- A
Risk ignorance
Why wrong: Ignoring risk is not a recognized risk management strategy.
- B
Risk avoidance
Eliminating the activity that introduces the risk, such as removing the vulnerable component.
- C
Risk acceptance
Why wrong: Accepting the risk without action is a strategy, but the question asks for three, and the other three are more proactive. However, in ISC2 CC, acceptance is also a strategy; but given the phrasing 'should consider', and typical exam focus, mitigation, transfer, and avoidance are the primary ones.
- D
Risk transfer
Shifting the financial impact of the risk to a third party, such as through insurance.
- E
Risk mitigation
Implementing security controls to reduce the likelihood or impact of the vulnerability.
Question 83 of 1,000
ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security principles. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A security team is conducting a risk assessment for a new cloud application. They have identified a vulnerability in the application that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data. Which three risk management strategies should they consider? (Choose three.)
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
✓
Risk avoidance
Risk avoidance (B) is correct because it involves eliminating the vulnerability by not deploying the cloud application or removing the vulnerable component entirely, thus preventing any possibility of unauthorized access to sensitive data. This strategy is appropriate when the risk exceeds the organization's risk appetite and cannot be effectively reduced through other means.
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.
- ✗
Risk ignorance
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring risk is not a recognized risk management strategy.
- ✓
Risk avoidance
Why this is correct
Eliminating the activity that introduces the risk, such as removing the vulnerable component.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Risk acceptance
Why it's wrong here
Accepting the risk without action is a strategy, but the question asks for three, and the other three are more proactive. However, in ISC2 CC, acceptance is also a strategy; but given the phrasing 'should consider', and typical exam focus, mitigation, transfer, and avoidance are the primary ones.
- ✓
Risk transfer
Why this is correct
Shifting the financial impact of the risk to a third party, such as through insurance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Risk mitigation
Why this is correct
Implementing security controls to reduce the likelihood or impact of the vulnerability.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between risk acceptance and risk ignorance, where candidates mistakenly think 'doing nothing' is a valid strategy, but acceptance requires formal documentation and approval from management, not simply ignoring the risk.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Risk management strategies are defined by frameworks such as NIST SP 800-30 and ISO 31000, which outline avoidance, acceptance, mitigation, and transfer as core responses. In cloud environments, risk transfer often involves purchasing cyber insurance or using third-party security services, but the organization remains ultimately responsible for data protection under shared responsibility models like those in AWS or Azure. Risk mitigation includes implementing controls such as encryption (AES-256), access control lists (ACLs), and web application firewalls (WAFs) to reduce the likelihood or impact of exploitation.
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 security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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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Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CC question test?
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Risk avoidance — Risk avoidance (B) is correct because it involves eliminating the vulnerability by not deploying the cloud application or removing the vulnerable component entirely, thus preventing any possibility of unauthorized access to sensitive data. This strategy is appropriate when the risk exceeds the organization's risk appetite and cannot be effectively reduced through other means.
What should I do if I get this CC 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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.
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