Isaca Cism Certified Information Security Manager Practice Test - Set 1

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CISM: Certified Information Security Manager - Exam Information

Exam Information

Exam Code

Isaca Cism Certified Information Security Manager

Exam Title

CISM: Certified Information Security Manager

Vendor

ISACA

Difficulty

Expert

Duration

4 Hours

Question Format

Multiple Choice

Last Updated

March 7, 2025

CISM certification is for professionals managing and overseeing an enterprise’s information security program.

1. Which area is a primary focus of the CISM certification?

Information security governance
Programming best practices
Business process modeling
Hardware manufacturing

2. What is the primary responsibility of an information security manager?

Aligning security programs with business objectives
Configuring firewalls
Developing software
Managing physical assets

3. Which document outlines an organization’s information security objectives?

Information Security Policy
Network Diagram
Business Continuity Plan
Incident Report

4. Which process is essential for identifying security vulnerabilities?

Risk assessment
Asset tagging
Software installation
Inventory management

5. What is the primary goal of an incident response plan?

Minimize impact and ensure business continuity
Develop new applications
Increase employee productivity
Optimize hardware performance

6. Which framework is commonly used for information security governance?

COBIT
ITIL
PMBOK
Agile

7. What is a key component of a security awareness program?

Employee training
Server upgrades
Access provisioning
Backup scheduling

8. Which action is part of risk mitigation?

Implementing security controls
Documenting incidents
Increasing data storage
Optimizing hardware

9. What is the primary purpose of a business impact analysis (BIA)?

Identify critical business functions
Evaluate software performance
Configure network devices
Document coding standards

10. Which role is responsible for approving the information security policy?

Executive management
IT administrator
Security analyst
System developer

11. Which process ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements?

Security auditing
System testing
Network monitoring
Incident handling

12. What is the first step in developing an information security strategy?

Understanding business objectives
Installing antivirus software
Reviewing backup logs
Updating hardware

13. Which control type is a firewall classified as?

Preventive
Corrective
Detective
Directive

14. Which security control addresses post-incident actions?

Corrective
Preventive
Detective
Directive

15. What is a key indicator of an effective information security program?

Reduction in security incidents
Increase in hardware investments
More software licenses
Higher internet speed

16. Which process involves continuous monitoring of security controls?

Security governance
System design
Application testing
Change management

17. What is the primary goal of security metrics?

Measure the effectiveness of security controls
Track employee performance
Document system updates
Increase software efficiency

18. Which tool is commonly used for security risk management?

Risk register
Firewall
System log
Access list

19. Which framework aligns with CISM’s information security management?

ISO/IEC 27001
PCI DSS
ITIL
HIPAA

20. What is the role of an information security governance framework?

Ensure alignment with business objectives
Design technical architectures
Oversee hardware procurement
Conduct system testing

21. Which of the following is the PRIMARY responsibility of senior management in information security governance?

Setting the strategic direction for security
Configuring firewalls
Writing security policies
Performing vulnerability scans

22. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a security baseline?

To establish minimum security requirements
To measure employee performance
To track security incidents
To schedule system updates

23. Which of the following is MOST important when developing an information security strategy?

Alignment with business objectives
Technical implementation details
Vendor product selection
Departmental budget allocations

24. What is the PRIMARY benefit of implementing a security awareness program?

Reduced human-related security risks
Increased system performance
Lower hardware costs
Faster software development

25. Which of the following is the BEST indicator of effective security governance?

Security is treated as a business enabler
All systems have the latest patches
The security team has grown in size
Security tools are state-of-the-art

26. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a risk appetite statement?

To define the level of risk an organization is willing to accept
To document all identified risks
To outline security control requirements
To describe incident response procedures

27. Which of the following is MOST important for ensuring security policy compliance?

Executive management support
Detailed technical procedures
Frequent policy updates
Automated enforcement tools

28. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a security architecture framework?

To guide the design of secure systems
To organize security documentation
To schedule security reviews
To plan security projects

29. Which of the following is the MOST important factor in security program success?

Business alignment
Security budget size
Number of security staff
Quantity of security tools

30. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security metrics?

To demonstrate the effectiveness of security controls
To track security staff performance
To compare vendors
To schedule maintenance

31. Which of the following is MOST important when evaluating security investments?

Business risk reduction
Technical sophistication
Vendor reputation
Implementation speed

32. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a third-party security assessment?

To evaluate vendor security controls
To reduce internal staff workload
To eliminate the need for internal audits
To outsource security responsibilities

33. Which of the following is MOST critical for effective security governance?

Clear roles and responsibilities
Advanced security tools
Large security budget
Frequent policy changes

34. What is the PRIMARY benefit of a security steering committee?

Cross-functional security oversight
Technical implementation guidance
Budget approval authority
Incident response coordination

35. Which of the following is the BEST approach to security policy development?

Collaboration with business units
Adoption of industry templates
Delegation to technical staff
Outsourcing to consultants

36. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security control testing?

