- A
No change in risk level
Why wrong: The increase indicates a change.
- B
Improved security posture
Why wrong: A higher patch lag indicates slower patching, worsening security.
- C
Increased vulnerability risk
Correct. Higher patch lag means systems are exposed longer.
- D
Decreased vulnerability risk
Why wrong: It indicates increased risk.
Question 5 of 1,000
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 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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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.
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.
- ✗
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.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Decreased vulnerability risk
Why it's wrong here
It indicates increased risk.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may 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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Patch lag is a lagging KRI that reflects the cumulative delay in applying security updates. In a real-world scenario, if a critical remote code execution vulnerability (e.g., CVE-2023-34362) is patched on day 1, but your environment takes 45 days to apply it, you are exposed to active exploitation for 44 extra days. This metric is often tracked per asset class (e.g., servers vs. endpoints) and can be aggregated using tools like Microsoft SCCM or WSUS to compute mean time to patch (MTTP).
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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Risk Response and Reporting — study guide chapter
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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: 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.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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