CISSP Security and Risk Management Practice Question
Which type of risk remains after management has implemented controls to mitigate the identified risks?
⚠ Common exam trap
CISSP often tests the distinction between inherent, control, and residual risk — the trap is confusing 'acceptable risk' (a management decision) with 'residual risk' (the actual remaining exposure after controls).
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
✓
Residual risk
Residual risk is the risk that remains after controls have been implemented to mitigate the identified risks. It is the difference between inherent risk (risk before controls) and the effect of the controls. Management must decide whether the residual risk is within the organization's risk appetite or requires further treatment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Acceptable risk
Why it's wrong here
Acceptable risk refers to the level of residual risk that an organization's management is willing to tolerate and accept after all risk treatment strategies have been implemented. It represents a management decision or a defined threshold, rather than the actual state of risk that remains. While related to residual risk, it is not the term for the risk itself that persists post-controls, but rather the maximum level of that remaining risk deemed permissible.
- ✗
Control risk
Why it's wrong here
Control risk is the specific risk that internal controls designed to prevent or detect errors, omissions, or malicious acts will fail to operate effectively or will be circumvented. This type of risk focuses on the inherent limitations or potential weaknesses within the control environment itself, rather than the overall exposure after controls are applied. It is a critical consideration in auditing and security assessments, indicating the likelihood that controls will not achieve their intended objectives.
- ✓
Residual risk
Why this is correct
Residual risk is the specific level of risk that persists within an organization or system even after all planned and implemented risk mitigation strategies, controls, and countermeasures have been applied. It represents the remaining exposure that management has either consciously accepted or has been unable to further reduce through cost-effective means. This is the risk an organization must live with, requiring continuous monitoring and potential future reassessment.
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Inherent risk
Why it's wrong here
Inherent risk is the raw, unmitigated level of risk that exists in a system, process, or activity before any controls, safeguards, or mitigation strategies have been designed or implemented. It represents the baseline risk exposure in its natural state, assuming no protective measures are in place. Assessing inherent risk is the foundational step in the risk management process, providing a starting point for determining the necessary level of control.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Physical Security and Environmental Controls
Key term
Risk appetite
Risk appetite is the amount of risk an organization is willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives, defining the boundaries for decision-making.
Key term
Residual risk
Residual risk is the level of risk that remains after all security controls and countermeasures have been applied.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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.