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CRISC Practice Question: A risk assessment reveals that a legacy system…
A risk assessment reveals that a legacy system has a high vulnerability score but low business criticality. The cost to remediate is high. What is the MOST appropriate risk response?
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
✓
Accept the risk and monitor it
Acceptance is appropriate when the cost of mitigation exceeds the potential loss, and the system has low business criticality. Option A is wrong because avoidance (decommissioning) is an extreme measure for a system with low criticality; acceptance with monitoring is more proportionate. Option C is wrong because mitigation (patching) is costly and not justified given the low criticality. Option D is wrong because risk transfer (e.g., via managed security services) may not be feasible or cost-effective for a legacy system.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Avoid the risk by decommissioning the system
Why it's wrong here
Decommissioning may be disruptive.
- ✓
Accept the risk and monitor it
Why this is correct
Acceptance is appropriate when cost outweighs benefit.
- ✗
Mitigate the vulnerability with a patch
Why it's wrong here
Cost may exceed benefit.
- ✗
Transfer the risk via a managed security service
Why it's wrong here
MSS may not accept legacy risks.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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