ISACA Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) ExamDomain 1: Information System Auditing ProcessMedium
An IS auditor is reviewing the effectiveness of an organization's change management process for a critical production system. The auditor observes that emergency changes are frequently implemented without complete testing or prior management approval, although they are documented post-implementation. What is the MOST significant risk introduced by this practice?
- AIntroduction of errors or vulnerabilities into the production environment.
- BIncreased burden on the IT support team due to frequent documentation updates.
- CDifficulty in maintaining an accurate configuration management database (CMDB).
- DNon-compliance with internal change management procedures.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Introduction of errors or vulnerabilities into the production environment.
Implementing emergency changes without complete testing or prior approval significantly increases the risk of introducing errors, bugs, or security vulnerabilities into a critical production system. While other options are valid concerns, the direct impact on system stability, integrity, and security is the most significant risk.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Increased documentation burden is an operational inefficiency, not the primary risk.
- C. Difficulty with CMDB accuracy is a consequence, but the core risk is the impact on the production system itself.
- D. Non-compliance is the cause, but the question asks for the 'most significant risk introduced' by this non-compliance.
Untested Changes Risk
The risk that changes introduced into a production environment, especially without adequate testing or approval, will lead to system failures, data corruption, or security vulnerabilities.
- Directly impacts system stability.
- Can cause service outages.
- Increases security exposure.
Memory trick: Untested changes are like 'unexploded bombs' in the system.