CGEIT Exam Dumps - Isaca Certification Questions and Answers

The best way to address the issue of IT staff not keeping their skills current, despite an adequate training budget, is to establish an agreed-upon skills development plan with each employee. This personalized approach ensures that training and development activities are directly aligned with both the organization's needs and the individual's career goals, thereby increasing the likelihood of participation and the application of new skills. While providing incentives and creating centers of excellence can be supportive, a tailored development plan directly engages each staff member in their growth, ensuring relevance and commitment.

This is because continuous testing of disaster recovery capabilities can help to evaluate and validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the disaster recovery plan, identify and address any gaps or issues, and implement any improvements or adjustments based on the lessons learned1. Continuous testing can also help to ensure that the disaster recovery plan is aligned with the current and future business needs and expectations, and that the disaster recovery team and stakeholders are familiar and prepared with their roles and responsibilities1.

B. Increased training and monitoring for disaster recovery personnel who perform below expectations. This is not the best way to enable the enterprise to accomplish the objective of improving its disaster recovery capabilities, as it only focuses on one aspect of the disaster recovery plan, which is the human factor. While training and monitoring are important for enhancing the skills and performance of the disaster recovery personnel, they are not sufficient to address the other aspects of the disaster recovery plan, such as the technology, process, and communication factors2. Moreover, increased training and monitoring may not be effective if they are not based on a clear and comprehensive assessment of the disaster recovery capabilities and outcomes.

C. Annual review and updates to the disaster recovery plan (DRP). This is not the best way to enable the enterprise to accomplish the objective of improving its disaster recovery capabilities, as it may not be frequent or timely enough to capture and respond to the changing business environment and requirements. An annual review and update may also be insufficient to test and validate the disaster recovery plan, as it may not cover all possible scenarios or situations that could occur in a real disaster3. A more agile and adaptive approach to reviewing and updating the disaster recovery plan is recommended, such as using a continuous improvement cycle or a stage-gate process4.

D. Increased outsourcing of disaster recovery capabilities to ensure reliability. This is not the best way to enable the enterprise to accomplish the objective of improving its disaster recovery capabilities, as it may introduce new risks and challenges for the enterprise, such as loss of control, dependency, compatibility, security, compliance, and cost issues5. Outsourcing some or all of the disaster recovery capabilities may also reduce the involvement and ownership of the enterprise’s internal staff and stakeholders in the disaster recovery planning process, which could affect their commitment and readiness in case of a disaster5. Outsourcing should be carefully considered and evaluated based on the specific needs and circumstances of the enterprise, and should be complemented by a robust governance and management framework5.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

The CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition, in its Governance of Enterprise IT domain, addresses vendor management in regulated environments. Third-party audit reports provide independent verification that cloud vendors comply with stringent regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), offering evidence of controls and certifications (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001). These reports are critical for due diligence. The manual likely references COBIT 2019’s APO10-Managed Vendors, which emphasizes third-party assurance for compliance.

Option A: Stage gate reviews are project management checkpoints, not vendor compliance tools.

Option B: Risk assessment evaluates risks but lacks independent verification.

Option C: Internal audit report assesses internal controls, not vendor compliance.

Double Verification: The answer aligns with COBIT’s APO10 and the CGEIT domain’s focus on vendor governance. Third-party audits are a standard ISACA requirement for vendor compliance.

ISACA CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition, Domain 1: Governance of Enterprise IT (focus on vendor management).

COBIT 2019, APO10-Managed Vendors.

ISACA Glossary (for definitions of third-party audit), available at https://www.isaca.org/resources/glossary.

The primary consideration for an enterprise when deciding whether to adopt a qualitative risk assessment method is:

The level of detail and accuracy required for the risk assessment. Qualitative risk assessment is a method that uses scenarios, subjectivity, and knowledge to evaluate risks. It does not provide specific objective measurements of exposure, but rather a relative ranking or rating of risks based on their likelihood and impact1. Qualitative risk assessment is suitable for situations where the data is scarce, uncertain, or incomplete, or where the risk assessment needs to be done quickly and easily1. However, qualitative risk assessment may also be biased, inconsistent, or inaccurate, as it depends on the judgment and experience of the risk assessors1. Therefore, an enterprise should consider the level of detail and accuracy required for the risk assessment before choosing a qualitative method. If the enterprise needs more precise and reliable estimates of risk exposure, it may opt for a quantitative method instead1.

The other options are not the primary consideration for an enterprise when deciding whether to adopt a qualitative risk assessment method. The method identifies areas to immediately address vulnerabilities, enables an analysis of recommended controls, and provides a platform for all departments to contribute to the risk assessment are all possible benefits or outcomes of using a qualitative risk assessment method, but they are not the main factor that influences the decision to use it. They may also apply to other methods of risk assessment, such as quantitative or hybrid methods2.

Implementing a Zero Trust architecture requires alignment with business objectives to ensure that security measures support enterprise goals. The CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition emphasizes that strategic initiatives, including security architectures, must start with a clear understanding of business goals to ensure relevance and value.

