CISA Exam Dumps - Certified Information Systems Auditor

 Audit observations are the findings and recommendations that result from an audit engagement. Audit observations should be first communicated with the auditee during fieldwork, which is the stage of the audit process where the auditor collects and analyzes evidence to evaluate the audit objectives1. Communicating audit observations during fieldwork has several benefits, such as2:

It allows the auditor to verify the accuracy and completeness of the observations, and to obtain additional information or clarification from the auditee if needed.

It enables the auditor to discuss the root causes, impacts, and risks of the observations, and to solicit the auditee’s input on possible corrective actions and implementation timelines.

It helps to build rapport and trust between the auditor and the auditee, and to avoid surprises or disagreements at the end of the audit.

It facilitates timely resolution of audit observations, and reduces the risk of audit delays or disputes.

Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Option A is not correct because communicating audit observations when drafting the report is too late, as it may lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, or revisions that could have been avoided if the observations were communicated earlier. Option C is not correct because communicating audit observations at the end of fieldwork is also not ideal, as it may not leave enough time for the auditor and the auditee to discuss and agree on the observations and recommendations. Option D is not correct because communicating audit observations within the audit report is the final step of the audit process, not the first.

References:

Audit Process Overview1

Communicating Internal Audit Findings: Best Practices for Success2

During a pre-deployment assessment, the best indication that a business case will lead to the achievement of business objectives is that the business case reflects stakeholder requirements. A business case is a document that explains the rationale, benefits, costs, and risks of a proposed project or initiative. A business case should align with the strategic goals and vision of the organization and address the needs and expectations of the stakeholders who are involved in or affected by the project12.

Stakeholder requirements are the conditions or capabilities that stakeholders expect from a project or its outcomes. Stakeholders can include customers, users, employees, managers, suppliers, regulators, and others who have an interest or stake in the project. Stakeholder requirements should be identified, analyzed, prioritized, validated, and documented throughout the project lifecycle34.

The business case should reflect stakeholder requirements because they provide the basis for defining the project scope, objectives, deliverables, quality standards, success criteria, and benefits realization. By reflecting stakeholder requirements, the business case can demonstrate how the project will add value to the organization and its stakeholders, justify the investment and resources required for the project, and facilitate the decision-making and approval process for the project5 .

Therefore, during a pre-deployment assessment, an IS auditor should look for evidence that the business case reflects stakeholder requirements as the best indication that the business case will lead to the achievement of business objectives.

References:

How to Write a Business Case (Template Included) - ProjectManager

How to Write a Business Case | Smartsheet

What are Stakeholder Requirements? | PM Study Circle

Stakeholder Requirements - Project Management Knowledge

Business Case vs Business Requirements - Difference Between

[Business Case Development - Project Management Docs]

The primary reason an IS auditor would recommend replacing universal PIN codes with an RFID access card system at a data center is to improve traceability (A). Traceability is the ability to track and monitor the activities and movements of individuals or objects within a system or environment. Traceability is important for ensuring security, accountability, and compliance in a data center, where sensitive and critical data are stored and processed.

An RFID access card system can improve traceability by using RFID technology to verify and record the identity and access of each user who enters or exits the data center. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification, and it enables wireless communication between a reader and an RFID tag. An RFID tag is installed in a door key card or fob, which users use to gain access to the data center. An RFID reader is installed near the door, and it contains an antenna that receives data transmitted by the RFID tag. A control panel is a computer server that reads and interprets the data passed along by the RFID reader. A database is a storage system that stores the data collected by the control panel1.

An RFID access card system can provide several benefits for traceability, such as123:

It can uniquely identify each user and their access level, and prevent unauthorized access or impersonation.

It can record the date, time, and duration of each user’s access, and generate logs and reports for auditing purposes.

It can monitor the location and status of each user within the data center, and alert security personnel in case of any anomalies or emergencies.

It can integrate with other security systems, such as cameras, alarms, or biometrics, to enhance verification and protection.

A universal PIN code system, on the other hand, can compromise traceability by using a single or shared personal identification number (PIN) to grant access to multiple users. A universal PIN code system can pose several risks for traceability, such as4:

It can be easily guessed, stolen, shared, or compromised by malicious actors or insiders.

It can not distinguish between different users or their access levels, and allow unauthorized or excessive access.

It can not record or track the activities or movements of each user within the data center, and create gaps or errors in the audit trail.

It can not integrate with other security systems, and provide limited verification and protection.

Therefore, an IS auditor would recommend replacing universal PIN codes with an RFID access card system at a data center to improve traceability.

References:

RFID Access Control Guide: 4 Best RFID Access Control Systems - ButterflyMX

Choosing Card Technology in 2023 | ICT

RFID Vs Magnetic Key Cards: What’s The Difference? - Go Safer Security

RFID vs Barcode - Advantages, Disadvantages & Differences

According to the CISA - Certified Information Systems Auditor Study Guide1, the correct answer to your question is A. Encrypt the disk drive. This is because encryption is a logical security measure that can protect data even if the physical device is stolen or lost. Encryption makes the data unreadable and inaccessible without the proper key or password. The other options are not as effective as encryption in this scenario. Two-factor authentication is a user authentication method that requires two pieces of evidence to verify the user’s identity, such as a password and a code sent to a phone. However, this does not prevent unauthorized access to the data if the laptop is already logged in or if the attacker can bypass the authentication. Enhancing physical security is a preventive measure that can reduce the risk of theft, but it does not guarantee that theft will not occur or that the data will be safe if it does. Requiring the use of cable locks is another preventive measure that can deter thieves, but it can also be easily cut or removed by a determined attacker.

