Quick Answer
The answer is to accept the risk and monitor for changes. This is correct because the annualized loss expectancy (ALE) is $20,000 (2% of $1,000,000), which is significantly less than the $100,000 remediation cost, making the risk treatment strategy of acceptance the most cost-effective option under the principle that treatment should be proportional to risk exposure. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this scenario tests your ability to apply quantitative risk analysis to choose the appropriate risk treatment strategy, often appearing as a trap where candidates instinctively choose to mitigate without calculating the ALE. A common memory tip is to remember that when the cost to fix exceeds the ALE, acceptance is the financially sound choice—just keep monitoring the threat landscape.
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring and analysis. 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 security team is implementing a risk treatment plan for a high-risk vulnerability. The cost to fix the vulnerability is $100,000, but the expected loss if exploited is $1,000,000. The annual likelihood of exploitation is 2%. Which risk treatment strategy is most appropriate?
Avoid the risk by decommissioning the asset
Why wrong: Decommissioning may impact business operations.
Remediate the vulnerability immediately
Why wrong: Cost of remediation exceeds expected loss.
Accept the risk and monitor for changes
Expected loss is lower than remediation cost.
Transfer the risk by purchasing cyber insurance
Why wrong: Insurance premium may be significant and not eliminate risk.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Accept the risk and monitor for changes
The annualized loss expectancy (ALE) is $20,000 (2% × $1,000,000), which is less than the $100,000 remediation cost. Since the cost to fix exceeds the expected loss, accepting the risk and monitoring for changes is the most cost-effective strategy. This aligns with the risk management principle that treatment should be proportional to the risk exposure.
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.
Avoid the risk by decommissioning the asset
Why it's wrong here
Decommissioning may impact business operations.
Remediate the vulnerability immediately
Why it's wrong here
Cost of remediation exceeds expected loss.
Accept the risk and monitor for changes
Why this is correct
Expected loss is lower than remediation cost.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Transfer the risk by purchasing cyber insurance
Why it's wrong here
Insurance premium may be significant and not eliminate risk.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the misconception that any high-severity vulnerability must be immediately remediated, ignoring the quantitative cost-benefit analysis that shows accepting risk can be the most appropriate strategy when the annualized loss is lower than the fix cost.
Detailed technical explanation
This scenario demonstrates the quantitative risk analysis formula: ALE = SLE × ARO, where SLE (single loss expectancy) is $1,000,000 and ARO (annualized rate of occurrence) is 0.02, yielding an ALE of $20,000. The decision to accept risk is based on comparing the ALE to the cost of mitigation (safeguard cost), a core concept in ISO 27005 and NIST SP 800-30. In practice, organizations often set a risk appetite threshold; if the residual risk after acceptance remains within that threshold, monitoring via continuous vulnerability scanning and log review is sufficient.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All SSCP questions
504 questions across all exam domains
Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
SSCP practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Risk Identification, Monitoring and Analysis.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Network and Communications Security.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Systems and Application Security.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Security Operations and Administration.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Incident Response and Recovery.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Access Controls.
Practise SSCP questions linked to Cryptography.
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP fundamentals.
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP scenario.
Practise SSCP questions linked to SSCP troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Accept the risk and monitor for changes — The annualized loss expectancy (ALE) is $20,000 (2% × $1,000,000), which is less than the $100,000 remediation cost. Since the cost to fix exceeds the expected loss, accepting the risk and monitoring for changes is the most cost-effective strategy. This aligns with the risk management principle that treatment should be proportional to the risk exposure.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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.
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.