- A
Cost-benefit analysis of controls
Prioritization should consider the cost-effectiveness of controls.
- B
Number of stakeholders involved
Why wrong: Not as critical.
- C
Regulatory requirements only
Why wrong: While important, cost-benefit is key for prioritization.
- D
Time required to implement controls
Why wrong: Time is a factor but not the most important.
Question 990 of 1,000
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.
When prioritizing risk treatment actions, which factor is most important to consider alongside the risk level?
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
✓
Cost-benefit analysis of controls
Risk treatment prioritization must balance the cost of controls against the expected reduction in risk. A cost-benefit analysis ensures that the selected controls provide a net positive value, preventing over-investment in low-impact risks or under-investment in high-impact ones. This aligns with the ISACA Risk IT Framework, which emphasizes that risk treatment decisions should be economically justified.
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.
- ✓
Cost-benefit analysis of controls
Why this is correct
Prioritization should consider the cost-effectiveness of controls.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Number of stakeholders involved
Why it's wrong here
Not as critical.
- ✗
Regulatory requirements only
Why it's wrong here
While important, cost-benefit is key for prioritization.
- ✗
Time required to implement controls
Why it's wrong here
Time is a factor but not the most important.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often prioritize regulatory compliance or implementation speed over economic justification, but CRISC emphasizes that risk treatment must be cost-effective to ensure sustainable risk management.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In practice, a cost-benefit analysis for risk treatment involves calculating the Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE) before and after control implementation, then comparing the reduction in ALE to the Annual Cost of the Control (ACC). If the reduction in ALE exceeds the ACC, the control is economically justified. This quantitative approach, often using formulas like ALE = SLE × ARO, ensures that risk treatment resources are allocated to the most impactful controls first, as recommended by NIST SP 800-30.
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 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
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CRISC question test?
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: Cost-benefit analysis of controls — Risk treatment prioritization must balance the cost of controls against the expected reduction in risk. A cost-benefit analysis ensures that the selected controls provide a net positive value, preventing over-investment in low-impact risks or under-investment in high-impact ones. This aligns with the ISACA Risk IT Framework, which emphasizes that risk treatment decisions should be economically justified.
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
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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