The answer is the level of prudence expected from a reasonable organization in the same industry. This is correct because due care in information security is a legal standard requiring organizations to take reasonable precautions to protect assets, typically by adhering to established industry standards and best practices. It is a proactive, forward-looking duty, not a reactive measure taken after an incident. On the CISSP exam, this concept tests your understanding of the legal and regulatory foundations of governance, often appearing in questions that contrast due care with due diligence—where due care is the ongoing "doing" of security, while due diligence is the "checking" that it was done. A common trap is confusing due care with mere compliance or cost-benefit analysis, but remember that due care is about meeting the standard of a reasonable organization, not just checking a box. Memory tip: think "Care = Caution before the breach."
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.
An organization is implementing a security program and wants to ensure it meets legal and regulatory requirements. The security manager is reviewing the concept of due care. Which best describes due care in the context of information security?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The level of prudence expected from a reasonable organization in the same industry
Option C is correct because due care refers to the legal concept of taking reasonable precautions to protect assets, and it is often established by adhering to industry standards. Option A is incorrect because compliance is just one aspect. Option B is incorrect because due care is proactive, not reactive. Option D is incorrect because cost-benefit analysis is separate from the legal standard of due care.
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.
✗
The process of responding to security incidents after they occur
Why it's wrong here
Incident response is reactive; due care is proactive about preventing incidents.
✗
The selection of security controls based on cost-benefit analysis
Why it's wrong here
Cost-benefit analysis guides decision-making but is not the definition of due care.
✗
Compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
Why it's wrong here
Compliance is part of due care but does not fully capture the reasonable prudence standard.
✓
The level of prudence expected from a reasonable organization in the same industry
Why this is correct
Due care requires an organization to do what any prudent entity would do under similar circumstances.
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
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: The level of prudence expected from a reasonable organization in the same industry — Option C is correct because due care refers to the legal concept of taking reasonable precautions to protect assets, and it is often established by adhering to industry standards. Option A is incorrect because compliance is just one aspect. Option B is incorrect because due care is proactive, not reactive. Option D is incorrect because cost-benefit analysis is separate from the legal standard of due care.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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.
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Question Discussion
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