To validate control effectiveness
To identify new vulnerabilities
To train security staff
To document procedures

37. Which of the following is MOST important for security policy exception management?

Documented risk acceptance
Technical workarounds
Temporary approvals
Automatic renewals

38. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a security maturity assessment?

To evaluate the sophistication of security practices
To measure employee security knowledge
To assess office physical security
To plan security team growth

39. Which of the following is MOST important for security program sustainability?

Integration with business processes
Dedicated security budget
Large security team
Advanced security tools

40. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a security awareness survey?

To measure employee security knowledge and behaviors
To assess office security features
To evaluate security staff performance
To plan security training topics

41. Which of the following is MOST critical for effective risk management?

Risk-based decision making
Elimination of all risks
Standardized risk scores
Centralized risk ownership

42. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a threat intelligence program?

To inform risk management decisions
To monitor employee activities
To track competitors
To evaluate vendors

43. Which of the following is MOST important when prioritizing security risks?

Potential business impact
Ease of mitigation
Regulatory requirements
Vulnerability severity

44. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a risk register?

To document and track organizational risks
To record employee attendance
To schedule meetings
To track office supplies

45. Which of the following is MOST important for third-party risk management?

Security requirements in contracts
Vendor office locations
Employee count at vendor sites
Vendor parking space allocation

46. What is the PRIMARY benefit of a risk assessment methodology?

Consistent evaluation of risks
Reduced assessment time
Automated risk scoring
Standardized reporting

47. Which of the following is MOST important when communicating risks to executives?

Business impact
Technical details
Historical trends
Industry benchmarks

48. What is the PRIMARY purpose of residual risk reporting?

To inform risk acceptance decisions
To document control failures
To justify security budgets
To compare with competitors

49. Which of the following is MOST important for cloud risk management?

Shared responsibility model understanding
Data center location
Provider employee count
Server hardware models

50. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a risk treatment plan?

To document how risks will be addressed
To track insurance claims
To schedule risk assessments
To organize risk workshops

51. Which of the following is MOST critical for incident response planning?

Clear escalation procedures
Advanced forensic tools
Large response team
Detailed technical playbooks

52. What is the PRIMARY purpose of an incident classification scheme?

To prioritize response efforts
To assign blame
To track security staff performance
To calculate insurance premiums

53. Which of the following is MOST important for effective incident detection?

Monitoring and alerting capabilities
Large security team
Advanced forensic tools
Detailed documentation

54. What is the PRIMARY purpose of incident response testing?

To validate response capabilities
To identify new vulnerabilities
To train technical staff
To document procedures

55. Which of the following is MOST important for incident communication?

Predefined stakeholder notification plans
Technical details
Legal review of all communications
Marketing approval

56. What is the PRIMARY purpose of post-incident reviews?

To improve future response
To assign responsibility
To document technical details
To justify security investments

57. Which of the following is MOST critical for business continuity during incidents?

Alternative processing capabilities
Detailed technical documentation
Large response team
Advanced forensic tools

58. What is the PRIMARY purpose of incident severity levels?

To determine appropriate response resources
To track security staff performance
To calculate financial losses
To compare with industry peers

59. Which of the following is MOST important for incident evidence preservation?

Chain of custody documentation
Advanced forensic tools
Large legal team
Detailed technical skills

60. What is the PRIMARY benefit of tabletop exercises?

To validate response plans without disruption
To test technical skills
To train new staff
To document procedures

61. Which of the following is MOST important for security program development?

Alignment with business objectives
Latest security technologies
Large security budget
Comprehensive policies

62. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security control baselines?

To establish minimum security requirements
To measure employee performance
To track security incidents
To schedule system updates

63. Which of the following is MOST important for security architecture?

Defense in depth
Standardized hardware
Uniform software
Centralized management

64. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security awareness training?

To reduce human-related security risks
To document compliance
To evaluate employees
To promote security team

65. Which of the following is MOST critical for access control management?

Regular review of access rights
Complex password requirements
Biometric authentication
Detailed logging

66. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security metrics?

To demonstrate security program effectiveness
To track staff performance
To compare vendors
To schedule maintenance

67. Which of the following is MOST important for vulnerability management?

Risk-based prioritization
Automated scanning
Comprehensive reporting
Detailed documentation

68. What is the PRIMARY purpose of penetration testing?

To identify exploitable vulnerabilities
To measure network speed
To test employee knowledge
To evaluate office ergonomics

69. Which of the following is MOST critical for encryption management?

Key management processes
Algorithm selection
Performance impact
Implementation cost

70. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a security operations center (SOC)?

