Top CRISC Exam Practice Questions and Answers

Understanding CRISC Certification 

The Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) certification, offered by ISACA, is a globally recognized credential for IT professionals specializing in risk management, information security, and compliance.

Achieving CRISC certification demonstrates expertise in identifying and managing enterprise IT risks while implementing effective control measures. Given the increasing importance of cybersecurity and regulatory compliance, CRISC-certified professionals are in high demand across industries such as banking, healthcare, government, and IT consulting.

The CRISC exam is structured around four domains: Governance, IT Risk Assessment, Risk Response and Reporting, and Information Technology and Security. Candidates must showcase their ability to assess risks, develop response strategies, and align risk management with business objectives. With a passing rate of approximately 50%, the exam is considered challenging, making proper preparation essential for success.

To help candidates prepare effectively, we have compiled 30 CRISC practice exam questions and answers that cover key concepts from all four domains. These questions will test your understanding of risk identification, control implementation, mitigation strategies, and compliance frameworks. Whether you are taking the CRISC exam for career advancement or organizational compliance, practicing with these sample questions will enhance your readiness and confidence on exam day.

 

30 CRISC Exam Practice Exam Questions and Answers:

Question 1: Which of the following is the primary objective of IT risk management?

A) Minimize IT operational costs
B) Ensure IT systems run efficiently
C) Align IT risk with business objectives
D) Eliminate all risks from the IT environment

Correct Answer: C) Align IT risk with business objectives
Explanation: IT risk management focuses on identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks while ensuring alignment with business goals and strategic objectives.
 

Question 2: Which risk response strategy is most appropriate when a risk is too high to be mitigated cost-effectively?

A) Avoidance
B) Acceptance
C) Mitigation
D) Transfer

Correct Answer: D) Transfer
Explanation: Risk transfer shifts the responsibility for managing risk to a third party, such as an insurance company or outsourcing vendor, when mitigation is not cost-effective.

Question 3: Which of the following is a key benefit of integrating IT risk management with enterprise risk management (ERM)?

A) Increased spending on cybersecurity tools
B) Better alignment of IT risk with business risk
C) Elimination of all IT-related risks
D) Faster implementation of IT projects

Correct Answer: B) Better alignment of IT risk with business risk
Explanation: Integrating IT risk management into ERM provides a holistic view of risks, ensuring strategic alignment and informed decision-making.

Question 4: What is the primary role of a Risk Register in IT risk management?

A) Documenting security incidents
B) Tracking identified risks and response plans
C) Storing compliance policies
D) Maintaining IT asset inventories

Correct Answer: B) Tracking identified risks and response plans
Explanation: A Risk Register helps organizations document, prioritize, and monitor risks along with appropriate response strategies.

Question 5: Which of the following frameworks is most widely used for IT governance and risk management?

A) ISO 27001
B) COBIT
C) NIST SP 800-53
D) ITIL

Correct Answer: B) COBIT
Explanation: COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies) is an industry-standard framework used for IT governance, Risk Management, and Compliance.

Question 6: Which of these is an example of inherent risk in IT?

A) A server vulnerability that is patched regularly
B) A cyberattack exploiting an unpatched system
C) A natural disaster affecting data centers
D) A security breach due to a phishing attack

Correct Answer: C) A natural disaster affecting data centers
Explanation: Inherent risk refers to risks that exist naturally within an environment, such as earthquakes, floods, or hardware failures.

Question 7: Which factor is most important when selecting an IT risk assessment methodology?

A) The organization's risk tolerance
B) The number of IT staff available
C) The budget for risk management tools
D) The complexity of IT infrastructure

Correct Answer: A) The organization's risk tolerance
Explanation: Risk assessment methodologies should be aligned with the organization's risk appetite and business objectives for effective decision-making.

Question 8: What is the best approach for managing third-party IT risks?

A) Implementing strict vendor selection criteria
B) Reviewing vendor security only during contract signing
C) Avoiding partnerships with external vendors
D) Delegating IT risk management to vendors

Correct Answer: A) Implementing strict vendor selection criteria
Explanation: A robust vendor risk management process ensures that third-party providers meet security and compliance standards before engagement.

Question 9: Which of the following controls is most effective for detecting unauthorized system access?

A) Firewalls
B) Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
C) Endpoint encryption
D) Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Correct Answer: B) Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
Explanation: IDS monitors network activity and generates alerts when unauthorized access or anomalies are detected.

Question 10: Which metric is most useful for evaluating the effectiveness of a risk mitigation strategy?

