The best recommendation to improve IT governance within the organization is C. Require executive management to draft IT strategy. IT governance is the process of establishing and maintaining the policies, roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities for managing technology risks within anorganization1. One of the key objectives of IT governance is to ensure alignment and integration between technology and business strategies, leading to optimal outcomes and value creation1. Therefore, it is essential that executive management, who are responsible for setting the vision, mission, and goals of the organization, are also involved in drafting the IT strategy that supports and enables them. By requiring executive management to draft IT strategy, the organization can:
Ensure that the IT strategy is consistent and coherent with the business strategy, and reflects the organization' s priorities, values, and culture2.
Enhance communication and collaboration between IT and business functions, and foster a shared understanding and commitment to the IT strategy2.
Increase accountability and transparency for IT performance and outcomes, and ensure that IT investments are aligned with the organization's risk appetite and value proposition2.

A quality assurance (QA) team is a group of professionals who are responsible for ensuring that the products or services of an organization meet the quality standards and expectations of customers and stakeholders1. A QA team performs various activities, such as:
Planning, designing, and executing quality tests and audits to verify the quality of the products or services1 Identifying, analyzing, and reporting quality issues, defects, or non-conformities1 Recommending and implementing corrective and preventive actions to resolve quality problems and prevent recurrence1 Monitoring and measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the quality processes and improvements1 Establishing and maintaining quality documentation, records, and reports1 Providing quality training, guidance, and support to the staff and management1 One of the primary responsibilities of a QA team is to implement procedures to facilitate adoption of quality management best practices. Quality management best practices are the methods, techniques, or tools that have been proven to be effective in achieving and maintaining high-quality standards in an organization2. Some examples of quality management best practices are:
Adopting a customer-focused approach that aims to meet or exceed customer requirements and satisfaction2 Implementing a process approach that manages the interrelated activities as a coherent system2 Applying continuous improvement methods that seek to enhance the performance and value of the products or services2 Using evidence-based decision making that relies on factual data and information2 Developing a culture of engagement and empowerment that involves and motivates the people in the organization2 By implementing procedures to facilitate adoption of quality management best practices, a QA team can help the organization achieve the following benefits:
Improve the quality and reliability of the products or services2
Reduce the costs and risks associated with poor quality or non-compliance2 Increase the customer loyalty and retention2 Enhance the reputation and competitiveness of the organization2 Foster a culture of excellence and innovation in the organization2 The other options are not primary responsibilities of a QA team. Creating test data to facilitate the user acceptance testing (UAT) process is a task that can be performed by a QA team, but it is not their main duty. UAT is a process in which the end users test the product or service to ensure that it meets their needs and expectations before it is released or deployed3. A QA team can create test data to simulate real-world scenarios and conditions for UAT, but they are not directly involved in conducting UAT. Managing employee onboarding processes and background checks is not a responsibility of a QA team. Employee onboarding is a process in which new hires are integrated into the organization, while background checks are screenings that verify the identity, credentials, and history of potential employees4. These processes are usually handled by the human resources department or an external agency, not by a QA team. Advising the steering committee on quality management issues and remediation efforts is not a primary responsibility of a QA team. A steering committee is a group of senior executives or managers who provide strategic direction, oversight, and support for a project or program5. A QA team can advise the steering committee on quality management issues and remediation efforts, but they are not accountable for making decisions or implementing actions. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
References:
Quality Assurance Team: Roles & Responsibilities
What are the Best Practices in Quality Management?
User Acceptance Testing (UAT): A Complete Guide
Employee Onboarding Process: Definition & Best Practices
What Is A Steering Committee? - The Basics

