- A
External audit
External audit for ISO 27001 certification is performed by an accredited registrar.
- B
Penetration test
Why wrong: Penetration test is not an audit; it's an assessment.
- C
SOC 2 Type II audit
Why wrong: SOC 2 is specific to service organizations, not ISO 27001.
- D
Internal audit
Why wrong: Internal audit is conducted by the organization's own staff.
Question 242 of 1,000
CISSP Security Assessment and Testing Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security assessment and testing. 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.
A security auditor is assessing whether a company's controls comply with ISO 27001. What type of audit is being conducted?
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
✓
External audit
An external audit is conducted by an independent third party to assess compliance with a standard like ISO 27001. This type of audit provides an unbiased evaluation of whether the organization's controls meet the specified requirements, which is essential for certification purposes. The auditor is not an employee of the organization, ensuring objectivity and credibility in the assessment.
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.
- ✓
External audit
Why this is correct
External audit for ISO 27001 certification is performed by an accredited registrar.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Penetration test
Why it's wrong here
Penetration test is not an audit; it's an assessment.
- ✗
SOC 2 Type II audit
Why it's wrong here
SOC 2 is specific to service organizations, not ISO 27001.
- ✗
Internal audit
Why it's wrong here
Internal audit is conducted by the organization's own staff.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing an internal audit (which is part of the organization's own monitoring and improvement process) with the external audit required for ISO 27001 certification, leading candidates to select 'Internal audit' when the question specifically asks about compliance assessment for certification.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ISO 27001 certification requires a two-stage external audit: Stage 1 reviews documentation and readiness, while Stage 2 assesses the implementation and effectiveness of controls. The external auditor must be accredited by a recognized body (e.g., ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board) to issue a valid certificate. This contrasts with internal audits, which are used for continuous improvement and preparation for external audits but cannot grant certification.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Security Assessment and Testing — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Security Assessment and Testing — This question tests Security Assessment and Testing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: External audit — An external audit is conducted by an independent third party to assess compliance with a standard like ISO 27001. This type of audit provides an unbiased evaluation of whether the organization's controls meet the specified requirements, which is essential for certification purposes. The auditor is not an employee of the organization, ensuring objectivity and credibility in the assessment.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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