CISM Information Security Risk Management Practice Question
After implementing controls, an organization reassesses a risk and finds that the residual risk level exceeds the established risk tolerance. What is the most appropriate next step?
⚠ Common exam trap
The CISM exam often tests the misconception that risk assessment methodology changes can resolve residual risk issues, but the trap here is that candidates may choose Option A, thinking a different methodology will yield a more favorable result, when in fact the correct action is to treat the risk through additional controls or formal acceptance.
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
✓
Seek management approval for acceptance or implement additional controls
When residual risk exceeds the established risk tolerance, the organization must either implement additional controls to reduce the risk further or formally accept the residual risk through management approval. This aligns with the risk treatment decision-making process in ISO 31000 and the CISM framework, where risk acceptance is a management responsibility. Option C correctly identifies these two valid paths.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Re-assess the risk using a different methodology
Why it's wrong here
Swapping methodology does not alter the residual risk level or bring it within tolerance; it merely re-labels the same exposure. It tempts because reassessment feels rigorous, and methodology changes are legitimate when the existing approach is demonstrably flawed, not when results are unwelcome.
- ✗
Lower the risk tolerance to match the residual risk
Why it's wrong here
Lowering tolerance to match the residual risk inverts the framework: tolerance is set by management appetite and drives treatment, not the reverse. It tempts because it appears to close the gap cheaply, and tolerance revision is valid when business strategy genuinely changes.
- ✓
Seek management approval for acceptance or implement additional controls
Why this is correct
Residual risk above tolerance cannot simply be left; the risk owner must decide. Either obtain formal management approval to accept the elevated exposure or apply further controls to bring it within tolerance, preserving accountability and documented risk ownership.
- ✗
Ignore the residual risk since controls are already in place
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring residual risk above tolerance leaves the organisation knowingly exposed and breaches governance obligations to treat unacceptable risk. It tempts because implemented controls create a false sense of completion, and acceptance is valid only when residual risk already sits within tolerance.
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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.