An organization relies on an external vendor that uses a cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) model to back up its data. SaaS is a model in which the software is centrally hosted and accessed by the user via a web browser using the internet1. The vendor owns and maintains the software and the data, and the organization pays for the use of the service on a subscription or usage basis1. The greatest risk to the organization related to data backup and retrieval is that the vendor may be unable to restore critical data.
Data backup and retrieval are essential processes for ensuring the availability, integrity, and security of data in case of loss, corruption, or damage2. Data backup is the process of creating and storing copies of data in a separate location from the original data2. Data retrieval is the process of accessing and restoring the backed- up data when needed2. Critical data are data that are vital for the operation, continuity, and recovery of the organization3.
If the vendor is unable to restore critical data, the organization may face severe consequences, such as:
Business disruption: The organization may not be able to perform its core functions, deliver its products or services, or meet its customer or stakeholder expectations3.
Revenue loss: The organization may lose income, market share, or competitive advantage due to reduced sales, customer dissatisfaction, or reputation damage3.
Legal liability: The organization may face lawsuits, fines, or penalties for breaching contractual, regulatory, or statutory obligations related to data protection, privacy, or security3.
Recovery cost: The organization may incur additional expenses for repairing or replacing the lost or corrupted data, restoring the system functionality, or compensating the affected parties3.
The other options are not as great as the vendor's inability to restore critical data. The organization may be locked into an unfavorable contract with the vendor, which may limit its flexibility, control, or choice over the service quality, cost, or duration4. However, this risk can be mitigated by negotiating better terms and conditions, reviewing the contract periodically, or switching to another vendor if possible4. The vendor may be unable to restore data by recovery time objective (RTO) requirements, which are the maximum acceptable time frames for restoring data after a disruption5. However, this risk can be reduced by setting realistic and achievable RTOs, monitoring the vendor's performance, or implementing alternative recovery strategies if needed5. The organization may not be allowed to inspect the vendor's data center, which may limit its visibility, transparency, or assurance over the service provider's infrastructure, security, or compliance.
However, this risk can be overcome by requesting third-party audits, certifications, or reports from the vendor that demonstrate their adherence to industry standards and best practices. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
References:
What is SaaS? Software as a Service | Microsoft Azure
What is Data Backup? - Definition from Techopedia
Critical Data Definition
The Risks of Cloud Computing | Cloud Academy
Recovery Time Objective (RTO) Definition
[Cloud Computing Security Risks: What You Need To Know | CloudHealth by VMware]

The primary reason an IS auditor would recommend replacing universal PIN codes with an RFID access card system at a data center is to improve traceability (A). Traceability is the ability to track and monitor the activities and movements of individuals or objects within a system or environment. Traceability is important for ensuring security, accountability, and compliance in a data center, where sensitive and critical data are stored and processed.
An RFID access card system can improve traceability by using RFID technology to verify and record the identity and access of each user who enters or exits the data center. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification, and it enables wireless communication between a reader and an RFID tag. An RFID tag is installed in a door key card or fob, which users use to gain access to the data center. An RFID reader is installed near the door, and it contains an antenna that receives data transmitted by the RFID tag. A control panel is a computer server that reads and interprets the data passed along by the RFID reader. A database is a storage system that stores the data collected by the control panel1.
An RFID access card system can provide several benefits for traceability, such as123:
It can uniquely identify each user and their access level, and prevent unauthorized access or impersonation.
It can record the date, time, and duration of each user's access, and generate logs and reports for auditing purposes.
It can monitor the location and status of each user within the data center, and alert security personnel in case of any anomalies or emergencies.
It can integrate with other security systems, such as cameras, alarms, or biometrics, to enhance verification and protection.
A universal PIN code system, on the other hand, can compromise traceability by using a single or shared personal identification number (PIN) to grant access to multiple users. A universal PIN code system can pose several risks for traceability, such as4:
It can be easily guessed, stolen, shared, or compromised by malicious actors or insiders.
It can not distinguish between different users or their access levels, and allow unauthorized or excessive access.
It can not record or track the activities or movements of each user within the data center, and create gaps or errors in the audit trail.
It can not integrate with other security systems, and provide limited verification and protection.
Therefore, an IS auditor would recommend replacing universal PIN codes with an RFID access card system at a data center to improve traceability.
References:
RFID Access Control Guide: 4 Best RFID Access Control Systems - ButterflyMX Choosing Card Technology in 2023 | ICT RFID Vs Magnetic Key Cards: What's The Difference? - Go Safer Security RFID vs Barcode - Advantages, Disadvantages & Differences

A business continuity plan (BCP) is a system of prevention and recovery from potential threats to a company. The plan ensures that personnel and assets are protected and are able to function quickly in the event of a disaster1. A core part of a BCP is the documentation of workaround processes to keep a business function operational during recovery of IT systems. Workaround processes are alternative methods or procedures that can be used to perform a business function when the normal IT systems are unavailable or disrupted2. For example, if an online payment system is down, a workaround process could be to accept manual payments or use a backup system. Workaround processes help to minimize the impact of IT disruptions on the business operations and ensure continuity of service to customers and stakeholders3.
References:
* 1 explains what is a business continuity plan and why it is important.
* 2 defines what is a workaround process and how it can be used in a BCP.
* 3 provides examples of workaround processes for different business functions.