What would be an IS auditor's GREATEST concern when using a test environment for an application audit?
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A. B. C. D.D.
When an IS auditor uses a test environment for an application audit, their greatest concern would be that the test environment may not accurately represent the production environment. This concern is related to option D, which states that the test and production environments do not mirror each other.
Test environments are typically used to test software and system changes before they are implemented in the production environment. A test environment is designed to simulate the production environment, but there may be differences between the two environments, such as different hardware, software, or network configurations. These differences can cause problems if they are not identified and addressed during testing.
The IS auditor's greatest concern is that the test environment may not accurately represent the production environment, which could lead to errors or vulnerabilities that are not detected during testing. For example, if the test environment has different security settings or access controls than the production environment, the results of the audit may not accurately reflect the security of the production environment.
The other options are also concerns for IS auditors when using a test environment for an application audit, but they are not the greatest concern. Option A, which states that test and production environments lack data encryption, is a concern because it could lead to data breaches, but this issue can be addressed through other controls such as access controls and monitoring.
Option B, which states that developers have access to the test environment, is a concern because it could lead to unauthorized changes to the system. However, this issue can be addressed through access controls and monitoring as well.
Option C, which states that the retention period of test data has been exceeded, is a concern because it could lead to the exposure of sensitive information. However, this issue can also be addressed through proper data retention policies and procedures.
In summary, the IS auditor's greatest concern when using a test environment for an application audit is that the test environment may not accurately represent the production environment, which could lead to errors or vulnerabilities that are not detected during testing.