The correct answer is to automate the configuration and validation steps after restore. This directly solves the recovery time objective gap because the current process takes 5 hours—2 for the backup restore plus 3 for manual reconfiguration and testing—which exceeds the 4-hour RTO by a full hour. Automating those post-restore tasks eliminates the manual bottleneck, bringing total recovery time within the acceptable window without changing the RTO or skipping necessary validation. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this question tests your understanding of RTO compliance and the difference between restore speed and full operational readiness; a common trap is assuming the restore alone meets the objective, ignoring the hidden time for reconfiguration. Remember the memory tip: “Restore is not recovery—automate the gap to stay on track.”
ISC2 CC Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of business continuity, dr & incident response. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 recovery time objective (RTO) for its customer database is 4 hours. During a disaster, the backup restore process takes 2 hours, but reconfigure and test tasks add another 3 hours. Which action best addresses this gap?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Automate the configuration and validation steps after restore.
The RTO is 4 hours, but the actual recovery time is 2 hours (restore) + 3 hours (reconfigure and test) = 5 hours, exceeding the RTO by 1 hour. Automating the configuration and validation steps (option D) reduces the post-restore manual effort, bringing the total recovery time closer to or within the 4-hour RTO. This directly addresses the gap without altering the RTO or neglecting testing.
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.
✗
Conduct the restore test only during annual disaster recovery drills.
Why it's wrong here
Infrequent testing does not resolve the time gap.
✗
Reduce the recovery point objective (RPO) to minimize data loss.
Why it's wrong here
RPO addresses data loss, not recovery time.
✗
Increase the RTO to 6 hours.
Why it's wrong here
RTO should be driven by business needs, not adjusted to match capability.
✓
Automate the configuration and validation steps after restore.
Why this is correct
Automation reduces manual time, helping meet the 4-hour RTO.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between RTO and RPO, and the trap here is that candidates confuse reducing RPO (data loss) with fixing a time-based gap, or they incorrectly assume that simply increasing the RTO is an acceptable solution without considering process improvement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In disaster recovery, RTO is the maximum acceptable downtime, while RPO is the maximum acceptable data loss. Automating post-restore tasks (e.g., using scripts or orchestration tools like Ansible or AWS Systems Manager) eliminates human error and reduces variability in recovery time. Real-world scenarios often show that manual reconfiguration and validation are the primary causes of RTO breaches, especially in complex database environments with custom configurations.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — This question tests Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Automate the configuration and validation steps after restore. — The RTO is 4 hours, but the actual recovery time is 2 hours (restore) + 3 hours (reconfigure and test) = 5 hours, exceeding the RTO by 1 hour. Automating the configuration and validation steps (option D) reduces the post-restore manual effort, bringing the total recovery time closer to or within the 4-hour RTO. This directly addresses the gap without altering the RTO or neglecting testing.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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