Pass the Isaca Isaca Certification CGEIT Questions and answers with CertsForce

According to the CGEIT exam guide, the risk appetite is the amount and type of risk that an enterprise is willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives. It is a key element of the IT governance framework and should be defined by senior management before developing and managing digital applications for a new enterprise. The risk appetite provides the basis for establishing the risk management strategy, policies and processes, as well as the risk culture and awareness of the enterprise. References: CGEIT Exam Candidate Guide, page 15. CGEIT Certification

 A SWOT analysis is a technique that analyzes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of an organization or a project. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors that can be controlled or influenced by the organization, while opportunities and threats are external factors that are influenced by the environment, market, or competitors1. Therefore, to identify opportunities and threats, it is most helpful to conduct a competitor analysis, which is a process of researching and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors in the same industry or market2. A competitor analysis can help to identify the gaps, trends, and best practices in the market, and to discover potential areas for improvement, innovation, or differentiation2. According to ISACA’s CGEIT Domain 1: Framework for the Governance of Enterprise IT3, “the enterprise should analyze its external environment to identify opportunities and threats that may affect its ability to achieve its strategic objectives.” Furthermore, according to ISACA’s article on IT Strategy, “a competitor analysis can help to understand how the enterprise compares with its peers in terms of IT capabilities, performance, and value.” Therefore, a competitor analysis is the best way to identify opportunities and threats as part of IT strategy development.

 A strategic HR plan is a document that drives the business forward by evaluating where the workforce is at and comparing it to future needs. It sets out the organizational goals and outlines how the HR team will help achieve them1. A strategic HR plan for IT would help to identify and address the gaps, challenges, and opportunities in the IT talent management, such as recruitment, retention, development, engagement, and succession2. A strategic HR plan for IT would also help to align the IT workforce with the IT strategy and objectives, and to ensure that the IT personnel have the skills, competencies, and motivation to support the organization’s new strategy3. A strategic HR plan for IT would also help to communicate and collaborate with the IT personnel and other stakeholders, and to foster a positive and supportive IT culture4.

IT maturity models measure the capabilities of an IT organization, which means the ability to perform certain activities or tasks effectively and efficiently. IT maturity models assess the current state of the IT organization in terms of people, processes, and technology, and compare it with the desired or optimal state. IT maturity models also help to identify the gaps and opportunities for improvement, and to prioritize and plan the actions to achieve higher levels of maturity. IT maturity models can be used for various purposes, such as benchmarking, strategic planning, performance management, risk management, and quality assurance. References: CGEIT Exam Content Outline | ISACA1, CGEIT Review Manual (Digital Version), Use an IT maturity model - IBM Garage Practices1, IT Maturity Models, Scorecards & Assessments | Smartsheet2

The best approach to assist an enterprise in planning for IT-enabled investments is enterprise architecture (EA). EA is a holistic and integrated view of the current and future state of the business, IT, and their alignment1. EA helps to identify and prioritize the business needs andobjectives, and to design and deliver the IT solutions that support them2. EA also helps to optimize the IT resources and processes, and to ensure that they are aligned with the business strategy and goals3. EA also helps to measure and monitor the IT performance and outcomes, and to evaluate the value and benefits of the IT investments4. EA also helps to manage the risks, costs, and complexity of the IT investments, and to ensure that they comply with the legal and regulatory requirements5.

IT process mapping, task management, and service level management are not as comprehensive or effective as EA in assisting an enterprise in planning for IT-enabled investments. IT process mapping is a visual representation of a process that shows the steps and their relationships6. It can help to understand how a process works, but it does not provide a strategic or architectural view of the business or IT. Task management is a process of managing individual or group tasks to achieve goals7. It can help to track and delegate work, but it does not address the alignment or optimization of IT with the business. Service level management is a process of defining, documenting, and agreeing on service levels within an IT service management system8. It can help to ensure that services are delivered at an agreed level, but it does not cover the design or delivery of IT solutions that meet the business needs. Therefore, EA is the best approach to assist an enterprise in planning for IT-enabled investments.

