Free Isaca CGEIT Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 11

 This is because a risk program is a strategic initiative that requires the support and involvement of the top leaders of the enterprise. Senior management can demonstrate their commitment to the risk program by:

Providing clear direction and guidance on the objectives, scope, and approach of the risk program

Allocating sufficient resources, budget, and authority to the risk program team

Communicating the importance and benefits of the risk program to all stakeholders

Encouraging a culture of risk awareness and accountability across the enterprise

Reviewing and approving the risk program deliverables and outcomes

Rewarding and recognizing the achievements and contributions of the risk program team and participants

A risk management framework (A) is a tool that helps to define and implement the risk program, but it does not ensure its success without senior management commitment. Mandatory risk awareness courses for staff (B) are a way to increase the knowledge and skills of the staff regarding risk management, but they do not guarantee their engagement and participation in the risk program without senior management endorsement. A risk recognition and reporting policy © is a document that establishes the rules and procedures for identifying and communicatingrisks, but it does not ensure its compliance and effectiveness without senior management oversight.

 Portfolio management is the process of selecting, prioritizing, and managing a collection of projects, programs, and initiatives that align with the strategic goals and objectives of an organization. Portfolio management can help to ensure that the IT initiatives meet their goals, by providing a holistic and integrated view of the IT investments, resources, and outcomes. Portfolio management can also help to optimize the value and benefits of the IT initiatives, by balancing the risks, costs, and dependencies among them. Portfolio management can also help to monitor and control the performance and progress of the IT initiatives, by using metrics, indicators, and reports123. References: What is Portfolio Management? Definition & Examples. A Guide to IT Portfolio Management | Adobe Workfront. IT Portfolio Management: Importance, How-To Steps and Tips.

The CIO’s first step should be to ask the CEO to be the sponsor of the program, as this can help overcome the resistance from the business units and ensure the support and commitment of the top management. The CEO’s sponsorship can also help communicate the vision, goals, and benefits of the ERP system to the enterprise, as well as allocate the necessary resources and budget for the implementation. The CEO’s sponsorship can also help resolve any conflicts or issues that may arise during the implementation, as well as monitor and evaluate the progress and outcomes of the program.

Building a governance framework for identifying non-standard processes, requesting funding from the CEO to hire ERP consultants, and engaging a reluctant business unit to conduct a proof-of-concept pilot are possible steps to take after asking the CEO to be the sponsor of the program, but they are not the first step. Building a governance framework can help define and implementthe policies, standards, and procedures for IT standardization, as well as the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the IT stakeholders. Requesting funding can help secure the financial resources needed to hire external experts or vendors that can provide guidance and assistance for the ERP implementation. Engaging a reluctant business unit can help demonstrate the feasibility and value of the ERP system, as well as gain feedback and buy-in from the end users. However, these steps may not be effective or successful without the CEO’s sponsorship and leadership.

The most important thing to ensure appropriate ownership of access controls to address the deficiency of noncompliance with privacy regulations is to grant access to information based on information architecture. Information architecture is the design and organization of information and data in a way that supports the business objectives, processes, and requirements. Information architecture can help define the ownership, classification, and protection of information assets, as well as the roles, responsibilities, and rules for accessing and managing them. By granting access to information based on information architecture, the enterprise can ensure that only authorized and legitimate users can access the information that they need, and that the information is handled in accordance with the privacy regulations and policies. According to 1, access control is an essential element of security that determines who is allowed to access certain data, apps, and resources—and in what circumstances. According to 2, a privacy management framework provides steps to meet the ongoing compliance obligations under privacy principles, such as establishing robust and effective privacy practices, procedures and systems.

The other options are not the most important things to ensure appropriate ownership of access controls to address the deficiency of noncompliance with privacy regulations. Engaging an audit of logical access controls and related security policies is a step that may be done after grantingaccess to information based on information architecture, as it involves verifying and testing the effectiveness and compliance of the access controls and policies. Implementing multi-factor authentication controls is a step that may be done after granting access to information based on information architecture, as it involves enhancing the security and verification of the user identity and credentials. Authenticating access to information assets based on roles or business rules is a step that may be done after granting access to information based on information architecture, as it involves implementing a specific type of access control mechanism that assigns permissions and restrictions based on predefined roles or business rules.

