Free CISM - Certified Information Security Manager Practice Questions: Incident Management Domain

Published: October 1, 2025 | 20 min read

Test your CISM - Certified Information Security Manager knowledge with 10 free practice questions from the Incident Management domain. Includes detailed explanations and answers.

Free CISM - Certified Information Security Manager Practice Questions

Master the Incident Management Domain

Test your knowledge in the Incident Management domain with these 10 practice questions. Each question is designed to help you prepare for the CISM - Certified Information Security Manager certification exam with detailed explanations to reinforce your learning.

Question 1

After a major security incident, the information security manager is tasked with reviewing the incident response process. Which of the following should be the primary goal of this review?

A) Identify and discipline employees who failed to follow procedures.

B) Assess the effectiveness of the incident response plan and identify improvements.

C) Ensure that all regulatory reporting requirements were met.

D) Determine the financial impact of the incident on the organization.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The primary goal of reviewing the incident response process is to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. This aligns with continuous improvement practices in information security management. Disciplining employees (A) is not the focus of the review. Ensuring regulatory compliance (C) and determining financial impact (D) are important but not the primary objectives of the review.

Question 2

An organization has a well-documented incident response plan, but during a recent cyber attack, the response was delayed due to confusion about roles and responsibilities. What should the information security manager focus on to improve the response process?

A) Conduct regular incident response drills.

B) Simplify the incident response plan.

C) Hire additional incident response staff.

D) Outsource incident response to a third-party provider.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: Conducting regular incident response drills (A) helps ensure that all team members are familiar with their roles and responsibilities, reducing confusion and delays during an actual incident. Simplifying the plan (B) might help but does not address the issue of role clarity. Hiring more staff (C) does not resolve the confusion about roles. Outsourcing (D) might not be feasible or desirable and does not address the internal issue of role clarity.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the role of an information security manager in the incident response process?

A) To lead technical investigations and forensic analysis.

B) To coordinate communication between stakeholders and the incident response team.

C) To develop and implement security patches for vulnerabilities.

D) To perform penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The information security manager's role in incident response is primarily to coordinate communication between stakeholders and the incident response team. This ensures that all parties are informed and that the response aligns with business priorities. Leading technical investigations (A), developing patches (C), and performing penetration testing (D) are typically responsibilities of technical teams.

Question 4

An organization has recently experienced a data breach. As the Information Security Manager, your first step is to contain the incident. Which of the following actions should you take first according to ISACA best practices?

A) Notify affected customers immediately.

B) Isolate affected systems to prevent further damage.

C) Conduct a full forensic investigation to identify the cause.

D) Update the incident response plan based on the breach.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: According to ISACA best practices, the first step in incident containment is to isolate affected systems to prevent further damage and spread of the incident. This action helps to minimize the impact on the organization. Notifying customers, conducting a forensic investigation, and updating the incident response plan are important steps but should follow containment to ensure the incident does not escalate.

Question 5

An organization experiences a ransomware attack that encrypts critical business data. What should be the primary focus of the incident response team?

A) Negotiate with the attackers for a decryption key.

B) Restore data from backups to resume business operations.

C) Analyze the attack vector to prevent future incidents.

D) Communicate with stakeholders about the incident.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The primary focus should be to restore data from backups to resume business operations, as this minimizes downtime and impact. Negotiating with attackers (A) is not recommended due to uncertain outcomes and ethical considerations. Analyzing the attack vector (C) and communicating with stakeholders (D) are important but should follow the restoration of operations.

Question 6

An organization is considering outsourcing its incident response functions. What is the most important factor to consider when selecting a third-party provider?

A) The provider's cost compared to in-house options.

B) The provider's experience and track record in handling similar incidents.

C) The provider's geographic location relative to the organization.

D) The provider's ability to offer a wider range of services beyond incident response.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The most important factor to consider when selecting a third-party provider for incident response is their experience and track record in handling similar incidents. This ensures that the provider has the necessary expertise to manage incidents effectively. While cost and location are important, expertise and proven capability are critical for effective incident response.

Question 7

After a significant security incident, the Information Security Manager is tasked with leading a post-incident review. What is the primary goal of this review?

A) To assign blame to those responsible for the incident.

B) To identify lessons learned and improve future incident response efforts.

C) To document the incident for legal and compliance purposes.

D) To reassure stakeholders that the issue has been resolved.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The primary goal of a post-incident review is to identify lessons learned and improve future incident response efforts. This involves analyzing what went well and what could be improved, ensuring that the organization is better prepared for future incidents.

Question 8

An organization has recently experienced a security incident. During the recovery phase, what is the primary objective of the information security manager?

A) To ensure that all affected systems are restored to normal operations.

B) To update the incident response plan with new procedures.

C) To conduct a cost analysis of the incident's impact.

D) To communicate the incident recovery status to stakeholders.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The primary objective during the recovery phase is to ensure that all affected systems are restored to normal operations (A). This allows the organization to resume business activities as quickly as possible. Updating the response plan (B), conducting cost analysis (C), and communicating status (D) are important tasks but are secondary to restoring operations.

Question 9

An organization has developed an incident response plan, but during a recent drill, several communication breakdowns were identified. What should the information security manager do to address this issue most effectively?

A) Conduct additional training sessions focused on communication protocols.

B) Revise the incident response plan to simplify communication procedures.

C) Implement a new communication tool to facilitate better coordination.

D) Assign a dedicated communication officer for future incidents.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: Conducting additional training sessions focused on communication protocols is the most effective way to address communication breakdowns identified during a drill. Training ensures that all team members understand and can execute the communication procedures effectively. While revising the plan, implementing new tools, or assigning a dedicated officer may help, training directly targets the root cause of the breakdowns.

Question 10

An organization has just experienced a data breach. Which action should the information security manager prioritize to maintain trust with external stakeholders?

A) Immediately release a public statement acknowledging the breach.

B) Ensure accurate and timely reporting to regulatory bodies.

C) Provide detailed technical reports to stakeholders.

D) Engage with a public relations firm to manage the situation.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Ensuring accurate and timely reporting to regulatory bodies should be prioritized to maintain trust with external stakeholders. This demonstrates the organization's commitment to transparency and compliance. While a public statement (A) and engaging with PR (D) are important, they should be based on accurate information, which regulatory reporting supports. Providing detailed technical reports (C) is not typically a priority for external stakeholders.

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About CISM - Certified Information Security Manager Certification

The CISM - Certified Information Security Manager certification validates your expertise in incident management 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.