CISSP Exam Prep 2026 Comprehensive Information
Security Certification Review Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam
validates your expertise in designing, implementing, and managing a best-in-class
cybersecurity program.
Attribute Details
Provider (ISC)²
Exam format Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT)
Number of questions 100-150 multiple-choice questions
Exam duration 3 hours
Passing score 700 out of 1000 points
Exam fee $749 USD
Validity 3 years
Prerequisites Minimum 5 years of cumulative paid work experience in 2+ of the 8 domains
Current outline April 15, 2024 (no new outline scheduled for 2026)
,DOMAIN 1: SECURITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT (16%) — Questions 1-
16
Question 1
A multinational corporation is implementing an AI-powered customer service
chatbot that processes sensitive customer data. The security team is tasked with
identifying and mitigating risks specific to this AI system. Which of the following
represents the MOST comprehensive approach to AI security governance?
A) Implement traditional security controls and conduct standard vulnerability scans
B) Establish an AI governance framework that addresses model integrity, data
poisoning, prompt injection, and algorithmic bias, integrated with the existing risk
management program
C) Deploy a firewall and intrusion detection system in front of the AI service
D) Rely solely on the AI vendor's security certifications and compliance
attestations
Answer: B
Rationale: The 2026 CISSP exam emphasizes AI security governance as a new
topic. A comprehensive approach requires establishing an AI governance
framework that addresses AI-specific risks including model integrity, data
poisoning, prompt injection attacks, algorithmic bias, and explainability. This
framework should be integrated with the organization's existing risk management
program to ensure consistent governance. Traditional security controls (Option A)
and basic network protections (Option C) do not address AI-specific threats.
Relying solely on vendor certifications (Option D) abdicates organizational
responsibility and does not account for unique deployment contexts or
configuration risks.
Question 2
A risk assessment identifies a critical vulnerability in a legacy payment processing
system. The cost to fully remediate the vulnerability is estimated at $500,000,
while the expected annual loss from a potential exploit is $200,000. The
organization has a risk appetite that tolerates moderate residual risk for non-critical
systems. Which risk response strategy is MOST appropriate?
,A) Accept the risk and monitor for changes
B) Transfer the risk through cyber insurance
C) Mitigate the risk by implementing compensating controls
D) Avoid the risk by decommissioning the system
Answer: A
Rationale: When the cost of remediation ($500,000) exceeds the expected annual
loss ($200,000), risk acceptance is the appropriate strategy, especially when the
organization's risk appetite tolerates moderate residual risk. Acceptance involves
acknowledging the risk, documenting the decision, and monitoring for changes in
the risk profile. Transfer (Option B) through insurance would still require premium
payments and may not cover all losses. Compensating controls (Option C) should
be considered but may not be cost-effective. Avoidance (Option D) would require
decommissioning a business-critical system, which is likely not feasible.
Question 3
A security manager is developing a business continuity plan (BCP) for a global
organization. The plan must address the organization's operations across multiple
regions and comply with various regulatory requirements. Which of the following
should be the FIRST step in the BCP development process?
A) Identify and prioritize critical business functions and their dependencies
B) Select recovery strategies for each critical function
C) Develop the BCP documentation and obtain executive approval
D) Test the BCP through tabletop exercises and simulations
Answer: A
Rationale: The first step in BCP development is conducting a Business Impact
Analysis (BIA) to identify and prioritize critical business functions, determine their
dependencies, and establish recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point
objectives (RPOs). This foundational step informs all subsequent decisions about
recovery strategies, resource allocation, and testing. Selecting recovery strategies
(Option B) comes after understanding the requirements. Documentation and
approval (Option C) and testing (Option D) occur later in the process.
, Question 4
A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is evaluating the organization's
compliance posture against GDPR requirements. The organization processes
personal data of EU citizens and stores it on servers located in the United States.
Which of the following mechanisms is MOST appropriate for legitimizing this
international data transfer?
A) Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
B) A data protection policy that requires all data to be encrypted
C) Consent obtained from each data subject at the time of data collection
D) Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) for intra-group transfers
Answer: A
Rationale: For international data transfers from the EU to the US, Standard
Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission are the most
widely used and practical mechanism for legitimizing the transfer when other
adequacy decisions (like the EU-US Data Privacy Framework) may not apply.
While consent (Option C) can be used, it is often difficult to manage and revoke at
scale. Encryption (Option B) addresses security but not the legal basis for transfer.
BCRs (Option D) are primarily for intra-group transfers within multinational
corporations and require extensive approval processes.
Question 5
A security architect is designing a threat modeling process for a new web
application. The team wants to identify threats early in the development lifecycle
and prioritize remediation efforts. Which threat modeling methodology is BEST
suited for identifying threats based on the system's data flows and trust boundaries?
A) STRIDE
B) DREAD
C) Attack trees
D) OCTAVE
Answer: A
Rationale: STRIDE (Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure,
Denial of Service, Elevation of Privilege) is a threat modeling methodology that
identifies threats based on the system's data flows, trust boundaries, and
Security Certification Review Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam
validates your expertise in designing, implementing, and managing a best-in-class
cybersecurity program.
