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CISM Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are key indicators…
Which TWO of the following are key indicators that an organization's information security governance is effective?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse operational metrics (like training completion or budget adherence) with governance effectiveness, which requires evidence of strategic oversight, risk management execution, and board-level accountability.
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
✓
High percentage of risk treatment plans implemented on time.
Timely implementation of risk treatment plans directly demonstrates that the organization is actively managing identified risks according to its risk appetite and governance framework. Effective governance requires not just planning but execution; a high percentage of on-time plan completion indicates that risk owners are accountable and that the risk management process is operational, which is a core objective of information security 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.
- ✗
Low variance between the approved security budget and actual spending.
Why it's wrong here
Budget adherence does not measure governance outcomes.
- ✗
The number of security policies that have been published.
Why it's wrong here
Quantity does not indicate effectiveness or compliance.
- ✓
High percentage of risk treatment plans implemented on time.
Why this is correct
This shows that governance decisions are being executed.
- ✓
Regular reporting of security performance metrics to the board.
Why this is correct
This demonstrates active board oversight of security governance.
- ✗
High completion rate for security awareness training.
Why it's wrong here
While important, this is an operational metric, not a governance indicator.
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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.