- A
Implementing strict penalties for security violations
Why wrong: Penalties may discourage reporting, contrary to a risk-aware culture.
- B
Assigning risk ownership to IT only
Why wrong: Risk ownership should be shared across the organization, not just IT.
- C
Encouraging incident reporting without blame
This fosters open communication and learning from mistakes, key to risk culture.
- D
Conducting annual security training
Why wrong: Important but not sufficient; culture needs ongoing promotion and incentives.
Question 900 of 1,000
CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of risk response and reporting. 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 promoting a risk-aware culture within an organization?
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
✓
Encouraging incident reporting without blame
Option C is correct because a blame-free incident reporting culture is the foundation of a risk-aware environment. When employees feel safe to report errors or near-misses without fear of punishment, the organization can collect accurate data on control weaknesses and emerging threats, enabling proactive risk response. This aligns with the COBIT 5 principle of fostering a culture of openness and learning, which is essential for effective risk management.
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.
- ✗
Implementing strict penalties for security violations
Why it's wrong here
Penalties may discourage reporting, contrary to a risk-aware culture.
- ✗
Assigning risk ownership to IT only
Why it's wrong here
Risk ownership should be shared across the organization, not just IT.
- ✓
Encouraging incident reporting without blame
Why this is correct
This fosters open communication and learning from mistakes, key to risk culture.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Conducting annual security training
Why it's wrong here
Important but not sufficient; culture needs ongoing promotion and incentives.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that punitive measures or compliance-focused training create a risk-aware culture, when in reality, a blame-free reporting environment is the key enabler for continuous risk identification and improvement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A risk-aware culture relies on psychological safety, as described in the 'Just Culture' model used in aviation and healthcare, where human errors are distinguished from reckless behavior. In practice, this means implementing anonymous reporting channels (e.g., via a SIEM-integrated ticketing system) and analyzing incident data to identify systemic control gaps rather than assigning blame. For example, a phishing simulation that results in a user clicking a malicious link should trigger a review of email filtering rules and user training, not disciplinary action.
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?
Risk Response and Reporting — This question tests Risk Response and Reporting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Encouraging incident reporting without blame — Option C is correct because a blame-free incident reporting culture is the foundation of a risk-aware environment. When employees feel safe to report errors or near-misses without fear of punishment, the organization can collect accurate data on control weaknesses and emerging threats, enabling proactive risk response. This aligns with the COBIT 5 principle of fostering a culture of openness and learning, which is essential for effective risk management.
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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