The answer is deploying endpoint protection software on all workstations and restricting administrative rights for users. This combination is the most cost-effective risk treatment because it directly addresses the two primary attack vectors—unpatched malware and excessive user privileges—without requiring expensive network redesign or ongoing insurance premiums. Endpoint protection provides immediate defense against known threats, while restricting administrative rights prevents users from installing unauthorized software or making system changes that could introduce malware, effectively containing the spread of infection in a flat network. On the CRISC exam, this scenario tests your ability to prioritize practical, budget-sensitive controls over more costly alternatives like network segmentation or risk transfer. A common trap is choosing insurance, which does not reduce the likelihood of an attack. Remember the memory tip: “Block the blast, lock the rights”—meaning block malware at the endpoint and lock down user permissions to stop the blast radius.
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.
A small manufacturing company is conducting its first IT risk assessment. The company has a flat network with no segmentation, and all employees have administrative access to their workstations. The risk practitioner identifies that a malware infection on one workstation could easily spread to the entire network. The company has a limited budget for IT security improvements. Which of the following risk treatment options is MOST cost-effective and practical?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy endpoint protection software on all workstations and restrict administrative rights for users.
Option B is the most cost-effective and practical because deploying endpoint protection software provides immediate defense against known malware, while restricting administrative rights prevents users from installing unauthorized software or making system changes that could introduce malware. This combination directly addresses the root cause of the risk—unrestricted user privileges and lack of basic malware defenses—without requiring expensive network redesign or ongoing insurance premiums.
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.
✗
Accept the risk because the company's data is not highly sensitive.
Why it's wrong here
Even non-sensitive data can cause disruption.
✓
Deploy endpoint protection software on all workstations and restrict administrative rights for users.
Why this is correct
Low cost, high impact on limiting malware spread.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement network segmentation and a next-generation firewall.
Why it's wrong here
More expensive and complex than needed.
✗
Purchase cyber insurance to cover potential losses.
Why it's wrong here
Insurance does not prevent malware spread.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose network segmentation (Option C) as the ideal technical solution, but the question emphasizes cost-effectiveness and practicality for a small company with a limited budget, making the simpler, cheaper controls in Option B the better choice.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Restricting administrative rights enforces the principle of least privilege (PoLP), which is a foundational security control recommended by frameworks like NIST SP 800-53. Endpoint protection software (e.g., antivirus with behavioral analysis) can detect and block malware at the file system level, while administrative restrictions prevent malware from gaining elevated privileges to disable defenses or spread laterally. In a flat network without segmentation, this combination significantly reduces the attack surface and limits the blast radius of any single infection.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
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 endpoint protection software on all workstations and restrict administrative rights for users. — Option B is the most cost-effective and practical because deploying endpoint protection software provides immediate defense against known malware, while restricting administrative rights prevents users from installing unauthorized software or making system changes that could introduce malware. This combination directly addresses the root cause of the risk—unrestricted user privileges and lack of basic malware defenses—without requiring expensive network redesign or ongoing insurance premiums.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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