CAS-004 Governance, Risk, and Compliance Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
CAS-005 often tests whether candidates can distinguish NIST RMF's six-step federal authorization process from ISO 27005's risk management process and COBIT's governance domains — all three involve 'risk' but only NIST RMF has the Categorize/Select/Implement/Assess/Authorize/Monitor sequence.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
NIST RMF
The NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) is the framework specifically designed for U.S. federal agencies and is defined by NIST SP 800-37. It prescribes exactly the six-step process named in the question: Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, and Monitor. This lifecycle aligns with FISMA requirements for federal information systems.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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ISO 27005
Why it's wrong here
ISO 27005 gives international guidance on information security risk management, not a six-step federal authorisation lifecycle. It is tempting because ISO 27005 genuinely addresses risk assessment and treatment, and would be the right pick for an organisation aligning to ISO/IEC 27001 rather than a U.S. federal agency.
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COBIT
Why it's wrong here
COBIT is an IT governance and management framework covering objectives and maturity, not the six-step Categorize-to-Monitor federal process. It is tempting because COBIT does govern risk and controls enterprise-wide, and would be correct for structuring IT governance and assurance rather than satisfying U.S. federal risk management requirements.
- ✓
NIST RMF
Why this is correct
NIST RMF is the U.S. federal framework built on the six-step lifecycle: Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize and Monitor. It satisfies the stem's requirement for a federal-specific process, unlike ISO 31000 or COSO ERM, which lack this mandated authorisation step and U.S. federal alignment.
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FAIR
Why it's wrong here
FAIR quantifies cyber and operational risk in financial terms; it defines no Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, Monitor lifecycle and targets no federal agencies. It is tempting because FAIR is a recognised risk framework, and would suit an organisation wanting monetary risk quantification rather than a compliance-oriented control-selection process.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CAS-005 exam.