Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) Certification Practice Exam

What best indicates the maturity of an IT Risk Management process in an enterprise?

1. Top management is prepared to invest more money in IT security

2. Employees have an appropriate awareness of risk and are comfortable talking about it

3. Risk assessment is performed in all areas of IT and business management

4. The business and IT are aligned in risk assessment and risk ranking

The correct answer is: Employees have an appropriate awareness of risk and are comfortable talking about it

The most indicative measure of the maturity of an IT Risk Management process is the extent to which employees are aware of risk and feel comfortable discussing it. A mature IT Risk Management process fosters a culture where risk is openly acknowledged and communicated across all levels of the organization. When employees are informed and can discuss risks, it enhances collaboration and encourages proactive risk management practices. This level of awareness often leads to more effective identification and mitigation of risks, contributing to the overall resilience of the organization. In contrast, top management's willingness to invest more money in IT security, performing risk assessments in all areas, or aligning business and IT in terms of risk assessment are important aspects of a comprehensive risk management framework. However, these factors are not as strong indicators of maturity on their own. A significant investment doesn't necessarily translate to effective risk management if the employees do not understand or engage with the processes. Similarly, risk assessments and alignment initiatives lack value if they are not supported by a culture of awareness and communication among employees. Thus, while all choices reflect important components of risk management, the comfort level and awareness of risk among employees is a fundamental factor that signifies a mature risk management culture.