CISM Information Security Risk Management Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are typical steps in a qualitative risk assessment?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse qualitative and quantitative risk assessment steps, mistakenly selecting ALE or monetary assignment as part of qualitative analysis because they recall 'risk calculation' without distinguishing the method.
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
✓
Estimate likelihood and impact using rating scales
Qualitative risk assessment uses ordinal rating scales (e.g., 1-5 or Low-Medium-High) to estimate likelihood and impact based on expert judgment, not precise numerical values. This approach is standard in frameworks like ISO 27005 and NIST SP 800-30, which define qualitative analysis as relying on subjective categorization rather than hard financial data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Estimate likelihood and impact using rating scales
Why this is correct
Rating scales (e.g., 1-5) are qualitative.
- ✓
Prioritize risks based on risk ratings
Why this is correct
Prioritization using risk matrix is typical in qualitative assessment.
- ✓
Identify assets and threats
Why this is correct
Asset and threat identification is foundational in any assessment.
- ✗
Calculate annualized loss expectancy (ALE)
Why it's wrong here
ALE is a quantitative calculation.
- ✗
Assign monetary values to impact
Why it's wrong here
Monetary values are used in quantitative assessment.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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