The database having a direct SSH connection from the internet poses the highest risk to the environment because it bypasses all network segmentation and firewall controls, exposing the most sensitive data tier directly to brute-force attacks, credential theft, and unauthorized remote access. SSH is a management protocol, not an application protocol, so its exposure on the internet creates an unrestricted attack surface on the database itself, making it the single greatest threat in cloud environments. On the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control CRISC exam, this scenario tests your ability to prioritize risk based on data sensitivity and attack surface—a common trap is choosing a misconfigured web application firewall over a direct management channel, but remember that any direct internet path to a data store is always higher risk than a control that can still be tuned. Memory tip: “SSH to data is a direct hate—no firewall, no gate.”
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Architecture description:
The organization has a three-tier web application: web servers (public subnet), application servers (private subnet), and database servers (private subnet). The web servers communicate with application servers via HTTPS. Application servers query the database using SQL with embedded credentials. The database has direct internet access for remote administration via SSH, but access is restricted to a single IP address of the DBA's home office.
Based on the exhibit, which of the following poses the HIGHEST risk to the environment?
Refer to the exhibit.
Architecture description:
The organization has a three-tier web application: web servers (public subnet), application servers (private subnet), and database servers (private subnet). The web servers communicate with application servers via HTTPS. Application servers query the database using SQL with embedded credentials. The database has direct internet access for remote administration via SSH, but access is restricted to a single IP address of the DBA's home office.
A
The web servers are in a public subnet
Why wrong: That is by design; the risk is managed through firewalls.
B
The communication between web and application servers is encrypted via HTTPS
Why wrong: Encryption is a control, not a risk.
C
The application servers use embedded credentials to access the database
Why wrong: This is a security weakness but lower risk than direct external access to the database.
D
The database has a direct SSH connection from the internet
Direct internet access to the database, even from a single IP, exposes a critical asset to external threats.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The database has a direct SSH connection from the internet
Option D is correct because a direct SSH connection from the internet to the database server bypasses all network segmentation and firewall controls, exposing the database to brute-force attacks, credential theft, and unauthorized remote access. SSH is a management protocol, not an application protocol, and its exposure on the internet creates a direct attack surface on the most sensitive data tier, which is the highest risk to the environment.
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.
✗
The web servers are in a public subnet
Why it's wrong here
That is by design; the risk is managed through firewalls.
✗
The communication between web and application servers is encrypted via HTTPS
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is a control, not a risk.
✗
The application servers use embedded credentials to access the database
Why it's wrong here
This is a security weakness but lower risk than direct external access to the database.
✓
The database has a direct SSH connection from the internet
Why this is correct
Direct internet access to the database, even from a single IP, exposes a critical asset to external threats.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISACA often tests the misconception that 'encryption always reduces risk' or that 'public subnets are inherently dangerous,' when in reality the highest risk is exposing management interfaces (like SSH) directly to the internet, not the application-layer exposure of web servers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSH (TCP/22) exposed to the internet allows attackers to perform automated credential stuffing, dictionary attacks, and exploit known vulnerabilities in SSH implementations (e.g., CVE-2008-0166 for Debian weak keys). In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured security group allowing 0.0.0.0/0 on port 22 to a database server has been the root cause of numerous data breaches, including the 2019 Capital One incident where a WAF misconfiguration led to SSRF, but direct SSH exposure is even more dangerous because it provides a direct interactive shell. The principle of least privilege dictates that database servers should only accept SSH connections from a bastion host or management jump box within a private subnet.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
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: The database has a direct SSH connection from the internet — Option D is correct because a direct SSH connection from the internet to the database server bypasses all network segmentation and firewall controls, exposing the database to brute-force attacks, credential theft, and unauthorized remote access. SSH is a management protocol, not an application protocol, and its exposure on the internet creates a direct attack surface on the most sensitive data tier, which is the highest risk to the environment.
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.
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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