PECB ISO-IEC-27001 Lead Auditor Practice Exams
Last updated on Oct 21,2026- Exam Code: ISO-IEC-27001 Lead Auditor
- Exam Name: PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor exam
- Certification Provider: PECB
- Latest update: Oct 21,2026
The auditor should consider (1)___________when determining the (2)___________
- A . (1) Standard requirements. (2) audit criteria
- B . (1) Audit risks, (2) audit objectives
- C . (1) Penalties related to legal noncompliance, (2) materiality
B
Explanation:
The auditor should consider "audit risks" when determining the "audit objectives." Understanding the risks associated with the audit helps define the objectives clearly, ensuring that the audit focuses on the most significant areas of concern, aligns with the audit scope, and adequately addresses the risks identified.
Reference: ISO 19011:2018, Guidelines for auditing management systems
The auditor should consider (1)___________when determining the (2)___________
- A . (1) Standard requirements. (2) audit criteria
- B . (1) Audit risks, (2) audit objectives
- C . (1) Penalties related to legal noncompliance, (2) materiality
B
Explanation:
The auditor should consider "audit risks" when determining the "audit objectives." Understanding the risks associated with the audit helps define the objectives clearly, ensuring that the audit focuses on the most significant areas of concern, aligns with the audit scope, and adequately addresses the risks identified.
Reference: ISO 19011:2018, Guidelines for auditing management systems
You are conducting an ISMS audit in the despatch department of an international logistics organisation that provides shipping services to large organisations including local hospitals and government offices. Parcels typically contain pharmaceutical products, biological samples, and documents such as passports and driving licences. You note that the company records show a very large number of returned items with causes including misaddressed labels and, in 15% of cases, two or more labels for different addresses for the one package. You are interviewing the Shipping Manager (SM).
You: Are items checked before being dispatched?
SM: Any obviously damaged items are removed by the duty staff before being dispatched, but the small profit margin makes it uneconomic to implement a formal checking process.
You: What action is taken when items are returned?
SM: Most of these contracts are relatively low value, therefore it has been decided that it is easier and more convenient to simply reprint the label and re-send individual parcels than it is to implement an investigation.
You raise a nonconformity against ISO 27001:2022 based on the lack of control of the labelling process.
At the closing meeting, the Shipping Manager issues an apology to you that his comments may have been misunderstood. He says that he did not realise that there is a background IT process that automatically checks that the right label goes onto the right parcel otherwise the parcel is ejected at labelling. He asks that you withdraw your nonconformity.
Select three options of the correct responses that you as the audit team leader would make to the request of the Shipping Manager.
- A . Advise the Shipping Manager that his request will be included in the audit report
- B . Advise management that the new information provided will be discussed when the auditors have more time
- C . Inform the Shipping Manager that the nonconformity is minor and should be quickly corrected
- D . Ask the audit team members to state what they think should happen
- E . Inform him of your understanding and withdraw the nonconformity
- F . Thank the Shipping Manager for his honesty but advise that withdrawing the nonconformity is not the right way to proceed
- G . Advise the Shipping Manager that the nonconformity must stand since the evidence obtained for it was dear
- H . Indicate that the nonconformity is evidence of a deeper system failure that needs to be rectified
ABF
Explanation:
AppFolk, a software development company, is seeking certification against ISO/IEC 27001. In the initial phases of the external audit, the certification body in discussion with the company excluded the marketing division from the audit scope, although they stated in their ISMS scope that the whole company is included.
Is this acceptable?
- A . Yes, audit and ISMS scope do not necessarily need to be the same
- B . No, divisions that are not critical for the industrial sector in which the auditee operates can be excluded from the audit scope
- C . No, audit scope should reflect all of the organization’s divisions covered by the ISMS
C
Explanation:
No, the audit scope should reflect all of the organization’s divisions that are covered by the ISMS. If the ISMS scope stated that it includes the whole company, the audit scope should align with this unless specifically justified and agreed upon by all stakeholders.
Reference: ISO/IEC 27001:2013, Clause 4.3 (Determining the scope of the information security management system)
AppFolk, a software development company, is seeking certification against ISO/IEC 27001. In the initial phases of the external audit, the certification body in discussion with the company excluded the marketing division from the audit scope, although they stated in their ISMS scope that the whole company is included.
