This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk identification. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
During a risk identification workshop, the team identifies a potential data leakage from a legacy system. What is the FIRST step the risk owner should take?
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.
Implement encryption immediately
Why wrong: Implementing controls without proper documentation can lead to misalignment.
Document the risk and its source
Documentation ensures the risk is properly captured for subsequent analysis.
Assign a risk score
Why wrong: Risk scoring should be done after documenting the risk details.
Report to senior management
Why wrong: Reporting comes after the risk is documented and assessed.
Answer choices
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 and its source
The first step for the risk owner is to formally document the risk and its source. This ensures that the identified data leakage from the legacy system is captured in the risk register, establishing a baseline for analysis and treatment. Without documentation, subsequent steps like risk scoring, control implementation, or escalation cannot be properly justified or tracked.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Implement encryption immediately
Why it's wrong here
Implementing controls without proper documentation can lead to misalignment.
Document the risk and its source
Why this is correct
Documentation ensures the risk is properly captured for subsequent analysis.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Assign a risk score
Why it's wrong here
Risk scoring should be done after documenting the risk details.
Report to senior management
Why it's wrong here
Reporting comes after the risk is documented and assessed.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often jump to immediate remediation (like encryption) or escalation, forgetting that formal documentation is the mandatory first step to ensure traceability and compliance with risk management processes.
Detailed technical explanation
In risk management frameworks like ISO 31000 and NIST SP 800-30, the risk identification phase explicitly requires capturing the risk in a risk register before any analysis or treatment. For a legacy system, documentation should include details such as the system's data flow, encryption protocols (or lack thereof), and any compensating controls, as these factors directly influence the risk's severity and remediation options.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CRISC exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
IT Risk Identification — This question tests IT Risk Identification — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Document the risk and its source — The first step for the risk owner is to formally document the risk and its source. This ensures that the identified data leakage from the legacy system is captured in the risk register, establishing a baseline for analysis and treatment. Without documentation, subsequent steps like risk scoring, control implementation, or escalation cannot be properly justified or tracked.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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