CISM Information Security Risk Management Practice Question
A risk assessment identifies that the organization's email system has a high likelihood of phishing attacks. The current controls include spam filtering and user awareness training. What should the organization do NEXT to manage this risk effectively?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume existing controls are sufficient and jump to acceptance (Option A) or repeat training (Option D), without recognizing that the CISM process mandates a formal residual risk evaluation before any risk response decision.
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
✓
Evaluate the residual risk and decide on additional controls
After implementing initial controls (spam filtering and user awareness training), the organization must evaluate the residual risk—the risk that remains after controls are applied. This step is required by the CISM risk management process to determine whether the residual risk level is acceptable or if additional controls are needed. Option B correctly follows the risk assessment lifecycle: identify risk, apply controls, assess residual risk, then decide on further action.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Accept the risk as it is already controlled
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance requires that residual risk is within appetite; this needs evaluation.
- ✓
Evaluate the residual risk and decide on additional controls
Why this is correct
The organization should assess whether current controls reduce risk to an acceptable level and implement further measures if needed.
- ✗
Transfer the risk to a cyber insurance provider
Why it's wrong here
Insurance does not reduce likelihood; it only covers financial loss.
- ✗
Conduct another round of user awareness training
Why it's wrong here
Training may be beneficial but is only one of many possible additional controls.
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About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CISM question from scratch — 871 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CISM practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CISM exam.