- A
Patch lag time for critical systems
Why wrong: Patch lag is a Key Risk Indicator (KRI), not a KCI.
- B
Exception rate for access requests
Exception rate indicates how often controls are bypassed.
- C
Control deficiency rate identified in audits
Deficiency rate directly reflects control failures.
- D
Test results from control testing
Pass/fail rates from testing measure effectiveness.
- E
User satisfaction survey scores
Why wrong: User satisfaction is not a standard KCI for control effectiveness.
Question 230 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.
After implementing a new access control system, the IT risk manager needs to measure its effectiveness. Which THREE of the following are Key Control Indicators (KCIs) that would be appropriate?
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
✓
Exception rate for access requests
Option B is correct because the exception rate for access requests directly measures how often access requests deviate from established policies, indicating the effectiveness of the access control system in enforcing least privilege and authorization rules. A high exception rate suggests weaknesses in the control design or operation, making it a key control indicator (KCI) for access management.
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.
- ✗
Patch lag time for critical systems
Why it's wrong here
Patch lag is a Key Risk Indicator (KRI), not a KCI.
- ✓
Exception rate for access requests
Why this is correct
Exception rate indicates how often controls are bypassed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Control deficiency rate identified in audits
Why this is correct
Deficiency rate directly reflects control failures.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Test results from control testing
Why this is correct
Pass/fail rates from testing measure effectiveness.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
User satisfaction survey scores
Why it's wrong here
User satisfaction is not a standard KCI for control effectiveness.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing KRIs (which measure risk exposure, like patch lag) with KCIs (which measure control effectiveness), leading candidates to select metrics that are not directly tied to the control's operational performance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
KCIs are metrics that track the performance of controls over time, often derived from control testing results (Option D) or audit findings (Option C). For access control, exception rates are calculated by dividing the number of access requests that bypass standard approval workflows by total requests, providing a quantitative measure of control adherence. In real-world scenarios, a sudden spike in exception rates might indicate a misconfigured role-based access control (RBAC) policy or a bypass in identity management systems like Active Directory.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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.
- →
Risk Response and Reporting — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Risk Response and Reporting practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CRISC questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control CRISC study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
CRISC practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related CRISC practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
IT Risk Identification practice questions
Practise CRISC questions linked to IT Risk Identification.
IT Risk Assessment practice questions
Practise CRISC questions linked to IT Risk Assessment.
Risk Response and Reporting practice questions
Practise CRISC questions linked to Risk Response and Reporting.
Information Technology and Security practice questions
Practise CRISC questions linked to Information Technology and Security.
Risk Response and Mitigation practice questions
Practise CRISC questions linked to Risk Response and Mitigation.
Risk and Control Monitoring and Reporting practice questions
Practise CRISC questions linked to Risk and Control Monitoring and Reporting.
CRISC fundamentals practice questions
Practise CRISC questions linked to CRISC fundamentals.
CRISC scenario practice questions
Practise CRISC questions linked to CRISC scenario.
CRISC troubleshooting practice questions
Practise CRISC questions linked to CRISC troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free CRISC practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Exception rate for access requests — Option B is correct because the exception rate for access requests directly measures how often access requests deviate from established policies, indicating the effectiveness of the access control system in enforcing least privilege and authorization rules. A high exception rate suggests weaknesses in the control design or operation, making it a key control indicator (KCI) for access management.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.