An organization's enterprise architecture (EA) department decides to change a legacy system's components while maintaining its original functionality. Which of the following is MOST important for an IS auditor to understand when reviewing this decision?
When an organization's enterprise architecture department decides to change components of a legacy system while maintaining its original functionality, the most important aspect for an IS auditor to understand is how data flows between the components of the redesigned system. This understanding is crucial for ensuring that the system will continue to operate correctly and that information is accurately and efficiently transferred between different parts of the system. This ensures data integrity, security, and proper functionality are maintained despite the changes to the system components.
The MOST important aspect for an IS auditor to understand is the data flows between the components in the redesigned system. So, the answer is D
A. The current business capabilities delivered by the legacy system: This is the MOST important consideration for an IS auditor because it relates directly to the organization's overall business objectives. The auditor should evaluate whether the proposed changes align with the organization's current business capabilities, processes, and workflows. They should also consider whether the changes will affect the system's ability to deliver the intended business value.
that's indeed important, but the question states "... while maintaining its original functionality ..." meaning business capabilities won't change, so the right answer is D
The question already states that the functionality of the overall system will not change. Input / output remain the same. However, individual system components are replaced. So the biggest risk is the data flow between the replaced components. The auditor must therefore pay particular attention to this area. So D. is the right answer.
D. Data flows between the components
D. The data flows between the components to be used by the redesigned system
Answer: A Understanding the data flows between the components to be used by the redesigned system is indeed important, especially for ensuring data integrity, security, and proper functionality. However, when considering the decision to change components while maintaining functionality, the focus may initially be on assessing the business capabilities provided by the legacy system. This assessment helps determine whether the proposed changes align with the organization's current and future business needs. While understanding data flows is critical, it might not provide as comprehensive an understanding of the system's overall impact on business operations as understanding its business capabilities.
D. The data flows between the components to be used by the redesigned system
I agree with you. The focus should be on the redesigned system not the legacy system