CISSP Security and Risk Management Practice Question
Which type of risk remains after management has implemented controls to mitigate the identified risks?
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 are applied. Inherent risk is the risk before controls.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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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.
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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.
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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
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Key term
Residual risk
Residual risk is the level of risk that remains after all security controls and countermeasures have been applied.
Key term
Risk
Risk is the possibility that an event or action will negatively affect an organization's ability to achieve its goals, often measured in terms of likelihood and impact.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.