CRISC Information Technology and Security Practice Question
A large retail company is implementing a new cloud-based inventory management system. The system will store sensitive customer data and integrate with existing on-premises ERP. The risk manager is asked to identify the most critical risk to address in the shared responsibility model. Which risk is MOST likely to be overlooked?
⚠ Common exam trap
CRISC often tests the misconception that the cloud provider handles all security, leading candidates to overlook customer-side misconfigurations like access controls and instead focus on provider-managed risks such as multi-tenancy isolation or vendor lock-in.
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
✓
Misconfiguration of access controls
In the shared responsibility model, the cloud provider secures the infrastructure (security OF the cloud), while the customer is responsible for securing what they put IN the cloud—including access controls, identity management, and configuration of their own applications and data. Misconfiguration of access controls is the most commonly overlooked risk because organizations often assume the provider handles all security, leading to overly permissive IAM roles, exposed storage buckets, or weak authentication. This risk is directly under the customer's control and is a leading cause of cloud data breaches, making it the most critical to address.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Vendor lock-in
Why it's wrong here
Vendor lock-in is a strategic and contractual concern, not a shared-responsibility control gap, so it does not address who secures the stored customer data or the ERP integration. It is tempting because lock-in is a recognised cloud risk, but it would be the answer in a sourcing or exit-strategy question.
- ✗
Multi-tenancy isolation
Why it's wrong here
Multi-tenancy isolation is a provider-side control, so it sits outside the customer's direct remit and is easily assumed rather than verified. It is tempting because it genuinely matters in public cloud, but the stem's overlooked risk concerns the customer's own data and integration responsibilities.
- ✓
Misconfiguration of access controls
Why this is correct
In the shared responsibility model, the provider secures the cloud infrastructure while the customer configures identity and access controls. Misconfigured permissions, such as overly broad roles or public buckets, are the customer's responsibility and are frequently overlooked, exposing sensitive customer data.
- ✗
Data sovereignty compliance
Why it's wrong here
Data sovereignty is a well-known compliance driver that retail firms with customer data routinely assess, so it is unlikely to be overlooked. It is tempting because residency genuinely constrains cloud design, but it would be the answer where jurisdiction or regulatory location is the stated concern.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISACA exam blueprint
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