CRISC Information Technology and Security — 40 Questions

Question 1

A risk manager is calculating the probable financial impact of a ransomware attack using the FAIR model. Which factor is MOST critical to estimate the annual loss exposure?

Accepted Answer

Threat event frequency. In the FAIR model, annual loss exposure (ALE) is calculated as threat event frequency multiplied by probable loss magnitude. Threat event frequency is the most critical factor because it directly drives how often losses occur, and without an accurate estimate of how frequently ransomware attacks are expected, any loss magnitude estimate becomes meaningless for annualizing exposure.

Answer

Recovery time objective (RTO)

Answer

Cost of cyber insurance premium

Answer

Number of affected systems

Question 2

The risk committee is reviewing a cyber risk quantification report that uses the FAIR model. The report estimates the annualized loss expectancy (ALE) for a ransomware attack as $2.5 million. The committee asks the risk manager to explain the key components used to derive this figure. Which of the following is the MOST important factor in the FAIR model for calculating ALE?

Accepted Answer

Annualized rate of occurrence (ARO) and single loss expectancy (SLE). The FAIR model calculates ALE using Loss Event Frequency (LEF) and Loss Magnitude (LM), not ARO and SLE which are used in NIST 800-30. None of the provided options correctly identify the key components of the FAIR model. Option D is incorrect because it uses the wrong terminology from a different framework.

Answer

Threat intelligence reports on ransomware gangs

Answer

Vulnerability severity scores (CVSS)

Answer

Historical loss data from industry benchmarks

Question 3

A large retail company is implementing a new cloud-based inventory management system. The system will store sensitive customer data and integrate with existing on-premises ERP. The risk manager is asked to identify the most critical risk to address in the shared responsibility model. Which risk is MOST likely to be overlooked?

Accepted Answer

Misconfiguration of access controls. In the shared responsibility model, the customer is responsible for data classification and access controls. Misconfiguration of access controls is a common overlooked risk that can lead to data breaches.

Answer

Vendor lock-in

Answer

Multi-tenancy isolation

Answer

Data sovereignty compliance

Question 4

An energy company is integrating its IT network with OT systems for real-time monitoring. The risk manager is assessing the expanded attack surface. Which risk should be given the HIGHEST priority due to its potential for physical consequences?

Accepted Answer

Manipulation of operational parameters leading to equipment damage. In OT environments, the highest priority risk involves safety implications and physical consequences, such as an attacker manipulating operational parameters to cause equipment damage or safety incidents.

Answer

Increased number of malware infections

Answer

Unauthorized access to corporate financial systems

Answer

Denial of service affecting IT services

Question 5

A risk manager is designing an IT risk management programme. Which document should be created FIRST to guide the overall approach to risk management?

Accepted Answer

Risk management policy. A risk management policy establishes the principles, objectives, and responsibilities for risk management, providing a foundation for all other risk management activities.

Answer

Risk treatment plan

Answer

Risk register

Answer

Risk assessment methodology

Question 6

A financial institution is adopting AI for credit scoring. The model is currently a black box and requires explainability for regulatory compliance. Which risk is MOST critical to address?

Accepted Answer

Lack of explainability. Regulated decisions require explainability. If the AI model cannot provide explanations, the institution risks regulatory non-compliance and potential legal challenges.

Answer

Model bias

Answer

Adversarial attacks

Answer

Data privacy in training

Question 7

During a solution architecture review, the Architecture Review Board (ARB) identifies that a new application communicates with a legacy system using plain text over a public network. Which risk treatment option is MOST appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Require encryption (e.g., TLS) for the communication. The risk of data exposure can be mitigated by implementing encryption, such as TLS, to protect data in transit.

Answer

Transfer the risk to a third-party vendor

Answer

Accept the risk because the legacy system cannot be changed

Answer

Decommission the legacy system immediately

Question 8

Which COBIT 2019 domain objective focuses on ensuring that risk is optimized through evaluation, direction, and monitoring?

Accepted Answer

EDM03 — Ensure Risk Optimization. EDM03 — Ensure Risk Optimization is the governance objective that addresses risk management evaluation, direction, and monitoring.

Answer

EDM01 — Ensure Governance Framework Setting and Maintenance

Answer

EDM02 — Ensure Benefits Delivery

Answer

EDM04 — Ensure Resource Optimization

Question 9

A hospital is deploying IoT medical devices that connect to the network. Which risk is MOST concerning from a cybersecurity perspective?

Accepted Answer

Expanded attack surface due to many devices. IoT devices expand the attack surface, and many medical devices have weak security, making them easy targets for attackers to gain network access.

Answer

Data sovereignty compliance

Answer

Firmware update challenges

Answer

Vendor lock-in

Question 10

A power utility is required to comply with NERC CIP standards. Which of the following is a primary objective of these standards?

Accepted Answer

Protect the reliability of the bulk electric system. NERC CIP standards aim to protect the reliability of the bulk electric system by securing critical cyber assets.

