CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
A quarterly risk report for the IT steering committee shows a key risk indicator (KRI) called 'patch lag' has increased from 15 days to 45 days. What does this trend most likely indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse a KRI trend with a risk level itself, thinking a change in the indicator does not necessarily mean a change in risk, but in CRISC, a worsening KRI like patch lag directly signals increased vulnerability 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
✓
Increased vulnerability risk
The patch lag KRI measures the time between a patch's release and its deployment. An increase from 15 to 45 days means systems are exposed to known vulnerabilities for a longer period, directly increasing the window of opportunity for exploitation. This trend indicates a worsening security posture and higher vulnerability risk.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
No change in risk level
Why it's wrong here
The increase indicates a change.
- ✗
Improved security posture
Why it's wrong here
A higher patch lag indicates slower patching, worsening security.
- ✓
Increased vulnerability risk
Why this is correct
Correct. Higher patch lag means systems are exposed longer.
- ✗
Decreased vulnerability risk
Why it's wrong here
It indicates increased risk.
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JA
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.