This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring and analysis. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 company's risk management policy states that all risks with a residual risk score of 8 or higher (on a scale of 1-10) must be treated. A risk is identified with an inherent risk score of 9, and after applying controls, the residual risk score is 7. What is the appropriate action?
Formally accept the residual risk
Since residual risk is 7 (<8), it can be accepted.
Apply additional controls to reduce the risk further
Why wrong: Not required if risk is already below threshold.
Purchase cyber insurance to transfer the risk
Why wrong: Insurance is a risk transfer, but acceptance is appropriate here.
Reassess the inherent risk score
Why wrong: Inherent risk was already assessed; reassessment not needed.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Formally accept the residual risk
Option B is correct because the residual risk is below the threshold, so it can be accepted after formal acceptance. Option A is wrong because the residual risk is already below the threshold. Option C is wrong because residual risk already accounts for controls. Option D is wrong because insurance transfers risk but is not required if the risk is acceptable.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Formally accept the residual risk
Why this is correct
Since residual risk is 7 (<8), it can be accepted.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Apply additional controls to reduce the risk further
Why it's wrong here
Not required if risk is already below threshold.
Purchase cyber insurance to transfer the risk
Why it's wrong here
Insurance is a risk transfer, but acceptance is appropriate here.
Reassess the inherent risk score
Why it's wrong here
Inherent risk was already assessed; reassessment not needed.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Identify which SSCP 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.
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FAQ
Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis — This question tests Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Formally accept the residual risk — Option B is correct because the residual risk is below the threshold, so it can be accepted after formal acceptance. Option A is wrong because the residual risk is already below the threshold. Option C is wrong because residual risk already accounts for controls. Option D is wrong because insurance transfers risk but is not required if the risk is acceptable.
Identify which SSCP 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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.
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