Risk Mitigation for Ransomware: Examples and Best Practices
Which TWO of the following are effective risk mitigation strategies for reducing the likelihood of a ransomware attack?
Quick Answer
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.
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often 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.
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
✓
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.
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.
- ✓
Implementing user awareness training
Why this is correct
Training reduces the chance of users falling for phishing attacks.
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on CRISC
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: Implementing a firewall is a risk mitigation control because it reduces the likelihood and impact of unauthorized network access by enforcing access control policies based on source/destination IP addresses, ports, and protocols. Firewalls operate at Layers 3 and 4 (and sometimes Layer 7) of the OSI model to filter traffic, thereby directly reducing the attack surface and preventing exploitation of vulnerabilities.
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.
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.