Question 310
During an outsourced-services renewal at a logistics group, the IS auditor learns that a green monthly score masks a sustained decline in successful backup restores. The affected operation supports freight tracking and fleet operations. Delivery commitments and partner data flow through this process. What is the MOST defensible risk conclusion from the observed condition?
Explanation
Correct Answer
Correct. Misleading or poorly governed measures can conceal material service risk and distort decisions. The described exception is: a green monthly score masks a sustained decline in successful backup restores. This risk ties the observation to the business significance of freight tracking and fleet operations, rather than treating management's claim as independent assurance.
Incorrect Answers
Unidentified obligations or ambiguous accountability may create compliance exposure despite technically functional systems. It protects a different risk than the evidence appropriate to the audit conclusion requirement.
IT exposures may fall outside risk appetite because ownership, escalation and residual risk assessment are ineffective. Recurrence here depends on evidence appropriate to the audit conclusion, not this safeguard.
Weak governance can misalign technology decisions, accountability and risk ownership with enterprise objectives. That protection can exist while evidence appropriate to the audit conclusion is still missing.