Free CISA IS Acquisition, Development & Implementation Practice Test 2026 — Certified Information Systems Auditor Questions

This free CISA IS Acquisition, Development & Implementation practice test covers CISA Domain 3 (~12%) — IS acquisition, development, and implementation, including SDLC controls, testing/UAT, change management, and post-implementation review. Each question includes a detailed explanation aligned to the ITAF and ISACA CISA Review Manual.

Key Topics in CISA IS Acquisition, Development & Implementation

6 Free CISA IS Acquisition, Development & Implementation Practice Questions with Answers

Sample Question 1 — Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation

During the implementation phase of a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, an IS auditor discovers that the project team has not conducted a user acceptance testing (UAT) phase. Which of the following is the MOST significant risk associated with this omission?

  1. A. Increased likelihood of data migration errors.
  2. B. Increased risk of system performance issues.
  3. C. Increased likelihood of user resistance to the new system.
  4. D. Increased risk of the system not meeting business requirements. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: D

Explanation: The absence of user acceptance testing (UAT) significantly increases the risk that the system will not meet business requirements. UAT is a critical phase where end-users validate the system's functionality against their expectations and business needs. While data migration errors, performance issues, and user resistance are potential risks, they are not as directly linked to the omission of UAT as the risk of not meeting business requirements.

Sample Question 2 — Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation

An organization is in the process of selecting a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. As part of the due diligence, the IS auditor is reviewing the vendor's service level agreement (SLA). Which of the following elements should be the auditor's PRIMARY focus to ensure alignment with business objectives?

  1. A. The financial penalties for service disruptions.
  2. B. The escalation procedures for unresolved issues.
  3. C. The metrics for system availability and performance. (Correct answer)
  4. D. The vendor's data retention and backup policies.

Correct answer: C

Explanation: The primary focus of the IS auditor should be on the metrics for system availability and performance, as these directly impact the organization's ability to achieve its business objectives. While financial penalties, escalation procedures, and data retention policies are important, they do not directly measure the system's ability to meet business needs as availability and performance metrics do.

Sample Question 3 — Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation

An organization is developing a new mobile application and has decided to use agile development methodology. As an IS auditor, which of the following should be the PRIMARY focus to ensure effective risk management throughout the development process?

  1. A. Verification that all project documentation is completed and approved.
  2. B. Assessment of the frequency and effectiveness of stakeholder feedback. (Correct answer)
  3. C. Evaluation of the security controls implemented in each sprint.
  4. D. Review of the project's adherence to the initial budget and timeline.

Correct answer: B

Explanation: In an agile development environment, continuous stakeholder feedback is crucial for managing risks effectively. This feedback helps ensure that the development aligns with business needs and addresses any emerging risks promptly. While security controls, documentation, and adherence to budget and timeline are important, stakeholder feedback is central to agile risk management.

Sample Question 4 — Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation

During the acquisition of a new software application, an IS auditor is tasked with ensuring that the software complies with the organization's data privacy requirements. Which of the following should be the auditor's PRIMARY focus?

  1. A. Reviewing the software's data encryption capabilities.
  2. B. Ensuring the vendor has a privacy policy in place.
  3. C. Verifying that the software includes access controls for sensitive data.
  4. D. Confirming the software's compliance with applicable data protection regulations. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: D

Explanation: The primary focus should be on confirming the software's compliance with applicable data protection regulations. This ensures that the software aligns with legal and organizational data privacy requirements. While data encryption, access controls, and vendor privacy policies are important components of data privacy, regulatory compliance is paramount.

Sample Question 5 — Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation

An organization is implementing a new financial application. The IS auditor is reviewing the project plan to ensure that appropriate controls are in place. Which of the following is the MOST important control to verify during the implementation phase?

  1. A. Ensuring that end-user training is scheduled and completed.
  2. B. Verifying that a rollback plan is in place in case of issues. (Correct answer)
  3. C. Confirming that system interfaces are tested for data integrity.
  4. D. Ensuring that the project is completed within the allocated budget.

Correct answer: B

Explanation: In the context of IS auditing and the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC), the 'implementation phase' refers to the actual cutover or deployment of the system into the production environment. This is a high-risk period where any failure can lead to significant business disruption. A rollback plan is the most critical control to verify during this phase because it provides a safety net, allowing the organization to revert to a known stable state if the new application fails. While system interface testing (Option C) is vital for ensuring data integrity in financial applications, it is typically a prerequisite that should be completed during the testing phase (SIT/UAT) before the implementation phase begins. Training (Option A) and budget management (Option D) are important project management factors but do not mitigate the immediate operational risk of a failed deployment as effectively as a rollback plan.

Sample Question 6 — Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation

An organization is in the process of acquiring a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. As an IS auditor, your task is to ensure that the system acquisition process aligns with the organization's strategic objectives. Which of the following actions should you prioritize to achieve this objective?

  1. A. Review the vendor's financial stability and market reputation.
  2. B. Verify that the system's functionalities align with the organization's business processes. (Correct answer)
  3. C. Ensure that the system's cost is within the allocated budget.
  4. D. Check that the system's implementation timeline fits the project schedule.

Correct answer: B

Explanation: The primary focus of an IS auditor in this context should be to ensure that the system's functionalities align with the organization's business processes, as this directly impacts the strategic objectives. While financial stability, cost, and schedule are important, they are secondary to ensuring that the system supports the organization's strategic goals.

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