ISACA · CRISC
Validates expertise in IT risk management across governance, risk assessment, risk response and reporting, and technology and security domains.
Practice Questions
761
≈ 5 practice exams
Duration
240 minutes
Passing Score
450/800
Difficulty
ProfessionalLast Updated
Jan 2026
Use this CRISC practice exam to prepare for Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) with realistic questions, detailed explanations, and focused study modes. The practice bank includes 761 questions for ISACA CRISC, so you can review the exam steadily instead of relying on one long cram session.
As you practice, pay extra attention to recurring topics such as Governance (26%), Risk Assessment (22%), Risk Response and Reporting (32%), and Technology and Security (20%). Start with short sessions to identify weak areas, then move into timed quizzes once your accuracy is consistent.
The explanations are especially useful when you want to connect exam wording to the responsibilities and scenarios described in the official certification guidance. Use the free preview first, then unlock the full question bank when you are ready to build a complete study routine.
The Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) is an ISACA credential that validates a professional's expertise in enterprise IT risk management and information systems control. It is the only professional certification specifically focused on IT risk management, making it uniquely positioned among risk and security credentials. The exam covers four core domains: Governance, Risk Assessment, Risk Response and Reporting, and Technology and Security — spanning the full lifecycle of identifying, analyzing, evaluating, and responding to IT-related business risks. The certification was updated in November 2025 to reflect evolving enterprise risk landscapes and the growing intersection of governance, technology, and cybersecurity risk.
Since its inception in 2010, more than 46,000 professionals worldwide have earned the CRISC designation. It is consistently ranked among the top-paying IT certifications globally — ISACA data places it at #4 worldwide by average compensation. Holding the CRISC demonstrates the ability to apply risk governance best practices, design and implement information system controls, and communicate risk findings to senior stakeholders and boards.
CRISC is designed for mid-to-senior-level IT and business professionals who are directly involved in managing enterprise risk. Primary target roles include IT Risk Managers, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), IT Auditors, Compliance Officers, Security Consultants, and Information Systems Control professionals. It is particularly relevant for those who bridge technical IT functions and executive-level governance responsibilities.
The credential suits professionals with several years of hands-on experience in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation — not entry-level candidates. Those working in financial services, healthcare, technology, consulting, or government sectors will find the certification especially aligned with regulatory and operational demands in those industries. Professionals seeking to transition from purely technical roles into risk management leadership will also benefit significantly.
ISACA does not impose formal educational prerequisites for sitting the CRISC exam. However, to achieve full certification after passing the exam, candidates must demonstrate at least three years of cumulative work experience in IT risk management and information systems control, spanning at least two of the four CRISC job practice domains. This experience must have been gained within the 10-year period preceding the certification application date. The exam result is valid for five years, giving candidates time to accumulate the required experience after passing.
While not required to register, candidates are strongly advised to have a working knowledge of enterprise risk frameworks (such as COBIT, ISO 31000, or NIST), IT governance principles, and information security fundamentals before attempting the exam. Familiarity with risk assessment methodologies, control design concepts, and regulatory compliance environments will significantly ease preparation.
The CRISC exam consists of 150 scored multiple-choice questions administered over 240 minutes (4 hours). The exam is computer-based and can be taken at authorized PSI testing centers worldwide or via remote proctoring. All questions test practical, scenario-based judgment aligned with real-world job tasks performed by risk professionals, rather than pure memorization of definitions.
Scoring uses a scaled system ranging from 200 to 800, and the minimum passing score is 450. Exam registration is continuous — there are no fixed testing windows — and candidates can schedule their appointment as early as 48 hours after paying the registration fee. Once registered, candidates have a 12-month eligibility window to sit the exam. Registration costs US$575 for ISACA members and US$760 for non-members, plus a US$50 application processing fee upon certification.
CRISC-certified professionals command some of the highest compensation in the IT and security fields. ISACA reports an average annual salary exceeding US$151,000 for credential holders, and the certification consistently ranks in the top five globally for IT compensation. In high-demand markets such as financial services, healthcare, and government contracting — particularly in cities like New York, Washington D.C., and San Francisco — salaries can run 20–40% above average. Consulting and contract rates for CRISC holders typically range from US$50 to over US$100 per hour depending on experience.
Beyond compensation, CRISC opens doors to senior leadership roles including IT Risk Manager, CISO, Compliance Program Manager, and VP of Enterprise Risk. It is especially valued for enabling career transitions from technical IT or audit roles into governance and risk management leadership. As regulatory requirements intensify globally and organizations face growing operational, cyber, and third-party risks, demand for credentialed risk professionals continues to strengthen. CRISC differentiates candidates from those holding broader security credentials (such as CISSP or CISM) by demonstrating specialized depth in enterprise IT risk governance and control design.
