Quick Answer
The answer is risk mitigation. Updating the encryption protocol directly reduces the vulnerability that enables data exfiltration, thereby lowering the likelihood or impact of the risk to an acceptable level. This is the core technical concept: risk mitigation applies controls to address the root cause of a risk, rather than transferring, accepting, or avoiding it. On the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control CRISC exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish mitigation from other responses, especially when the action seems like a simple fix. A common trap is confusing mitigation with avoidance—avoidance would mean abandoning the system entirely, not strengthening it. For a clear risk mitigation example, remember that any control that reduces a specific weakness or threat is mitigation. Memory tip: “Mitigation modifies the weakness” — if you’re patching, updating, or hardening, you’re mitigating.
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.
A company has identified a risk of data exfiltration through an outdated encryption protocol. The risk assessment team determines that the likelihood is low, but the impact is very high. The company decides to update the encryption protocol. This risk response is an example of:
Risk transfer
Why wrong: Transfer would involve insurance or outsourcing.
Risk acceptance
Why wrong: Acceptance would mean taking no action.
Risk mitigation
Updating the encryption reduces the vulnerability, mitigating the risk.
Risk avoidance
Why wrong: Avoidance would eliminate the activity, not just update it.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Risk mitigation
Updating the encryption protocol directly reduces the vulnerability that could lead to data exfiltration, thereby lowering the likelihood or impact of the risk. This is the definition of risk mitigation, where controls are applied to reduce risk to an acceptable level. The action does not transfer, accept, or avoid the risk; it actively addresses the root cause.
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.
Risk transfer
Why it's wrong here
Transfer would involve insurance or outsourcing.
Risk acceptance
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance would mean taking no action.
Risk mitigation
Why this is correct
Updating the encryption reduces the vulnerability, mitigating the risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Risk avoidance
Why it's wrong here
Avoidance would eliminate the activity, not just update it.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing risk mitigation with risk avoidance: candidates often think that updating a protocol 'avoids' the risk, but avoidance requires ceasing the risky activity entirely, whereas mitigation reduces the risk while continuing the activity.
Detailed technical explanation
Outdated encryption protocols such as SSL 3.0 or TLS 1.0 are vulnerable to attacks like POODLE or BEAST, which can allow an attacker to decrypt traffic and exfiltrate data. Updating to TLS 1.2 or 1.3 with strong cipher suites (e.g., AES-GCM) directly mitigates these cryptographic weaknesses. In a real-world scenario, a company might also implement HSTS and disable weak ciphers at the load balancer or web server level as part of a comprehensive mitigation strategy.
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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IT Risk Assessment — study guide chapter
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FAQ
IT Risk Assessment — This question tests IT Risk Assessment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Risk mitigation — Updating the encryption protocol directly reduces the vulnerability that could lead to data exfiltration, thereby lowering the likelihood or impact of the risk. This is the definition of risk mitigation, where controls are applied to reduce risk to an acceptable level. The action does not transfer, accept, or avoid the risk; it actively addresses the root cause.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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.
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