- A
Average time to patch critical vulnerabilities in internal systems.
Why wrong: This is relevant for internal vulnerability management, not third-party risk specifically.
- B
Number of third-party vendors with critical or high-risk security findings.
This is a leading KRI as it measures the current risk level from vendors, which can predict potential incidents.
- C
Number of successful phishing attacks against employees.
Why wrong: This is an incident metric, not a leading KRI for third-party risk.
- D
Percentage of vendors that have undergone security assessment in the last 12 months.
Why wrong: This is a lagging indicator of assessment coverage, not a leading indicator of risk change.
Question 874 of 905
CISM Information Security Risk Management Practice Question
This CISM practice question tests your understanding of information security risk management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
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.
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.
- ✗
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.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 practitioner preparing for the CISM exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which CISM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Information Security Risk Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Information Security Risk Management practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISM question test?
Information Security Risk Management — This question tests Information Security Risk Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
What should I do if I get this CISM question wrong?
Identify which CISM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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