hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CRISC Practice Question: A bank's risk committee reviews a monthly risk…
A bank's risk committee reviews a monthly risk report that includes KRIs. One KRI shows that the number of failed transactions due to system errors is trending upward. The control owner states that the trend is within the risk appetite. However, the report also shows that the number of customer complaints is stable. What should the risk manager do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume a stable customer complaint count validates the control owner's risk appetite assertion, but CRISC emphasizes that KRIs must be investigated for root cause even when within thresholds, as leading indicators (failed transactions) may precede lagging indicators (complaints).
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
✓
Investigate the root cause of the increasing failed transactions.
The upward trend in failed transactions due to system errors, even if within risk appetite, indicates a potential control degradation or emerging risk that requires root cause analysis. The risk manager must first investigate the underlying cause (e.g., software bugs, database contention, or network latency) to determine if the trend signals a systemic issue that could breach risk appetite thresholds or impact customer experience, despite stable complaints. This aligns with the CRISC principle of proactive risk monitoring, where unexplained KRI deviations trigger investigation before escalation or acceptance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Escalate to the board of directors.
Why it's wrong here
Escalation is premature without root cause analysis.
- ✗
Accept the control owner's assessment and continue monitoring.
Why it's wrong here
This ignores the negative trend.
- ✓
Investigate the root cause of the increasing failed transactions.
Why this is correct
Understanding the cause is essential before any decision.
- ✗
Recommend increasing the monitoring frequency.
Why it's wrong here
Frequency alone may not address the underlying issue.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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