- A
Self-assessment
Why wrong: Self-assessment is internal, not for certification.
- B
External audit
External audits are conducted by independent third parties.
- C
Peer review
Why wrong: Peer review is informal, not a formal audit.
- D
Internal audit
Why wrong: Internal audits are performed by the organization's own staff.
Question 959 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.
An organization is preparing for an ISO 27001 certification audit. The audit will be performed by an external body. This type of audit is classified as:
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 performed by an independent third-party organization, such as a certification body, to assess compliance against a standard like ISO 27001. In this scenario, the audit is conducted by an external body specifically for certification purposes, which directly matches the definition of an external audit. This type of audit provides an unbiased evaluation of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) and is required for formal certification.
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.
- ✗
Self-assessment
Why it's wrong here
Self-assessment is internal, not for certification.
- ✓
External audit
Why this is correct
External audits are conducted by independent third parties.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Peer review
Why it's wrong here
Peer review is informal, not a formal audit.
- ✗
Internal audit
Why it's wrong here
Internal audits are performed 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 (conducted by the organization's own staff) with an external audit (conducted by an independent third party), especially when the question emphasizes 'preparing for certification' — candidates may mistakenly think internal audits are sufficient for certification, but only an external audit by an accredited body can grant ISO 27001 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 audit body must be accredited by a national accreditation body (e.g., ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board) to issue valid certificates. This process ensures the audit meets ISO/IEC 17021-1 requirements for conformity assessment.
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 performed by an independent third-party organization, such as a certification body, to assess compliance against a standard like ISO 27001. In this scenario, the audit is conducted by an external body specifically for certification purposes, which directly matches the definition of an external audit. This type of audit provides an unbiased evaluation of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) and is required for formal certification.
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.
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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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