- A
Security audit
Security audit involves evaluating controls against a standard.
- B
Vulnerability assessment
Why wrong: Vulnerability assessment looks for technical vulnerabilities, not control compliance.
- C
Penetration test
Why wrong: Penetration testing exploits vulnerabilities, not audit controls.
- D
Security review
Why wrong: Security review is informal and not as rigorous as an audit.
Question 402 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.
During a security audit, the auditor selects a sample of user access reviews to verify that access rights are properly managed. This type of testing is best described as:
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 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
✓
Security audit
A security audit is a formal, independent examination of records and activities to verify that controls are effective and compliant with policies. In this scenario, the auditor's sampling of user access reviews to confirm proper access rights management is a classic audit procedure, not a technical vulnerability scan or an active exploitation attempt. This aligns with the definition of a security audit as a systematic evaluation of security controls.
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.
- ✓
Security audit
Why this is correct
Security audit involves evaluating controls against a standard.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Vulnerability assessment
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability assessment looks for technical vulnerabilities, not control compliance.
- ✗
Penetration test
Why it's wrong here
Penetration testing exploits vulnerabilities, not audit controls.
- ✗
Security review
Why it's wrong here
Security review is informal and not as rigorous as an audit.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing 'security audit' with 'security review' or 'vulnerability assessment,' as candidates often think any testing of access controls must involve technical scanning or exploitation, but the key differentiator is the formal, evidence-based sampling of documented processes versus active technical testing.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Security audits often follow frameworks like ISO 19011 or NIST SP 800-53A, which define audit sampling methodologies (e.g., statistical or judgmental sampling) to evaluate control effectiveness. The auditor examines evidence such as access review logs, sign-off records, and segregation of duties matrices to ensure compliance with the principle of least privilege. In a real-world scenario, an auditor might sample 20 out of 200 user access reviews to test if terminated employees' accounts were disabled within the required 24-hour SLA, using a predefined confidence level and tolerable error rate.
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 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
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: Security audit — A security audit is a formal, independent examination of records and activities to verify that controls are effective and compliant with policies. In this scenario, the auditor's sampling of user access reviews to confirm proper access rights management is a classic audit procedure, not a technical vulnerability scan or an active exploitation attempt. This aligns with the definition of a security audit as a systematic evaluation of security controls.
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.
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.
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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