To monitor and respond to security events
To manage physical security
To oversee building access
To plan security projects

71. Which of the following is MOST important for network security?

Segmentation
Firewall brand
Monitoring tools
Logging details

72. What is the PRIMARY purpose of endpoint protection?

To secure devices accessing organizational resources
To improve device performance
To standardize hardware
To reduce support costs

73. Which of the following is MOST critical for application security?

Secure development lifecycle
Programming language
Developer skills
Testing tools

74. What is the PRIMARY purpose of log management?

To support investigation and analysis
To improve system performance
To reduce storage costs
To document configurations

75. Which of the following is MOST important for cloud security?

Shared responsibility model
Data center location
Provider size
Service cost

76. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security configuration management?

To maintain secure system baselines
To document changes
To track versions
To schedule updates

77. Which of the following is MOST critical for identity management?

Lifecycle management
Authentication methods
Directory services
Reporting capabilities

78. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security monitoring?

To detect potential security incidents
To measure performance
To track users
To document configurations

79. Which of the following is MOST important for data protection?

Classification
Storage capacity
Access speed
Backup frequency

80. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a security assessment?

To evaluate control effectiveness
To find vulnerabilities
To test staff
To document configurations

81. Which of the following is MOST important for security governance?

Strategic alignment
Policy completeness
Staff size
Tool sophistication

82. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a security charter?

To define security roles and responsibilities
To document configurations
To track incidents
To schedule assessments

83. Which of the following is MOST critical for security policy effectiveness?

Management endorsement
Technical detail
Comprehensive coverage
Frequent updates

84. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security standards?

To provide specific implementation requirements
To state high-level objectives
To document procedures
To track compliance

85. Which of the following is MOST important for security program metrics?

Alignment with business objectives
Technical granularity
Automated collection
Real-time reporting

86. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a security roadmap?

To plan security program evolution
To document current state
To track incidents
To schedule assessments

87. Which of the following is MOST critical for third-party security?

Contractual security requirements
Vendor location
Provider size
Service cost

88. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security budgeting?

To align security investments with risk
To minimize costs
To justify staff
To compare with peers

89. Which of the following is MOST important for security organizational structure?

Clear reporting lines
Centralization
Staff size
Physical location

90. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security job descriptions?

To define roles and responsibilities
To evaluate performance
To set salaries
To track certifications

91. Which of the following is MOST critical for risk identification?

Comprehensive asset inventory
Advanced tools
Large team
Detailed processes

92. What is the PRIMARY purpose of risk analysis?

To evaluate potential impact and likelihood
To document controls
To assign ownership
To track remediation

93. Which of the following is MOST important for risk evaluation?

Risk appetite comparison
Technical details
Historical data
Industry benchmarks

94. What is the PRIMARY purpose of risk treatment?

To modify risk to acceptable levels
To eliminate all risk
To document controls
To assign responsibility

95. Which of the following is MOST critical for risk monitoring?

Ongoing assessment
Detailed reporting
Advanced tools
Large team

96. What is the PRIMARY purpose of risk communication?

To inform decision making
To document processes
To assign blame
To justify budgets

97. Which of the following is MOST important for incident preparation?

Response plan development
Advanced tools
Large team
Detailed documentation

98. What is the PRIMARY purpose of incident detection?

To identify potential security events
To assign responsibility
To document configurations
To test controls

99. Which of the following is MOST critical for incident containment?

Rapid response
Detailed analysis
Legal review
Public relations

100. What is the PRIMARY purpose of incident eradication?

To eliminate the root cause
To restore systems
To document events
To assign responsibility

101. Which of the following is MOST important for incident recovery?

Business process restoration
System patching
Vendor notifications
Legal filings

102. What is the PRIMARY purpose of lessons learned from incidents?

To improve future response
To assign blame
To document details
To justify budgets

103. Which of the following is MOST critical for security control selection?

Risk-based approach
Cost effectiveness
Ease of implementation
Vendor reputation

104. What is the PRIMARY purpose of control implementation?

To reduce risk to acceptable levels
To comply with regulations
To standardize processes
To document procedures

105. Which of the following is MOST important for control monitoring?

Ongoing effectiveness assessment
Detailed reporting
Advanced tools
Large team

106. What is the PRIMARY purpose of control documentation?

To provide evidence of operation
To train staff
To standardize processes
To satisfy auditors

107. Which of the following is MOST critical for access control?

Principle of least privilege
Complex passwords
Biometric authentication
Detailed logging

108. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security awareness?