Is this acceptable?
- A . Yes, audit and ISMS scope do not necessarily need to be the same
- B . No, divisions that are not critical for the industrial sector in which the auditee operates can be excluded from the audit scope
- C . No, audit scope should reflect all of the organization’s divisions covered by the ISMS
C
Explanation:
No, the audit scope should reflect all of the organization’s divisions that are covered by the ISMS. If the ISMS scope stated that it includes the whole company, the audit scope should align with this unless specifically justified and agreed upon by all stakeholders.
Reference: ISO/IEC 27001:2013, Clause 4.3 (Determining the scope of the information security management system)
Which four of the following statements about audit reports are true?
- A . Audit reports should be produced by the audit team leader with input from the audit team
- B . Audit reports should include or refer to the audit plan
- C . Audit reports should be sent to the organisation’s top management first because their contents could be embarrassing
- D . Audit reports should be assumed suitable for general circulation unless they are specifically marked confidential
- E . Audit reports should only evidence nonconformity
- F . Audit reports should be produced within an agreed timescale
- G . Audit reports that are no longer required can be destroyed as part of the organisation’s general waste
- H . Audit reports should always be reviewed by the client, dated, and signed as ‘accepted’
ABFH
Explanation:
According to the PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, the audit reports should be produced by the audit team leader with input from the audit team, as they are responsible for collecting and analysing the audit evidence1. The audit reports should also include or refer to the audit plan, as it provides the basis for the audit objectives, scope, criteria, and methodology2. Furthermore, the audit reports should be produced within an agreed timescale, as it is part of the audit programme management and ensures timely communication of the audit results3. Additionally, the audit reports should always be reviewed by the client, dated, and signed as ‘accepted’, as it confirms the audit completion and the formal agreement on the audit findings and conclusions4.
The other statements are false because:
Audit reports should not be sent to the organisation’s top management first because their contents could be embarrassing, as this would compromise the audit impartiality and confidentiality5. Audit reports should be distributed according to the audit programme procedures and the audit plan.
Audit reports should not be assumed suitable for general circulation unless they are specifically marked confidential, as this would violate the audit confidentiality and the protection of personal information. Audit reports should be treated as confidential documents and only shared with the authorised parties.
Audit reports should not only evidence nonconformity, as this would limit the audit scope and value.
Audit reports should also evidence conformity, improvement opportunities, good practices, and audit observations.
Audit reports that are no longer required should not be destroyed as part of the organisation’s general waste, as this would pose a risk to the audit confidentiality and the information security. Audit reports should be retained, disposed, or destroyed according to the audit programme procedures and the applicable legal requirements.
Reference: 1: PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 32, section 4.4.32:
PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 33, section 4.4.43: PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 31, section 4.4.14: PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 34, section 4.4.55: PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 24, section 4.3.1. : PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 33, section 4.4.4. : PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 24, section 4.3.1. : PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 33, section 4.4.4. : PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 32, section 4.4.3. : PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 33, section 4.4.4. : PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 24, section 4.3.1. : PECB Candidate Handbook for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, page 34, section 4.4.5.
You are performing an ISMS audit at a nursing home where residents always wear an electronic wristband for monitoring their location, heartbeat, and blood pressure. The wristband automatically uploads this data to a cloud server for healthcare monitoring and analysis by staff.
You now wish to verify that the information security policy and objectives have been established by top management. You are sampling the mobile device policy and identify a security objective of this policy is "to ensure the security of teleworking and use of mobile devices" The policy states the following controls will be applied in order to achieve this.
Personal mobile devices are prohibited from connecting to the nursing home network, processing, and storing residents’ data.
The company’s mobile devices within the ISMS scope shall be registered in the asset register. The company’s mobile devices shall implement or enable physical protection, i.e., pin-code protected screen lock/unlock, facial or fingerprint to unlock the device.
The company’s mobile devices shall have a regular backup.
To verify that the mobile device policy and objectives are implemented and effective, select three options for your audit trail.
