CRISC Risk Response and Mitigation Practice Question
An organization uses a legacy system that cannot be patched because the vendor is defunct. The system supports a core business function. The risk assessment shows a high likelihood of exploitation and high impact. The board has decided to keep the system operational due to its criticality. Which risk response should the risk manager recommend?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to choose 'Accept the risk' because they misunderstand risk acceptance as a passive decision, but in CRISC, acceptance is only valid when the risk is within the risk appetite, not when the likelihood and impact are both high and the system is critical.
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
✓
Implement compensating controls
When a legacy system cannot be patched and the risk is high, compensating controls are the most appropriate response to reduce the residual risk to an acceptable level. Compensating controls, such as network segmentation, strict access controls, or an application-layer firewall, mitigate the exploitation vector without decommissioning the critical system. The board's decision to keep the system operational means avoidance is not an option, and acceptance alone would leave the organization exposed to an unacceptable risk level.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Accept the risk
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance leaves the high-likelihood, high-impact exposure untreated, which is untenable for a core function. It is tempting because the board already tolerates the residual risk, and acceptance would be correct only if impact were low or compensating controls reduced likelihood to an acceptable level.
- ✓
Implement compensating controls
Why this is correct
Compensating controls reduce risk when patching is impossible, such as network segmentation, strict access controls or enhanced monitoring around the legacy system. This response accepts the system's continued operation while lowering likelihood or impact, matching the board's decision to retain it.
- ✗
Transfer via insurance
Why it's wrong here
Insurance transfers the financial consequence of a loss but leaves the legacy system exposed and the core function still dependent on it. Transfer suits low-frequency, high-severity events; here the board accepted the risk by retaining the system, so mitigation through compensating controls is required.
- ✗
Avoid by decommissioning
Why it's wrong here
Decommissioning contradicts the board's decision to keep the system operational, so it cannot be recommended. Avoidance is tempting because it eliminates the risk entirely, and it would be correct if the business function could be relocated to a supported replacement platform.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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