CISSP Practice Question: What would MOST likely happen if a company fails to regularly update…

Correct Answer: A. Increased vulnerability to attacks

Explanation (CISSP Manager Logic):

Failing to patch software leaves known exploits open, directly increasing the organization's attack surface and risk profile. Regular updates are a fundamental due care requirement necessary to protect critical assets and maintain operational resilience.

By maintaining current software, you:

• Reduce the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.
• Maintain compliance with regulatory and industry standards.
• Ensure the integrity and availability of business systems.

While the other options are relevant, they fall short because:

• B: Outdated software often contains bugs and inefficiencies that degrade system performance over time.
• C: The long-term costs of breach remediation and technical debt far outweigh any temporary savings from skipping updates.
• D: Security vulnerabilities and resulting system instability lead to downtime, which decreases user satisfaction.

Think like a manager:

Prioritize proactive risk treatment over reactive crisis management. Patch management is a core component of lifecycle management and a primary defense against preventable threats.