Attribute Details
Provider (ISC)²
Exam format Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT)
Number of questions 100-150 multiple-choice questions
Exam duration 3 hours
Passing score 700 out of 1000 points
Exam fee $749 USD
Validity 3 years
Prerequisites Minimum 5 years of cumulative paid work experience in 2+ of the 8 domains
Current outline April 15, 2024 (no new outline scheduled for 2026)
,DOMAIN 1: SECURITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT (16%) — Questions 1-
16
Question 1
A multinational corporation is implementing an AI-powered customer service
chatbot that processes sensitive customer data. The security team is tasked with
identifying and mitigating risks specific to this AI system. Which of the following
represents the MOST comprehensive approach to AI security governance?
A) Implement traditional security controls and conduct standard vulnerability scans
B) Establish an AI governance framework that addresses model integrity, data
poisoning, prompt injection, and algorithmic bias, integrated with the existing risk
management program
C) Deploy a firewall and intrusion detection system in front of the AI service
D) Rely solely on the AI vendor's security certifications and compliance
attestations
Answer: B
Rationale: The 2026 CISSP exam emphasizes AI security governance as a new
topic. A comprehensive approach requires establishing an AI governance
framework that addresses AI-specific risks including model integrity, data
poisoning, prompt injection attacks, algorithmic bias, and explainability. This
framework should be integrated with the organization's existing risk management
program to ensure consistent governance. Traditional security controls (Option A)
and basic network protections (Option C) do not address AI-specific threats.
Relying solely on vendor certifications (Option D) abdicates organizational
responsibility and does not account for unique deployment contexts or
configuration risks.
Question 2
A risk assessment identifies a critical vulnerability in a legacy payment processing
system. The cost to fully remediate the vulnerability is estimated at $500,000,
while the expected annual loss from a potential exploit is $200,000. The
organization has a risk appetite that tolerates moderate residual risk for non-critical
systems. Which risk response strategy is MOST appropriate?
,A) Accept the risk and monitor for changes
B) Transfer the risk through cyber insurance
C) Mitigate the risk by implementing compensating controls
D) Avoid the risk by decommissioning the system
Answer: A
Rationale: When the cost of remediation ($500,000) exceeds the expected annual
loss ($200,000), risk acceptance is the appropriate strategy, especially when the
organization's risk appetite tolerates moderate residual risk. Acceptance involves
acknowledging the risk, documenting the decision, and monitoring for changes in
the risk profile. Transfer (Option B) through insurance would still require premium
payments and may not cover all losses. Compensating controls (Option C) should
be considered but may not be cost-effective. Avoidance (Option D) would require
decommissioning a business-critical system, which is likely not feasible.
Question 3
A security manager is developing a business continuity plan (BCP) for a global
organization. The plan must address the organization's operations across multiple
regions and comply with various regulatory requirements. Which of the following
should be the FIRST step in the BCP development process?
A) Identify and prioritize critical business functions and their dependencies
B) Select recovery strategies for each critical function
C) Develop the BCP documentation and obtain executive approval
D) Test the BCP through tabletop exercises and simulations
Answer: A
Rationale: The first step in BCP development is conducting a Business Impact
Analysis (BIA) to identify and prioritize critical business functions, determine their
dependencies, and establish recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point
objectives (RPOs). This foundational step informs all subsequent decisions about
recovery strategies, resource allocation, and testing. Selecting recovery strategies
(Option B) comes after understanding the requirements. Documentation and
approval (Option C) and testing (Option D) occur later in the process.
, Question 4
A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is evaluating the organization's
compliance posture against GDPR requirements. The organization processes
personal data of EU citizens and stores it on servers located in the United States.
Which of the following mechanisms is MOST appropriate for legitimizing this
international data transfer?
A) Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
B) A data protection policy that requires all data to be encrypted
C) Consent obtained from each data subject at the time of data collection
D) Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) for intra-group transfers
Answer: A
Rationale: For international data transfers from the EU to the US, Standard
Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission are the most
widely used and practical mechanism for legitimizing the transfer when other
adequacy decisions (like the EU-US Data Privacy Framework) may not apply.
While consent (Option C) can be used, it is often difficult to manage and revoke at
scale. Encryption (Option B) addresses security but not the legal basis for transfer.
BCRs (Option D) are primarily for intra-group transfers within multinational
corporations and require extensive approval processes.
Question 5
A security architect is designing a threat modeling process for a new web
application. The team wants to identify threats early in the development lifecycle
and prioritize remediation efforts. Which threat modeling methodology is BEST
suited for identifying threats based on the system's data flows and trust boundaries?
A) STRIDE
B) DREAD
C) Attack trees
D) OCTAVE
Answer: A
Rationale: STRIDE (Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure,
Denial of Service, Elevation of Privilege) is a threat modeling methodology that
identifies threats based on the system's data flows, trust boundaries, and