Portfolio management is the most useful technique for prioritizing IT improvement initiatives to achieve desired business outcomes. Portfolio management is the process of selecting, prioritizing, balancing, and monitoring the IT investments and initiatives that support the enterprise’s strategic objectives and deliver value to the stakeholders1. Portfolio management helps to align IT with business goals, optimize resource allocation, manage risks and dependencies, and measure performance and benefits1. By applying portfolio management, an enterprise can ensure that the IT improvement initiatives are consistent with its vision, mission, values, and priorities, and that they contribute to the desired business outcomes1. References: CGEIT Review Manual (Digital Version) or CGEIT Review Manual (Print Version), Chapter 3: Benefits Realization, Section 3.1: IT Portfolio Management, Page 83-84. What is IT portfolio management? A framework for aligning technology and business.

Data conversion is the process of transforming data from one format or system to another. It is a critical activity in any data migration or integration project, as it affects the quality, accuracy, and usability of the data. Therefore, IT governance should mandate that data conversion has documented approvals from business process data owners, who are the stakeholders responsible for defining and maintaining the data requirements, standards, and quality for their respective business processes. This ensures that the data conversion meets the business needs and expectations, as well as complies with the relevant policies and regulations. References:

CGEIT Review Manual 2021, Chapter 4: Resource Optimization, Section 4.2: Data Management, page 1651

CGEIT Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual 2021, Question 10, page 252

Data Conversion: Definition, Best Practices, and Examples3

Data Governance Roles and Responsibilities4

The main responsibility of the board of directors regarding the management of enterprise risk is to ensure a risk process exists which addresses the risk appetite, because this would help the board to oversee and direct the enterprise’s risk management activities and ensure that they are aligned with the enterprise’s strategic objectives and value creation. The risk process should include identifying, assessing, responding, monitoring, and reporting the risks that may affect the enterprise’s performance and outcomes, and ensuring that the risks are within the acceptable level that the enterprise is willing and able to tolerate12. The other options are not the main responsibility of the board of directors, because they are either part of or dependent on the risk process.

The first step for the IT steering committee to review proposals for projects that implement emerging technologies is to understand how the emerging technologies will influence risk across the enterprise. Emerging technologies are new or evolving technologies that have the potential to create significant value or disruption for the enterprise, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, etc. Emerging technologies can also introduce new or increased risks, such as security, privacy, compliance, ethical, operational, strategic, etc. Therefore, the IT steering committee should understand the nature, scope, and impact of these risks, and how they affect the enterprise’s risk appetite, tolerance, and profile. By understanding the risk implications of emerging technologies, the IT steering committee can evaluate the proposals more effectively and objectively, and ensure that they align with the enterprise’s strategy, goals, and governance framework. According to ISACA’s CGEIT Domain 4: Risk Optimization1, “the enterprise should identify and assess the risks associated with emerging technologies and their potential impact on the enterprise’s objectives and performance.” Furthermore, according to ISACA’s article on Emerging Tech Risk2, “the IT steering committee should have a clear understanding of the risk landscape of emerging technologies and how they affect the enterprise’s risk posture and appetite.” Therefore, understanding how the emerging technologies will influence risk across the enterprise is the best first step for the IT steering committee to review proposals for projects that implement emerging technologies. References:

Emerging Tech Risk - ISACA

IT Governance: Definitions, Frameworks and Planning - ProjectManager

What is IT governance? A formal way to align IT & business strategy | CIO

CGEIT Domain 4: Risk Optimization

 According to the CGEIT exam guide, the organization’s risk profile is a representation of the current and potential risks that the organization faces, as well as the likelihood and impact of those risks. The risk profile helps to inform the risk management strategy, policies and processes, as well as the risk appetite and tolerance of the organization. When an enterprise enters into a new market that brings additional regulatory compliance requirements, the first thing that should be done is to update the organization’s risk profile to reflect the new sources, types and levels of risk that the enterprise may encounter. This will help to identify and assess the compliance risks, as well as to plan and implement appropriate risk responses and controls. The other options are not the first things that should be done, as they are more related to the execution and monitoring of compliance, rather than the identification and assessment of compliance risks. References: CGEIT Exam Candidate Guide, page 15. CGEIT Certification, How to Develop a Risk Profile

The best long-term solution to address the concern regarding loss of experienced staff is to implement knowledge management practices, because knowledge management is the process of creating, sharing, using, and managing the knowledge and information of an organization1. Knowledge management practices can help capture, document, and transfer the valuable knowledge and expertise of the experienced staff before they leave the organization, as well as facilitate the learning and development of the new or existing staff. Knowledge management practices can also enhance the organizational performance, innovation, and competitiveness by leveraging the intellectual capital and creating a culture of knowledge sharing2. According to a study by 3, the impact of knowledge management practices on employee retention is significant and positive in both IT and banking industries. Another study by 4 found that knowledge management practices can improve job satisfaction and employee retention by fostering a supportive work environment, providing growth opportunities, and rewarding knowledge contributions. Therefore, implementing knowledge management practices can help mitigate the risk of losing experienced staff and their knowledge in the long run.

