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CAS-005 · domain

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

Practise CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) Governance, Risk, and Compliance practice questions — original exam-style scenarios with answer choices, explanations, and analysis of common mistakes.

97 questions22 easy48 medium27 hard

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What to know about Governance, Risk, and Compliance

Governance, Risk, and Compliance questions test whether you can apply the concept in context, not just recognise a definition.

How the topic appears in realistic exam-style scenarios.

Which detail in the question changes the correct answer.

How to eliminate plausible but wrong options.

How to connect the question back to the wider exam objective.

Watch out for

Common Governance, Risk, and Compliance exam traps

  • Answering from memory before reading the full scenario.
  • Missing a constraint such as cost, availability, security, scope or command context.
  • Choosing a broad answer when the question asks for the most specific fix.
  • Ignoring why the wrong options are tempting.

Question index

All Governance, Risk, and Compliance questions (97)

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1

A security manager is reviewing a set of documents: an organizational security policy, a standard for encryption, a guideline for remote access, and a procedure for incident response. Which document is at the highest level in the policy hierarchy?

Medium
2

Which risk treatment option involves reducing the likelihood or impact of a risk through controls?

Easy
3

Which security metric measures the average time it takes to detect a security incident after it has occurred?

Easy
4

A security architect is designing a data classification scheme. Which TWO of the following are commonly used classification levels? (Select TWO.)

Medium
5

An organization is evaluating a third-party vendor that will have access to its customer database. The vendor provides a SOC 2 Type II report dated six months ago. Which of the following is the BEST next step?

Medium
6

A company is implementing continuous compliance monitoring for PCI DSS. Which TWO activities are most appropriate for this approach? (Select TWO.)

Medium
7

Which of the following risk treatment options involves transferring the financial impact of a risk to a third party, such as through insurance?

Easy
8

A multinational corporation that processes personal data of EU residents is required to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) and implement data protection impact assessments. Which regulation primarily drives these requirements?

Easy
9

A company wants to ensure that a third-party vendor allows them to perform an audit of the vendor's security controls. Which clause should be included in the contract?

Easy
10

An organization is implementing a data classification scheme. Which data type should be given the highest protection and is typically restricted to a very small number of individuals?

Medium
11

A company is conducting a vendor risk assessment and receives a SOC 2 Type II report from a cloud service provider. The report covers a 12-month period and includes an opinion on the effectiveness of controls. Which of the following is the primary benefit of using this report?

Hard
12

When conducting a vendor risk assessment, which contractual clause is most important for ensuring ongoing visibility into the vendor's security posture?

Medium
13

A security architect is designing a data classification scheme. Which of the following is the highest level of sensitivity that would typically require the most stringent controls?

Medium
14

A security analyst is reviewing metrics for the security program. Which metric best measures the effectiveness of incident response processes?

Medium
15

A company wants to ensure that its data handling practices align with the principle of 'privacy by design'. Which of the following actions best supports this principle?

Easy
16

A security analyst is defining key risk indicators (KRIs) for the security program. Which TWO of the following are examples of KRIs? (Select TWO.)

Easy
17

A security analyst is calculating the annualized loss expectancy (ALE) for a server that has an asset value of $50,000 and an exposure factor (EF) of 0.2. The annualized rate of occurrence (ARO) is estimated at 4. What is the ALE?

Easy
18

Under the GDPR, which of the following is a data subject right?

Easy
19

A security analyst is prioritizing remediation of vulnerabilities. Which three of the following factors should be considered when determining the risk level of a vulnerability? (Choose three.)

Hard
20

An organization discovers that a third-party vendor has a subcontractor that processes its data. The organization did not have a contract with the subcontractor. This is an example of which type of risk?

Medium
21

A security team is selecting key risk indicators (KRIs) for the organization's cybersecurity program. Which of the following is an example of a KRI that provides a leading indicator of risk?

Medium
22

During a policy gap analysis, it is discovered that the organization has a policy stating that sensitive data must be encrypted, but there are no procedures for implementing encryption on mobile devices. This is an example of a gap between:

Medium
23

An organization is implementing a privacy program based on privacy by design. Which principle requires that privacy controls be integrated into the system's default settings?