 Change control procedures are a set of steps that ensure that any changes to a system, product, project, or document are authorized, documented, and tracked. Change control procedures help to maintain the quality, integrity, and security of the system or product, as well as to comply with relevant standards and regulations. By enforcing change control procedures, the enterprise can prevent unauthorized or undocumented updates that could compromise the functionality, performance, or reliability of the applications. References :=

What is a change control procedure? With benefits and steps

What is a change control process? Steps and template

Change Control | Risk Management & Audit Services - Harvard University

because this would help to address the concern of business management that controls are in place to help minimize the risk of critical IT systems being unavailable during month-end financial processing. Key risk indicators (KRIs) are metrics that measure the potential impact and likelihood of the risks that may affect the IT performance and outcomes, and provide early warning signals for taking corrective actions12. Action plans are specific steps and tasks that are designed to implement the risk response strategies, such as avoiding, reducing, transferring, or accepting the risks12. Developing KRIs and action plans can help the CIO to monitor and manage the risks of IT system unavailability, and to ensure that the expected benefits and value are realized. Developing KRIs and action plans can also help to communicate and report the risk scenarios and their consequences to business management, and to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the IT controls12.

Interdependent systems are those that rely on each other for data, functionality, or performance. If the business case for an ERP implementation overlooks the interdependencies among the existing systems, it may underestimate the complexity, cost, and risk of the project. The ERP implementation may also fail to achieve the expected benefits of integration, automation, and optimization if the interdependent systems are not properly aligned and coordinated. References: CGEIT Exam Content Outline | ISACA1, CGEIT Review Manual (Digital Version)2

The main goal of the IT strategy committee after establishing stakeholder desired outcomes should be to ensure IT risk alignment with enterprise risk. IT risk alignment means that the IT risk management program is consistent and integrated with the enterprise risk management (ERM) program, and that the IT risks are identified, assessed, and treated in relation to the enterprise’s objectives, strategies, and risk appetite. IT risk alignment can help the enterprise achieve the following benefits1:

Enhance the value delivery of IT to the business

Improve the decision making and prioritization of IT investments and initiatives

Reduce the likelihood and impact of IT-related incidents and losses

Increase the resilience and agility of IT in responding to changes and disruptions

Strengthen the governance and accountability of IT performance and compliance

To ensure IT risk alignment with enterprise risk, the IT strategy committee should perform the following tasks2:

Define the scope, objectives, and criteria for IT risk management

Establish the roles and responsibilities for IT risk management

Align the IT risk management framework and processes with the ERM framework and processes

Communicate and collaborate with the ERM function and other stakeholders on IT risk issues

Monitor and review the effectiveness and maturity of IT risk management

The other options are not the main goal of the IT strategy committee after establishing stakeholder desired outcomes. Identifying business data that requires protection, performing a risk analysis on key IT processes, and implementing controls to address high risk areas are steps that are part of the IT risk management process, but they are not specific to ensuring IT risk alignment with enterprise risk. These steps should be done by the IT risk management function or team, under the guidance and oversight of the IT strategy committee.

Practical and enforceable policies are the best way to contribute to the successful implementation of a framework to implement IT governance, as they provide clear and consistent guidance and direction for IT activities, processes, and decisions. Practical and enforceable policies are based on the enterprise’s strategy, goals, and values, as well as the relevant regulations and standards. Practical and enforceable policies also define the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the IT stakeholders, as well as the mechanisms for monitoring, measuring, and reporting on IT performance and compliance. Practical and enforceable policies can help ensure that IT governance is effective, efficient, and aligned with the business needs and expectations.

