- A
Assigning control ownership to a specific individual or team
Why wrong: Control ownership is established during implementation, not design.
- B
Conducting a cost-benefit analysis comparing annual control cost to ALE reduction
Cost-benefit analysis ensures the control is economically justified.
- C
Performing user training on the new control
Why wrong: Training is a post-implementation activity.
- D
Developing a detailed control implementation plan
Why wrong: Implementation plan is part of the later implementation phase.
- E
Selecting the control type (preventive, detective, or corrective)
Choosing the right control type is fundamental to addressing the specific risk.
CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of risk response and reporting. 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 financial services company is implementing a new control to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to customer data. Which TWO of the following are key factors to consider during the control design phase?
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
Conducting a cost-benefit analysis comparing annual control cost to ALE reduction
A cost-benefit analysis comparing the annualized cost of the control to the reduction in Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE) is a key factor during control design because it ensures the control is economically justified. This aligns with the risk response principle that the cost of mitigation should not exceed the risk reduction benefit, a core tenet of quantitative risk analysis in CRISC.
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.
- ✗
Assigning control ownership to a specific individual or team
Why it's wrong here
Control ownership is established during implementation, not design.
- ✓
Conducting a cost-benefit analysis comparing annual control cost to ALE reduction
Why this is correct
Cost-benefit analysis ensures the control is economically justified.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Performing user training on the new control
Why it's wrong here
Training is a post-implementation activity.
- ✗
Developing a detailed control implementation plan
Why it's wrong here
Implementation plan is part of the later implementation phase.
- ✓
Selecting the control type (preventive, detective, or corrective)
Why this is correct
Choosing the right control type is fundamental to addressing the specific risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between design-phase activities (like selecting control type and cost-benefit analysis) versus implementation or operational activities (like assigning ownership or training), leading candidates to confuse 'what to design' with 'how to run' the control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In quantitative risk analysis, ALE is calculated as Single Loss Expectancy (SLE) multiplied by Annualized Rate of Occurrence (ARO). The cost-benefit analysis compares the control's annual cost (e.g., licensing, maintenance, labor) to the ALE reduction (ΔALE = ALE_before - ALE_after). If the control cost exceeds ΔALE, the control is not cost-effective and should be redesigned or rejected. This is formalized in ISO 27005 and NIST SP 800-30 as the 'cost-benefit analysis' step in risk treatment.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CRISC question test?
Risk Response and Reporting — This question tests Risk Response and Reporting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Conducting a cost-benefit analysis comparing annual control cost to ALE reduction — A cost-benefit analysis comparing the annualized cost of the control to the reduction in Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE) is a key factor during control design because it ensures the control is economically justified. This aligns with the risk response principle that the cost of mitigation should not exceed the risk reduction benefit, a core tenet of quantitative risk analysis in CRISC.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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