Hard
24

A security manager is implementing a policy exception management process. Which TWO of the following are essential components of an effective exception management process?

Medium
25

An organization is implementing a privacy program to comply with GDPR. Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'privacy by design' as it applies to a new customer relationship management (CRM) system?

Hard
26

A healthcare organization is implementing a vendor risk management program. Which THREE of the following should be included in the vendor risk assessment process? (Select THREE.)

Hard
27

A security architect is designing a data classification scheme aligned with a new privacy regulation. Which THREE of the following are common data classification levels used in enterprise environments? (Select THREE.)

Hard
28

An organization's security team is reviewing security metrics to present to the board. Which THREE of the following are commonly used Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a security program? (Select THREE.)

Medium
29

An organization is adopting the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF). During which step would the security team select and implement security controls, and how does this map to the organization's governance structure?

Hard
30

During a vendor risk assessment, a company receives a SOC 2 Type II report from a cloud service provider. What does this report primarily attest to?

Medium
31

Under GDPR, which of the following is a data subject right that allows an individual to request that their personal data be erased?

Easy
32

Which key performance indicator (KPI) is most useful for measuring the effectiveness of an incident response process?

Easy
33

An organization is using the FAIR model to quantify risk. Which of the following is a primary component of the FAIR taxonomy?

Medium
34

A financial institution must comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Which of the following is a primary focus of SOX compliance?

Easy
35

A company is required to comply with PCI DSS. What is the primary purpose of conducting quarterly network vulnerability scans?

Medium
36

A risk manager is applying the FAIR model to quantify a risk. Which TWO of the following are primary components used in FAIR analysis? (Select TWO.)

Medium
37

An organization is implementing a vendor risk management program and is reviewing a contract that includes a right-to-audit clause. Which THREE of the following are common elements that should be verified during such an audit? (Select THREE.)

Hard
38

A security analyst calculates the annualized loss expectancy (ALE) for a server. The single loss expectancy (SLE) is $50,000, and the annualized rate of occurrence (ARO) is 0.2. What is the ALE?

Hard
39

An organization's security policy defines that all sensitive data must be encrypted. However, a business unit has a legacy application that cannot support encryption without a major rewrite. The risk owner decides to accept the risk. This is an example of which risk treatment strategy?

Hard
40

During a compliance audit for PCI DSS, the auditor identifies that cardholder data is stored beyond the required retention period. The organization wants to implement proper data lifecycle management. Which THREE of the following should the organization include in its data retention policy? (Select THREE.)

Hard
41

A security team is evaluating the effectiveness of their patching program. Which metric would best indicate how quickly the organization applies critical patches?

Medium
42

A financial institution is evaluating a cloud service provider for hosting customer data. During the due diligence process, which report would best help the institution assess the provider's control environment and compliance with SOC 2?

Medium
43

An organization is reviewing its third-party risk management process. Which of the following clauses should be included in contracts with critical vendors to ensure ongoing visibility into their security posture?

Medium
44

A security analyst is calculating the annualized loss expectancy (ALE) for a server that processes credit card data. The server has a $100,000 asset value, and the exposure factor for a security breach is 0.4. Historical data shows that such breaches occur twice per year. What is the ALE?

Medium
45

A company is considering adopting the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF). Which of the following steps is unique to NIST RMF compared to ISO 27005?

Hard
46

A security analyst calculates the annual loss expectancy (ALE) for a critical asset. The single loss expectancy (SLE) is $50,000, and the annualized rate of occurrence (ARO) is 0.2. What is the annual loss expectancy?

Medium
47

A security manager is reviewing Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the security program. Which of the following is an example of a KRI?

Medium
48

An organization has identified a vulnerability in a legacy system that cannot be patched. The system is critical for operations, and the cost of mitigating the vulnerability exceeds the potential loss. Which risk treatment option is most appropriate?

Medium
49

Which risk management framework is specifically designed for U.S. federal agencies and includes a six-step process: Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, and Monitor?

