Quick Answer
The answer is a major IT infrastructure change, as this is the clearest indicator that an ad-hoc risk assessment trigger has been activated outside the normal cycle. Such a change introduces new or altered assets, data flows, and threat surfaces that were not considered in the previous risk assessment, potentially invalidating existing control assumptions and risk ratings. On the CRISC exam, this concept tests your understanding of when the risk assessment schedule must be overridden—specifically, when the risk landscape shifts so significantly that waiting for the next scheduled review would expose the organization to unmanaged threats. A common trap is confusing routine patch management or minor configuration tweaks with a major change; remember that only events altering the fundamental architecture or data handling warrant an ad-hoc trigger. Memory tip: think “New gear, new fear”—any major infrastructure change demands immediate reassessment.
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.
Which of the following is the BEST indicator that a risk assessment should be performed outside the normal cycle?
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.
A new regulation is proposed
Why wrong: Proposed regulation may not be in effect yet.
An employee leaves the company
Why wrong: Typically not a trigger for risk assessment.
A major IT infrastructure change
Introduces new risks that need assessment.
The annual budget is approved
Why wrong: Part of normal operations.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
A major IT infrastructure change
A major IT infrastructure change introduces new or altered assets, data flows, and threat surfaces that were not considered in the previous risk assessment cycle. This change can invalidate existing control assumptions and risk ratings, making an ad-hoc assessment necessary to identify and evaluate emerging risks before they materialize.
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.
A new regulation is proposed
Why it's wrong here
Proposed regulation may not be in effect yet.
An employee leaves the company
Why it's wrong here
Typically not a trigger for risk assessment.
A major IT infrastructure change
Why this is correct
Introduces new risks that need assessment.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The annual budget is approved
Why it's wrong here
Part of normal operations.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing routine operational events (like employee turnover or budget cycles) with events that fundamentally change the risk profile, leading candidates to overlook the necessity of an ad-hoc assessment triggered by a significant technical change.
Detailed technical explanation
A major IT infrastructure change—such as migrating from on-premises to cloud, deploying a new network segmentation scheme, or replacing a core database platform—can alter the CIA triad properties of critical assets. For example, moving to a public IaaS model shifts responsibility for physical security to the provider, requiring a reassessment of residual risk under a shared responsibility model. The risk assessment should evaluate new threat vectors (e.g., misconfigured S3 buckets, API exposure) and control gaps (e.g., missing encryption at rest) that were not present in the baseline.
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
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
IT Risk Assessment — This question tests IT Risk Assessment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: A major IT infrastructure change — A major IT infrastructure change introduces new or altered assets, data flows, and threat surfaces that were not considered in the previous risk assessment cycle. This change can invalidate existing control assumptions and risk ratings, making an ad-hoc assessment necessary to identify and evaluate emerging risks before they materialize.
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 25, 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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