100+ Free ISO 27035 LIM Practice Questions

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According to ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023, what is the precise definition of an information security incident?

Any event that disrupts business operations

A single or series of unwanted or unexpected information security events that have a significant probability of compromising business operations and threatening information security

A confirmed cyberattack against an organization

Any vulnerability discovered in a system

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ISO 27035 LIM Exam

70%

Passing Score

PECB

Essay Questions

3 hours

5 phases

ISO 27035-1:2023 Process

ISO

60-90 hrs

Study Time

Recommended

3 years

Certification Valid

PECB

Lead level

5 yrs + 300 hrs

PECB

ISO/IEC 27035 Lead Incident Manager is PECB's senior credential for information security incident management professionals. The exam is 12 essay questions in 3 hours, open-book, requiring a 70% score. It validates expertise in the ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023 five-phase process, CSIRT design, evidence handling per ISO 27037, and regulatory notification. Lead level requires 5 years experience (2 in incident management) and 300 hours of incident work. Certification is valid 3 years and recertification requires CPD credits.

Sample ISO 27035 LIM Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ISO 27035 LIM exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1According to ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023, what is the precise definition of an information security incident?

A.Any event that disrupts business operations

B.A single or series of unwanted or unexpected information security events that have a significant probability of compromising business operations and threatening information security

C.A confirmed cyberattack against an organization

D.Any vulnerability discovered in a system

Explanation: ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023 defines an information security incident as a single or series of unwanted or unexpected information security events that have a significant probability of compromising business operations and threatening information security. This distinguishes incidents from events (occurrences), vulnerabilities (weaknesses), and near-misses. The definition emphasizes both the actual or probable impact and the threat to confidentiality, integrity, or availability.

2How many phases comprise the information security incident management process model in ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023?

A.Three

B.Four

C.Five

D.Six

Explanation: ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023 specifies a five-phase incident management lifecycle: Plan and Prepare; Detect and Report; Assess and Decide; Respond; and Learn. The model emphasizes a continuous cycle where lessons learned feed back into the planning phase. Earlier editions used different phase names but the current 2023 edition standardizes this five-phase structure.

3Which ISO/IEC 27035 part provides guidelines specifically for ICT incident response operations?

A.ISO/IEC 27035-1

B.ISO/IEC 27035-2

C.ISO/IEC 27035-3

D.ISO/IEC 27035-4

Explanation: ISO/IEC 27035-3:2020 provides guidelines for ICT incident response operations, focusing on the technical execution of incident handling. Part 1 covers principles and the overall process model, while Part 2 covers planning and preparation. Part 3 addresses operational aspects like detection tools, triage, and response coordination at the technical level.

4What is the key distinction between an information security event and an information security incident?

A.Events involve external attackers; incidents involve insiders

B.An event is an identified occurrence indicating a possible breach or failure of controls; an incident is one or more events with significant probability of harming the organization

C.Events are reported by users; incidents are detected by automated tools

D.Events affect availability only; incidents affect confidentiality and integrity

Explanation: Per ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023, an information security event is an identified occurrence of a system, service, or network state indicating a possible breach of policy, failure of controls, or previously unknown situation that may be relevant to security. An incident is one or more events with a significant probability of compromising operations. Most events are not incidents; triage in the Assess and Decide phase determines escalation.

5Which Annex A control family in ISO/IEC 27001:2022 contains the information security incident management controls?

A.Controls 5.24 through 5.28

B.Controls 8.1 through 8.5

C.Controls 6.1 through 6.5

D.Controls 7.10 through 7.14

Explanation: ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A controls 5.24 through 5.28 cover information security incident management: 5.24 (planning and preparation), 5.25 (assessment and decision), 5.26 (response), 5.27 (learning from incidents), and 5.28 (collection of evidence). These organizational controls map directly to the ISO/IEC 27035-1 five-phase process model.

6In ISO/IEC 27035 terminology, what is a 'vulnerability'?

A.A confirmed compromise of a system

B.A weakness of an asset or control that can be exploited by one or more threats

C.Any unpatched software

D.An attack vector used by adversaries

Explanation: A vulnerability is a weakness of an asset or control that can be exploited by one or more threats. Vulnerabilities are not incidents themselves but are reported and tracked because they may lead to incidents if exploited. ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023 includes vulnerability reporting as a precursor activity within the Detect and Report phase, often handled jointly with patch management.

7What does CSIRT stand for in incident management?

A.Computer Security Incident Response Team

B.Cyber Security Information Response Taskforce

C.Coordinated Security Incident Recovery Team

D.Certified Security Investigation and Response Team

Explanation: CSIRT stands for Computer Security Incident Response Team, sometimes also called CIRT or CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team). ISO/IEC 27035-2:2023 uses 'Incident Response Team' (IRT) generically but acknowledges CSIRT as the dominant industry term. The team coordinates detection, triage, response, and recovery for security incidents.

8Under GDPR Article 33, within how many hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach must a controller notify the supervisory authority?

A.24 hours

B.48 hours

C.72 hours

D.7 days

Explanation: GDPR Article 33 requires the data controller to notify the competent supervisory authority of a personal data breach without undue delay and where feasible no later than 72 hours after becoming aware of it. If notification is delayed beyond 72 hours, reasons must be provided. This timeline is a critical input to the incident management plan's communication procedures.

