Which of the following controls would be MOST effective in ensuring that production source code and object code are synchronized?

The most effective controls for ensuring that production source code and object code are synchronized involve monitoring the metadata associated with both types of code. Date and time-stamp reviews of source and object code are particularly effective because they provide a clear and objective method for verifying that the versions of the source and object code correspond to one another and were modified as expected within the same timeframe.

By reviewing date and time stamps, an organization can quickly identify discrepancies that may indicate issues with synchronization, such as outdated object code that has not been regenerated from the latest source code. This method is direct and allows for immediate validation against expected changes, thus enhancing confidence that the production environment is running the correct versions of both source and object code.

Other options may offer some level of control but do not provide the same level of assurance regarding synchronization. For instance, release-to-release source and object comparison reports can show differences but may not verify if the correct versions were deployed in production without thorough manual checking. Library control software that restricts changes helps maintain the integrity of the source code but does not ensure that the corresponding object code is correctly updated. Restricted access to source and object code enhances security but does not directly address synchronization issues. Therefore, date and time-stamp reviews stand out as the