The Best Recommendation for a Recurring Software Control Process Issue

D.

The BEST recommendation for an IS auditor who discovers a recurring software control process issue that severely impacts the efficiency of a critical business process would be to determine the root cause of the issue.

Explanation:

A. Replace the malfunctioning system - Replacing the malfunctioning system may be an option if it is determined that the system is beyond repair or is too outdated. However, it may not address the root cause of the issue and may not be the most cost-effective solution.

B. Determine the compensating controls - Determining compensating controls is important when a control weakness is identified, but it may not address the root cause of the issue. Additionally, compensating controls are usually considered a temporary solution, and it may be necessary to implement a permanent solution to fully address the issue.

C. Identify other impacted processes - While it is important to identify other impacted processes, it does not address the root cause of the issue. It is a good practice to understand the extent of the problem, but it is not the best recommendation in this case.

D. Determine the root cause of the issue - This is the BEST recommendation because it helps to identify the underlying issue and allows the auditor to determine the most effective solution to address the problem. By identifying the root cause of the issue, the auditor can recommend changes to the software control process that will prevent the problem from recurring in the future.

In summary, the BEST recommendation for an IS auditor who discovers a recurring software control process issue that severely impacts the efficiency of a critical business process is to determine the root cause of the issue. This will help to identify the underlying problem and allow the auditor to recommend changes that will address the issue and prevent it from recurring.