Which of the following is the BEST way for an IS auditor to assess the effectiveness of backup procedures?
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A. B. C. D.C.
The effectiveness of backup procedures can be assessed by various methods. However, among the given options, the best approach for an IS auditor to assess the effectiveness of backup procedures is option B: Evaluate the latest data restore.
The purpose of backup procedures is to ensure that critical data is protected from loss or damage, and that it can be restored quickly in the event of a disaster. Therefore, the most effective way to assess the backup procedures' effectiveness is to test if the backed-up data can be restored correctly and in a timely manner.
Evaluating the latest data restore ensures that the backup system is working as intended and that it is capable of recovering critical data. This method also verifies that the backup procedures meet the organization's recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO).
Option A: Reviewing the backup schedule can provide information on whether backups are performed regularly, but it does not verify if the backup system is working correctly or if the restored data is usable.
Option C: Inspecting backup logs can provide insight into the backup process and identify any errors or issues. However, it does not confirm that the backed-up data can be restored successfully.
Option D: Interviewing the data owner can provide some information about the importance of the data and the backup procedures in place. However, it does not provide concrete evidence of the effectiveness of the backup procedures.
In summary, the most effective way to assess the effectiveness of backup procedures is to evaluate the latest data restore. This method verifies that the backup system is working as intended and can recover critical data in a timely manner.