To modify employee behavior
To document compliance
To evaluate staff
To promote security team

109. Which of the following is MOST important for physical security?

Layered defenses
Security guard count
Camera resolution
Fence height

110. What is the PRIMARY purpose of encryption?

To protect data confidentiality
To improve performance
To reduce storage
To simplify access

111. Which of the following is MOST critical for network security?

Segmentation
Firewall brand
Monitoring tools
Logging details

112. What is the PRIMARY purpose of vulnerability management?

To reduce attack surface
To document weaknesses
To evaluate staff
To justify budgets

113. Which of the following is MOST important for patch management?

Risk-based prioritization
Automated deployment
Comprehensive testing
Detailed documentation

114. What is the PRIMARY purpose of logging?

To support investigations
To improve performance
To reduce storage
To document configurations

115. Which of the following is MOST critical for backup management?

Regular testing
Storage capacity
Backup frequency
Media type

116. What is the PRIMARY purpose of disaster recovery planning?

To restore critical operations
To document procedures
To train staff
To justify budgets

117. Which of the following is MOST important for business continuity?

Critical process identification
Alternate site quality
Recovery team size
Exercise frequency

118. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security assessments?

To evaluate control effectiveness
To find vulnerabilities
To test staff
To document configurations

119. Which of the following is MOST critical for security audits?

Independent perspective
Technical depth
Frequency
Report length

120. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security certifications?

To validate security knowledge
To promote individuals
To satisfy regulators
To justify salaries

121. Which of the following is MOST important for security training?

Role-specific content
Training frequency
Instructor qualifications
Facility quality

122. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security policies?

To establish organizational expectations
To document procedures
To train staff
To satisfy auditors

123. Which of the following is MOST critical for security standards?

Implementation specificity
Comprehensiveness
Update frequency
Approval level

124. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security procedures?

To provide step-by-step guidance
To state requirements
To document configurations
To train staff

125. Which of the following is MOST important for security guidelines?

Flexibility in implementation
Technical detail
Comprehensiveness
Approval level

126. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security baselines?

To establish minimum requirements
To document configurations
To train staff
To satisfy auditors

127. Which of the following is MOST critical for security architecture?

Defense in depth
Standardization
Documentation
Tool integration

128. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security models?

To guide control implementation
To document requirements
To train staff
To satisfy auditors

129. Which of the following is MOST important for security frameworks?

Alignment with business needs
Comprehensiveness
Industry acceptance
Regulatory approval

130. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security principles?

To guide decision making
To document requirements
To train staff
To satisfy auditors

131. Which of the following is MOST critical for security governance?

Executive support
Detailed policies
Large staff
Advanced tools

132. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security committees?

To provide cross-functional oversight
To make technical decisions
To manage projects
To review incidents

133. Which of the following is MOST important for security budgeting?

Risk-based allocation
Historical spending
Industry benchmarks
Regulatory requirements

134. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security roles and responsibilities?

To clarify accountabilities
To document skills
To set salaries
To track certifications

135. Which of the following is MOST critical for security strategy?

Alignment with business objectives
Technical sophistication
Budget size
Staff size

136. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security program assessment?

To evaluate effectiveness
To document compliance
To justify budgets
To compare with peers

137. Which of the following is MOST important for security culture?

Employee awareness and commitment
Security team size
Training frequency
Policy comprehensiveness

138. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security communication?

To promote awareness and understanding
To document incidents
To train staff
To satisfy auditors

139. Which of the following is MOST critical for security third-party management?

Contractual security requirements
Vendor location
Provider size
Service cost

140. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security regulatory compliance?

To meet legal obligations
To improve security
To document procedures
To train staff

141. Which of the following is MOST important for security risk assessment?

Asset valuation
Assessment frequency
Methodology
Reporting format

142. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security risk treatment?

To modify risk to acceptable levels
To eliminate all risk
To document controls
To assign responsibility

143. Which of the following is MOST critical for security incident response?

Clear escalation procedures
Advanced forensic tools
Large response team
Detailed technical playbooks

144. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security incident classification?

To prioritize response efforts
To assign blame
To track staff performance
To calculate insurance premiums

145. Which of the following is MOST important for security incident detection?

Monitoring and alerting capabilities
Large security team
Advanced forensic tools
Detailed documentation

146. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security incident testing?

To validate response capabilities
To identify new vulnerabilities
To train technical staff
To document procedures

147. Which of the following is MOST critical for security incident communication?

Predefined stakeholder notification plans
Technical details
Legal review of all communications
Marketing approval

148. What is the PRIMARY purpose of post-incident reviews?

To improve future response
To assign responsibility
To document technical details
To justify security investments

149. Which of the following is MOST important for business continuity during security incidents?

Alternative processing capabilities
Detailed technical documentation
Large response team
Advanced forensic tools

150. What is the PRIMARY purpose of security incident severity levels?

To determine appropriate response resources
To track security staff performance
To calculate financial losses
To compare with industry peers

The Isaca Cism Certified Information Security Manager certification is a globally recognized credential for IT professionals. This practice test helps you prepare by covering key topics like hardware, networking, troubleshooting, and security.

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