The best course of action is to install the backup onto the spare server and restore the data from the external hard drive. This is correct because the spare server has a similar configuration, enabling a straightforward server failure recovery process where the IT administrator can reload the backup software and perform a full restore from the 12-hour-old backup, meeting the 8-hour RTO without needing new hardware or cloud migration. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this scenario tests your understanding of business continuity planning and the practical use of spare hardware in disaster recovery, often appearing as a trap where candidates might overcomplicate the solution by considering cloud options or ordering new parts. The key is to recognize that a compatible spare server and a valid backup are the fastest path to restore, even if the backup is slightly stale. Memory tip: “Spare and share” — if you have spare hardware and a backup, restore locally first.
ISC2 CC Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response Practice Question
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.
A small manufacturing company's IT infrastructure consists of a single server running ERP and file services, with a nightly backup to an external hard drive. The server fails due to hardware failure. The company's BCP states that the ERP system must be restored within 8 hours. The backup is 12 hours old. The IT administrator has a spare server of similar configuration. What is the BEST course of 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Install the backup onto the spare server and restore the data from the external hard drive.
Option C is correct because the spare server has a similar configuration, allowing the IT administrator to install the backup software and restore the ERP system and file data from the external hard drive. This approach meets the 8-hour RTO by leveraging the existing backup, even though it is 12 hours old, as the restore process is straightforward and does not require ordering new hardware or migrating to a cloud platform.
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.
✗
Use cloud-based ERP temporarily.
Why it's wrong here
Migration to cloud takes time and may not be immediate.
✗
Perform a bare-metal restore using the backup.
Why it's wrong here
Bare-metal restore requires specialized preparation and may not succeed on dissimilar hardware.
✓
Install the backup onto the spare server and restore the data from the external hard drive.
Why this is correct
Utilizes spare server and meets 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.
✗
Order a new server from the vendor (lead time 3 days).
Why it's wrong here
Exceeds the 8-hour RTO.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'bare-metal restore' with a simple file restore, assuming the backup contains a full system image, when in fact the backup is to an external hard drive and likely file-level, making a bare-metal restore impossible without a compatible system image.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
Bare-metal restore requires specialized preparation and may not succeed on dissimilar hardware.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a real-world scenario, the backup to an external hard drive is typically a file-level backup (e.g., using VSS or rsync), not a full disk image. Restoring to a spare server involves installing the same OS and ERP application, then copying the backup data, which may require manual reconfiguration of network settings and service accounts. The 12-hour-old backup means up to 12 hours of data loss (RPO), which is acceptable if the BCP does not specify a tighter RPO, and the 8-hour RTO is achievable with a prepared spare server.
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: Install the backup onto the spare server and restore the data from the external hard drive. — Option C is correct because the spare server has a similar configuration, allowing the IT administrator to install the backup software and restore the ERP system and file data from the external hard drive. This approach meets the 8-hour RTO by leveraging the existing backup, even though it is 12 hours old, as the restore process is straightforward and does not require ordering new hardware or migrating to a cloud platform.
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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