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. A logistics company assesses Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) cloud deployment risk using the shared responsibility model. The security team must determine accountability for protecting customer shipping data stored in cloud-based virtual machines. According to the IaaS shared responsibility model, who is responsible for data classification, encryption, and access control for this customer data? (Select one!)
Explanation
In IaaS shared responsibility models, customers retain complete responsibility for data protection including classification, encryption, and access control, while providers manage underlying infrastructure including virtualization, storage, and networking. Data security always remains customer responsibility regardless of cloud service model because organizations maintain accountability for their sensitive information. Cloud providers secure infrastructure but cannot determine data sensitivity or appropriate protection levels. The responsibility is not shared for data protection—it is exclusively customer responsibility. Third-party auditors assess controls but don't assume responsibility. Organizations cannot transfer data protection accountability to IaaS providers.
2. A university research institution receives a grant requiring compliance with NIST SP 800-171 security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information. The compliance officer maps existing security controls to the 110 NIST SP 800-171 requirements and identifies 14 requirements where controls are not yet implemented. The institution has 180 days to achieve full compliance. Management requests a prioritized remediation roadmap. Which approach should the compliance officer use to prioritize the 14 control gaps? (Select one!)
Explanation
Risk-based prioritization focuses remediation efforts on control gaps that present the greatest threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Controlled Unclassified Information. This approach ensures that the most critical vulnerabilities receive attention first, reducing exposure to the highest-impact scenarios even if not all 14 gaps are closed within 180 days. By assessing inherent risk levels associated with each control gap, the institution can make informed trade-offs if time or budget constraints prevent addressing all deficiencies simultaneously. Implementing controls in numerical requirement order ignores risk severity and may address low-impact gaps while leaving critical vulnerabilities unprotected. Prioritizing by cost favors quick wins but may leave high-risk areas exposed. While deploying controls that satisfy multiple requirements improves efficiency, this should be secondary to risk-based prioritization.
3. A healthcare provider implements ITIL 4 Service Value System to improve IT service delivery for electronic health records. The service management team adopts the seven guiding principles to inform all decisions and actions regardless of changing circumstances. Which principle should the team follow when tempted to build entirely new processes for a service desk migration project? (Select one!)
Explanation
Start Where You Are is the ITIL 4 guiding principle directing organizations to build on existing capabilities rather than starting from scratch. This principle prevents waste by leveraging current processes, tools, services, and resources as the foundation for improvement. Focus on Value ensures stakeholder value drives decisions but doesn't specifically address the build-versus-reuse decision. Progress Iteratively with Feedback advocates manageable incremental improvements rather than big-bang approaches. Optimize and Automate focuses on maximizing efficiency through simplification and automation. When facing the temptation to discard existing processes and rebuild entirely, Start Where You Are provides the most relevant guidance to assess and leverage current capabilities before introducing new elements.
4. A technology company implements COBIT 2019 framework for IT governance. The Chief Information Security Officer reports to the board of directors on the effectiveness of security controls and compliance with risk appetite. The board reviews security metrics quarterly and provides strategic direction on acceptable risk levels. Which COBIT 2019 domain does this activity primarily represent? (Select one!)
Explanation
EDM (Evaluate, Direct, and Monitor) is the governance domain in COBIT 2019, specifically focused on board-level activities. The scenario describes the board evaluating security effectiveness, directing strategy through risk appetite decisions, and monitoring through quarterly reviews. These are classic governance activities that distinguish EDM from management domains. APO is a management domain focused on planning and organizing, not board governance. DSS addresses operational delivery, not strategic governance. While MEA involves monitoring, it is a management-level domain, whereas the scenario explicitly describes board-level governance activities characteristic of EDM.
5. An enterprise architect is integrating IT governance and service management frameworks. The organization needs strategic-level IT governance with goals cascade and enterprise-wide risk management, combined with operational-level service delivery practices for incident management, change management, and problem management. Which framework combination provides this integrated approach? (Select one!)
Explanation
COBIT 2019 provides enterprise IT governance with its goals cascade methodology, 40 governance and management objectives, and board-level oversight, while ITIL 4 delivers operational service management practices for incident, change, and problem management. This is the recommended integration pattern. ISO 27001 focuses on information security management, not broad IT governance. NIST CSF is for cybersecurity, not comprehensive IT governance. ITIL does not provide governance frameworks—it focuses on service management.
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