CISSP Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

Residual risk refers specifically to the level of risk that remains after security controls have been implemented to mitigate the initial risks identified. It is an essential concept in risk management, as it acknowledges that while controls can significantly reduce risk, they may not eliminate it entirely.

In practice, organizations assess their risks and apply various security measures, such as policies, technologies, or procedures, to reduce the likelihood or impact of potential threats. However, despite these efforts, some risk remains, which is classified as residual risk. Understanding this concept is crucial for organizations to ensure that they can maintain an acceptable risk level while implementing effective security measures.

The other choices describe different aspects of risk management but do not accurately define residual risk. For example, total risk before applying controls indicates the innate risk present without any mitigation efforts, while risk transfer involves shifting risk to another party, such as through insurance or outsourcing. High-threat scenario risks pertain to specific contexts or likelihoods rather than the residual risk left after controls are in place.