CISSP Security and Risk Management Practice Question
Which of the following is the correct order of priority for the ISC2 Code of Ethics Canons?
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
✓
Protect society, act honorably, provide diligent service, advance the profession
The canons in order: 1. Protect society, the common good, and the public trust. 2. Act honorably, honestly, justly, responsibly, and legally. 3. Provide diligent and competent service to principals. 4. Advance and protect the profession.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Advance the profession, protect society, act honorably, provide diligent service
Why it's wrong here
This order incorrectly places "Advance the profession" as the highest ethical priority among the (ISC)² Canons. The (ISC)² Code of Ethics establishes a clear hierarchy, with "Protect Society, the Commonwealth, and the Infrastructure" as the paramount obligation. Advancing the profession is, in fact, the fourth and lowest-priority canon, making this sequence fundamentally flawed.
- ✓
Protect society, act honorably, provide diligent service, advance the profession
Why this is correct
This sequence accurately represents the correct hierarchical order of the (ISC)² Code of Ethics Canons. "Protect Society, the Commonwealth, and the Infrastructure" is the foundational and highest-priority canon, followed by "Act honorably, honestly, justly, responsibly, and legally," then "Provide diligent and competent service to principals and the profession," and finally, "Advance and protect the profession."
- ✗
Provide diligent service, protect society, act honorably, advance the profession
Why it's wrong here
This option incorrectly prioritizes "Provide diligent and competent service to principals and the profession" as the primary ethical obligation. The (ISC)² Code of Ethics unequivocally mandates "Protect Society, the Commonwealth, and the Infrastructure" as the highest priority for all certified professionals. Placing diligent service before societal protection misrepresents the core ethical framework.
- ✗
Act honorably, provide diligent service, protect society, advance the profession
Why it's wrong here
This ordering is incorrect because it elevates "Act honorably, honestly, justly, responsibly, and legally" above the paramount duty to "Protect Society, the Commonwealth, and the Infrastructure." The (ISC)² Code of Ethics establishes societal protection as the absolute highest ethical priority, which must always take precedence over other canons when conflicts arise.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This CISSP question is part of Courseiva's 747-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.