CISM Information Security Risk Management Practice Question
Which role is primarily responsible for ensuring that information security risks are identified, assessed, and managed within a business unit?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the risk owner with the CISO, as candidates often assume the CISO owns all risks, but the CISO is responsible for the risk management process, not for owning specific business unit risks.
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
✓
Risk owner
The risk owner is the individual within a business unit who is accountable for ensuring that information security risks are identified, assessed, and managed. This role owns the risk treatment plan and is responsible for implementing controls to reduce risk to an acceptable level, as defined by the organization's risk appetite.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Data owner
Why it's wrong here
The data owner is accountable for classifying data and approving access, not for running the business unit's risk identification and assessment process. It is tempting because ownership implies accountability for data-related risk, and would be correct if the question asked who approves risk treatment for a specific information asset.
- ✗
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
Why it's wrong here
The CISO sets enterprise-wide security strategy, framework, and reporting, while business-unit risk identification and management sits with line management. It is tempting because the CISO owns the overall security programme, and would be correct if the question asked who defines the organisation's risk management methodology.
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Board of directors
Why it's wrong here
The board provides governance and oversight of risk appetite, not operational identification and assessment within a business unit. It is tempting because directors are ultimately accountable for enterprise risk, and would be correct if the question asked who approves the organisation's overall risk tolerance.
- ✓
Risk owner
Why this is correct
The risk owner is accountable for identifying, assessing and managing risks within their business unit, owning the response decision and residual exposure. This satisfies the stem's requirement, distinguishing them from security staff who advise and from senior management who set appetite.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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