ISC Risk Management Practice Question
An ISSEP is reviewing a cloud-based application that uses a multi-factor authentication (MFA) provider. The provider experiences an outage, and the system is configured to 'fail-open'. What is the security risk?
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
✓
The security control is bypassed, allowing unauthorized access.
A 'fail-open' configuration means that when a security control (MFA) is unavailable, the system grants access anyway, effectively bypassing the security requirement and creating a critical vulnerability.
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 security control is bypassed, allowing unauthorized access.
Why this is correct
Fail-open is a security failure when availability is prioritized over integrity/confidentiality.
- ✗
The system's performance will decrease.
Why it's wrong here
This is unrelated to the fail-open state.
- ✗
The MFA provider will charge extra fees.
Why it's wrong here
Financial impacts are not security risks.
- ✗
The system will be inaccessible to users.
Why it's wrong here
This would be 'fail-closed'.
About these practice questions
This ISC question is part of Courseiva's 209-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official (ISC)² exam blueprint
This ISC practice question is part of Courseiva's free (ISC)² 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 ISC exam.