ISC Risk Management Practice Question
An ISSEP is evaluating the security of an OT/ICS environment. Which THREE of the following are considered high-priority mitigation strategies to protect against common ICS cyber threats?
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
✓
Implementing unidirectional gateways (data diodes) to isolate the control network.
ICS security focuses on availability and integrity, requiring physical segmentation, secure remote access, and protecting the PLC/DCS controllers themselves from direct interference.
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 unidirectional gateways (data diodes) to isolate the control network.
Why this is correct
This ensures that traffic can only leave the control network, not enter it.
- ✓
Enforcing strict access control and MFA for all remote access to the ICS environment.
Why this is correct
Remote access is a major threat vector for ICS/OT networks.
- ✗
Replacing all legacy controllers with cloud-based instances.
Why it's wrong here
Moving to the cloud introduces new risks and may not be feasible.
- ✗
Deploying standard IT-based patch management tools directly on all PLCs.
Why it's wrong here
Directly patching PLCs can be dangerous and is often not supported by vendors.
- ✓
Disabling all unused physical ports and services on ICS controllers.
Why this is correct
Reducing the attack surface is essential for hard-to-patch controllers.
About these practice questions
One of 209 original ISC practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official (ISC)² exam blueprint
This ISC practice question is part of Courseiva's free (ISC)² 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 ISC exam.