The correct answers are user awareness training and network segmentation, as both directly reduce the likelihood of a ransomware attack. User awareness training lowers risk by teaching employees to identify phishing emails and malicious attachments, which are the primary initial vectors for ransomware delivery, while network segmentation limits lateral movement by using VLANs or firewall rules such as 802.1Q and ACLs to contain a compromise and prevent widespread encryption. On the CRISC exam, this tests your understanding of preventive controls under the risk response domain, where a common trap is confusing likelihood-reducing strategies with impact-reducing ones like backups. A helpful memory tip is “Train the user, segment the network” to recall that both address the attack’s entry and spread.
CRISC Risk Response and Mitigation Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of risk response and mitigation. 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.
Which TWO of the following are effective risk mitigation strategies for reducing the likelihood of a ransomware attack?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploying network segmentation
Deploying network segmentation (D) reduces the likelihood of a ransomware attack by limiting lateral movement. If an endpoint is compromised, segmentation using VLANs or firewall rules (e.g., 802.1Q, ACLs) prevents the ransomware from spreading to critical systems, thereby reducing the attack surface and the probability of widespread encryption. User awareness training (E) directly reduces likelihood by teaching users to recognize phishing emails and malicious attachments, which are the primary initial vectors for ransomware delivery.
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.
✗
Installing intrusion detection systems
Why it's wrong here
IDS detects but does not prevent the initial infection.
✗
Conducting periodic vulnerability scans
Why it's wrong here
Scans identify vulnerabilities but do not mitigate them directly.
✗
Regularly backing up critical data
Why it's wrong here
Backups reduce impact, not likelihood.
✓
Deploying network segmentation
Why this is correct
Segmentation limits the spread of ransomware, reducing likelihood of widespread infection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Implementing user awareness training
Why this is correct
Training reduces the chance of users falling for phishing attacks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse recovery controls (backups) with likelihood-reducing mitigations, or they mistake detective controls (IDS, vulnerability scans) for preventive measures that lower the probability of an attack.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Network segmentation leverages subnetting (e.g., /24 subnets) and firewall policies (e.g., deny-by-default, allow-specific ports like 445/SMB only where needed) to isolate high-value assets from user workstations. In a real-world scenario, a ransomware strain like Ryuk uses SMB and RDP to propagate; segmentation with strict ACLs at Layer 3/4 can block this lateral movement even if initial access is gained. User awareness training reduces the success rate of social engineering attacks, which account for over 90% of ransomware infections according to Verizon DBIR, by teaching users to verify sender addresses and avoid enabling macros in Office documents.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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.
Risk Response and Mitigation — This question tests Risk Response and Mitigation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploying network segmentation — Deploying network segmentation (D) reduces the likelihood of a ransomware attack by limiting lateral movement. If an endpoint is compromised, segmentation using VLANs or firewall rules (e.g., 802.1Q, ACLs) prevents the ransomware from spreading to critical systems, thereby reducing the attack surface and the probability of widespread encryption. User awareness training (E) directly reduces likelihood by teaching users to recognize phishing emails and malicious attachments, which are the primary initial vectors for ransomware delivery.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO of the following are examples of risk mitigation controls?
easy
✓ A.Implementing a firewall
B.Purchasing cyber insurance
C.Accepting the risk
✓ D.Encrypting sensitive data
E.Discontinuing a high-risk service
Why A: Option A and D are correct. A firewall is a preventive control to mitigate network threats. Encryption protects data. Option B is wrong because insurance is a risk transfer. Option C is wrong because accepting risk is not mitigation. Option E is wrong because avoiding risk means not engaging in the activity.
Variation 2. A risk practitioner is reviewing the organization's risk response strategies for a high-value asset. Which TWO of the following are examples of risk mitigation techniques? (Choose two.)
easy
✓ A.Implementing firewalls to protect the network perimeter.
✓ B.Conducting regular vulnerability assessments and patching.
C.Avoiding the risk by discontinuing the vulnerable activity.
D.Accepting the risk because the cost of mitigation exceeds the potential loss.
E.Purchasing cyber insurance to cover potential losses.
Why A: Implementing firewalls to protect the network perimeter is a risk mitigation technique because it reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access by filtering traffic based on security rules. Firewalls operate at layers 3 and 4 (and sometimes layer 7) of the OSI model, using stateful inspection or application-layer filtering to block malicious packets. This directly lowers the probability of a successful attack on the high-value asset, which is the essence of mitigation.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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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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