Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) CybersecurityRisk ManagementHard
An organization relies heavily on a legacy software application for its core business operations. A recent security audit revealed several critical vulnerabilities in this application, which the vendor no longer supports. Replacing the application would be prohibitively expensive and disruptive. Despite significant efforts to implement compensating controls, some vulnerabilities remain. The organization's board decides to continue using the application, fully aware of the remaining risks. What risk management concept does this scenario best illustrate?
- ARisk Mitigation
- BForced Risk Acceptance
- CRisk Transfer
- DRisk Avoidance
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Forced Risk Acceptance
This scenario describes forced risk acceptance because the organization is compelled to accept the remaining risks due to factors like prohibitive costs of replacement and the legacy nature of the system, despite having attempted mitigation. It's not a voluntary acceptance but one driven by constraints.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Risk mitigation was attempted, but the scenario specifically highlights the acceptance of *remaining* risks due to constraints.
- C. Risk transfer would involve shifting the risk to another party, which is not happening here.
- D. Risk avoidance would mean stopping the use of the application entirely.
Forced Risk Acceptance
A situation where an organization is compelled to accept certain risks due to external factors, resource limitations, or the impracticality of implementing further mitigation or avoidance strategies, even if those risks exceed their ideal risk appetite.
- Acceptance due to unavoidable constraints.
- No practical alternative solutions.
- Often involves legacy systems or high costs.
Memory trick: Acceptance is a choice, but sometimes it's forced.