CISM Information Security Risk Management Practice Question
An information security manager is designing a risk dashboard for the board of directors. Which of the following key risk indicators (KRIs) would be MOST effective for monitoring changes in the organization's security posture related to third-party risk?
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
✓
Number of third-party vendors with critical or high-risk security findings.
KRIs should be leading indicators that predict risk changes. The number of third-party vendors with critical security findings is a direct measure of third-party risk and can indicate a rising risk trend before an incident occurs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Average time to patch critical vulnerabilities in internal systems.
Why it's wrong here
This is relevant for internal vulnerability management, not third-party risk specifically.
- ✓
Number of third-party vendors with critical or high-risk security findings.
Why this is correct
This is a leading KRI as it measures the current risk level from vendors, which can predict potential incidents.
- ✗
Number of successful phishing attacks against employees.
Why it's wrong here
This is an incident metric, not a leading KRI for third-party risk.
- ✗
Percentage of vendors that have undergone security assessment in the last 12 months.
Why it's wrong here
This is a lagging indicator of assessment coverage, not a leading indicator of risk change.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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