CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
During a quarterly control effectiveness test, internal audit discovers that a key automated control failed 15% of the time due to a software bug. The risk owner decides to accept the risk because the cost to fix the bug is high. What should the risk manager do next?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the risk manager's advisory role with an enforcement role, leading them to choose 'override the risk owner' or 'implement a compensating control' instead of recognizing that documentation is the correct procedural step after a risk acceptance decision.
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
✓
Document the risk acceptance and rationale in the risk register
The risk manager's primary responsibility is to formally document the risk acceptance decision, including the rationale provided by the risk owner, in the risk register. This ensures audit trail, transparency, and compliance with governance frameworks such as COBIT or ISO 31000. Since the risk owner has the authority to accept the risk, the risk manager must record it rather than challenge or escalate it without justification.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Document the risk acceptance and rationale in the risk register
Why this is correct
Proper documentation ensures accountability and auditability.
- ✗
Implement a compensating control
Why it's wrong here
The decision was to accept; implementing a compensating control would change that.
- ✗
Override the risk owner's decision
Why it's wrong here
Risk ownership includes the authority to accept risk.
- ✗
Report the issue to the board immediately
Why it's wrong here
Not necessary for a single control failure if accepted.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.