- A
1 hour
Why wrong: This is the work recovery time, not the RTO.
- B
2 hours
The RTO is the time to restore the system, which is 2 hours.
- C
4 hours
Why wrong: This is the maximum tolerable downtime (MTD), not the RTO.
- D
3 hours
Why wrong: This includes work recovery time, but RTO is typically only for system restoration.
Question 550 of 1,000
Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
ISC2 CC Practice Question: Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response
This CC practice question tests your understanding of business continuity, disaster recovery, and incident response. 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.
During a BIA, the maximum tolerable downtime for a critical application is determined to be 4 hours. The IT team estimates system recovery will take 2 hours, but additional manual work to reconcile data will take 1 hour. What is the Recovery Time Objective (RTO)?
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
✓
2 hours
RTO is the time within which systems must be recovered to avoid unacceptable consequences. Here, the system must be back within 2 hours to meet the 4-hour MTD, but recovery includes both system restoration and work recovery. The RTO is typically the time to restore systems to a functional state, which is 2 hours.
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.
- ✗
1 hour
Why it's wrong here
This is the work recovery time, not the RTO.
- ✓
2 hours
Why this is correct
The RTO is the time to restore the system, which is 2 hours.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
4 hours
Why it's wrong here
This is the maximum tolerable downtime (MTD), not the RTO.
- ✗
3 hours
Why it's wrong here
This includes work recovery time, but RTO is typically only for system restoration.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CC questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
CC practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related CC practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Security Principles practice questions
Practise CC questions linked to Security Principles.
Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response practice questions
Practise CC questions linked to Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response.
Access Controls Concepts practice questions
Practise CC questions linked to Access Controls Concepts.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise CC questions linked to Security Operations.
Network Security practice questions
Practise CC questions linked to Network Security.
Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response practice questions
Practise CC questions linked to Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response.
CC fundamentals practice questions
Practise CC questions linked to CC fundamentals.
CC scenario practice questions
Practise CC questions linked to CC scenario.
CC troubleshooting practice questions
Practise CC questions linked to CC troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free CC practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CC question test?
Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response — This question tests Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 2 hours — RTO is the time within which systems must be recovered to avoid unacceptable consequences. Here, the system must be back within 2 hours to meet the 4-hour MTD, but recovery includes both system restoration and work recovery. The RTO is typically the time to restore systems to a functional state, which is 2 hours.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
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.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.