CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
During a vendor risk assessment, a prospective vendor for critical services cannot provide a SOC 2 Type II report. According to the organization's vendor risk appetite, which action should be taken?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume 'additional monitoring' (Option D) is a valid compensating control, but the CRISC exam emphasizes that for critical services, independent assurance (like SOC 2) is a non-negotiable baseline, and monitoring is a detective control, not a preventive or directive control that replaces the need for formal risk acceptance.
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
✓
Reject the vendor or request a formal risk acceptance
A SOC 2 Type II report provides independent assurance over a service organization's controls over a period of time. When a prospective vendor for critical services cannot provide this report, and the organization's risk appetite is defined, the appropriate action is to reject the vendor or require a formal risk acceptance from the risk owner. This ensures that any deviation from the required control evidence is explicitly acknowledged and approved, rather than bypassing the requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Lower the vendor's tier to reduce requirements
Why it's wrong here
Tier should reflect actual risk, not be manipulated to avoid requirements.
- ✗
Accept the vendor's self-assessment instead
Why it's wrong here
Self-assessment is less reliable and typically not accepted for critical vendors.
- ✓
Reject the vendor or request a formal risk acceptance
Why this is correct
This aligns with risk appetite; if risk is accepted, it must be formally documented.
- ✗
Onboard the vendor with additional monitoring
Why it's wrong here
Without the required report, risk may be too high; additional monitoring may not suffice.
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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.