Audit planning is the process of developing an overall strategy and approach for conducting an audit. Audit planning involves identifying the objectives, scope, criteria, and methodology of the audit, as well as the resources, schedule, and reporting requirements. Audit planning also involves performing a risk assessment to identify and prioritize the areas of highest risk and significance for the audit1.

Risk assessment is a systematic process of evaluating the potential risks that may be involved in a projected activity or undertaking. Risk assessment involves identifying the sources and causes of risk, analyzing the likelihood and impact of risk, and determining the level of risk and the appropriate response2.

During audit planning, the IS audit manager is considering whether to budget for audits of entities regarded by the business as having low risk. The best course of action in this situation is C. Validate the low-risk entity ratings and apply professional judgment.

This is because validating the low-risk entity ratings can help to ensure that the risk assessment is accurate, reliable, and consistent with the business objectives and expectations. Validating the low-risk entity ratings can also help to identify any changes or developments that may affect the risk profile of the entities since the last assessment. Applying professional judgment can help to determine whether the low-risk entities should be included or excluded from the audit plan, based on factors such as materiality, relevance, significance, and assurance needs3.

The best tool for detailed testing of a business application’s data and configuration files is an audit analytics tool. An audit analytics tool is a software that helps auditors to analyze large sets of data and identify anomalies, trends, and patterns that are relevant to the audit objectives. An audit analytics tool can also provide audit evidence and support the auditor’s professional judgment and conclusions.

Some of the benefits of using an audit analytics tool are:

It can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the audit by reducing the time and effort required to perform manual tests and procedures.

It can enhance the quality and reliability of the audit by increasing the coverage and accuracy of the data analysis and testing.

It can enable the auditor to perform more complex and sophisticated tests and procedures that may not be possible or feasible with traditional methods.

It can help the auditor to discover new insights and risks that may not be apparent or detectable with traditional methods.

Some examples of audit analytics tools are:

IDEA: A data analysis software that allows auditors to import, analyze, and visualize data from various sources and formats. It also offers features such as sampling, stratification, gap analysis, duplicate detection, Benford’s law, and regression analysis.1

ACL: A data analysis software that helps auditors to access, analyze, and report on data from various sources and formats. It also offers features such as sampling, stratification, gap analysis, duplicate detection, Benford’s law, regression analysis, and scripting.2

TeamMate Analytics: A data analysis software that integrates with Microsoft Excel and provides auditors with a range of tools and functions to perform data analysis and testing. It also offers features such as sampling, stratification, gap analysis, duplicate detection, Benford’s law, regression analysis, and scripting.3

Source code synchronization is the process of ensuring that the source code and the object code (the compiled version of the source code) are consistent and up-to-date1. When program changes are implemented, the source code should be recompiled to generate a new object code that reflects the changes. However, if the source code is not recompiled, there is a risk that the object code may be outdated or incorrect. A compensating control is a measure that reduces the risk of an existing control weakness or deficiency2. A compensating control for source code synchronization is to compare the date stamping of the source and object code. Date stamping is a method of recording the date and time when a file is created or modified3. By comparing the date stamping of the source and object code, one can verify if they are synchronized or not. If the date stamping of the source code is newer than the object code, it means that the source code has been changed but not recompiled. If the date stamping of the object code is newer than the source code, it means that the object code has been compiled from a different source code. If the date stamping of both files are identical, it means that they are synchronized.

This is because the business processes are the core activities and functions that enable the organization to achieve its objectives and create value for its stakeholders. The business processes are also the sources and drivers of various risks that may affect the organization’s performance, compliance, and reputation. Therefore, the IS auditor should focus on understanding, assessing, and prioritizing the business processes that are most critical, complex, or vulnerable to the organization’s success, and align the audit objectives, scope, and resources accordingly12.

Critical business applications (A) are not the most important area of focus for an IS auditor when developing a risk-based audit strategy, but rather a specific aspect of the business processes that may require attention. Critical business applications are the software systems that support the execution and automation of the business processes, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), or accounting systems. Critical business applications may pose significant risks to the organization if they are not reliable, secure, or efficient. Therefore, the IS auditor should consider the criticality, functionality, and dependency of the business applications when planning the audit, but not as the primary focus12.

Existing IT controls © are not the most important area of focus for an IS auditor when developing a risk-based audit strategy, but rather an outcome or output of the risk assessment process. Existing IT controls are the policies, procedures, practices, and technologies that are implemented to manage and mitigate the IT-related risks that may affect the organization’s business processes and objectives. Existing IT controls may vary in their design, effectiveness, and maturity. Therefore, the IS auditor should evaluate and test the existing IT controls as part of the audit execution and reporting process, but not as the main focus12.

Recent audit results (D) are not the most important area of focus for an IS auditor when developing a risk-based audit strategy, but rather an input or source of information for the risk assessment process. Recent audit results are the findings, recommendations, and opinions of previous audits that may provide insights or feedback on the organization’s business processes, risks, and controls. Recent audit results may also indicate any changes or trends in the organization’s risk profile or environment. Therefore, the IS auditor should review and consider the recent audit results as part of the audit planning and scoping process, but not as the main focus12.