Extract from CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition (Domain 3: Risk Optimization):"Security initiatives, such as the adoption of new architectures like Zero Trust, must begin with an understanding of business goals and objectives. Refining relevant business goals ensures that security measures are aligned with enterprise priorities and deliver value." (Approximate reference: Domain 3, Section on Security Strategy Alignment)

Refining relevant business goals (option A) ensures that the Zero Trust implementation focuses on protecting critical assets and processes that are most important to the business, setting the stage for subsequent technical and operational decisions.

Why not the other options?

B. Limiting the number of privileged accounts: This is a tactical measure within Zero Trust but not the first consideration, as it depends on understanding business priorities.

C. Selecting a security framework that is relevant to the business: Framework selection follows the definition of business goals, as the framework must support those goals.

D. Defining security projects to address identified control gaps: Projects are defined after identifying business goals and assessing current controls.

An IT summary dashboard is the best way for a CIO to provide progress updates on a newly implemented IT strategic plan to the board of directors, because it can help to communicate the key performance indicators (KPIs), benefits, risks, and issues of the IT strategic plan in a concise, visual, and interactive way. An IT summary dashboard can also help to align the IT strategic plan with the business strategy, value creation, and stakeholder expectations, and demonstrate the value and contribution of IT to the enterprise. Presenting IT critical success factors (CSFs), reporting results of key risk indicators (KRIs), and reporting results of stage-gate reviews are not as effective as presenting an IT summary dashboard, because they are more focused on specific aspects of the IT strategic plan, rather than providing a holistic and comprehensive overview. References:

IT Governance Dashboard, ISACA

What is an IT Dashboard?, Smartsheet

IT Strategy Dashboard, ClearPoint Strategy

Ensuring that IT policies are aligned with organizational strategies is best achieved when the policies are developed using a top-down approach. This approach starts with strategic objectives and cascades down to operational policies, ensuring coherence and alignment with the overall direction and goals of the organization. While board approval, annual updates, and periodic audits are important for policy governance, the top-down development approach ensures that policies are inherently designed to support organizational strategies from the outset.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

The CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition, in its Governance of Enterprise IT domain, covers the governance of information assets, including their management across the entire lifecycle (creation, storage, use, archival, disposal). A life cycle approach ensures that information assets are managed systematically to align with business needs, reduce risks, and optimize resources.

Option D: Overall costs are optimized is the greatest benefit. By governing information assets through their lifecycle, enterprises can minimize costs associated with storage, maintenance, and compliance (e.g., avoiding penalties for improper data retention). For example, the approach identifies redundant data for deletion, optimizes storage solutions, and ensures cost-effective compliance with regulations. The manual likely references COBIT 2019’s BAI09-Managed Assets, which emphasizes lifecycle management to achieve cost efficiency.

Option A: Information availability is improved is a benefit, but it’s not the greatest, as availability is just one aspect of governance (e.g., via access controls).

Option B: Operational costs are maintained is inaccurate, as the goal is to reduce, not merely maintain, costs.

Option C: Compliance with regulatory requirements is ensured is a significant benefit, but cost optimization encompasses compliance (e.g., avoiding fines) and other savings, making it broader.

Double Verification: The answer aligns with COBIT’s focus on asset management and the CGEIT domain’s emphasis on cost-effective governance. Cost optimization is a recurring theme in ISACA’s frameworks for lifecycle management.

ISACA CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition, Domain 1: Governance of Enterprise IT (focus on information asset management).

COBIT 2019, BAI09-Managed Assets.

ISACA Glossary (for definitions of lifecycle management), available at https://www.isaca.org/resources/glossary.

 Value delivery is the best indicator of the effectiveness of IT governance in an enterprise because it measures how well IT supports the business objectives and creates value for the stakeholders. The other options are important aspects of IT governance, but they are not as comprehensive as value delivery. References := ISACA, CGEIT Review Manual, 7th Edition, Chapter 1: Framework for the Governance of Enterprise IT, Section 1.2: Principles of IT Governance, p. 9.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

The CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition, in its Strategic Management domain, addresses the alignment of IT strategies with emerging technologies to support enterprise objectives. Quantum computing architecture is designed to solve complex problems (e.g., optimization, cryptography, simulations) faster than classical computing by leveraging quantum algorithms. The manual would likely discuss the strategic adoption of such technologies to enhance computational efficiency.

Option B: To optimize efficiency is the primary objective. Quantum computing excels at solving specific problems (e.g., combinatorial optimization, molecular modeling) with specialized algorithms (e.g., Grover’s, Shor’s) that significantly reduce computation time compared to classical systems. For example, it can optimize supply chain logistics or financial modeling, enabling faster decision-making. The manual likely references COBIT 2019’s APO02-Managed Strategy, which emphasizes leveraging technology for strategic efficiency.

Option A: To increase revenue is a secondary outcome, not the primary objective of the architecture itself.

Option C: To reduce cyberattacks is tangential; while quantum computing may impact cryptography, it’s not its primary goal.

