Which of the following would be MOST critical for an IS auditor to look for when evaluating fire precautions in a manned data center located in the upper floor of a multi-story building?
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A. B. C. D.D.
The most critical aspect for an IS auditor to evaluate when looking at fire precautions in a manned data center located in the upper floor of a multi-story building would be the existence of tested emergency evacuation plans.
Explanation:
A fire in a data center can be catastrophic as it could result in loss of data, hardware, and software, which can significantly impact business operations. Furthermore, fire in a multi-story building can be dangerous for occupants and property, especially if there is no effective plan to evacuate the premises.
Therefore, the primary objective of fire safety is to protect personnel and property by preventing fires from starting or spreading and ensuring rapid evacuation if a fire does occur.
Handheld fire extinguishers in highly visible locations are necessary for immediate response to small fires and may prevent the fire from spreading. However, handheld fire extinguishers alone are not adequate in preventing and managing fire incidents in large data centers. Moreover, the adequacy of the HVAC system throughout the facility is essential to reduce fire risks, but it is not the most critical aspect of fire safety in a data center.
Regular inspections by the local fire department may help identify any potential fire hazards in the building, but it does not guarantee that a fire will not occur. Moreover, the inspections are typically focused on the overall building and not specifically on the data center.
On the other hand, tested emergency evacuation plans ensure that there are clear procedures for occupants to follow in the event of a fire. The emergency evacuation plans should be regularly reviewed, tested, and updated to ensure their effectiveness.
Therefore, for an IS auditor, the most critical aspect of fire precautions in a manned data center located in the upper floor of a multi-story building is the existence of tested emergency evacuation plans.