ISC Systems Security Engineering Foundations Practice Question
When designing high-availability systems, what is the primary security engineering concern regarding 'Fail-over' mechanisms?
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
✓
Fail-over systems can introduce insecure states or bypasses
Fail-over mechanisms often create race conditions or temporary bypasses that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Fail-over systems are too expensive
Why it's wrong here
Cost is not a security engineering concern.
- ✗
The fail-over process might be too slow
Why it's wrong here
This is an availability concern, not primarily a security one.
- ✗
Fail-over systems use too much power
Why it's wrong here
Power is an operational concern.
- ✓
Fail-over systems can introduce insecure states or bypasses
Why this is correct
Security must be maintained even during transitions.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official (ISC)² exam blueprint
This ISC practice question is part of Courseiva's free (ISC)² 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 ISC exam.