Option D: To minimize operating costs may occur indirectly, but efficiency in computation is the core focus.

Double Verification: The answer aligns with COBIT’s focus on strategic technology adoption and the CGEIT domain’s emphasis on efficiency through innovation. Quantum computing’s primary value is computational efficiency, a key strategic consideration in ISACA’s frameworks.

ISACA CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition, Domain 1: Governance of Enterprise IT (focus on strategic management and emerging technologies).

COBIT 2019, APO02-Managed Strategy.

ISACA Glossary (for definitions of quantum computing), available at https://www.isaca.org/resources/glossary.

Assurance of the execution of business controls is the primary element in sustaining an effective governance framework, as it ensures that the IT governance processes and activities are performed in accordance with the established policies, standards, and procedures. Assurance also provides feedback and monitoring on the performance, compliance, and outcomes of the IT governance framework, and identifies areas for improvement and optimization12. References := CGEIT Exam Content Outline, Domain 1, Subtopic A: Governance Framework, Task 5: Ensure that assurance processes are established to provide confidence that the IT governance framework is designed and operating effectively.

 When introducing the concept of governance to the new acquisition, it is most important that executive management recognize the impact of cultural changes. This is because culture can influence how people understand and practice governance, and how they respond to different governance frameworks and policies1. Culture can also change over time, either by choice or by external factors, and this can affect the governance arrangements of an organization2. Therefore, executive management needs to be aware of the cultural differences and similarities between the multinational enterprise and the new acquisition, and how they can affect the governance objectives, processes, and outcomes. Executive management also needs to respect and value the cultural diversity of the new acquisition, and foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and alignment3. References: How corporate culture affects governance - The CEO Magazine3, Governance | Diversity of Cultural Expressions - UNESCO4, 2.0 Culture and governance - AIGI

 The business strategy requiring significant IT resource scalability over the next five years is the best justification for the decision to outsource portions of IT operations, as it implies that the manufacturing company needs to adapt to changing market demands, customer expectations, and business opportunities. Outsourcing IT operations can provide the company with access to external IT resources, such as infrastructure, software, and services, that can be scaled up or down according to the business needs and goals12. Outsourcing IT operations can also help the company to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and focus on its core competencies

 As the required core competencies of the IT workforce are anticipated and identified, the next step in strengthening the department’s human resource assets is to create an effective recruitment, retention, and training program. This step involves designing and implementing strategies to attract, develop, and retain employees who have the skills, knowledge, and behaviors that align with the IT department’s goals and objectives. A recruitment strategy should focus on sourcing and selecting candidates who have the core competencies needed for the IT roles, as well as the potential to grow and adapt to changing IT needs. A retention strategy should focus on creating a positive work environment that motivates, engages, and rewards employees for their performance and contributions. A training strategy should focus on providing learning opportunities and resources that enable employees to acquire, enhance, and update their core competencies, as well as to develop new ones that are relevant for the future of IT. The other options are not the next step in strengthening the department’s human resource assets, but rather some of the tools or outcomes that can support or result from the recruitment, retention, and training program. A responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed (RACI) chart is a tool that clarifies the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in a project or process. A performance metrics and bonus structure is an outcome that measures and rewards the achievement of IT goals and objectives. A personnel requirements for third-party assurance is a tool that defines the qualifications and expectations of external service providers or auditors. References := What is Competency Management? Best Practices in 2023 - AIHR1; Digital Talent Framework to Future-Proof the IT Workforce - Gartner

This should be the committee’s first action, as it will help to define how the IT function supports and enables the overall business strategy and objectives of the enterprise1. An IT strategic plan is a document that outlines the vision, mission, goals, and initiatives of the IT function, as well as the resources, processes, and metrics required to achieve them1. By creating an IT strategic plan, the committee can align IT with business needs and expectations, optimize IT investments andresources, manage IT risks and opportunities, and deliver value to the stakeholders1. Creating an IT strategic plan can also help to communicate and demonstrate the role and contribution of IT to the enterprise’s success, and to gain the support and commitment of the board of directors and senior management1.

The other options are not as important or effective as creating an IT strategic plan, as they are either specific solutions or outcomes of the IT strategic plan, but not comprehensive steps. Implementing a continuous improvement plan may help to enhance the quality and efficiency of IT services and processes, but it may not address the root cause or causes of IT not sufficiently supporting the corporate objectives, which could be related to other factors, such as strategy alignment, value delivery, resource management, or risk optimization2. Specifying IT human resource performance measures may help to evaluate and improve the skills and productivity of IT staff, but it may not address the root cause or causes of IT not sufficiently supporting the corporate objectives, which could be related to other factors, such as stakeholder engagement, communication, collaboration, or feedback3. Developing a service level management plan may help to define and monitor the expectations and agreements for IT service delivery between IT providers and customers, but it may not address the root cause or causes of IT not sufficiently supporting the corporate objectives, which could be related to other factors, such as business requirements, customer satisfaction, innovation, or agility.