easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CRISC Practice Question: A control owner reports that a preventive control…
A control owner reports that a preventive control is operating as designed, but the risk owner is concerned that residual risk remains high. What should the risk practitioner do NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume the control owner's report of 'operating as designed' is sufficient evidence, but CRISC emphasizes that control effectiveness must be independently validated through testing before concluding on residual risk.
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
✓
Perform a control effectiveness test to validate the control.
The risk practitioner must first validate the control's effectiveness before taking any further action. Even though the control owner reports the preventive control is operating as designed, the risk owner's concern about high residual risk suggests the control may not be adequately mitigating the risk. Performing a control effectiveness test (D) provides objective evidence to determine whether the control is actually reducing risk to an acceptable level, which is the necessary next step before updating the risk register, recommending compensating controls, or escalating.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Update the risk register to reflect the high residual risk.
Why it's wrong here
Should be done after verification.
- ✗
Recommend additional compensating controls.
Why it's wrong here
May be needed after testing.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the risk committee.
Why it's wrong here
Not necessary without further analysis.
- ✓
Perform a control effectiveness test to validate the control.
Why this is correct
Verifies if control mitigates risk as intended.
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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.