Automated compliance tracking, comprehensive and timely audit reviews, and periodic peer reviews are also useful ways to support the implementation of a framework to implement IT governance, but they are not the best way. Automated compliance tracking is a process that uses software tools or systems to collect, analyze, and report on IT compliance data, such as policies, standards, controls, risks, incidents, or issues. Automated compliance tracking can help reduce the time and effort required for IT compliance management, as well as improve the accuracy and reliability of IT compliance information. Comprehensive and timely audit reviews are assessments that evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of IT governance, management, and operations. Comprehensive and timely audit reviews can help identify and address any weaknesses or gaps in IT governance, as well as provide recommendations for improvement. Periodic peer reviews are evaluations that compare the IT governance practices of an enterprise with those of its peers or competitors. Periodic peer reviews can help benchmark and improve the IT governance performance of an enterprise, as well as identify best practices or opportunities for innovation.

References := IT Governance: Definitions, Frameworks and Planning - ProjectManager; What is IT governance? A formal way to align IT & business strategy; What is IT Governance (ITG) and why does it matter? - IFS Blog; IT Governance Framework - CIO Wiki; What is IT Governance? How to Implement | Electric.

To develop appropriate measures to improve organizational performance, the measures must be accepted by and meaningful to the stakeholders, because they are the ones who will use the measures to monitor and evaluate the achievement of the enterprise’s objectives and goals. Themeasures should be relevant, reliable, valid, and understandable for the stakeholders, and aligned with their expectations and needs . References := ISACA, CGEIT Review Manual, 7th Edition, 2019, page 43-44.

A RACI chart is a tool that assigns roles and responsibilities for each strategic objective, using the acronym RACI to denote who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for each objective. A RACI chart can help stakeholders understand who owns each strategic objective, who is involved in its execution, and who needs to be updated on its progress and outcomes. A RACI chart can also help avoid confusion, duplication, or conflict among stakeholders, and ensure clear communication and accountability for each objective. 

 According to the CGEIT exam guide, IT resource management is the process of planning, acquiring, allocating, monitoring and optimizing the IT resources of an enterprise to support its strategy, objectives and goals. To evaluate IT resource management, it is most important to define the applicable key goals that the IT resources are expected to achieve or contribute to. These key goals should be aligned with the enterprise’s vision, mission and values, as well as the stakeholder needs and expectations. The key goals should also be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART), and should be communicated and agreed upon by all relevant parties. Defining the applicable key goals will help to assess the performance, value and impact of IT resource management, as well as to identify the gaps, issues and opportunities for improvement. The other options are not as important as defining the applicable key goals, as they are more related to the implementation and execution of IT resourcemanagement, rather than its evaluation. References: CGEIT Exam Candidate Guide, page 14. CGEIT Certification, IT Resource Management

Risk appetite is the amount and type of risk that an organization is willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives. Risk appetite of the enterprise should be the primary consideration when developing a risk management policy for a portfolio of IT-enabled investments, because it helps to align the risk management strategy with the business strategy and goals. Risk appetite also helps to define the risk tolerance and thresholds for each investment, and to prioritize and allocate resources accordingly. Risk appetite also helps to communicate the expectations and responsibilities of the stakeholders involved in the risk management process, and to foster a risk-aware culture within the organization. References := CGEIT Review Manual, Chapter 4: Risk Optimization, Section 4.1: IT Risk Management Strategy, Subsection 4.1.1: Establishing IT Risk Appetite, Page 139.

Negotiating service level agreements (SLAs) is the best way for an organization to minimize the difference between expected and delivered services when acquiring resources, because SLAs define the scope, quality, availability, performance, and security of the services that the provider will deliver to the customer. SLAs also specify the roles and responsibilities, escalation procedures, and penalties for non-compliance of both parties. By negotiating SLAs, the organization can ensure that its expectations and requirements are clearly communicated and agreed upon by the provider, and that there are mechanisms to measure and monitor the service delivery and outcomes. Negotiating SLAs also helps to prevent or resolve any disputes or issues that may arise from the service provision, and to ensure that the organization receives the value and benefits that it expects from the provider. One of the sources that supports this answer is Service-level Agreement: 3 Types And Templates - Contract Lawyers, which states that “A service-level agreement is important because it: Protects both parties: The SLA sets standards for the service, ensuring both the service provider and end user are on the same page with expectations.”