- A
High
Why wrong: High risk requires high likelihood or severe impact combinations, not low likelihood.
- B
Critical
Why wrong: Critical is not a standard rating in a 3x3 matrix; typically ratings are Low, Medium, High.
- C
Medium
Low likelihood and High impact map to Medium risk in most qualitative matrices.
- D
Low
Why wrong: Low risk would require both low likelihood and low impact.
Question 884 of 1,000
SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring, and analysis. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
During a qualitative risk analysis, an organization rates the likelihood of a flood as 'Low' and the impact as 'High'. Using a standard 3x3 risk matrix, what is the overall risk rating?
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
✓
Medium
In a standard 3x3 risk matrix, the overall risk rating is derived by combining the likelihood and impact ratings. With likelihood rated as 'Low' and impact as 'High', the intersection in the matrix typically yields a 'Medium' risk rating. This is because the matrix is designed to balance low probability events with high consequences, resulting in a moderate overall risk level.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
High
Why it's wrong here
High risk requires high likelihood or severe impact combinations, not low likelihood.
- ✗
Critical
Why it's wrong here
Critical is not a standard rating in a 3x3 matrix; typically ratings are Low, Medium, High.
- ✓
Medium
Why this is correct
Low likelihood and High impact map to Medium risk in most qualitative matrices.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Low
Why it's wrong here
Low risk would require both low likelihood and low impact.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may incorrectly assume that a 'High' impact automatically results in a 'High' overall risk, ignoring the moderating effect of a 'Low' likelihood in a standard 3x3 matrix.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A 3x3 risk matrix is a qualitative tool where likelihood (Low, Medium, High) and impact (Low, Medium, High) are plotted to determine risk priority. The intersection of 'Low' likelihood and 'High' impact is often classified as 'Medium' because the low probability reduces the urgency, but the high impact prevents it from being dismissed as low risk. In real-world scenarios, such as flood risk for a data center, this rating might trigger moderate mitigation measures like insurance or backup power, but not immediate relocation.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis — This question tests Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Medium — In a standard 3x3 risk matrix, the overall risk rating is derived by combining the likelihood and impact ratings. With likelihood rated as 'Low' and impact as 'High', the intersection in the matrix typically yields a 'Medium' risk rating. This is because the matrix is designed to balance low probability events with high consequences, resulting in a moderate overall risk level.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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