ISO 27001 Lead Auditor Exam Practice Questions and Answers
When it comes to cybersecurity and risk, compliance isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a lifeline. In an era where data breaches make headlines faster than you can say “phishing,” the demand for skilled ISO 27001 Lead Auditors is at an all-time high.
According to a 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Report, there’s a 3.5 million professional shortage in cybersecurity roles, many of which demand deep knowledge of security frameworks like ISO 27001. Translation? If you’re eyeing that Lead Auditor certification, you’re stepping into a high-impact, high-opportunity zone.
But the exam isn’t a walk in the park, it tests not just your memory, but your decision-making in real-world audit scenarios. That’s why we’ve handpicked the top 25 exam practice questions, mixing in core principles, real-life audit cases, and tricky distractors to simulate the real deal.
So grab a coffee (or matcha if you’re fancy ), and let’s dive into the questions that could make or break your ISO 27001 Lead Auditor exam journey.
Top 25 ISO 27001 Lead Auditor Exam Practice Questions and Answers
1. Which document defines the boundaries and applicability of an organization’s ISMS?
A. Information security policy
B. Statement of Applicability (SOA)
C. Risk assessment report
D. Scope document
Answer: D. Scope document
Explanation: The Scope Document outlines what parts of the organization the ISMS covers, including departments, locations, and assets.
Study Tip:
- Scope = What’s in and what’s out
- SOA = Shows which of the 93 controls are used and explains why others are not.
- Risk Report = What to protect
Scope → SOA → Risk Treatment → Controls
2. What must be documented for each identified information security risk during treatment planning?
A. Market trends
B. Mitigation costs
C. Selected treatment option
D. Firewall configuration
Answer: C. Selected treatment option
Explanation: ISO 27001 requires deciding how each risk will be handled: accept, reduce, avoid, or transfer. This must be documented in the risk treatment plan.
Study Tip: Four treatment choices:
- Accept – Low risk
- Avoid – Stop the activity
- Reduce – Use controls
- Transfer – Insurance, outsourcing
AART = Accept, Avoid, Reduce, Transfer
3. You find that the backup policy exists but is not reviewed annually. What type of issue is this?
A. Minor non-conformity
B. Major non-conformity
C. Observation
D. Opportunity for improvement
Answer: A. Minor non-conformity
Explanation: If a requirement is not fully met (e.g., annual review not done) but doesn’t severely impact ISMS effectiveness, it’s classified as a minor non-conformity.
Study Tip:
- Minor = Non-severe, isolated issue
- Major = Systematic failure or repeated issue
4. Who is responsible for ensuring continual improvement in the ISMS?
A. The external auditor
B. The HR department
C. Top management
D. IT support team
Answer: C. Top management
Explanation: ISO 27001 places a clear responsibility on top management to promote continual improvement and allocate necessary resources.
Study Tip:
- Management = Leadership + Resources + Direction
- Look for keywords: “support,” “commitment,” “accountability”.
Tone at the top drives the audit at the bottom.”
5. Which of the following best defines the role of the Statement of Applicability (SoA)?
A. Defines the ISMS scope
B. Lists assets to be protected
C. Declares selected controls and justification
D. Describes training programs
Answer: C. Declares selected controls and justification
Explanation: The SoA lists all 93 Annex A controls, indicating which are applicable and which are not.
Study Tip:
- Scope = What’s covered
- SoA = Shows which of the 93 controls are used and explains why others are not.
SoA is like your “control dashboard”—approved, justified, and tracked.
6. Which of the following entities is responsible for evaluating and certifying an organization’s management system compliance?
A. Accreditation Body
B. International Standard
C. Certification Body
D. Regulatory Authority
Answer: C. Certification Body
Explanation: A certification body performs conformity assessments to determine if an organization’s management system meets the requirements of ISO standards.
Study Tip:
- Accreditation Body: Approves certifiers
- Certification Body: Audits your organization
Certifier = Checker, Accreditor = Checker of Checkers
7. Which factor can directly affect the availability of information within an organization?
A. Incorrect data interpretation
B. Performance degradation
C. Deliberate information modification
D. Unauthorized access
Answer: B. Performance degradation
Explanation: Availability refers to timely access to data. System slowdowns or failures degrade performance, impacting data availability.
