This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk identification. 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 of the following is the BEST example of a key risk indicator (KRI) for the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data?
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.
Average server uptime
Why wrong: This measures availability, not access risk.
Number of firewalls deployed
Why wrong: This is a control metric, not a KRI for unauthorized access.
Percentage of users with access to sensitive data
A high percentage indicates a larger attack surface for unauthorized access.
Number of security awareness trainings completed
Why wrong: This is a training metric, not a direct indicator of unauthorized access.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Percentage of users with access to sensitive data
Option C is correct because a KRI must directly measure the likelihood or impact of a specific risk. The percentage of users with access to sensitive data is a direct indicator of the attack surface for unauthorized access; a higher percentage increases the probability that an unauthorized user could gain access, making it a leading indicator for that risk.
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.
Average server uptime
Why it's wrong here
This measures availability, not access risk.
Number of firewalls deployed
Why it's wrong here
This is a control metric, not a KRI for unauthorized access.
Percentage of users with access to sensitive data
Why this is correct
A high percentage indicates a larger attack surface for unauthorized access.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Number of security awareness trainings completed
Why it's wrong here
This is a training metric, not a direct indicator of unauthorized access.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing a control metric (e.g., number of firewalls or training completions) with a risk indicator; candidates often pick options that sound security-related but fail to directly measure the risk event's likelihood or impact.
Detailed technical explanation
A KRI should be a quantifiable metric that correlates with risk level, often expressed as a percentage or count that changes over time. For unauthorized access, a KRI like 'percentage of users with access to sensitive data' can be tracked against a baseline (e.g., least-privilege principle) and trigger alerts when it exceeds a threshold, such as 15% of all users. In practice, this KRI can be derived from identity and access management (IAM) logs using LDAP queries or cloud IAM APIs, and it directly supports risk scenarios like insider threats or credential compromise.
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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FAQ
IT Risk Identification — This question tests IT Risk Identification — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Percentage of users with access to sensitive data — Option C is correct because a KRI must directly measure the likelihood or impact of a specific risk. The percentage of users with access to sensitive data is a direct indicator of the attack surface for unauthorized access; a higher percentage increases the probability that an unauthorized user could gain access, making it a leading indicator for that risk.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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