The other options are not the best long-term solutions, because they are either short-term or partial solutions. Establishing a mentoring program for IT staff can help transfer some of the knowledge and skills of the experienced staff to the mentees, but it may not be sufficient or systematic enough to capture and preserve all the relevant knowledge. Determining key risk indicators (KRIs) can help monitor and measure the risk exposure of losing experienced staff, but it does not address the root cause or provide a solution for the problem. Retaining key staff as consultants can help retain some of the expertise and experience of the staff, but it may not be feasible or cost-effective in the long term, and it may also create dependency and vulnerability issues for the organization.

The CIO is responsible for the overall IT governance and ensuring that IT supports the business objectives and strategy. The CIO should also ensure that IT staff have the necessary skills and competencies to perform their roles effectively and efficiently. The CIO should address the root cause of the service disruption and take corrective actions to prevent recurrence. References := CGEIT Review Manual, 27th Edition, Domain 1: Governance of Enterprise IT, page 17-18.

IT resource staffing requirements are the human resources needed to deliver IT services and support business objectives. Periodically evaluating IT resource staffing requirements is important to ensure the enterprise has sufficient resources to address changing business and IT needs, such as new projects, technologies, regulations, or customer expectations12. By assessing the current and future demand and supply of IT skills and competencies, the enterprise can identify any gaps or surpluses and plan accordingly to optimize IT performance and value34. The other options are not the primary reason for periodically evaluating IT resource staffing requirements, although they may be related or beneficial outcomes. Ascertaining the IT function has sufficient skilled staff to maintain daily operations, verifying that human resource recruitment and retention processes meet enterprise IT objectives, and confirming IT-related responsibilities are defined for the enterprise’s business and IT staff are all part of the IT resource staffing management process, but they are not the main driver or purpose of it34. References:

3: https://www.aihr.com/blog/staffing-planning/

1: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/the-future-of-the-workplace-embracing-change-and-fostering-connectivity

2: https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/adaptability-1-idea-3-facts-5-tips/

4: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/staffing-plan

The IT investment process is a systematic approach to selecting, managing, and evaluating information technology investments that align with the enterprise’s strategic goals and objectives. The first step in the IT investment process is to select IT projects that will best support the enterprise’s mission, vision, and values. This involves identifying the business needs, problems, or opportunities that IT can address, and prioritizing them based on their alignment with the enterprise’s strategy, performance, and risk management. This step also involves defining the scope, objectives, and expected outcomes of each IT project, and establishing criteria for measuring its success and value. Selecting IT projects that will best support the enterprise’s mission helps ensure that IT investments are relevant, effective, and efficient for the enterprise.

 According to the CGEIT exam guide, a root cause analysis (RCA) is a systematic process of identifying and analyzing the factors that cause an undesirable event or condition. It helps to determine the underlying causes of problems and issues, and to prevent their recurrence. A root cause analysis is the best way to enable the CIO to build a corrective action plan, as it provides a clear understanding of the reasons why IT service levels consistently fall below those outlined in the SLA, and suggests possible solutions and improvements. The other options are not sufficient to build a corrective action plan, as they do not address the root causes of the SLA failure. References: CGEIT Exam Candidate Guide, page 15. CGEIT Certification, Root Cause Analysis

The most effective way for the CIO to ensure the IT management team is held accountable for the delivery of the plan is to revise the managers’ performance goals to include key objectives that are aligned with the IT strategic plan. This way, the managers will have clear and measurable targets that reflect their contribution to the IT strategy and vision. The CIO can also monitor and evaluate the managers’ progress and performance based on these goals, and provide feedback, recognition, or improvement actions as needed.

The other options are not the most effective way for the CIO to ensure the IT management team is held accountable for the delivery of the plan. Updating the IT balanced scorecard with key objectives is a good practice, but it does not directly link the objectives to the managers’ individual responsibilities and incentives. Enforcing disciplinary action for managers if the plan is not delivered is a negative and punitive approach, which may demotivate and discourage the managers from pursuing the plan. Providing management training on IT strategic objectives is a helpful initiative, but it does not specify how the managers will be assessed and rewarded for achieving the objectives.

For more information on IT strategic planning and accountability, you can refer to these web sources:

IT Strategic Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Hold Your Team Accountable

IT Governance - CIO Wiki