Study Tip: CIA Triad (Confidentiality – Integrity – Availability):
- Availability = Can I access it when needed?
- Performance degradation = Delay or no access = Availability issue
8. ISO is directly responsible for performing accreditation and certification services.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B. False
Explanation: ISO develops standards but does not offer certification or accreditation services. These are performed by certification and accreditation bodies.
Study Tip: ISO = Writer of the rules, not enforcer of the rules.
9. A former employee gains unauthorized access to company data. What does this situation represent?
A. A threat capable of damaging organizational assets.
B. A vulnerability in the monitoring system with no associated threat.
C. An incorrectly configured security control not leading to vulnerability.
D. A potential for system failure due to legacy access.
Answer: A. A threat capable of damaging organizational assets.
Explanation: The former employee is a threat—an actor with intent and capability to exploit vulnerabilities, causing harm.
Study Tip
- Threat = Actor or event
- Vulnerability = Weakness
- Risk = Likelihood × Impact
10. What does the principle of integrity ensure in the context of information security?
A. Information is accurate and protected from unauthorized modification.
B. Information is accessible when required.
C. Information is only available to select individuals.
D. Information is stored permanently.
Answer: A. Information is accurate and protected from unauthorized modification.
Explanation: Integrity ensures that data remains unaltered during storage, transmission, or processing unless authorized.
Study Tip: Integrity = Accuracy + Trustworthiness
Think: “No unauthorized edits allowed.”
11. What is the impact of emerging technologies like big data on the audit process?
A. They create new audit challenges, such as handling complex and unstructured data.
B. They completely eliminate traditional audit roles.
C. They slow down audits due to complexity.
D. They increase manual efforts in data analysis.
Answer: A. They create new audit challenges, such as handling complex and unstructured data
Explanation: Big data introduces volume, variety, and velocity challenges, requiring new methods of audit planning and analysis.
Study Tip: Big Data = “3 V’s” → Volume, Variety, Velocity
Audits now need smart tools and techniques, not just checklists.
12. After drafting audit conclusions, another auditor reviews the team leader’s documents. Is this permitted?
A. Yes, audit documents may be reviewed by another auditor post-conclusion.
B. No, the audit leader must conduct all reviews independently.
C. Yes, but only after certification is issued.
D. No, reviews must occur before any audit conclusions.
Answer: A. Yes, audit documents may be reviewed by another auditor post-conclusion.
Explanation: Peer reviews post-conclusion help ensure quality and objectivity in certification decisions.
Study Tip: Think “4-eyes principle” – Peer review = Double-check for credibility.
13. What is the best definition of an organization’s context in ISO 27001?
A. A combination of internal and external factors affecting security objectives.
B. Coordination of internal departments and external vendors.
C. Overview of external regulatory requirements.
D. Mapping of business strategy and financial goals.
Answer: A. A combination of internal and external factors affecting security objectives.
Explanation: Understanding the organization’s context helps tailor the ISMS to real-world risks, opportunities, and stakeholders.
Study Tip: Internal = People, processes, culture
External = Regulations, partners, threats
Together = Context
14. A technical expert is added to the audit team to address knowledge gaps. How should communication be managed?
A. The expert reports to the certification body separately.
B. The expert may directly communicate with the auditee.
C. The expert can independently decide on audit actions.
D. The expert must share audit findings only through audit team members.
Answer: D. The expert must share audit findings only through audit team members.
Explanation: Technical experts support the audit team but don’t act independently. They work under the direction of the team leader.
Study Tip: Expert = Advisor
Auditor = Decision-maker
Roles must remain clear to avoid confusion.
15. What is the standard ISO definition of an ISMS?
A. An IT-focused policy framework to secure hardware.
B. A short-term project to assess cybersecurity maturity.
C. A digital transformation roadmap for cloud environments.
D. A systematic approach for implementing, operating, monitoring, and improving information security.
Answer: D. A systematic approach for implementing, operating, monitoring, and improving information security.
Explanation: An ISMS provides a framework to manage information security risks in alignment with business goals.
