ISC2 CC Practice Question: Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response
A company is developing a business continuity plan. Which document identifies critical business functions and their dependencies, including the maximum acceptable downtime?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing the BIA with the BCP or DRP — the BIA is the analysis that identifies critical functions and downtime tolerances, while the BCP and DRP are the plans that document how to maintain or restore operations based on that analysis.
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
✓
Business Impact Analysis (BIA)
A Business Impact Analysis (BIA) identifies critical business functions, their dependencies, and the maximum acceptable downtime (MTD) and recovery objectives. It is the foundational analysis that feeds the BCP and DRP. The question's description of identifying critical functions and dependencies with maximum acceptable downtime is the textbook definition of a BIA.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
Why it's wrong here
A DRP focuses on restoring IT infrastructure and systems at an alternate site after disruption, detailing recovery steps for technology assets. It does not identify business functions, their dependencies or maximum tolerable downtime. It would be correct for recovering servers and data, not for the business impact analysis output.
- ✗
Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
Why it's wrong here
A BCP is the overarching document that the business impact analysis feeds into; it prescribes recovery strategies and continuity procedures rather than being the artefact that itself records critical functions, dependencies and maximum tolerable downtime. It would be the correct deliverable once the BIA has established those figures.
- ✗
Incident Response Plan (IRP)
Why it's wrong here
An IRP governs detection, containment, eradication and recovery from security incidents, addressing live response actions and escalation paths. It does not catalogue business functions, their interdependencies or maximum tolerable downtime. It would be the right document for handling a ransomware outbreak, not for establishing continuity requirements.
- ✓
Business Impact Analysis (BIA)
Why this is correct
A Business Impact Analysis identifies critical business functions, maps their dependencies, and quantifies the maximum acceptable downtime and data loss, producing the recovery objectives a continuity plan needs. It is the document that establishes those tolerances.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Key term
Business impact analysis
A systematic process used to identify and evaluate the potential effects of an interruption to critical business operations as a result of a disaster, accident, or emergency.
Key term
Analysis
In incident response, analysis is the process of examining data and events to determine what happened, how it happened, and what actions to take.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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