The answer is risk acceptance with documented decision. This is the correct risk acceptance treatment strategy because when the cost of mitigation exceeds the potential loss for a high-likelihood, low-impact risk, it is financially irrational to spend more on controls than the asset is worth, and the organization formally acknowledges the risk as part of its normal operations. On the Certified Information Systems Professional CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the risk treatment hierarchy—specifically that acceptance is not a default or lazy choice but a deliberate, documented decision made when the risk falls within the organization’s risk appetite. A common trap is confusing acceptance with avoidance or transfer; remember that acceptance means you consciously choose to live with the risk, not ignore it. Memory tip: “If the fix costs more than the hit, accept it and write it down.”
CISSP Security and Risk Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security and risk management. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 business is evaluating risk treatment options for a high-likelihood, low-impact risk. The cost of mitigation exceeds the potential loss. Which risk treatment strategy is most appropriate?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Risk acceptance with documented decision
Risk acceptance is appropriate when the cost of mitigation exceeds the potential loss and the risk is within the organization's risk appetite.
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 transfer by purchasing insurance
Why it's wrong here
Insurance premiums may also exceed the potential loss.
✓
Risk acceptance with documented decision
Why this is correct
Accepting the risk is justified when cost exceeds benefit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Risk mitigation by implementing additional controls
Why it's wrong here
Mitigation is not cost-effective if controls cost more than the loss.
✗
Risk avoidance by discontinuing the activity
Why it's wrong here
Avoidance would eliminate the activity, which may be too drastic for low-impact risk.
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 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.
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: Risk acceptance with documented decision — Risk acceptance is appropriate when the cost of mitigation exceeds the potential loss and the risk is within the organization's risk appetite.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.