Study Tip:
Remember: P-I-O-M-R-M-I
Plan, Implement, Operate, Monitor, Review, Maintain, Improve
16. An external auditor discusses previous audit findings with a friend who is an internal auditor at the auditee’s organization before accepting a new audit engagement. Is this behavior appropriate?
A. Yes, as long as the friend provides accurate details.
B. Yes, auditors can review past reports before accepting assignments.
C. No, auditors must maintain impartiality when evaluating engagement offers.
D. No, this is permitted only after the engagement has begun.
Answer: C. No, auditors must maintain impartiality when evaluating engagement offers.
Explanation: Discussing audit findings informally prior to engagement compromises independence and objectivity.
Study Tip: Independence starts before the audit.
Personal connections can cloud judgment; always assess a conflict of interest first.
17. Which of the following is a preventive control related to personnel management in information security?
A. Reviewing access rights regularly
B. Updating policies after organizational restructuring
C. Conducting regular security awareness training for employees
D. Reporting incidents to external regulators
Answer: C. Conducting regular security awareness training for employees
Explanation: Security awareness training is a preventive measure that helps reduce incidents caused by human error or ignorance.
Study Tip:
- Preventive = Training, policies
- Detective = Logs, alerts
- Corrective = Patching, response
18. Which audit stage is primarily focused on reviewing the organization’s documented policies, procedures, and preparedness for a full audit?
A. Stage 1 Audit
B. Stage 2 Audit
C. Surveillance Audit
D. Follow-up Audit
Answer: A. Stage 1 Audit
Explanation: Stage 1 involves reviewing the ISMS documentation to assess whether the organization is ready to proceed with Stage 2, which includes the on-site evaluation.
Study Tip: Stage 1 = Desk review
Use it to match documentation vs. ISO requirements is like a dry run for Stage 2.
19. Which Annex A control specifically addresses cryptographic key protection and lifecycle management?
A. 14.2
B. 10.1
C. 8.24
D. 18.1
Answer: C. A.8.24
Explanation: A.8.24 – Use of cryptography outlines requirements for managing cryptographic keys securely, including key generation, storage, distribution, use, and destruction.
Study Tip: A.8 = Technological Controls
- Flashcard it: 8.24 = Cryptographic Key Lifecycle
- Mnemonic: “8 = Tech. 24 = Lock & Key!
20. During an audit, it was discovered that a department was using outdated antivirus software. Which ISO 27001:2022 control does this situation most directly violate?
A. 5.4 – Access control
B. 8.8 – Management of technical vulnerabilities
C. 5.2 – Information security roles and responsibilities
D. 8.25 – Secure development lifecycle
Answer: B. A.8.8 – Management of technical vulnerabilities
Explanation: A.8.8 – Management of technical vulnerabilities requires organizations to identify and address technical vulnerabilities in systems and software promptly. Using outdated antivirus software increases exposure to known threats, violating this control’s intent to reduce risk through timely updates and patch management.
Study Tip: A.8 = Technological Controls
Create a quick-reference “Control-Violation” list to boost recall.
Example:
- Outdated antivirus? – 8.8 – Management of technical vulnerabilities
- Weak passwords? – 5.15 – Authentication
21. A retail company stores credit card data in unencrypted Excel sheets. Which two controls are breached according to ISO 27001:2022?
A. 12 (Classification of information) and A.8.10 (Information deletion)
B. 1 (Policies for information security) and A.8.23 (Web filtering)
C. 12 (Classification of information) and A.8.24 (Use of cryptography)
D. 4 (Physical security monitoring) and A.5.18 (Access rights)
Answer: C. 5.12 (Classification of information) and 8.24 (Use of cryptography)
Explanation: A.5.12 – Classification of information: This control ensures that sensitive data like credit card details are identified, labeled, and handled appropriately.
A.8.24 – Use of cryptography: This control ensures that appropriate cryptographic techniques are used to protect sensitive information, such as encrypting credit card data at rest and in transit.
Study Tip:
- 5.12 = Know what’s sensitive (classify it)
- 8.24 = Protect it (encrypt it properly)
22. PayBell, a finance firm, uses a browser-accessible accounting platform that supports collaboration and real-time updates. What type of service is this?
A. Machine learning
B. Artificial intelligence
C. Cloud computing
D. Local enterprise solution
Answer: C. Cloud computing
Explanation: The service is accessed online, supports data syncing and collaboration, and is hosted remotely—all signs of cloud computing.
