This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk assessment. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A company has identified that its legacy financial system has a high inherent risk due to outdated architecture. The system cannot be replaced for three years. What is the best risk treatment strategy?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement compensating controls such as network segmentation and enhanced monitoring.
Option D is correct because when a legacy system cannot be replaced for three years, the most effective risk treatment is to reduce the likelihood and impact of exploitation through compensating controls. Network segmentation limits lateral movement from the legacy system, and enhanced monitoring (e.g., SIEM with custom rules for anomalous traffic) provides early detection of compromise. This aligns with the ISACA risk treatment principle of risk reduction when avoidance or transfer is not feasible.
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.
✗
Accept the risk and allocate contingency funds for potential incidents.
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance without controls is not advisable for high inherent risk; active reduction is preferred.
✗
Transfer the risk by purchasing cyber insurance.
Why it's wrong here
Insurance transfers financial impact but does not reduce the underlying risk; may be part of strategy but not primary.
✗
Avoid the risk by discontinuing the system immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Avoidance causes operational disruption; not feasible if system is critical.
✓
Implement compensating controls such as network segmentation and enhanced monitoring.
Why this is correct
Compensating controls reduce residual risk while the system remains in place.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose risk acceptance (Option A) or transfer (Option B) without recognizing that high inherent risk demands active reduction measures, especially when the system cannot be decommissioned.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Compensating controls for legacy systems often include deploying a network-based intrusion detection system (NIDS) with signatures tuned to the legacy protocol (e.g., SMBv1 for old file shares) and placing the system in a separate VLAN with strict ACLs that only allow necessary ports (e.g., TCP 1433 for SQL) to a jump box. In a real-world scenario, a hospital running an unsupported EHR system might use application-layer firewalls and log forwarding to a SOC to detect exploitation of known CVEs like EternalBlue, buying time until migration.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 CRISC 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
IT Risk Assessment — This question tests IT Risk Assessment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement compensating controls such as network segmentation and enhanced monitoring. — Option D is correct because when a legacy system cannot be replaced for three years, the most effective risk treatment is to reduce the likelihood and impact of exploitation through compensating controls. Network segmentation limits lateral movement from the legacy system, and enhanced monitoring (e.g., SIEM with custom rules for anomalous traffic) provides early detection of compromise. This aligns with the ISACA risk treatment principle of risk reduction when avoidance or transfer is not feasible.
What should I do if I get this CRISC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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