CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
An organization is implementing a continuous monitoring solution for its network. Which of the following is an example of continuous monitoring?
⚠ Common exam trap
CRISC often tests the distinction between continuous monitoring (frequent, automated) and periodic activities (monthly, quarterly, annual); candidates who focus on the depth of the activity rather than its frequency pick the wrong answer.
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
✓
Daily automated vulnerability scanning
Continuous monitoring means ongoing, automated observation of controls and risk indicators at frequent intervals. Daily automated vulnerability scanning fits this definition because it runs repeatedly without manual intervention and provides near-real-time visibility into the control environment. The other options are periodic, point-in-time activities.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Monthly control testing by internal audit
Why it's wrong here
Monthly control testing by internal audit is periodic assurance at fixed intervals, not continuous observation of network events. It is tempting because audit testing does verify control effectiveness, and it would be correct for scheduled compliance attestation, but continuous monitoring requires automated, ongoing data collection.
- ✗
Annual penetration testing
Why it's wrong here
Annual penetration testing is a point-in-time assessment, leaving eleven months unobserved, so it cannot provide continuous monitoring. It is tempting because penetration testing genuinely validates exploitable weaknesses, and it would be the right choice for an annual assurance exercise rather than ongoing network visibility.
- ✗
Quarterly access reviews
Why it's wrong here
Quarterly access reviews are periodic recertification of entitlements, not continuous monitoring of network activity. They are tempting because reviews detect excessive or stale permissions, and would be correct for periodic access governance, but they generate no ongoing telemetry between review cycles.
- ✓
Daily automated vulnerability scanning
Why this is correct
Daily automated vulnerability scanning repeatedly and systematically inspects network assets on a scheduled basis, generating current findings without manual intervention. This satisfies continuous monitoring's defining characteristic of ongoing automated observation, unlike one-off assessments or periodic manual reviews that capture only point-in-time snapshots.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISACA exam blueprint
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.