CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
A risk manager is evaluating a control that addresses a high-risk finding from an internal audit. Which of the following is the MOST important factor in determining whether the control is effective?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'alignment with best practices' (Option D) with proof of effectiveness, but CRISC requires evidence of actual control performance, not just theoretical compliance.
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
✓
Key control indicators (KCIs) such as control deficiency rate and test results
B is correct because the effectiveness of a control is determined by its ability to reduce risk to an acceptable level, which is directly measured by key control indicators (KCIs) such as the control deficiency rate and test results. These metrics provide empirical evidence of whether the control is operating as intended and mitigating the identified high-risk finding. Without such performance data, any assessment of effectiveness is speculative.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The vendor's reputation for providing reliable security solutions
Why it's wrong here
Vendor reputation is a procurement consideration, not evidence that the deployed control mitigates the specific audit finding. Reputation matters when shortlisting suppliers during selection; effectiveness is judged by testing whether the control actually reduces the identified risk to within tolerance.
- ✓
Key control indicators (KCIs) such as control deficiency rate and test results
Why this is correct
KCIs provide measurable evidence of how reliably the control performs in practise, directly satisfying the audit finding's requirement to prove effectiveness. Deficiency rate and test results reveal whether the control operates consistently, which is the decisive factor when a high-risk finding demands demonstrable, ongoing assurance rather than design intent alone.
- ✗
The cost of the control relative to the asset value
Why it's wrong here
Cost relative to asset value is a budgetary justification, not evidence that the control mitigates the audit finding. Effectiveness depends on whether the control actually reduces the identified risk to within tolerance. Cost-benefit analysis is tempting because it supports control selection and funding decisions, but it cannot demonstrate that a deployed control operates as intended.
- ✗
The control's alignment with industry best practices
Why it's wrong here
Alignment with best practice indicates sound design but does not demonstrate that the control operates as intended against this finding. Best-practice alignment is useful when designing or benchmarking controls; effectiveness requires evidence, such as testing results, that the control actually mitigates the audited risk.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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