The answer is resistance to change from business units, along with two other common challenges. This is correct because implementing a risk management program requires shifting established workflows and priorities, and business units often perceive new risk controls as obstacles to their operational speed or autonomy, creating friction that stalls adoption. On the CISM exam, this question tests your understanding of the human and cultural factors that derail risk governance, not just the technical steps like defining risk appetite or selecting controls. A frequent trap is assuming that risk appetite is a challenge to define during implementation, but the exam emphasizes it must be established upfront before the program begins. Another common challenge is the lack of executive sponsorship, which leaves the program without authority to enforce changes, and insufficient risk awareness training, which prevents staff from understanding their role in the process. Memory tip: think of the three C’s—Culture, Commitment, and Competence—as the pillars that, if missing, create the biggest implementation hurdles.
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.
Which THREE of the following are common challenges when implementing a risk management program in an organization? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Lack of senior management support
Options A, C, and E are correct. Option B is incorrect because risk appetite should be defined upfront. Option D is incorrect because controls are typically implemented after risk assessment.
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.
✓
Lack of senior management support
Why this is correct
Without top-down support, the program may lack resources and authority.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Inability to quantify risks in financial terms
Why this is correct
Quantification is difficult but necessary for business alignment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Too many controls implemented too quickly
Why it's wrong here
This is not a common challenge; usually the opposite.
✓
Resistance to change from business units
Why this is correct
Business units may resist risk management processes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Overly detailed risk appetite
Why it's wrong here
Risk appetite should be defined, but overly detailed is not a common challenge.
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.
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: Lack of senior management support — Options A, C, and E are correct. Option B is incorrect because risk appetite should be defined upfront. Option D is incorrect because controls are typically implemented after risk assessment.
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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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.
Question Discussion
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