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CRISC Practice Question: During a risk assessment, the risk practitioner…
During a risk assessment, the risk practitioner discovers that a critical database does not have an active failover solution. The database is used by multiple business applications. Which of the following factors should be given the HIGHEST weight when determining the inherent risk level?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse inherent risk with residual risk, and incorrectly weigh compensating controls or recovery costs as primary factors for inherent risk, when they only apply after controls are considered.
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
✓
The criticality of the database to business operations
The inherent risk level is determined by the potential impact and likelihood of a threat exploiting a vulnerability, without considering controls. The criticality of the database to business operations directly drives the impact severity—if the database fails, multiple business applications could be disrupted, leading to significant operational and financial damage. This makes option A the highest-weighted factor because it defines the worst-case consequence, which is the foundation of inherent risk.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The criticality of the database to business operations
Why this is correct
Inherent risk is based on the asset's value and exposure; business criticality determines impact.
- ✗
The number of existing compensating controls
Why it's wrong here
Compensating controls affect residual risk, not inherent risk.
- ✗
The frequency of vulnerability scans
Why it's wrong here
This is a control activity, not a factor for inherent risk.
- ✗
The cost to restore the database from backup
Why it's wrong here
While related to impact, it is a subset; overall business criticality is broader.
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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.