NIST ID.RA-6: Risk Response Prioritization
Risk identification means nothing without prioritization. NIST ID.RA-6 ensures your organization systematically identifies and ranks risk responses based on business impact and resource constraints. This control transforms raw risk data into actionable mitigation strategies that protect what matters most.
What this means
ID.RA-6 requires organizations to establish and maintain a formal process for identifying all possible risk responses—acceptance, mitigation, avoidance, or transfer—then prioritize them based on organizational risk tolerance, financial impact, operational feasibility, and strategic objectives. Prioritization ensures limited compliance budgets target the highest-consequence vulnerabilities first.
How to comply
- 1.Establish a risk response decision framework that documents criteria for prioritization (business impact, likelihood, cost-to-mitigate, regulatory requirement)
- 2.Map identified risks to potential response options (mitigate, accept, transfer via insurance, avoid)
- 3.Assign priority scores using consistent methodology (risk scoring matrices, weighted scoring, CVSS-aligned scales)
- 4.Document prioritization rationale and decision owners for audit trail and accountability
- 5.Review and re-rank quarterly or after significant organizational changes
- 6.Communicate prioritized risk responses to stakeholders with timelines and resource allocation
Evidence auditors look for
- Risk register with prioritization scores and response assignments
- Risk prioritization matrix showing impact vs. likelihood with response decisions
- Risk response strategy document outlining mitigation, acceptance, transfer, or avoidance decisions
- Board-approved risk appetite statement and tolerance thresholds
- Quarterly risk review meeting minutes showing reprioritization decisions
- Risk dashboard tracking remediation progress on prioritized responses
- Insurance and risk transfer agreements for transferred risks
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
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