A) Return on Investment (ROI)
B) Key Risk Indicators (KRIs)
C) System Uptime Percentage
D) Employee Satisfaction Rate

Correct Answer: B) Key Risk Indicators (KRIs)
Explanation: KRIs provide measurable data to assess how effectively risks are being managed and mitigated over time.

Question 11: Which risk treatment approach involves reducing the impact or likelihood of a risk?

A) Risk acceptance
B) Risk mitigation
C) Risk avoidance
D) Risk sharing

Correct Answer: B) Risk mitigation
Explanation: Risk mitigation involves implementing controls to reduce the impact or probability of a risk, rather than eliminating or transferring it.

Question 12: Which of the following is the most critical factor when developing an IT risk management strategy?

A) Cost of risk management tools
B) Business objectives and priorities
C) The number of IT staff available
D) Recent cybersecurity incidents

Correct Answer: B) Business objectives and priorities
Explanation: IT risk management should align with the overall business strategy, ensuring that risk mitigation efforts support organizational goals.

Question 13: What is the main advantage of conducting qualitative risk analysis over quantitative risk analysis?

A) It is easier and quicker to perform
B) It provides a numerical risk score
C) It eliminates all business risks
D) It requires no stakeholder involvement

Correct Answer: A) It is easier and quicker to perform
Explanation: Qualitative risk analysis relies on expert judgment and risk categories, making it faster and more cost-effective than quantitative analysis.

Question 14: Which security control is most effective for preventing unauthorized changes to sensitive IT configurations?

A) Change management process
B) Antivirus software
C) Backup and disaster recovery
D) Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Correct Answer: A) Change management process
Explanation: A structured change management process ensures that modifications to IT systems are authorized, tested, and properly documented.

Question 15: Which of the following best describes residual risk?

A) The risk that remains after applying security controls
B) The risk that exists before any controls are implemented
C) The risk that is completely eliminated through mitigation
D) The risk that is transferred to a third party

Correct Answer: A) The risk that remains after applying security controls
Explanation: Residual risk is the portion of risk that still exists after implementing mitigation strategies and cannot be entirely eliminated.

Question 16: What is the main purpose of an IT risk assessment?

A) Identify and evaluate risks affecting IT systems
B) Increase the organization's IT budget
C) Ensure that all risks are eliminated
D) Improve IT employee satisfaction

Correct Answer: A) Identify and evaluate risks affecting IT systems
Explanation: An IT risk assessment helps organizations identify, analyze, and prioritize risks to determine appropriate mitigation strategies.

Question 17: Which key risk indicator (KRI) would be most useful for detecting an increase in cyber threats?

A) Employee turnover rate
B) Number of phishing attempts detected
C) Monthly software updates
D) Help desk response time

Correct Answer: B) Number of phishing attempts detected
Explanation: A rising number of phishing attempts can indicate increased cyber threats, requiring additional security awareness and controls.

Question 18: Which of the following is an example of a control that reduces risk impact rather than risk likelihood?

A) Antivirus software
B) Firewalls
C) Incident response plan
D) Intrusion prevention system

Correct Answer: C) Incident response plan
Explanation: An incident response plan does not prevent an attack but reduces its impact by ensuring a structured and timely response.

Question 19: Which IT risk management activity is most critical during the business continuity planning process?

A) Identifying key business functions and dependencies
B) Increasing the organization's cybersecurity budget
C) Hiring additional IT security personnel
D) Reducing internet bandwidth usage

Correct Answer: A) Identifying key business functions and dependencies
Explanation: A business continuity plan (BCP) should focus on identifying essential business processes and IT dependencies to ensure resilience.

Question 20: Which of the following is the best strategy for ensuring third-party vendors comply with an organization's IT risk policies?

A) Signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
B) Conducting regular vendor security audits
C) Blocking vendor access to company data
D) Terminating contracts with all third-party vendors

Correct Answer: B) Conducting regular vendor security audits
Explanation: Ongoing security audits ensure that vendors comply with risk management policies and maintain strong security practices.

Question 21: What is the primary reason for conducting periodic IT risk assessments?

A) To identify new and evolving risks
B) To increase the organization's IT budget
C) To ensure complete risk elimination
D) To maintain compliance with IT staff policies

Correct Answer: A) To identify new and evolving risks
Explanation: Periodic risk assessments help organizations stay ahead of emerging risks and adjust risk mitigation strategies accordingly.

