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Isaca CISM Exam - Topic 1 Question 115 Discussion

Posted by Bernardine on Jul 02, 2026 at 04:13 AM

During which of the following development phases is it MOST challenging to implement security controls?

Suggested Answer: C

The development phase is the stage of the system development life cycle (SDLC) where the system requirements, design, architecture, and implementation are performed. The development phase is most challenging to implement security controls because it involves complex and dynamic processes that may not be well understood or documented. Security controls are essential for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system and its data, as well as for complying with regulatory and contractual obligations. However, security controls may also introduce additional costs, risks, and constraints to the development process, such as:

Increased complexity and overhead of testing, verification, validation, and maintenance

Reduced flexibility and agility of changing requirements or design

Increased dependency on external vendors or third parties for security services or products

Increased vulnerability to errors, defects, or vulnerabilities in the code or configuration

Increased difficulty in measuring and reporting on security performance or effectiveness

Therefore, implementing security controls in the development phase requires careful planning, coordination, communication, and collaboration among all stakeholders involved in the SDLC. It also requires a clear understanding of the security objectives, scope, criteria, standards, policies, procedures, roles, responsibilities, and resources for the system. Moreover, it requires a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating potential threats or risks that may affect the security of the system.

Reference= CISM Manual1, Chapter 3: Information Security Program Development (ISPD), Section 3.1: System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)2

1: https://store.isaca.org/s/store#/store/browse/cat/a2D4w00000Ac6NNEAZ/tiles2: https://store.isaca.org/s/store#/store/browse/cat/a2D4w00000Ac6NNEAZ/tiles


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21 comments · newest first
RO
Rodolfo 2 days ago
True, but fixing issues later is harder. B is still my pick.
SY
Sylvie 7 days ago
I feel D) Design phase is tricky too. Security needs to be planned early.
EL
Elvis 12 days ago
I agree! Changes can break things.
ME
Melvin 17 days ago
I think it's B) Implementation phase. It's tough to add security then.
RE
Reid 23 days ago
True, but fixing issues in B) is a nightmare!
DE
Derick 28 days ago
I see the point, but D) can miss key security aspects too.
CA
Cammy 1 month ago
Definitely B). Security needs to be built in, not added.
BE
Bernardo 1 month ago
I feel B) is the toughest. Changes are costly later.
NU
Nu 1 month ago
But D) is easier to adjust than B).
MY
Myong 2 months ago
I lean towards D) Design phase. Early planning is crucial.
RO
Rolande 2 months ago
I agree, B) feels right. Hard to add security then.
MI
Ming 2 months ago
I think it's B) Implementation phase. So much going on!
AS
Ashlee 2 months ago
Yeah, but if you miss security in design, it can haunt you later!
LA
Lauran 2 months ago
Post-implementation is usually easier since you can patch things up.
ED
Edmond 2 months ago
Surprised to see people saying implementation, I thought it was the development phase!
LO
Louvenia 3 months ago
I disagree, I think the design phase is the toughest for security.
AR
Aretha 3 months ago
Definitely the implementation phase. That's when everything is coming together.
MA
Macy 3 months ago
I lean towards the implementation phase as well, but I wonder if the post-implementation phase could also present challenges if vulnerabilities are found later.
RO
Roosevelt 3 months ago
I feel like the development phase could also be challenging, but I can't recall the specifics. Maybe it’s about integrating security into the coding process?
SA
Sarah 3 months ago
I'm not so sure, but I remember a practice question that suggested the design phase could be tough too since security needs to be built in early.
ME
Melissia 4 months ago
I think it might be the implementation phase because that's when everything is being put together, and changes can be tricky.
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