- A
Ignore the issue because the impact is low.
Why wrong: Low impact does not mean no action. A high-likelihood issue should still be recorded and treated appropriately.
- B
Document the risk, assign an owner, and escalate for acceptance or treatment before launch.
This is the best next step because the risk is both identified and still manageable during the pilot. Recording it in the risk register, assigning accountability, and escalating it for acceptance or treatment ensures management makes an informed decision. Since the issue will be harder to fix after production launch, early action is important. This is classic risk governance: identify, document, assign, and decide before exposure expands.
- C
Wait until after production launch to see whether the issue actually occurs.
Why wrong: Waiting increases the chance the organization will inherit a harder and more expensive problem later in the lifecycle.
- D
Transfer the risk by moving the pilot to a different business unit.
Why wrong: Changing ownership inside the organization does not remove the underlying risk. The exposure still needs formal treatment or acceptance.
Quick Answer
The correct next step for the risk owner is to document the risk, assign an owner, and escalate for acceptance or treatment before launch. This is because the formal risk management process requires that any identified risk—regardless of low impact—be recorded, given a responsible party, and brought to the business owner for a decision when the likelihood is high and the window for mitigation is closing. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the risk response lifecycle, specifically that a risk owner does not unilaterally accept or ignore risk; they must escalate to the decision-maker. A common trap is assuming low impact means you can defer action, but the exam emphasizes that timing and likelihood matter—here, the risk becomes harder to fix post-production, so immediate documentation and escalation are mandatory. Remember the mnemonic DAE: Document, Assign, Escalate—if you can’t decide, escalate.
SY0-701 Security Program Management and Oversight Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security program management and oversight. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A project team identifies a new risk with a high likelihood of minor data exposure during a pilot rollout. The impact is low, but the issue would become harder to address after production launch. The business owner wants the project to proceed. What should the risk owner do NEXT?
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
Document the risk, assign an owner, and escalate for acceptance or treatment before launch.
Option B is correct because the risk owner must follow the formal risk management process: document the risk, assign an owner, and escalate it to the business owner for a decision on acceptance or treatment before the pilot launch. Even though the impact is low, the high likelihood and the fact that the issue becomes harder to address post-production mean the risk cannot be ignored or deferred; it requires a documented acceptance or a mitigation plan before proceeding.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ignore the issue because the impact is low.
Why it's wrong here
Low impact does not mean no action. A high-likelihood issue should still be recorded and treated appropriately.
- ✓
Document the risk, assign an owner, and escalate for acceptance or treatment before launch.
Why this is correct
This is the best next step because the risk is both identified and still manageable during the pilot. Recording it in the risk register, assigning accountability, and escalating it for acceptance or treatment ensures management makes an informed decision. Since the issue will be harder to fix after production launch, early action is important. This is classic risk governance: identify, document, assign, and decide before exposure expands.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Wait until after production launch to see whether the issue actually occurs.
Why it's wrong here
Waiting increases the chance the organization will inherit a harder and more expensive problem later in the lifecycle.
- ✗
Transfer the risk by moving the pilot to a different business unit.
Why it's wrong here
Changing ownership inside the organization does not remove the underlying risk. The exposure still needs formal treatment or acceptance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume low impact means the risk can be ignored or deferred, but the high likelihood and the worsening condition post-launch force a formal risk response before proceeding, not after.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In risk management frameworks such as ISO 31000 or NIST SP 800-37, the risk owner is responsible for tracking and reporting the risk, but the business owner (or risk owner with authority) must formally accept residual risk. The 'harder to address after production launch' scenario often involves configuration drift, data entanglement, or regulatory penalties that compound over time. Real-world examples include minor PII exposure in a pilot that, if unaddressed, becomes a full-blown breach under GDPR or HIPAA once the system goes live with more users.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Program Management and Oversight — This question tests Security Program Management and Oversight — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Document the risk, assign an owner, and escalate for acceptance or treatment before launch. — Option B is correct because the risk owner must follow the formal risk management process: document the risk, assign an owner, and escalate it to the business owner for a decision on acceptance or treatment before the pilot launch. Even though the impact is low, the high likelihood and the fact that the issue becomes harder to address post-production mean the risk cannot be ignored or deferred; it requires a documented acceptance or a mitigation plan before proceeding.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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