Question 22: Which risk management approach is best when an identified risk has a low probability but high impact?

A) Risk avoidance
B) Risk mitigation
C) Risk acceptance
D) Risk sharing

Correct Answer: D) Risk sharing
Explanation: Risk sharing, such as outsourcing or insurance, is a practical approach when a risk has a low probability but could cause severe damage.

Question 23: Which of the following is an example of a strategic IT risk?

A) A misconfigured firewall allowing unauthorized access
B) A cyberattack targeting sensitive customer data
C) An IT investment that fails to align with business goals
D) A server failure causing temporary system downtime

Correct Answer: C) An IT investment that fails to align with business goals
Explanation: Strategic IT risks involve long-term business objectives and how IT investments support or hinder them.

Question 24: Which control type focuses on detecting risks rather than preventing them?

A) Encryption
B) Firewalls
C) Audit logs
D) Access control lists

Correct Answer: C) Audit logs
Explanation: Audit logs help organizations detect security incidents by tracking and recording system activities.

Question 25: Which of the following is a key benefit of a risk appetite statement in IT risk management?

A) It defines how much risk an organization is willing to accept
B) It eliminates the need for cybersecurity controls
C) It reduces IT infrastructure costs
D) It guarantees compliance with all regulatory frameworks

Correct Answer: A) It defines how much risk an organization is willing to accept
Explanation: A risk appetite statement provides clear guidelines on acceptable risk levels, helping in decision-making and prioritization.

Question 26: Which IT risk management process involves assigning a value to risk based on financial impact?

A) Quantitative risk analysis
B) Qualitative risk analysis
C) Risk identification
D) Risk mitigation

Correct Answer: A) Quantitative risk analysis
Explanation: Quantitative risk analysis uses financial metrics to measure potential losses and justify mitigation efforts.

Question 27: Which factor is most important when determining IT risk tolerance?

A) The organization's financial strength
B) The total number of employees
C) The age of IT infrastructure
D) The complexity of software applications

Correct Answer: A) The organization's financial strength
Explanation: Risk tolerance is influenced by an organization’s financial ability to handle potential losses.

Question 28: Which approach is most effective for ensuring IT risk policies remain relevant?

A) Regularly updating policies based on risk assessments
B) Limiting access to IT policies to executives only
C) Keeping IT risk policies unchanged for long-term stability
D) Relying only on external cybersecurity consultants

Correct Answer: A) Regularly updating policies based on risk assessments
Explanation: Continuous evaluation and updates ensure that IT risk policies stay aligned with evolving threats and business needs.

Question 29: Which of the following is an example of operational risk in IT?

A) Changes in cybersecurity regulations
B) An IT project failing to deliver expected benefits
C) System downtime due to human error
D) A competitive disadvantage due to outdated technology

Correct Answer: C) System downtime due to human error
Explanation: Operational risks stem from internal processes, human errors, or system failures, affecting daily operations.

Question 30: Which metric is most effective for evaluating the success of an IT risk management program?

A) The number of IT staff members trained in security
B) Reduction in security incidents over time
C) The overall IT department budget
D) The frequency of IT software updates

Correct Answer: B) Reduction in security incidents over time
Explanation: Tracking security incidents helps measure the effectiveness of IT risk management efforts in reducing vulnerabilities.

 

Conclusion

Preparing for the CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control) exam requires a thorough understanding of risk management principles, information systems control, and governance frameworks. By practicing with realistic exam questions, candidates can improve their problem-solving abilities and reinforce their knowledge of key risk assessment strategies. The CRISC certification is highly valued in the cybersecurity and risk management industry, making it a crucial credential for IT professionals looking to advance in risk governance roles.

A structured study approach—including practice tests, case studies, and real-world scenario analysis—can significantly improve exam readiness. Reviewing key risk management frameworks, IT governance principles, and risk mitigation techniques ensures a deeper understanding of critical concepts. Additionally, timed mock exams help candidates manage exam pressure and improve their time management skills. Since the CRISC certification exam covers complex topics, choosing the right training program can make a significant difference in passing on the first attempt.

If you're really aiming’ earning your CRISC certification, Vinsys offers a comprehensive CRISC training program designed to help professionals excel in IT risk management. Our expert-led training covers real-world case studies, in-depth risk assessment methodologies, and hands-on practice exams to ensure you're fully prepared. Join Vinsys’s CRISC Certification Training and gain the skills and confidence needed to succeed. Enroll today and take the next step toward becoming a certified IT risk management expert!