Study Tip: Cloud = On-demand + Internet + Elasticity
If it’s online, shared, and scalable = it’s Cloud
23. An Auditor chooses samples for review based on probability and randomness to support audit objectives. What type of sampling is this?
A. Judgmental sampling
B. Systematic sampling
C. Stratified sampling
D. Statistical sampling
Answer: D. Statistical sampling
Explanation: Statistical sampling uses mathematical probability to ensure audit samples are unbiased and representative.
Study Tip: Statistical = Objective, data-driven
Judgmental = Based on the Auditor’s experience
24. Which of the following quality criteria must audit evidence meet?
A. It must be refutable
B. It must be opinion-based
C. It must be verifiable
D. It must be anecdotal
Answer: C. It must be verifiable
Explanation: Audit evidence should be objective, traceable, and independently verifiable to support reliable audit findings.
Study Tip: Evidence ≠ Assumptions.
If you can’t trace it or test it, it doesn’t count.
25. Which event can lead to a revision of the audit scope?
A. A change in information security policy
B. Addition of a new business partner
C. A minor change in logo design
D. Seasonal hiring activity
Answer: A. A change in information security policy
Explanation: Significant changes to ISMS elements—like policies, risk posture, or organizational structure—can trigger a review of the audit scope.
Study Tip: Scope = What you audit
Major policy, process, or risk changes? → Review your boundaries.
Final Pro Tips to Dominate the Exam
Annex A = Your Best Friend:
Roughly 35% of the exam revolves around Annex A controls. Use simple mnemonics for key themes:
- 5 = Organizational Controls – 5 fingers of leadership and policy!
- 6 = People Controls – 6 = Skills, training, and HR checks.
- 7 = Physical Controls – 7 locks = Secure the space!
- 8 = Technological Controls – 8 = Tech gate, protect the data!
Master the “Auditor Mindset”: Always think like an Auditor. Ask:
- Where’s the evidence?
- What’s the risk if this fails?
- Which control reduces that risk?
Time Warp: Many candidates fail because they run out of time. Practice with timed mock exams to improve pacing and focus.
Scenario Kung Fu: Treat every question like a real-life story. Ask yourself:
- If X happens, which control is responsible?”
- Link real-world issues (e.g., data leaks, weak passwords, phishing) to specific controls like:
- Weak password? – 5.15 – Access control
- Unpatched software? – 8.8 – Management of technical vulnerabilities
- No access log? – 8.15 – Logging
ISO 27001 Lead Auditor with InfosecTrain
Cracking the ISO 27001 Lead Auditor exam isn’t about memorizing jargon—it’s about thinking like an Auditor. Every question, every clause, every control ties back to a bigger picture: can you protect, detect, and respond systematically and confidently?
Whether it’s understanding the nuance between A.8.2.1 and A.10.1.1, or knowing when a non-conformity needs to be flagged, the real test is not in theory but in applying these principles to real-world scenarios. And that’s where true audit leadership is built.
If these 25 questions challenged your thinking and helped you grasp core ISO 27001 concepts, imagine how much sharper you’ll become with hands-on, expert-led training that walks you through the entire lifecycle of audits—from planning to reporting.
At InfosecTrain, we don’t just teach you to pass—we prepare you to lead. Our ISO 27001 Lead Auditor Training gives you:
- Real-world audit scenarios
- Deep dives into ISO 27001:2022 controls
- Guidance from seasoned, certified trainers
- Mock exams, case studies, and live Q&As
Audit smarter. Certify faster. Lead stronger.
Click below to reserve your seat and start your journey towards becoming a certified ISO 27001 Lead Auditor.
Let’s turn that ‘maybe’ into a ‘certified.’
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TRAINING CALENDAR of Upcoming Batches For ISO 27001 : 2022 LA
| Start Date | End Date | Start - End Time | Batch Type | Training Mode | Batch Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-Dec-2025 | 18-Jan-2026 | 19:00 - 23:00 IST | Weekend | Online | [ Close ] | |
| 10-Jan-2026 | 08-Feb-2026 | 09:00 - 13:00 IST | Weekend | Online | [ Open ] |
