Question 1hardmulti select
Full question →- A
Insider error
Why wrong: Internal threat.
- B
Hacktivist
External threat actor.
- C
Disgruntled employee
Why wrong: Internal threat.
- D
Natural disaster
External event.
- E
Competitor
External threat actor.
Question 313 of 529
Quick Answer
The answer is competitor, along with hacktivist and natural disaster. These three are considered external threats because they originate from outside the organization’s boundaries, meaning the source of harm is not an employee, contractor, or internal system failure. In the CISSP risk assessment domain, external threats are defined by their lack of authorized internal access or control; a competitor seeks market advantage through espionage or disruption, a hacktivist targets for ideological reasons, and a natural disaster like a flood is an environmental force. This question tests your ability to distinguish between internal and external threat actors, a common trap being the disgruntled employee or insider error, which are internal since they arise from within the organization’s trusted perimeter. On the Certified Information Systems Security Professional exam, remember the mnemonic “CHaN” for external: Competitor, Hacktivist, and Natural disaster.
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 risk assessment identifies several threats. Which THREE are considered external threats?
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
✓
Hacktivist
External threats originate outside the organization. Hacktivist (B), natural disaster (C), and competitor (E) are external. Disgruntled employee (A) and insider error (D) are internal.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Insider error
Why it's wrong here
Internal threat.
- ✓
Hacktivist
Why this is correct
External threat actor.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Disgruntled employee
Why it's wrong here
Internal threat.
- ✓
Natural disaster
Why this is correct
External event.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✓
Competitor
Why this is correct
External threat actor.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. 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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISSP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Security and Risk Management — study guide chapter
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Security and Risk Management practice questions
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Hacktivist — External threats originate outside the organization. Hacktivist (B), natural disaster (C), and competitor (E) are external. Disgruntled employee (A) and insider error (D) are internal.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CISSP NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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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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