The answer is the percentage of systems with antivirus disabled and the number of unpatched critical vulnerabilities. These are correct because a key risk indicator (KRI) must be quantifiable, measurable, and predictive of risk exposure; unpatched vulnerabilities directly represent a leading indicator of potential exploits, as attackers actively scan for such weaknesses, while disabled antivirus signals a failure in baseline defenses that increases the likelihood of malware infection. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this topic appears in the Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis domain, where you must distinguish KRIs from key performance indicators (KPIs) or simple metrics—a common trap is confusing a lagging indicator like “number of past breaches” with a leading KRI. For a memory tip, think of KRIs as the “check engine light” for security: they warn of future failure, not just report past damage.
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.
Which TWO of the following are examples of key risk indicators (KRIs)?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Number of unpatched critical vulnerabilities
Option A is correct because the number of unpatched critical vulnerabilities directly measures the organization's exposure to known exploits. A KRI must be quantifiable and predictive of risk; unpatched vulnerabilities are a leading indicator of potential breaches, as attackers actively scan for and exploit such weaknesses. This metric is commonly tracked in vulnerability management programs to prioritize remediation efforts.
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.
✓
Number of unpatched critical vulnerabilities
Why this is correct
A high number indicates higher risk of exploitation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Total number of employees
Why it's wrong here
Employee count alone is not a risk indicator.
✓
Percentage of systems with antivirus disabled
Why this is correct
High percentage indicates increased malware risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Average user satisfaction score
Why it's wrong here
User satisfaction is not a direct security risk indicator.
✗
Number of security incidents this quarter
Why it's wrong here
This is a lagging indicator, not a leading KRI.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between leading indicators (KRIs) and lagging indicators (outcome metrics), so candidates mistakenly select 'Number of security incidents this quarter' because it seems risk-related, but it is a historical outcome, not a predictive risk indicator.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Key risk indicators (KRIs) are metrics used to provide early warning signals of increasing risk exposure. Unlike key performance indicators (KPIs), which measure operational efficiency, KRIs focus on risk thresholds—for example, tracking the percentage of systems with antivirus disabled (Option C) directly correlates with the attack surface for malware. In practice, organizations often set KRIs based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scores and use tools like Nessus or Qualys to generate real-time vulnerability counts, enabling proactive patching before exploitation.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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.
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: Number of unpatched critical vulnerabilities — Option A is correct because the number of unpatched critical vulnerabilities directly measures the organization's exposure to known exploits. A KRI must be quantifiable and predictive of risk; unpatched vulnerabilities are a leading indicator of potential breaches, as attackers actively scan for and exploit such weaknesses. This metric is commonly tracked in vulnerability management programs to prioritize remediation efforts.
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
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 →
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.
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.