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CRISC Practice Question: A company has identified a risk of data…
A company has identified a risk of data exfiltration through an outdated encryption protocol. The risk assessment team determines that the likelihood is low, but the impact is very high. The company decides to update the encryption protocol. This risk response is an example of:
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse risk mitigation with risk avoidance: candidates often think that updating a protocol 'avoids' the risk, but avoidance requires ceasing the risky activity entirely, whereas mitigation reduces the risk while continuing the activity.
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 mitigation
Updating the encryption protocol directly reduces the vulnerability that could lead to data exfiltration, thereby lowering the likelihood or impact of the risk. This is the definition of risk mitigation, where controls are applied to reduce risk to an acceptable level. The action does not transfer, accept, or avoid the risk; it actively addresses the root cause.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Risk transfer
Why it's wrong here
Transfer would involve insurance or outsourcing.
- ✗
Risk acceptance
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance would mean taking no action.
- ✓
Risk mitigation
Why this is correct
Updating the encryption reduces the vulnerability, mitigating the risk.
- ✗
Risk avoidance
Why it's wrong here
Avoidance would eliminate the activity, not just update it.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CRISC 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 CRISC exam.