CISM Risk lifecycle matching Practice Question
Match each risk assessment activity with the correct phase of the risk management lifecycle:
Activities: 1. Identify assets and threats 2. Determine risk level 3. Select controls to reduce risk 4. Monitor risk over time
Phases: A. Risk Assessment B. Risk Treatment C. Risk Monitoring D. Risk Communication (not used)
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse 'determine risk level' as part of risk treatment, but it is actually part of assessment. Also, monitoring is often overlooked as a separate phase.
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
The correct mapping is: Activity 1 (Identify assets and threats) and Activity 2 (Determine risk level) belong to Risk Assessment (Phase A). Activity 3 (Select controls to reduce risk) belongs to Risk Treatment (Phase B). Activity 4 (Monitor risk over time) belongs to Risk Monitoring (Phase C). Risk Communication is an overarching activity not assigned as a separate phase.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Identify assets and threats
Why it's wrong here
Identify assets and threats is part of the Risk Assessment phase, where the focus is on understanding the environment and potential vulnerabilities.
- ✗
Determine risk level
Why it's wrong here
Determine risk level is also part of Risk Assessment, as it involves analyzing and evaluating the identified risks.
- ✗
Select controls to reduce risk
Why it's wrong here
Select controls to reduce risk is the core of Risk Treatment, implementing measures to mitigate risks to an acceptable level.
- ✗
Monitor risk over time
Why it's wrong here
Monitor risk over time is the Risk Monitoring phase, which ensures that the risk posture is continuously observed and managed.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The CISM exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✗Identify assets and threatsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Correct match is A
✗Determine risk levelWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Correct match is A
✗Select controls to reduce riskWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Correct match is B
✗Monitor risk over timeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Correct match is C
Analysis generated from the official CISMblueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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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.