ISACA Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) ExamDomain 4: Information Systems Operations and Business ResilienceEasy
An IS auditor is evaluating an organization's information systems operations. The auditor observes that critical batch jobs frequently fail, leading to delays in financial reporting. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate initial action for the auditor to recommend?
- AReview job logs and operational procedures to identify the root cause of failures.
- BConduct training for operations staff on troubleshooting batch job issues.
- CIncrease the frequency of manual interventions to resolve job failures promptly.
- DImplement a new job scheduling system to automate batch processes.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Review job logs and operational procedures to identify the root cause of failures.
To address frequent failures, the most appropriate initial action is to understand why they are occurring. Reviewing job logs and operational procedures will help pinpoint the underlying cause before implementing solutions.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Training may be beneficial, but identifying the specific causes of failure should precede general training initiatives.
- C. Increasing manual interventions addresses symptoms, not the root cause, and can introduce human error.
- D. Implementing a new system is a significant undertaking and premature without understanding the current issues.
Problem Identification
The initial step in addressing recurring operational issues, focusing on gathering evidence and understanding the 'what' and 'why' before moving to 'how to fix'.
- Crucial for effective problem resolution.
- Involves analyzing logs, procedures, and historical data.
- Precedes solution design and implementation.
Memory trick: Don't just fix it, understand why it's broken first.