Answer

Standardize industrial control protocols

Answer

Reduce energy consumption

Answer

Ensure interoperability between IT and OT systems

Question 11

A company is migrating critical applications to the cloud. The risk manager is assessing the shared responsibility model. Which risk is the customer typically responsible for?

Accepted Answer

Data classification and access control. According to the shared responsibility model, the customer is responsible for data, access management, and application-level security.

Answer

Network infrastructure maintenance

Answer

Physical security of data centers

Answer

Hypervisor security

Question 12

Which of the following is a key component of an IT risk management programme that documents identified risks, their likelihood, and impact?

Accepted Answer

Risk register. The risk register is the central repository within an IT risk management programme that formally documents identified risks, their assessed likelihood, and potential impact. It serves as the authoritative record for tracking risk ownership, mitigation status, and residual risk levels, enabling ongoing monitoring and reporting. Without a risk register, an organization cannot systematically manage or communicate its risk posture.

Answer

Risk management policy

Answer

Business continuity plan

Answer

Incident response plan

Question 13

An organization is considering cyber insurance to transfer residual risk. Which factor would MOST significantly influence the premium?

Accepted Answer

Security controls and incident history. Insurers assess the organization's security controls and past incidents to determine risk level, which directly affects premium.

Answer

Industry sector

Answer

Company revenue

Answer

Number of employees

Question 14

A risk manager is integrating the NIST Cybersecurity Framework with the organization's risk management processes. Which TWO functions of the NIST CSF directly support risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

Identify. The Identify function covers risk assessment and management, and the Protect function involves safeguards that are assessed for effectiveness.

Answer

Detect

Answer

Recover

Answer

Respond

Question 15

A manufacturing company is evaluating the risks of connecting its OT network to the IT network. Which THREE risks are MOST significant due to IT/OT convergence?

Accepted Answer

Expansion of attack paths from IT to OT systems. Convergence increases attack paths, legacy OT devices lack security, and attacks can have physical safety consequences.

Answer

Compliance with GDPR

Answer

Increased data storage costs

Question 16

An organization is planning to adopt post-quantum cryptography. Which TWO considerations are MOST important for migration planning?

Accepted Answer

Assess the cryptographic agility of current systems. Migration must prioritize systems with long-term data sensitivity and assess cryptographic agility to adapt to new standards.

Answer

Evaluate the cost of quantum computers

Answer

Train employees on quantum physics

Answer

Purchase quantum-resistant hardware immediately

Question 17

Which COBIT 2019 governance objective focuses on ensuring that the enterprise's risk appetite and tolerance are understood, articulated, and communicated, and that risk is managed appropriately?

Accepted Answer

EDM03 — Ensure Risk Optimization. EDM03 — Ensure Risk Optimization is the COBIT 2019 governance objective specifically designed to ensure that the enterprise's risk appetite and risk tolerance are defined, communicated, and understood, and that risk is managed within those boundaries. It focuses on aligning risk management with enterprise objectives and ensuring that residual risk is acceptable.

Answer

EDM04 — Ensure Resource Optimization

Answer

EDM02 — Ensure Benefits Delivery

Answer

EDM01 — Ensure Governance Framework Setting and Maintenance

Question 18

A risk practitioner is designing an IT risk management programme. Which of the following is the BEST sequence of components to establish?

Accepted Answer

Risk management policy, risk assessment methodology, risk register, risk treatment process, risk reporting. A logical order is to first define policy, then methodology, then risk register, then treatment process, and finally reporting. However, the question asks for the best sequence among options. Typically, policy comes first, then methodology, then risk register, then treatment, then reporting.

Answer

Risk register, risk assessment methodology, risk treatment process, risk reporting, risk management policy

Answer

Risk assessment methodology, risk register, risk treatment process, risk management policy, risk reporting

Answer

Risk reporting, risk management policy, risk assessment methodology, risk register, risk treatment process

Question 19

An organization is reviewing its enterprise architecture to identify risks. In which IT architecture layer would a risk related to data classification and data sovereignty be primarily addressed?

Accepted Answer

Data architecture layer. Data classification and sovereignty concerns are primarily data-related, falling under the data architecture layer. The data layer defines how data is stored, classified, and managed, including sovereignty requirements.

Answer

Application architecture layer

Answer

Business architecture layer

Answer

Infrastructure/Technology architecture layer

Question 20

An Architecture Review Board (ARB) is evaluating a new solution architecture for a customer-facing web application. Which of the following is the PRIMARY risk the ARB should consider?

Accepted Answer

The application exposes sensitive customer data through APIs without proper authentication. The ARB's role includes ensuring security risks are identified before implementation. Among the options, exposure of sensitive customer data is the most critical security risk that could impact the organization's reputation and compliance.

Answer

The application does not support mobile devices

Answer

The application development timeline is aggressive

Answer

The application uses the latest JavaScript framework