5 sample questions with answers and explanations. The full bank has 761 questions, enough for 5 full-length practice exams.
Preview — answers shown1. An enterprise implements COSO Enterprise Risk Management Framework (2017) across all business units. The board of directors establishes oversight responsibilities, and executive management develops risk awareness programs instilling ethical values throughout the organization. Which component of the COSO ERM framework is the organization primarily addressing? (Select one!)
Explanation
Governance and Culture is the COSO ERM component addressing tone from the top, board oversight responsibilities, risk awareness, desired behaviors, and ethical values. This foundational component establishes how the organization's culture supports risk-informed decision-making. Strategy and Objective-Setting focuses on integrating ERM with strategic planning. Performance emphasizes identifying, assessing, responding to, and reporting risks linked to objectives. Review and Revision addresses evaluation of ERM process effectiveness and needed adjustments. The scenario describes governance structures and cultural elements rather than strategy formulation, risk response execution, or process evaluation.
2. A healthcare organization implements detective controls including Security Information and Event Management system monitoring, regular log reviews, and quarterly access certification reviews. During a security incident investigation, the team discovers that preventive controls blocking unauthorized database queries had failed three months earlier, but detective controls did not identify the control failure. What is the PRIMARY implication of this detective control failure? (Select one!)
Explanation
When detective controls fail to identify preventive control failures, corrective controls cannot be activated because the organization remains unaware that a problem exists. This creates a gap where preventive control failure goes undetected and uncorrected, leaving the organization exposed to threats without awareness or response capability. The proper response involves strengthening detective controls to ensure timely identification of preventive control failures. Compensating controls provide alternatives when primary controls cannot be implemented, but they do not address the fundamental issue that detective controls failed to identify the preventive control failure. Strengthening detective controls is the appropriate response. Organizations require layered defenses with preventive, detective, and corrective controls working together. Eliminating detective controls after they fail would remove the ability to identify future control failures and security incidents. Directive controls are policies and procedures that guide behavior. While important, strengthening policies does not address the technical detective control failure that allowed the preventive control malfunction to go unnoticed for three months.
3. A defense contractor implements ISO 27001:2022 ISMS. The internal audit team evaluates the organization's monitoring, measurement, analysis, evaluation, internal audit program, and management review processes to ensure they provide evidence of ISMS performance and effectiveness. Which ISO 27001:2022 clause is being audited? (Select one!)
Explanation
Clause 9 (Performance Evaluation) of ISO 27001:2022 specifically addresses monitoring, measurement, analysis, evaluation, internal audit, and management review activities that assess ISMS performance and effectiveness. Clause 6 covers risk assessment and treatment planning. Clause 7 addresses resources, competence, awareness, and communication. Clause 8 focuses on operational planning and risk treatment implementation. The audit activities described—monitoring, measurement, internal audit, and management review—are the core requirements of Clause 9 Performance Evaluation.
4. An international bank is responding to a high-priority risk identified during the annual risk assessment. The risk involves potential data breaches affecting customer financial information stored in legacy systems that cannot be upgraded due to regulatory requirements and integration dependencies. The annual loss expectancy is $800,000, and the risk score exceeds tolerance thresholds. Insurance policies are available that would cover 90% of breach-related losses for an annual premium of $120,000. Which risk response strategy is the bank implementing? (Select one!)
Explanation
Risk transfer shifts the financial impact to a third party through mechanisms like insurance or contractual agreements. Purchasing insurance that covers 90% of breach losses transfers the majority of financial risk to the insurer while the bank retains operational risk and residual financial exposure. Risk avoidance would require eliminating the legacy system entirely, which the bank cannot do due to regulatory and technical constraints. Risk mitigation would involve implementing additional technical or administrative controls to reduce likelihood or impact, not purchasing insurance. Risk acceptance would be inappropriate since the risk exceeds tolerance thresholds and requires active response. Transfer is suitable when risks have high financial impact but are insurable and the activity cannot be eliminated.
5. A financial services company is establishing its enterprise risk management framework. The board of directors has set a strategic goal to increase digital banking services by 40% within 18 months while maintaining regulatory compliance. The Chief Risk Officer needs to define the organization's approach to risk-taking. Which concept should be established FIRST to guide all subsequent risk management decisions? (Select one!)
Explanation
Risk appetite must be established first as it represents the amount and type of risk the organization is willing to accept to achieve strategic objectives. It requires board approval and sets the foundation for all subsequent risk decisions. Risk capacity defines the absolute maximum but does not guide strategic risk-taking. Risk tolerance is the acceptable deviation from appetite and is set after appetite is defined. Key risk indicators are monitoring tools implemented after the risk framework is established. The hierarchy requires appetite to be defined before tolerance levels can be set.
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