The answer is automated security scanning integrated into the pipeline. This technique is best suited for detecting code vulnerabilities early because it operates continuously on every code commit, providing immediate feedback to developers and aligning with the DevOps principle of shifting security left. By catching issues like SQL injection or insecure dependencies at the moment of introduction, it minimizes remediation cost and risk far more effectively than periodic manual tests. On the CRISC exam, this concept tests your understanding of risk identification within agile and DevOps environments, often appearing as a scenario where you must choose between continuous scanning and point-in-time reviews. A common trap is selecting vulnerability assessments or penetration tests, which are periodic and miss the real-time detection required for CI/CD. Remember the mnemonic “Shift Left, Scan Right” — automated scanning catches flaws early, while later tests validate production readiness.
CRISC IT Risk Identification Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk identification. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 uses a DevOps approach with a continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline. Which risk identification technique is best suited for detecting code vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle?
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
✓
Automated security scanning integrated into the pipeline
Automated security scanning integrated into the CI/CD pipeline is best suited for detecting code vulnerabilities early because it runs continuously on every code commit, providing immediate feedback to developers. This aligns with the DevOps principle of shifting security left, catching issues like SQL injection or insecure dependencies before they reach production. Unlike periodic tests, this technique ensures vulnerabilities are identified at the moment of introduction, minimizing remediation cost and risk.
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.
✗
Quarterly penetration testing
Why it's wrong here
Penetration testing is periodic and may miss vulnerabilities introduced between tests.
✓
Automated security scanning integrated into the pipeline
Why this is correct
Automated scanning integrates seamlessly with CI/CD, providing immediate vulnerability detection.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Threat modeling of system architecture
Why it's wrong here
Threat modeling is a design-time activity, not suitable for continuous identification during development.
✗
Manual code review
Why it's wrong here
Manual code review is time-consuming and may not scale with frequent changes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose threat modeling (Option C) because it is a recognized risk identification technique, but they fail to recognize that it is not designed to detect code-level vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle, which requires continuous, automated scanning within the pipeline.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Automated security scanning in a CI/CD pipeline typically uses Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools that parse source code or bytecode to detect patterns matching known vulnerability signatures (e.g., CWE-89 for SQL injection) without executing the application. These tools integrate via plugins (e.g., for Jenkins, GitLab CI) and can fail the build if a critical vulnerability is found, enforcing a security gate. In real-world scenarios, this prevents issues like the Equifax breach, where a known vulnerability in Apache Struts went undetected due to lack of automated scanning in the build process.
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 Identification — This question tests IT Risk Identification — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Automated security scanning integrated into the pipeline — Automated security scanning integrated into the CI/CD pipeline is best suited for detecting code vulnerabilities early because it runs continuously on every code commit, providing immediate feedback to developers. This aligns with the DevOps principle of shifting security left, catching issues like SQL injection or insecure dependencies before they reach production. Unlike periodic tests, this technique ensures vulnerabilities are identified at the moment of introduction, minimizing remediation cost and risk.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.