CRISC domain - 26% of the exam

Governance

Governance is 26% of the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) (CRISC) exam. These are the objectives it covers, each with practice questions and worked explanations.

Objectives in this domain

Sample question from this domain

Free sampleGovernancemedium

A risk practitioner is asked to demonstrate that the IT risk management approach supports the organisation's strategy. Which action provides the strongest evidence of strategic alignment?

  • ADeriving risk appetite, tolerance and treatment priorities directly from the approved strategic objectives Correct
  • BMapping each identified IT risk scenario to the specific business objectives it could impair
  • CCounting how many IT risk scenarios were closed within the agreed remediation window
  • DPublishing the IT risk register to every department head on a fixed monthly schedule
Strategic alignment is proven when risk appetite, tolerance and treatment priorities are derived from approved strategic objectives. Alignment means the strategy drives the risk decisions, so deriving appetite, tolerance and treatment priorities from the approved objectives makes business intent the controlling input rather than an afterthought layered onto technical activity.

Why A is correct: When appetite, tolerance and priorities flow from the approved strategic objectives, the risk approach is demonstrably governed by strategy rather than run as an isolated technical exercise.

Why B is wrong: Mapping risks to objectives is useful and tempting because it shows traceability, but it documents exposure rather than proving the overall approach is steered by strategy.

Why C is wrong: Closure rates measure operational efficiency of treatment, so they look like progress, yet they say nothing about whether the work served the organisation's strategic goals.

Why D is wrong: Wide distribution improves transparency and feels like good governance, but circulating a register does not show that risk decisions are anchored to business strategy.

Other domains in this exam

See also the CRISC cert hub, the study guide, and the cheat sheet.

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