mediumMultiple Choice
CRISC Practice Question: After a risk assessment, the risk owner decides…
After a risk assessment, the risk owner decides to mitigate a high-risk finding by implementing additional access controls. What should the risk manager do NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse the order of risk management steps, assuming the risk register update (Option A) is the immediate next action, when in fact the residual risk reassessment must occur first to ensure the mitigation was effective.
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
✓
Reassess the residual risk level after controls are implemented.
After mitigation controls are implemented, the risk manager must reassess the residual risk level to determine whether the controls have effectively reduced the risk to an acceptable level. This step ensures that the risk treatment decision is validated and that any remaining exposure is understood before updating the risk register or closing the issue.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Update the risk register with the mitigation actions taken.
Why it's wrong here
The register must reflect the implemented controls and the recalculated residual risk before any further response decision; recording only the actions taken omits the reassessment that determines whether the risk is now acceptable. It is tempting because documentation is a genuine risk manager duty, and it would be correct as part of the ongoing monitoring cycle.
- ✗
Accept the residual risk on behalf of the organization.
Why it's wrong here
Residual risk acceptance is the risk owner's decision, not the risk manager's; the manager cannot accept risk on the organisation's behalf. It is tempting because acceptance is a legitimate risk response, and it would be correct once the owner formally documents that remaining exposure after mitigation is tolerable.
- ✓
Reassess the residual risk level after controls are implemented.
Why this is correct
Mitigation changes the risk picture, so the risk manager must re-evaluate the finding's likelihood and impact with the new controls in place, confirming the residual risk falls within tolerance. Only then can the risk be formally accepted, transferred, or escalated.
- ✗
Close the risk issue and move to the next priority.
Why it's wrong here
Closing the issue presumes the added access controls reduced risk to an acceptable level, which has not been verified through reassessment. It is tempting because closure follows successful mitigation, and it would be correct once residual risk is measured, documented and formally accepted by the risk owner.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 1,062 original CRISC practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.