The answer is to implement a Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) with mandatory security training, code reviews, and automated security testing. This is correct because the root cause of the SQL injection vulnerability was a failure in the development process—secure coding guidelines existed but insufficient testing allowed the flaw to slip through. An SSDLC directly addresses this by embedding vulnerability prevention controls into every phase, from design through deployment, ensuring that security is not an afterthought but a built-in practice. On the CRISC exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between reactive controls (like bug bounties) and proactive risk reduction strategies that treat root causes. A common trap is choosing a technical fix like a WAF, which only mitigates symptoms, not the flawed process. Remember the memory tip: “Fix the process, not just the product” to recall that SSDLC targets the development lifecycle itself.
CRISC IT Risk Identification Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk identification. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
You are the IT risk manager for a mid-sized e-commerce company. The company processes credit card payments and stores customer data. Recently, the company experienced a security incident where an attacker exploited a SQL injection vulnerability in the web application, exfiltrating a database of customer records. The vulnerability was introduced three months ago during a feature upgrade. The development team claims they followed secure coding guidelines, but the vulnerability was missed due to insufficient testing. The company's risk appetite is moderate, and they have a risk management policy that requires risks to be treated within 30 days of identification. The CISO wants to know the most effective way to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents. You have assessed that the current risk score for web application vulnerabilities is 16 (High). The company has a bug bounty program, but it has not been effective. Which of the following courses of action would BEST address the root cause and reduce the risk?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement a secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) with mandatory security training, code reviews, and automated security testing.
Option D is correct because the root cause of the incident is a failure in the development process: secure coding guidelines were followed but insufficient testing allowed a SQL injection vulnerability to be introduced. Implementing a Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) with mandatory security training, code reviews, and automated security testing directly addresses this root cause by embedding security controls into every phase of development, preventing vulnerabilities from being introduced in the first place. This is the most effective way to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents, as it proactively fixes the process rather than relying on reactive measures.
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.
✗
Increase the frequency of vulnerability scanning and patch management.
Why it's wrong here
This is reactive and does not prevent new vulnerabilities from being created.
✗
Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) to block SQL injection attempts.
Why it's wrong here
WAF is a compensating control but does not address the root cause of insecure coding.
✗
Increase the reward amounts in the bug bounty program to attract more researchers.
Why it's wrong here
This is reactive and may not prevent vulnerabilities from being introduced.
✓
Implement a secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) with mandatory security training, code reviews, and automated security testing.
Why this is correct
This addresses the root cause by preventing vulnerabilities from being introduced.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
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 often choose a compensating control (like a WAF or vulnerability scanning) because it seems faster or more familiar, but the question asks for the BEST way to reduce likelihood by addressing the root cause, which requires a preventive, process-level change like SSDLC.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) integrates security activities such as threat modeling, static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and peer code reviews into each phase of development. For SQL injection specifically, parameterized queries and prepared statements (e.g., using PDO in PHP or PreparedStatement in Java) should be enforced through automated checks, as they prevent user input from being interpreted as SQL code. In a real-world scenario, a company like Equifax could have prevented their 2017 breach by implementing an SSDLC with mandatory security gates, rather than relying on post-deployment scanning.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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 Identification — This question tests IT Risk Identification — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement a secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) with mandatory security training, code reviews, and automated security testing. — Option D is correct because the root cause of the incident is a failure in the development process: secure coding guidelines were followed but insufficient testing allowed a SQL injection vulnerability to be introduced. Implementing a Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) with mandatory security training, code reviews, and automated security testing directly addresses this root cause by embedding security controls into every phase of development, preventing vulnerabilities from being introduced in the first place. This is the most effective way to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents, as it proactively fixes the process rather than relying on reactive measures.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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