IIA-CIA-Part3 Exam Dumps - Internal Audit Function

A disaster recovery plan (DRP) ensures that critical systems and data can be restored after an incident. If backup plans exist but no recovery and restore processes are defined, then the organization lacks a functional recovery plan altogether.

(A) Hot recovery plan.

Incorrect. A hot recovery plan includes real-time data replication and immediate failover systems, allowing for almost instant recovery in case of an outage. Since the scenario mentions that no restore process is defined, this cannot be a hot recovery plan.

(B) Warm recovery plan.

Incorrect. A warm recovery plan involves regular backups and a standby system that can be activated within hours or days. However, without defined restore procedures, the organization does not even have a warm recovery plan.

(C) Cold recovery plan.

Incorrect. A cold recovery plan means that backups exist but recovery takes significant time because systems and infrastructure need to be rebuilt. However, a cold plan still includes a recovery process, which the scenario lacks.

(D) Absence of recovery plan. ✅

Correct. If data backup plans exist but no restore processes are defined, then there is no functional recovery plan. Without a structured approach to data recovery, backups alone are useless in an actual disaster scenario.

IIA GTAG " Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery " highlights the need for detailed recovery processes as part of an overall disaster recovery plan.

IIA GTAG – " Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery "

IIA Standard 2120 – Risk Management

COBIT Framework – IT Disaster Recovery Controls

Analysis of Answer Choices:IIA References:Thus, the correct answer is D, as data backups without recovery procedures indicate the absence of a recovery plan.

Understanding the Project Life Cycle:

The project life cycle consists of initiation, planning, execution, and closure.

Early stages involve planning and defining scope, while later stages focus on execution and completion.

Why Change Costs Increase Over Time:

In early stages, changes are relatively inexpensive as they mainly involve planning adjustments.

As the project progresses, modifications require rework, additional resources, and schedule delays, increasing costs.

Near project completion, changes can be very costly, requiring significant time and effort to correct.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Risk and uncertainty increase over time – Incorrect; risk and uncertainty decrease as the project moves forward and becomes more defined.

B. Costs and staffing levels are high at project close – Incorrect; they are usually highest during execution, not closure.

D. Project life cycle = product life cycle – Incorrect; they are separate concepts. A product may exist long after the project ends.

IIA GTAG 12 – Auditing IT Projects: Discusses project life cycle and cost implications.

IIA Practice Guide on Project Risk Management: Highlights cost escalation risks in later project phases.

PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) Framework: Defines cost increase trends in project management.

Relevant IIA References:✅ Final Answer: Costs related to making changes increase as the project approaches completion (Option C).

An intangible asset is an asset that lacks physical substance but has value due to its legal rights or expected economic benefits. Some intangible assets have finite useful lives (e.g., copyrights, patents) and are amortized, while others have indefinite useful lives and are not amortized but tested for impairment.

(A) Underground oil deposits. ❌

Incorrect. Oil deposits are natural resources, not intangible assets. They are classified as depletable assets because their value declines as they are extracted.

(B) Copyright. ❌

Incorrect. A copyright grants exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute creative works, but it has a finite legal life (typically 50-100 years, depending on jurisdiction). It is amortized over time.

(C) Trademark. ✅

Correct. A trademark (e.g., a company’s logo or brand name) is considered an indefinite-life intangible asset because it can be renewed indefinitely as long as the business continues to use it and follows renewal requirements.

According to IIA GTAG – " Auditing Intangible Assets " , trademarks are subject to impairment testing, but they are not amortized unless their useful life becomes definite.

(D) Land. ❌

Incorrect. Land is a tangible asset, not an intangible one. While it has an indefinite life, it does not fit the category of intangible assets.

IIA GTAG – " Auditing Intangible Assets "

IIA Standard 2130 – Control Activities (Asset Management)

IFRS and GAAP Guidelines – Indefinite and Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

Analysis of Answer Choices:IIA References:Thus, the correct answer is C (Trademark), as trademarks have indefinite lives unless there is evidence to the contrary.

When an organization outsources IT services, risks can be categorized as:

Risks specific to the organization – Risks that arise internally within the company.

Risks specific to the service provider – Risks that are under the control of the third-party provider.

Shared risks – Risks that require joint management by both the organization and the service provider.

Let’s analyze the answer choices:

Option A: Unexpected increases in outsourcing costs.

Incorrect. While cost increases can be a risk, they are often a shared risk because the organization and the provider negotiate pricing terms.

Option B: Loss of data privacy.