- A . Interview the reception personnel to make sure all visitor and employee bags are checked before entering the nursing home
- B . Review visitors’ register book to make sure no visitor can have their personal mobile phone in the nursing home
- C . Review the internal audit report to make sure the IT department has been audited
- D . Review the asset register to make sure all personal mobile devices are registered
- E . Sampling some mobile devices from on-duty medical staff and validate the mobile device information with the asset register
- F . Review the asset register to make sure all company’s mobile devices are registered
- G . Interview the supplier of the devices to make sure they are aware of the ISMS policy
- H . Interview top management to verify their involvement in establishing the information security policy and the information security objectives
CEF
Explanation:
According to ISO/IEC 27001:2022, which specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS), clause 5.2 requires top management to establish an information security policy that provides the framework for setting information security objectives1. Clause 6.2 requires top management to ensure that the information security objectives are established at relevant functions and levels1. Therefore, when verifying that the information security policy and objectives have been established by top management, an ISMS auditor should review relevant documents and records that demonstrate top management’s involvement and commitment.
To verify that the mobile device policy and objectives are implemented and effective, an ISMS auditor should review relevant documents and records that demonstrate how the policy and objectives are communicated, monitored, measured, analyzed, and evaluated. The auditor should also sample and verify the implementation of the controls that are stated in the policy.
Three options for the audit trail that are relevant to verifying the mobile device policy and objectives are:
Review the internal audit report to make sure the IT department has been audited: This option is relevant because it can provide evidence of how the IT department, which is responsible for managing the mobile devices and their security, has been evaluated for its conformity and effectiveness in implementing the mobile device policy and objectives. The internal audit report can also reveal any nonconformities, corrective actions, or opportunities for improvement related to the mobile device policy and objectives.
Sampling some mobile devices from on-duty medical staff and validate the mobile device information with the asset register: This option is relevant because it can provide evidence of how the mobile devices that are used by the medical staff, who are involved in processing and storing residents’ data, are registered in the asset register and have physical protection enabled. This can verify the implementation and effectiveness of two of the controls that are stated in the mobile device policy.
Review the asset register to make sure all company’s mobile devices are registered: This option is relevant because it can provide evidence of how the company’s mobile devices that are within the ISMS scope are identified and accounted for. This can verify the implementation and effectiveness of one of the controls that are stated in the mobile device policy.
The other options for the audit trail are not relevant to verifying the mobile device policy and objectives, as they are not related to the policy or objectives or their implementation or effectiveness.
For example:
Interview the reception personnel to make sure all visitor and employee bags are checked before entering the nursing home: This option is not relevant because it does not provide evidence of how the mobile device policy and objectives are implemented or effective. It may be related to another policy or objective regarding physical security or access control, but not specifically to mobile devices.
Review visitors’ register book to make sure no visitor can have their personal mobile phone in the nursing home: This option is not relevant because it does not provide evidence of how the mobile device policy and objectives are implemented or effective. It may be related to another policy or objective regarding information security awareness or compliance, but not specifically to mobile devices.
Interview the supplier of the devices to make sure they are aware of the ISMS policy: This option is not relevant because it does not provide evidence of how the mobile device policy and objectives are implemented or effective. It may be related to another policy or objective regarding information security within supplier relationships, but not specifically to mobile devices.
Interview top management to verify their involvement in establishing the information security policy and the information security objectives: This option is not relevant because it does not provide evidence of how the mobile device policy and objectives are implemented or effective. It may be related to verifying that the information security policy and objectives have been established by top management, but not specifically to mobile devices.
Reference: ISO/IEC 27001:2022 – Information technology C Security techniques C Information security management systems C Requirements
During a third-party certification audit, you are presented with a list of issues by an auditee.
Which four of the following constitute ‘internal’ issues in the context of a management system to ISO 27001:2022?
