Isaca Updated CISA Exam Questions and Answers by ryley

Change management is the process of planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating changes to an organization’s information systems and related components. Change management aims to ensure that changes are aligned with the business objectives, minimize risks and disruptions, and maximize benefits and value.

One of the key aspects of change management is measuring its effectiveness, which means assessing whether the changes have achieved the desired outcomes and met the expectations of the stakeholders. There are various indicators that can be used to measure change management effectiveness, such as time, cost, quality, scope, satisfaction, and performance.

Among the four options given, the most appropriate indicator of change management effectiveness is the number of incidents resulting from changes. An incident is an unplanned event or interruption that affects the normal operation or service delivery of an information system. Incidents can be caused by various factors, such as errors, defects, failures, malfunctions, or malicious attacks. Incidents can have negative impacts on the organization, such as loss of data, productivity, reputation, or revenue.

The number of incidents resulting from changes is a direct measure of how well the changes have been planned, implemented, monitored, and evaluated. A high number of incidents indicates that the changes have not been properly tested, verified, communicated, or controlled. A low number of incidents indicates that the changes have been executed smoothly and successfully. Therefore, the number of incidents resulting from changes reflects the quality and effectiveness of the change management process.

The other three options are not as appropriate indicators of change management effectiveness as the number of incidents resulting from changes. The time lag between changes to the configuration and the update of records is a measure of how timely and accurate the configuration management process is. Configuration management is a subset of change management that focuses on identifying, documenting, and controlling the configuration items (CIs) that make up an information system. The time lag between changes and updates of documentation materials is a measure of how well the documentation process is aligned with the change management process. Documentation is an important aspect of change management that provides information and guidance to the stakeholders involved inor affected by the changes. The number of system software changes is a measure of how frequently and extensively the system software is modified or updated. System software changes are a type of change that affects the operating system, middleware, or utilities that support an information system.

While these three indicators are relevant and useful for measuring certain aspects of change management, they do not directly measure the outcomes or impacts of the changes on the organization. They are more related to the inputs or activities of change management than to its outputs or results. Therefore, they are not as appropriate indicators of change management effectiveness as the number of incidents resulting from changes.

References:

Metrics for Measuring Change Management - Prosci

How to Measure Change Management Effectiveness: Metrics, Tools & Processes

Metrics for Measuring Change Management 2023 - Zendesk

 The planning phase is the stage of the internal audit process where contact is established with the individuals responsible for the business processes in scope for review. The planning phase involves defining the objectives, scope, and criteria of the audit, as well as identifying the key risks and controls related to the audited area. The planning phase also involves communicating with the auditee to obtain relevant information, documents, and data, as well as to schedule interviews, walkthroughs, and meetings. The planning phase aims to ensure that the audit team has a clear understanding of the audited area and its context, and that the audit plan is aligned with the expectations and needs of the auditee and other stakeholders.

The execution phase is the stage of the internal audit process where the audit team performs the audit procedures according to the audit plan. The execution phase involves testing the design and operating effectiveness of the controls, collecting and analyzing evidence, documenting the audit work and results, and identifying any issues or findings. The execution phase aims to provide sufficient and appropriate evidence to support the audit conclusions and recommendations.

The follow-up phase is the stage of the internal audit process where the audit team monitors and verifies the implementation of the corrective actions agreed upon by the auditee in response to the audit findings. The follow-up phase involves reviewing the evidence provided by the auditee, conducting additional tests or interviews if necessary, and evaluating whether the corrective actions have adequately addressed the root causes of the findings. The follow-up phase aims to ensure that the auditee has taken timely and effective actions to improve its processes and controls.

The selection phase is not a standard stage of the internal audit process, but it may refer to the process of selecting which areas or functions to audit based on a risk assessment or an annual audit plan. The selection phase involves evaluating the inherent and residual risks of each potential auditable area, considering the impact, likelihood, and frequency of those risks, as well as other factors such as regulatory requirements, stakeholder expectations, previous audit results, and available resources. The selection phase aims to prioritize and allocate the audit resources to those areas that present the highest risks or opportunities for improvement.

Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

References:

Stages and phases of internal audit - piranirisk.com

Step-by-Step Internal Audit Checklist | AuditBoard

AuditProcess | The Office of Internal Audit - University of Oregon

 A database administrator (DBA) should be prevented from having end user responsibilities to avoid a conflict of interest and a violation of the principle of segregation of duties. End user responsibilities may include initiating transactions, authorizing transactions, recording transactions or reconciling transactions. A DBA who has end user responsibilities may compromise the integrity, confidentiality and availability of the data and the database systems. Accessing sensitive information, having access to production files and using an emergency user ID are not end user responsibilities, but rather potential risks or controls associated with the DBA role. References:

: Database Administrator (DBA) Definition

: Segregation of Duties | ISACA

: [End User Definition]

Issuing authentication tokens is the most reliable method of preventing unauthorized logon, as it provides a strong form of authentication that requires users to present something they have (the token) and something they know (the personal identification number or PIN) to access the system. Authentication tokens are physical devices that generate a one-time password or code that changes periodically and is synchronized with the authentication server. This makes it difficult for attackers to steal or guess the credentials of legitimate users. Reinforcing current security policies, limiting after-hours usage and installing an automatic password generator are not as reliable as issuing authentication tokens, as they do not provide a strong form of authentication and may still be vulnerable to unauthorized logon attempts. References:

: [Authentication Token Definition]

: Authentication | ISACA