- A
Investigate root causes of the high deficiency rate
Understanding why the control is failing is the primary step before any remediation or reporting.
- B
Escalate the deficiency to the board immediately
Why wrong: Escalation may be needed, but first investigate root causes to provide context.
- C
Implement compensating controls to reduce risk
Why wrong: Compensating controls may be needed, but root cause investigation should come first to ensure effective resolution.
- D
Increase the frequency of control testing
Why wrong: Testing frequency is not the primary issue; the high deficiency rate indicates a problem that needs investigation.
Question 683 of 1,000
CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of risk response and reporting. 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 key control indicator (KCI) for a critical access control shows a deficiency rate of 12% for the quarter, exceeding the target of 5%. Which of the following should be the risk practitioner's PRIMARY action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
✓
Investigate root causes of the high deficiency rate
The primary action is to investigate root causes because a KCI deficiency rate of 12% against a 5% target indicates a systemic control failure. Without understanding why the access control is failing (e.g., misconfigured role-based access control (RBAC) rules, stale user entitlements, or bypassed multi-factor authentication), any subsequent remediation may be ineffective. Root cause analysis ensures the risk practitioner addresses the underlying issue rather than applying a superficial fix.
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.
- ✓
Investigate root causes of the high deficiency rate
Why this is correct
Understanding why the control is failing is the primary step before any remediation or reporting.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Escalate the deficiency to the board immediately
Why it's wrong here
Escalation may be needed, but first investigate root causes to provide context.
- ✗
Implement compensating controls to reduce risk
Why it's wrong here
Compensating controls may be needed, but root cause investigation should come first to ensure effective resolution.
- ✗
Increase the frequency of control testing
Why it's wrong here
Testing frequency is not the primary issue; the high deficiency rate indicates a problem that needs investigation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose 'implement compensating controls' or 'increase testing frequency' because they focus on immediate risk reduction, but the CRISC exam emphasizes that understanding the root cause is the foundational step before any remediation action.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In identity and access management (IAM), a KCI deficiency rate often stems from issues like orphaned accounts, excessive privileges, or misaligned attribute-based access control (ABAC) policies. Root cause analysis might involve reviewing access review logs, comparing current entitlements against the principle of least privilege, or auditing directory synchronization intervals. For example, a 12% deficiency could indicate that a quarterly recertification process missed 12% of user access reviews, requiring a process redesign rather than more frequent testing.
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.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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: Investigate root causes of the high deficiency rate — The primary action is to investigate root causes because a KCI deficiency rate of 12% against a 5% target indicates a systemic control failure. Without understanding why the access control is failing (e.g., misconfigured role-based access control (RBAC) rules, stale user entitlements, or bypassed multi-factor authentication), any subsequent remediation may be ineffective. Root cause analysis ensures the risk practitioner addresses the underlying issue rather than applying a superficial fix.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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