This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security assessment and testing. 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 analyst notes that a recent penetration test successfully exploited a vulnerability in a legacy application that cannot be patched. The analyst recommends implementing network segmentation to limit the application's exposure. This recommendation is an example of:
Risk mitigation
Network segmentation reduces the impact, mitigating the risk.
Risk acceptance
Why wrong: Acceptance means no action taken; segmentation is an active control.
Risk avoidance
Why wrong: Avoidance would require removing the application, which is not proposed.
Risk transfer
Why wrong: Transfer involves insurance or outsourcing, not segmentation.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Risk mitigation
Implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of an unpatched legacy application is a classic example of risk mitigation. By isolating the application on a separate network segment (e.g., using VLANs or firewall rules), the analyst reduces the likelihood or impact of a successful exploit, even though the underlying vulnerability remains unpatched. This directly aligns with the CISSP definition of risk mitigation: applying controls to reduce risk to an acceptable level.
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.
Risk mitigation
Why this is correct
Network segmentation reduces the impact, mitigating the risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Risk acceptance
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance means no action taken; segmentation is an active control.
Risk avoidance
Why it's wrong here
Avoidance would require removing the application, which is not proposed.
Risk transfer
Why it's wrong here
Transfer involves insurance or outsourcing, not segmentation.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing risk mitigation with risk avoidance — candidates often think that any action taken to address a vulnerability is avoidance, but avoidance requires eliminating the risk entirely (e.g., removing the application), whereas mitigation reduces but does not eliminate the risk.
Detailed technical explanation
Network segmentation works by creating separate broadcast domains and enforcing access control lists (ACLs) between them, often using VLANs (IEEE 802.1Q) or subnetting with routers/firewalls. For a legacy application that cannot be patched, segmentation can restrict inbound traffic to only trusted sources and block lateral movement from compromised hosts, effectively reducing the attack surface. In real-world scenarios, this is often combined with micro-segmentation or zero-trust principles to further limit east-west traffic.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Security Assessment and Testing — This question tests Security Assessment and Testing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Risk mitigation — Implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of an unpatched legacy application is a classic example of risk mitigation. By isolating the application on a separate network segment (e.g., using VLANs or firewall rules), the analyst reduces the likelihood or impact of a successful exploit, even though the underlying vulnerability remains unpatched. This directly aligns with the CISSP definition of risk mitigation: applying controls to reduce risk to an acceptable level.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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