CISA Practice Questions: Protection of Information Assets Domain
Test your CISA knowledge with 10 practice questions from the Protection of Information Assets domain. Includes detailed explanations and answers.
CISA Practice Questions
Master the Protection of Information Assets Domain
Test your knowledge in the Protection of Information Assets domain with these 10 practice questions. Each question is designed to help you prepare for the CISA certification exam with detailed explanations to reinforce your learning.
Question 1
During an audit of a company’s data protection policies, you discover that the organization lacks a data classification scheme. What is the most significant risk associated with this lack of data classification?
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Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: Without a data classification scheme, an organization cannot effectively identify and protect sensitive data, leading to inadequate protection measures. Option A, while a possible issue, is less critical than ensuring data protection. Option B is not directly related to the impact of data classification. Option D is not a primary concern related to data classification.
Question 2
An IS auditor is reviewing the access control mechanisms in place for a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) system. Which of the following should be the auditor's PRIMARY focus?
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Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: B is correct because the principle of least privilege is essential to minimizing security risks by ensuring users have only the access necessary for their roles. A is incorrect because not all employees should necessarily have access to the CRM system. C is incorrect because availability, while important, is not the primary focus for access control mechanisms. D is incorrect because integration with the internal network is not directly related to access control.
Question 3
An IS auditor is evaluating the security of a web application that processes sensitive customer information. Which of the following should be the auditor's PRIMARY focus?
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Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: A is correct because SQL injection is a common and critical vulnerability that can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information. B is incorrect because while HTTPS is important, it is a basic requirement and does not address application-specific vulnerabilities. C is incorrect because user interface design is not a primary security concern. D is incorrect because integration with third-party services, while potentially beneficial, is not a primary focus for application security.
Question 4
An IS auditor is reviewing the encryption practices of an organization that handles sensitive customer data. The organization uses a symmetric encryption algorithm with a key length of 128 bits. Which of the following should the auditor recommend to enhance data protection?
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Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: The auditor should recommend implementing key rotation policies (Option C) to enhance data protection. Regularly changing encryption keys reduces the risk of keys being compromised over time. Switching to an asymmetric algorithm (Option A) is not necessary as symmetric encryption is efficient for data at rest. Increasing the key length (Option B) could enhance security but may not be required if current encryption meets industry standards. Hashing (Option D) is used for data integrity, not encryption.
Question 5
An IS auditor is evaluating the access controls for a financial application that processes sensitive transactions. Which of the following deficiencies in access control is the GREATEST risk?
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Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: Having users with access to both production and development environments (Option A) poses the greatest risk as it can lead to unauthorized changes and potential data breaches. While lack of regular log reviews (Option B) and periodic access reviews (Option C) are significant, they are secondary to the immediate risk posed by environment access. Emergency access (Option D) is important but less critical than the separation of environments.
Question 6
An organization has implemented encryption to protect sensitive data at rest. As an IS auditor, what is the most critical aspect to verify regarding this encryption implementation?
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Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: The most critical aspect to verify is the secure management and storage of encryption keys (C). Without proper key management, the encryption itself can be rendered ineffective, compromising data security. While the algorithm's standard (A) and performance impact (B) are important, they are secondary to key management. Cost considerations (D) are relevant but not as critical as ensuring the security of the encryption keys.
Question 7
An organization has implemented a new access control system to protect its information assets. As part of an IS audit, which of the following should an auditor review to ensure that the access control system is functioning effectively?
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Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: Reviewing the configuration settings of the access control system (Option B) is crucial to ensure it is functioning effectively. This involves verifying that the system is configured according to the organization's security policies and that it enforces appropriate access controls. The incident response plan (Option A) and business continuity plan (Option C) are important but not directly related to the access control system's effectiveness. Service level agreements (Option D) are more about vendor performance than system functionality.
Question 8
An organization uses cloud services to store its critical data. Which of the following should an IS auditor recommend to ensure the protection of information assets in this environment?
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Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: In a cloud environment, ensuring that data encryption is applied both at rest and in transit (Option C) is crucial for protecting information assets. This protects data from unauthorized access and breaches during storage and transmission. Updating firewalls (Option A) is not directly applicable to cloud services, as they are managed by the provider. A strong password policy (Option B) is important but not as comprehensive as encryption. A cost-benefit analysis (Option D) is useful for decision-making but does not directly protect information assets.
Question 9
An IS auditor is reviewing the organization's network security controls. Which of the following should be considered the most significant risk if not properly implemented?
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Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: The most significant risk is the lack of network segmentation (Option D), as it can lead to widespread access across the network, increasing the potential impact of a security breach. While regular review of firewall rules (Option A) and real-time monitoring of IDS alerts (Option C) are crucial, they do not mitigate the risk of lateral movement within a network like segmentation does. Physical security of devices (Option B) is important, but less critical than logical controls in this context.
Question 10
An IS auditor is reviewing the organization's encryption policy for protecting sensitive data. Which of the following should be the auditor's PRIMARY focus to ensure the policy is effective?
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: undefined
Explanation: The primary focus should be on key management procedures (Option C), as effective encryption relies on secure key management. While strong algorithms (Option A) and regular training (Option D) are important, without proper key management, the encryption can be easily compromised. Mandating encryption for all data (Option B) may not be practical or necessary.
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About CISA Certification
The CISA certification validates your expertise in protection of information assets and other critical domains. Our comprehensive practice questions are carefully crafted to mirror the actual exam experience and help you identify knowledge gaps before test day.