Incorrect. Data privacy concerns are shared between the organization (which must ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR or CCPA) and the service provider (which must implement proper security controls).

Option C: Inadequate staffing.

Correct. The service provider is responsible for maintaining adequate staffing levels to deliver the contracted services effectively. If they fail to do so, service quality can deteriorate, posing risks to the organization.

IIA Reference: Internal auditors should assess vendor risk management, including the provider’s staffing capabilities. (IIA GTAG: Auditing IT Outsourcing)

Option D: Violation of contractual terms.

Incorrect. While the service provider may be responsible for upholding contract terms, the organization is also responsible for contract enforcement. This makes it a shared risk rather than one specific to the provider.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) enhances security by requiring two different authentication factors from the following categories:

Something you know (e.g., password, PIN)

Something you have (e.g., smart card, key fob)

Something you are (e.g., fingerprint, facial recognition)

The combination of a fingerprint (biometric authentication) and a PIN (knowledge-based authentication) satisfies two-factor authentication requirements.

A. The user ' s facial geometry and voice recognition – Incorrect. Both are biometric factors (something you are), meaning this is single-factor authentication.

B. The user ' s password and a separate passphrase – Incorrect. Both are knowledge-based factors (something you know), making this single-factor authentication.

C. The user ' s key fob and a smart card – Incorrect. Both are possession-based factors (something you have), meaning this is not true two-factor authentication.

D. The user ' s fingerprint and a personal identification number (PIN) (Correct Answer) – This combines biometric authentication (fingerprint) with knowledge-based authentication (PIN), fulfilling two-factor authentication.

IIA GTAG 15 – Information Security Governance emphasizes multi-factor authentication as a key security control.

NIST SP 800-63B – Digital Identity Guidelines defines two-factor authentication as requiring two distinct categories of authentication.

COBIT 2019 – DSS05 (Managed Security Services) highlights 2FA as a best practice for access control.

Explanation of Each Option:IIA References:

The internal audit plan must be risk-based, as required by the IIA Standards. If cybersecurity has been identified as a high risk during the annual risk assessment, then it should be included in the audit plan to provide assurance over the adequacy of controls.

Including engagements simply to satisfy management (Option A) or for auditor learning purposes (Option B) does not align with risk-based planning principles. Likewise, management requests alone (Option D) do not dictate audit plan content; engagements must be prioritized based on risk to the organization.

Profitability ratios measure a company ' s ability to generate profit over a specific period, making them the best indicators of operating success. These ratios assess financial performance by comparing income to various financial metrics such as revenue, assets, and equity.

Correct Answer (B - Profitability Ratios)

Profitability ratios reflect how effectively a company generates income from its operations over a given period.

Key profitability ratios include:

Gross Profit Margin: Measures how efficiently a company produces goods and services.

Operating Profit Margin: Shows profitability from core operations.

Net Profit Margin: Indicates the percentage of revenue converted into profit.

Return on Assets (ROA): Measures how efficiently assets generate earnings.

Return on Equity (ROE): Assesses how well equity investments generate returns.

The IIA Practice Guide: Auditing Financial Performance emphasizes profitability ratios in evaluating operational success.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

Option A (Liquidity Ratios):

Liquidity ratios measure a company ' s ability to meet short-term obligations rather than its operating success.

Examples: Current Ratio, Quick Ratio.

IIA GTAG 13: Business Performance emphasizes that liquidity ratios relate to short-term financial health, not operating success.

Option C (Solvency Ratios):

Solvency ratios evaluate a company ' s ability to meet long-term financial obligations, not operating performance.

Examples: Debt-to-Equity Ratio, Interest Coverage Ratio.

Option D (Current Ratio):

The current ratio is a liquidity ratio, measuring whether a company can meet its short-term liabilities with current assets.

It does not directly assess profitability or operational success.

IIA Practice Guide: Auditing Financial Performance – Covers the role of profitability ratios in evaluating a company’s success.

IIA GTAG 13: Business Performance – Discusses financial analysis, including profitability, liquidity, and solvency metrics.

Step-by-Step Explanation:IIA References for Validation:Thus, profitability ratios (B) are the best measures of a company’s operating success over a period.

Meaningful recommendations are those that address the root cause of the condition by comparing it to the established criteria and propose sustainable, long-term solutions. This ensures that the identified issue will not recur and strengthens the control environment.

Option A relates to symptoms (condition vs. consequence), not root causes. Option B identifies the correct gap (criteria vs. condition) but offers only short-term fixes. Option C incorrectly compares criteria to consequence, which is not a valid basis for audit recommendations.

Thus, Option D is correct.