Quick Answer
The answer is improperly documented recovery procedures. This is the most likely cause because even with a technically sound backup strategy, unclear or missing documentation introduces human error and guesswork during the restoration process, directly leading to the six-hour delay. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this question tests your understanding that backup integrity depends not only on the data itself but on the operational procedures surrounding recovery. A common trap is to blame hardware failure or tape degradation, but the exam emphasizes that a restore delay due to improper documentation is a frequent real-world issue, as technicians waste time interpreting vague steps or searching for correct sequences. To remember this, think of the mnemonic “DRIP” — Documentation, Recovery, Integrity, Process — where poor documentation is the first domino that topples the entire recovery timeline.
This CC practice question tests your understanding of business continuity, dr & incident response. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
An organization's backup strategy includes daily full backups. However, recovery tests show that restoring from tape takes 6 hours longer than expected. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Improperly documented recovery procedures
Poor documentation can cause steps to be missed or performed incorrectly, leading to delays.
Tape drive failure
Why wrong: Tape drive failure would cause a complete failure, not just a delay.
Inadequate storage capacity
Why wrong: Inadequate storage would cause failure, not just delay.
Insufficient bandwidth
Why wrong: Bandwidth is not relevant to tape-based recovery.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Improperly documented recovery procedures
Improperly documented recovery procedures can lead to incorrect steps or delays during restoration, which is a common cause of extended recovery times.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Improperly documented recovery procedures
Why this is correct
Poor documentation can cause steps to be missed or performed incorrectly, leading to delays.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Tape drive failure
Why it's wrong here
Tape drive failure would cause a complete failure, not just a delay.
Inadequate storage capacity
Why it's wrong here
Inadequate storage would cause failure, not just delay.
Insufficient bandwidth
Why it's wrong here
Bandwidth is not relevant to tape-based recovery.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Identify which CC exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — This question tests Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Improperly documented recovery procedures — Improperly documented recovery procedures can lead to incorrect steps or delays during restoration, which is a common cause of extended recovery times.
Identify which CC exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.
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