized purposes, such as selling it or using it for personal gain. Security information and event management (SIEM) systems typically flag such access based on deviations from baseline user behavior, triggering further investigation.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit.
Given the exhibit, which type of incident is MOST likely occurring?
medium
A.Phishing campaign
B.Ransomware attack
✓ C.Insider threat
D.DDoS attack
Why C: The exhibit shows a user logging in from an unusual location, attempting unauthorized access, and then exfiltrating sensitive data. This pattern is indicative of an insider threat, as it involves a legitimate user performing malicious actions. Option A is correct.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
Question Discussion
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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.
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