ISC Systems Security Engineering Foundations Practice Question
Which THREE factors must be evaluated when determining if a system component is 'security-critical'?
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
✓
Its role in processing sensitive information
Security-critical components are those that enforce policy, handle sensitive data, or provide security functions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Its role in processing sensitive information
Why this is correct
Components handling sensitive info require higher security assurance.
- ✗
Its location in the physical facility
Why it's wrong here
Location is a physical security concern, not a system critical component definition.
- ✗
Its cost of procurement
Why it's wrong here
Cost is a business factor, not a security-critical determination.
- ✓
Its capability to provide security services like auditing
Why this is correct
Audit services are critical for security visibility.
- ✓
Its ability to enforce access control policies
Why this is correct
Policy enforcement is a core security function.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every ISC question from scratch — 209 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. 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.