Quick Answer
The correct answer is risk assessment. After identifying risks, the next step in the risk management process is to determine the potential impact and likelihood, which is formally defined as risk assessment or risk analysis. This step quantifies or qualifies each identified risk by evaluating how severe the damage could be and how probable the event is, enabling you to prioritize which risks require immediate treatment. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the NIST SP 800-30 risk management framework, where risk assessment follows identification and precedes risk mitigation. A common trap is confusing risk assessment with risk identification or risk response—remember that assessment is the evaluation of impact and likelihood, not the listing of threats. A useful memory tip: think of the acronym "AIL" for Assessment of Impact and Likelihood.
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
In a risk management process, after identifying risks, the next step is to determine the potential impact and likelihood. This is known as:
Risk acceptance
Why wrong: Risk acceptance is a decision after assessment, not the step itself.
Risk mitigation
Why wrong: Risk mitigation comes after assessment and involves implementing controls.
Risk assessment
Risk assessment quantifies impact and likelihood to prioritize risks.
Risk transfer
Why wrong: Risk transfer involves insurance or outsourcing, not rating risks.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Risk assessment
After risks have been identified, the next logical step in the risk management process is to evaluate their potential impact and likelihood. This evaluation is formally known as risk assessment (or risk analysis), which quantifies or qualifies the risk level to prioritize subsequent treatment decisions. In the context of the 200-201 exam, risk assessment is a core component of the NIST SP 800-30 risk management framework.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Risk acceptance
Why it's wrong here
Risk acceptance is a decision after assessment, not the step itself.
Risk mitigation
Why it's wrong here
Risk mitigation comes after assessment and involves implementing controls.
Risk assessment
Why this is correct
Risk assessment quantifies impact and likelihood to prioritize risks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Risk transfer
Why it's wrong here
Risk transfer involves insurance or outsourcing, not rating risks.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the order of the risk management process steps, and the trap here is confusing risk assessment (the evaluation step) with risk mitigation (the treatment step), leading candidates to select 'Risk mitigation' because they think of 'doing something about the risk' immediately after identification.
Detailed technical explanation
Risk assessment typically involves both qualitative methods (e.g., using a risk matrix with categories like 'High', 'Medium', 'Low') and quantitative methods (e.g., calculating Annualized Loss Expectancy using SLE = AV × EF and ALE = SLE × ARO). In real-world scenarios, a security analyst might use a CVSS score to assess the severity of a vulnerability, then combine that with the asset's criticality to determine the overall risk level before deciding on a response.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Security Concepts — This question tests Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Risk assessment — After risks have been identified, the next logical step in the risk management process is to evaluate their potential impact and likelihood. This evaluation is formally known as risk assessment (or risk analysis), which quantifies or qualifies the risk level to prioritize subsequent treatment decisions. In the context of the 200-201 exam, risk assessment is a core component of the NIST SP 800-30 risk management framework.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.
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