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SSCP Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are examples of key…
Which TWO of the following are examples of key risk indicators (KRIs)?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
Number of unpatched critical vulnerabilities
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.
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.
- ✗
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.
- ✗
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.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.