- A . Higher labour costs as a result of an aging population
- B . A rise in interest rates in response to high inflation
- C . Poor levels of staff competence as a result of cuts in training expenditure
- D . Poor morale as a result of staff holidays being reduced
- E . Increased absenteeism as a result of poor management
- F . A reduction in grants as a result of a change in government policy
- G . A fall in productivity linked to outdated production equipment
- H . Inability to source raw materials due to government sanctions
C, D, E, G
Explanation:
According to ISO 27001:2022 clause 4.1, the organisation shall determine external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcome(s) of its information security management system (ISMS)12
External issues are factors outside the organisation that it cannot control, but can influence or adapt to. They include political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors that may affect the organisation’s information security objectives, risks, and opportunities12
Internal issues are factors within the organisation that it can control or change. They include the organisation’s structure, culture, values, policies, objectives, strategies, capabilities, resources, processes, activities, relationships, and performance that may affect the organisation’s information security management system12
Therefore, the following issues are considered ‘internal’ in the context of a management system to ISO 27001:2022:
Poor levels of staff competence as a result of cuts in training expenditure: This is an internal issue because it relates to the organisation’s capability, resource, and process of developing and maintaining the competence of its personnel involved in the ISMS. The organisation can control or change its training expenditure and its impact on staff competence12
Poor morale as a result of staff holidays being reduced: This is an internal issue because it relates to the organisation’s culture, value, and relationship with its employees. The organisation can control or change its staff holiday policy and its impact on staff morale12
Increased absenteeism as a result of poor management: This is an internal issue because it relates to the organisation’s performance, structure, and accountability of its management. The organisation can control or change its management practices and its impact on staff absenteeism12
A fall in productivity linked to outdated production equipment: This is an internal issue because it relates to the organisation’s capability, resource, and process of ensuring the availability and suitability of its production equipment. The organisation can control or change its equipment maintenance and upgrade and its impact on productivity12
The following issues are considered ‘external’ in the context of a management system to ISO 27001:2022:
Higher labour costs as a result of an aging population: This is an external issue because it relates to the social and demographic factor that affects the availability and cost of labour in the market. The organisation cannot control or change the aging population, but can influence or adapt to its impact on labour costs12
A rise in interest rates in response to high inflation: This is an external issue because it relates to the economic and monetary factor that affects the cost and availability of capital in the market. The organisation cannot control or change the interest rates or inflation, but can influence or adapt to its impact on capital costs12
A reduction in grants as a result of a change in government policy: This is an external issue because it relates to the political and legal factor that affects the availability and conditions of public funding for the organisation. The organisation cannot control or change the government policy, but can influence or adapt to its impact on grants12
Inability to source raw materials due to government sanctions: This is an external issue because it relates to the political and legal factor that affects the availability and cost of raw materials in the market. The organisation cannot control or change the government sanctions, but can influence or adapt to its impact on raw materials12
Reference: 1: ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Lead Auditor (Information Security Management Systems) Course by CQI and IRCA Certified Training 1 2: ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor Training Course by PECB 2
After analyzing the audit conclusions, Company X decided to accept the risk related to one of the detected nonconformities. They claimed that no corrective action was necessary; however, their decision was not documented.
Is this acceptable?
- A . Yes, the auditee’s management can decide to accept the risk instead of implementing corrective actions and documenting such decision is not necessary
- B . No, the decision of the auditee to accept the risk instead of implementing corrective actions should be justified and documented
- C . No, the auditee must implement corrective actions for all the observations documented during the audit
B
Explanation:
According to ISO/IEC 27001 standards, if the auditee decides to accept the risk instead of implementing corrective actions for a nonconformity, this decision should be justified and documented. Documenting such decisions is essential for maintaining the integrity of the ISMS and for demonstrating that the decision was made based on informed judgment.
Reference: ISO/IEC 27001:2013, Clause 6.1 (Actions to address risks and opportunities)
After analyzing the audit conclusions, Company X decided to accept the risk related to one of the detected nonconformities. They claimed that no corrective action was necessary; however, their decision was not documented.
Is this acceptable?
- A . Yes, the auditee’s management can decide to accept the risk instead of implementing corrective actions and documenting such decision is not necessary
- B . No, the decision of the auditee to accept the risk instead of implementing corrective actions should be justified and documented
- C . No, the auditee must implement corrective actions for all the observations documented during the audit
B
Explanation:
According to ISO/IEC 27001 standards, if the auditee decides to accept the risk instead of implementing corrective actions for a nonconformity, this decision should be justified and documented. Documenting such decisions is essential for maintaining the integrity of the ISMS and for demonstrating that the decision was made based on informed judgment.
Reference: ISO/IEC 27001:2013, Clause 6.1 (Actions to address risks and opportunities)