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.
Exhibit
Risk Register Extract:
Risk ID: R-001
Description: Unauthorized access to sensitive data
Current Controls: Firewall, Access control lists
Inherent Risk: High (Likelihood: 4, Impact: 5)
Residual Risk: Medium (Likelihood: 3, Impact: 4)
Risk Appetite: Low
Risk ID: R-002
Description: Data corruption due to malware
Current Controls: Antivirus software
Inherent Risk: High (Likelihood: 5, Impact: 4)
Residual Risk: High (Likelihood: 4, Impact: 4)
Risk Appetite: Low
Refer to the exhibit. Based on the risk register extract, which risk should the information security manager prioritize for additional treatment?
Risk Register Extract:
Risk ID: R-001
Description: Unauthorized access to sensitive data
Current Controls: Firewall, Access control lists
Inherent Risk: High (Likelihood: 4, Impact: 5)
Residual Risk: Medium (Likelihood: 3, Impact: 4)
Risk Appetite: Low
Risk ID: R-002
Description: Data corruption due to malware
Current Controls: Antivirus software
Inherent Risk: High (Likelihood: 5, Impact: 4)
Residual Risk: High (Likelihood: 4, Impact: 4)
Risk Appetite: Low
A
R-001 only
Why wrong: R-001's residual risk is Medium, which may be tolerated if within risk appetite, but the appetite is Low. However, R-002 is riskier.
B
Neither risk requires additional treatment
Why wrong: R-002 clearly shows a residual risk above appetite, so treatment is needed.
C
R-002 only
R-002 has a high residual risk exceeding the low risk appetite, so it needs additional treatment.
D
Both R-001 and R-002
Why wrong: R-001's residual risk is Medium, but it may still be above appetite; however, R-002 is the higher priority. You would not treat both equally without further analysis.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
R-002 only
R-002 has a residual risk rating of 'High', which exceeds the organization's risk appetite of 'Low'. R-001's residual risk is 'Medium', which still may be acceptable depending on further analysis. Therefore, R-002 requires immediate attention.
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.
✗
R-001 only
Why it's wrong here
R-001's residual risk is Medium, which may be tolerated if within risk appetite, but the appetite is Low. However, R-002 is riskier.
✗
Neither risk requires additional treatment
Why it's wrong here
R-002 clearly shows a residual risk above appetite, so treatment is needed.
✓
R-002 only
Why this is correct
R-002 has a high residual risk exceeding the low risk appetite, so it needs additional treatment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Both R-001 and R-002
Why it's wrong here
R-001's residual risk is Medium, but it may still be above appetite; however, R-002 is the higher priority. You would not treat both equally without further analysis.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
R-002 clearly shows a residual risk above appetite, so treatment is needed.
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.
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: R-002 only — R-002 has a residual risk rating of 'High', which exceeds the organization's risk appetite of 'Low'. R-001's residual risk is 'Medium', which still may be acceptable depending on further analysis. Therefore, R-002 requires immediate attention.
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.
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Question Discussion
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