Quick Answer
The correct answer is to document the issue and proceed with the test. This is because a disaster recovery test is designed to evaluate the entire failover ecosystem, not just a single component; aborting the test when a backup generator fails would lose critical data on other systems like UPS runtime, network redundancy, and application recovery. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this scenario tests your understanding of incident response discipline versus operational urgency—a common trap is to assume you must fix the failure immediately, but the priority is preserving the test’s integrity for a full post-test root cause analysis. Remember the memory tip: “Log it, don’t stop it”—document the failure and continue to capture the full picture of your DR plan’s performance.
This CC practice question tests your understanding of business continuity, dr & incident response. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 disaster recovery test, the team discovers that the backup generator fails to start. What is the BEST immediate action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Continue the test with manual procedures
Why wrong: While possible, it is better to document the failure first.
Cancel the test
Why wrong: Canceling loses the opportunity to test other components.
Document the issue and proceed
Documenting allows the test to continue while capturing the failure for later analysis.
Shut down the data center
Why wrong: Shutting down is unnecessary and could cause more disruption.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Document the issue and proceed
Option C is correct because the immediate priority during a disaster recovery test is to document the failure and continue the test to evaluate the remaining components of the DR plan. The backup generator failure is a specific issue that should be logged for post-test remediation, but aborting the test prematurely would lose valuable data on other failover mechanisms, such as UPS runtime, network redundancy, or application recovery. Proceeding with documentation ensures the test's integrity while capturing the incident for root cause analysis.
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.
Continue the test with manual procedures
Why it's wrong here
While possible, it is better to document the failure first.
Cancel the test
Why it's wrong here
Canceling loses the opportunity to test other components.
Document the issue and proceed
Why this is correct
Documenting allows the test to continue while capturing the failure for later analysis.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Shut down the data center
Why it's wrong here
Shutting down is unnecessary and could cause more disruption.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the misconception that any hardware failure during a DR test automatically invalidates the entire test, tempting candidates to choose 'Cancel the test' (Option B) instead of recognizing that documentation and continuation preserve the test's value for other critical components.
Detailed technical explanation
In a DR test, the backup generator is typically part of the facility's power infrastructure, often tested separately via a load bank test or transfer switch verification. The generator's failure could stem from a dead battery, fuel starvation, or a faulty automatic transfer switch (ATS). Documenting the issue allows the team to correlate the failure with specific power redundancy metrics (e.g., N+1 or 2N design) and adjust the DR plan's assumptions about facility-level resilience, while the rest of the test continues to validate logical failover mechanisms like DNS propagation (TTL values) or database replication lag.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Document the issue and proceed — Option C is correct because the immediate priority during a disaster recovery test is to document the failure and continue the test to evaluate the remaining components of the DR plan. The backup generator failure is a specific issue that should be logged for post-test remediation, but aborting the test prematurely would lose valuable data on other failover mechanisms, such as UPS runtime, network redundancy, or application recovery. Proceeding with documentation ensures the test's integrity while capturing the incident for root cause analysis.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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