Easy
50

A security officer is reviewing continuous compliance monitoring tools. Which TWO of the following are primary benefits of implementing such tools? (Select TWO.)

Medium
51

A security analyst is calculating the annualized loss expectancy (ALE) for a server that has an asset value of $100,000, an exposure factor (EF) of 0.5, and an annualized rate of occurrence (ARO) of 2. What is the ALE?

Easy
52

A security architect is designing a data lifecycle management program. Which TWO of the following are phases of the data lifecycle? (Select TWO.)

Medium
53

A security analyst is performing a quantitative risk assessment for a server that processes payment card data. The server has an asset value of $50,000. Based on historical data, the exposure factor (EF) for a ransomware attack is 80%, and the annualized rate of occurrence (ARO) is 0.5. What is the annualized loss expectancy (ALE)?

Medium
54

A security analyst is evaluating security metrics for the security program. Which TWO of the following are considered key performance indicators (KPIs) for measuring the effectiveness of a security program?

Easy
55

An organization is developing a security policy hierarchy. Which TWO of the following correctly represent the typical order from highest to lowest level in a policy framework? (Select TWO.)

Easy
56

Which of the following is the correct order of the security policy hierarchy from highest to lowest?

Easy
57

A company processes personal data of EU citizens and wants to implement privacy by design. Which of the following is the BEST first step in this process?

Medium
58

An organization is implementing a privacy by design approach for a new customer-facing application. Which of the following actions best exemplifies this principle?

Hard
59

An organization has implemented a risk treatment plan that includes purchasing cyber insurance for potential data breach costs. Which risk treatment option does this represent?

Hard
60

An organization is implementing a risk management framework and wants to align with a standard that emphasizes a continuous, iterative process for identifying, assessing, and responding to risk. Which framework is most appropriate?

Medium
61

During a vendor risk assessment, a security analyst reviews a SOC 2 Type II report from a cloud provider. What is the primary value of this report?

Medium
62

Which document in a security policy hierarchy provides specific step-by-step instructions for performing a task?

Easy
63

A healthcare organization is required to comply with HIPAA. During an audit, the auditor requests evidence of access controls for electronic protected health information (ePHI). Which of the following would be the BEST evidence to provide?

Medium
64

A healthcare organization subject to HIPAA must ensure that patients can access their medical records. This requirement is an example of which data subject right under privacy regulations?

Medium
65

An organization is using the FAIR framework to quantify risk. The analyst estimates the probable loss event frequency (LEF) as 4 per year and the probable loss magnitude (LM) as $25,000 per event. What is the annualized loss expectancy (ALE) under FAIR?

Hard
66

An organization is implementing continuous compliance monitoring. Which of the following metrics would best indicate whether the organization is maintaining compliance with PCI DSS Requirement 10 (log management)?

Hard
67

During a vendor risk assessment, a third-party vendor refuses to provide a SOC 2 report but offers a completed security questionnaire. The vendor handles sensitive customer data. Which of the following is the BEST course of action?

Medium
68

Which of the following is a key difference between a security guideline and a security procedure?

Easy
69

A security analyst is calculating the annualized loss expectancy (ALE) for a server. The single loss expectancy (SLE) is $5,000 and the annualized rate of occurrence (ARO) is 0.2. What is the ALE?

Easy
70

A company is conducting a third-party risk assessment of a cloud service provider. Which TWO of the following are appropriate sources of evidence for evaluating the provider's security controls? (Select TWO.)

Medium
71

A company is adopting the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF). Which step in the RMF involves selecting security controls based on the risk assessment?

Medium
72

A security manager is developing key risk indicators (KRIs) for the organization's cybersecurity program. Which THREE of the following are examples of KRIs? (Select THREE.)

Hard
73

Using the FAIR model, which of the following best describes the factor that represents the probable frequency of a threat acting on a vulnerability?

Hard
74

A security manager is selecting metrics to present to the board. Which two of the following are key risk indicators (KRIs) that would be most relevant for executive oversight? (Choose two.)

