- A
Purchase cyber insurance
Why wrong: Insurance is a risk transfer mechanism.
- B
Accept the risk with formal sign-off
Why wrong: Acceptance is a separate treatment option.
- C
Discontinue the vulnerable service
Why wrong: Discontinuation is risk avoidance.
- D
Deploy an intrusion prevention system
IPS reduces likelihood of successful attack.
- E
Implement a security patch
Patching reduces vulnerability likelihood.
Question 396 of 1,000
CRISC IT Risk Assessment Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk assessment. 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.
An organization is evaluating risk treatment options for a critical vulnerability. Which TWO options would be considered risk mitigation?
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
✓
Deploy an intrusion prevention system
Deploying an intrusion prevention system (IPS) is a risk mitigation measure because it actively monitors and blocks malicious traffic targeting the vulnerability, reducing the likelihood of exploitation. Implementing a security patch directly removes the vulnerability, thereby reducing both the likelihood and impact of a potential attack. Both actions modify the risk by applying technical controls to lower the residual risk level.
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.
- ✗
Purchase cyber insurance
Why it's wrong here
Insurance is a risk transfer mechanism.
- ✗
Accept the risk with formal sign-off
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance is a separate treatment option.
- ✗
Discontinue the vulnerable service
Why it's wrong here
Discontinuation is risk avoidance.
- ✓
Deploy an intrusion prevention system
Why this is correct
IPS reduces likelihood of successful attack.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Implement a security patch
Why this is correct
Patching reduces vulnerability likelihood.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing risk mitigation (reducing likelihood/impact through controls) with risk transfer (insurance), risk acceptance (formal sign-off), or risk avoidance (discontinuing the service), which are distinct treatment options in the CRISC risk response framework.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
An IPS operates by inspecting network traffic against signatures and behavioral patterns (e.g., Snort rules or Suricata) and can drop malicious packets in real time, effectively reducing the attack surface without altering the vulnerable system itself. Patching, on the other hand, addresses the root cause by modifying code or configuration (e.g., applying a CVE-specific fix via a vendor update), which eliminates the vulnerability at the source. In practice, a layered defense might combine both: the IPS provides immediate protection while the patch is being tested and deployed in a change management process.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CRISC question test?
IT Risk Assessment — This question tests IT Risk Assessment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy an intrusion prevention system — Deploying an intrusion prevention system (IPS) is a risk mitigation measure because it actively monitors and blocks malicious traffic targeting the vulnerability, reducing the likelihood of exploitation. Implementing a security patch directly removes the vulnerability, thereby reducing both the likelihood and impact of a potential attack. Both actions modify the risk by applying technical controls to lower the residual risk level.
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.
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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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