- A
Accept the risk of non-compliance as a cost of doing business and set aside a contingency fund for fines.
Why wrong: Unacceptable - willful non-compliance can lead to severe penalties and reputational damage.
- B
Assign legal counsel to review local laws and implement a one-time compliance checklist.
Why wrong: Inadequate - continuous monitoring and technical controls are needed.
- C
Create a uniform global privacy policy that satisfies all jurisdictions with minimal adjustments.
Why wrong: Impractical - local laws vary significantly; a uniform policy may violate some.
- D
Adopt a privacy-by-design framework and conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) before launching operations.
Correct - Privacy-by-design and DPIA ensure compliance is built into processes.
CISSP Security and Risk Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security and risk management. 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.
A multinational corporation is expanding its operations into a new country with strict data protection laws. The company needs to ensure compliance while maintaining operational efficiency. Which of the following is the BEST approach to manage this risk?
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.
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
Adopt a privacy-by-design framework and conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) before launching operations.
Option D is correct because a privacy-by-design framework ensures data protection is embedded into systems and processes from the outset, while a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) systematically identifies and mitigates privacy risks specific to the new jurisdiction. This proactive, risk-based approach aligns with regulatory requirements like the GDPR and demonstrates due diligence, reducing the likelihood of non-compliance and operational disruption.
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.
- ✗
Accept the risk of non-compliance as a cost of doing business and set aside a contingency fund for fines.
Why it's wrong here
Unacceptable - willful non-compliance can lead to severe penalties and reputational damage.
- ✗
Assign legal counsel to review local laws and implement a one-time compliance checklist.
Why it's wrong here
Inadequate - continuous monitoring and technical controls are needed.
- ✗
Create a uniform global privacy policy that satisfies all jurisdictions with minimal adjustments.
Why it's wrong here
Impractical - local laws vary significantly; a uniform policy may violate some.
- ✓
Adopt a privacy-by-design framework and conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) before launching operations.
Why this is correct
Correct - Privacy-by-design and DPIA ensure compliance is built into processes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option B (one-time compliance checklist) because it seems practical and legally focused, but they overlook that privacy compliance is an ongoing process requiring continuous risk assessment and adaptation, not a single review event.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A DPIA under GDPR Article 35 is mandatory for processing that is likely to result in high risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms, such as systematic profiling or large-scale sensitive data processing. Privacy by design, codified in GDPR Article 25, requires data protection measures (e.g., pseudonymization, access controls) to be integrated into the architecture of systems, not bolted on later. In practice, this means conducting a DPIA before any data processing begins, documenting risk mitigation strategies, and updating the assessment as operations evolve, which is far more robust than a static checklist or uniform policy.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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 CISSP question test?
Security and Risk Management — This question tests Security and Risk Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Adopt a privacy-by-design framework and conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) before launching operations. — Option D is correct because a privacy-by-design framework ensures data protection is embedded into systems and processes from the outset, while a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) systematically identifies and mitigates privacy risks specific to the new jurisdiction. This proactive, risk-based approach aligns with regulatory requirements like the GDPR and demonstrates due diligence, reducing the likelihood of non-compliance and operational disruption.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
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.
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: Jun 11, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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