Medium
75

After a risk assessment, a company identifies that the residual risk for a critical application is higher than the risk appetite. The risk owner proposes implementing additional controls to reduce the risk further. Which risk treatment option does this represent?

Hard
76

A security manager is reviewing the organization's security policy hierarchy. Which of the following correctly orders these documents from highest to lowest level of authority?

Medium
77

A healthcare organization must comply with HIPAA. Which of the following is a key requirement for protecting electronic protected health information (ePHI)?

Medium
78

An organization wants to implement continuous compliance monitoring for PCI DSS. Which of the following tools would be MOST effective for this purpose?

Easy
79

A financial institution is implementing a privacy program based on GDPR principles. Which of the following best describes the concept of 'privacy by design'?

Hard
80

A security architect is designing a data classification scheme. Which classification level should be used for data that, if disclosed, could cause serious damage to the organization's reputation or financial standing?

Hard
81

A company's security policy requires all sensitive data to be encrypted at rest. However, a business unit requests an exception to store certain data unencrypted due to performance constraints. Which document should govern the exception process?

Medium
82

A small business is implementing a privacy impact assessment (PIA) for a new application that processes personal data of EU citizens. Which TWO of the following are required under GDPR?

Medium
83

A security manager is reviewing the company's security policy hierarchy. Which of the following correctly orders these documents from highest to lowest authority?

Medium
84

A security manager is evaluating two risk quantification approaches: Factor Analysis of Information Risk (FAIR) and a qualitative heat map. Which of the following is a key advantage of using FAIR over the qualitative heat map?

Hard
85

A security team is measuring the effectiveness of its incident response process. Which of the following metrics would best indicate how quickly the team can contain an incident after it is detected?

Medium
86

A multinational corporation is implementing a data classification scheme. Which of the following data types should be classified as 'restricted'?

Hard
87

Which of the following is a key difference between compliance and security?

Medium
88

A financial institution is required to comply with SOX. Which of the following is a primary focus of this regulation?

Medium
89

A security manager is selecting key risk indicators (KRIs) for the organization's risk management program. Which THREE of the following are examples of KRIs that can provide early warning of increasing risk?

Hard
90

An organization is developing a policy exception management process. Which three of the following are essential components of an effective exception process? (Choose three.)

Hard
91

An organization is required to comply with PCI DSS. Which of the following is a mandatory requirement for protecting cardholder data?

Medium
92

A company is evaluating a new cloud service provider. The provider offers a SOC 2 Type II report, a third-party penetration test summary, and a completed security questionnaire. However, the company's procurement team discovers that the provider uses a subcontractor for data storage. Which of the following is the BEST next step for the security team?

Medium
93

An organization is reviewing its supply chain risk management. Which TWO of the following are effective strategies to manage fourth-party risk?

Medium
94

A compliance officer is preparing for an audit and needs to collect evidence. Which TWO of the following are considered acceptable forms of audit evidence? (Select TWO.)

Easy
95

A company is conducting a third-party risk assessment for a SaaS provider. The provider has provided a SOC 2 Type II report, penetration test results, and a completed security questionnaire. Which of these provides the most independent and comprehensive view of the provider's control environment over time?

Medium
96

A company wants to implement continuous compliance monitoring. Which of the following approaches BEST supports this goal?

Hard
97

A compliance officer is preparing for a GDPR audit. Which THREE of the following are key data subject rights under GDPR that the organization must be able to demonstrate?

Hard

Frequently asked questions

What does the Governance, Risk, and Compliance domain cover on the CAS-005 exam?
Governance, Risk, and Compliance questions test whether you can apply the concept in context, not just recognise a definition.
How many questions are in this domain?
This page lists all 97 Governance, Risk, and Compliance questions in the CAS-005 question bank. The actual exam draws from this domain proportionally to its weighting in the official exam blueprint.
What is the best way to practise this domain?
Start with a short focused session (10 questions) to identify gaps, then work through explanations. Repeat with a longer session once the weak areas feel solid.
Can I practise only Governance, Risk, and Compliance questions?
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