Which of the following should be of GREATEST concern to an IS auditor assessing the effectiveness of an organization's release management processes?
Which of the following should be of GREATEST concern to an IS auditor assessing the effectiveness of an organization's release management processes?
Releases carried out without supporting release documentation should be of greatest concern because documentation serves as the basis for planning, implementing, and reviewing changes. Without it, tracking changes, ensuring compliance with standards and policies, and maintaining a clear audit trail become difficult, if not impossible. This lack of documentation poses significant risks including uncoordinated changes, increased errors, compromised system integrity, and security issues.
The issue is of the greatest concern because supporting release documentation is critical for ensuring that releases are properly planned, implemented, and reviewed. Without proper documentation, it becomes difficult to track changes, troubleshoot issues, ensure compliance with policies and standards, and maintain a clear audit trail. This lack of documentation can lead to uncoordinated changes, increased risk of errors, and difficulties in maintaining system integrity and reliability. A is the right answer
Answer A Option B raises concerns about releases exceeding the agreed-upon outage window, indicating potential issues with scheduling and resource management within the release management process. While this is indeed a significant concern, it primarily relates to adherence to timelines and service availability rather than the fundamental documentation and procedural aspects of the release management process. On the other hand, Option A highlights the absence of supporting release documentation altogether, which speaks directly to the lack of formalized procedures and documentation standards within the release management process. This deficiency not only affects the organization's ability to track changes but also raises questions about the control and oversight of the release process, potentially leading to unauthorized or undocumented changes with implications for system stability and security.
Release management refers to the process of making changes to an IT system safely and successfully and without compromising quality of service. The fact that some releases exceed the agreed upon outage period indicates a problem with release management.
In this context, the GREATEST concern would typically be option B, where releases exceeding the agreed-upon outage window can have immediate and direct negative consequences on the organization's operations and potentially its reputation. However, it's essential to consider the overall context and potential risks specific to the organization when making this assessment, as the impact of these concerns can vary depending on the organization's industry, size, and critical systems.
D is answer
answer is B