9Which incident management phase includes establishing policies, procedures, and the incident response team?

A.Detect and Report

B.Assess and Decide

C.Plan and Prepare

D.Learn

Explanation: The Plan and Prepare phase (the first phase of the ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023 model) establishes the incident management policy, procedures, response team, communication plans, training programs, and tooling. Without proper preparation, subsequent phases cannot execute effectively. ISO/IEC 27035-2 provides detailed guidance on what should be produced during this phase.

10What is an Indicator of Compromise (IoC)?

A.A regulatory requirement for breach notification

B.A piece of forensic data such as a file hash, IP address, or domain that suggests malicious activity

C.A category of incident severity

D.A specific type of CSIRT escalation channel

Explanation: An Indicator of Compromise (IoC) is a forensic artifact or observable, such as a file hash, malicious IP address, domain name, registry key, or behavioral pattern, that indicates a host or network may have been compromised. IoCs are central to the Detect and Report phase, are shared via threat intelligence platforms, and feed SIEM correlation rules.

About the ISO 27035 LIM Exam

PECB's Lead Incident Manager certification validates your ability to design, implement, and operate an information security incident management program based on ISO/IEC 27035-1/-2/-3. The exam covers the five-phase model (Plan and Prepare; Detect and Report; Assess and Decide; Respond; Learn), CSIRT setup, classification, forensics and evidence handling, regulatory notification (GDPR, NIS2), and continuous improvement. It is open-book essay format requiring 70% to pass.

Questions

12 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$500-$1,000 (PECB)

ISO 27035 LIM Exam Content Outline

15%

Fundamental Principles

Event vs incident vs vulnerability vs near-miss, CIA impact, 27035 standard family

20%

ISO/IEC 27035 Five-Phase Process

Plan and Prepare, Detect and Report, Assess and Decide, Respond, Learn

15%

Designing the Incident Process

Policy, CSIRT charter, classification taxonomy, runbooks, communication plans

20%

Preparation and Implementation

CSIRT setup, SIEM/SOAR/EDR tooling, exercises, BCM and crisis integration

20%

Incident Response Execution

Triage, containment, eradication, recovery, forensics, GDPR/NIS2 notification

10%

Monitoring and Improvement

MTTD, MTTC, dwell time, lessons learned, CAPAs, maturity models

How to Pass the ISO 27035 LIM Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70%
Exam length: 12 questions
Time limit: 3 hours
Exam fee: $500-$1,000

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ISO 27035 LIM Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023 closely — the five-phase model and definitions are the backbone of the exam

2Memorize regulatory timelines: GDPR Article 33 (72 hours) and NIS2 (24h early warning, 72h notification, 1 month final report)

3Practice writing structured essay answers — outline phase, principle, action, justification with citations to 27035 clauses

4Map ISO 27035 phases to ISO 27001:2022 Annex A controls 5.24-5.28 — examiners expect this linkage

5Know the supporting standards: ISO 27037 (evidence), 27041 (assurance), 27042 (analysis), 27043 (investigation)

6Use our AI tutor to walk through forensic chain-of-custody scenarios and CSIRT design decisions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ISO/IEC 27035 Lead Incident Manager exam?

The PECB ISO/IEC 27035 Lead Incident Manager exam validates expertise in designing and operating an information security incident management program based on ISO/IEC 27035-1:2023, 27035-2:2023, and 27035-3:2020. The exam is 3 hours long with 12 open-book essay questions, requiring a 70% score to pass. Non-native speakers receive an additional 30 minutes.

How hard is the ISO 27035 LIM exam?

The exam is considered advanced. Essay format requires structured, justified answers grounded in ISO 27035 principles rather than recall of factoids. Lead-level candidates need 5 years of professional experience (2 in incident management) and 300 hours of incident work. Most candidates spend 60-90 hours over 8-12 weeks preparing, including training and practice scenarios.

What jobs use ISO 27035 Lead Incident Manager certification?

ISO 27035 LIM supports roles including: Incident Response Manager ($110-160K), CSIRT/SOC Manager ($120-170K), Information Security Manager ($110-150K), Cyber Defense Lead ($120-160K), and senior consultancy roles in incident response and ISMS implementation. The certification is recognized internationally and pairs well with ISO 27001 Lead Implementer/Auditor credentials.

Is ISO 27035 Lead Incident Manager worth it in 2026?

Yes — with NIS2 enforcement across the EU, expanding US state breach laws, DORA in financial services, and GDPR mature enforcement, demand for structured incident management leadership is high. The PECB credential is internationally recognized, vendor-neutral, and grounded in the 2023 update of ISO/IEC 27035-1, the most current global standard for incident management.

How does ISO 27035 LIM compare to other incident response certifications?

ISO 27035 LIM is process- and management-focused, grounded in international standards. It complements technical/operational certifications like GIAC GCIH, GCFE, or GCFA (which focus on hands-on response) and management credentials like ISO 27001 Lead Implementer. Many incident managers hold a combination — ISO 27035 for process leadership plus GIAC for technical depth.