CompTIA CAS-004 - CompTIA SecurityX Certification Exam

Least privilege, policy automation, and continuous validation are some of the key elements that need to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. Zero trust architecture is a security model that assumes no implicit trust for any entity or resource, regardless of their location or ownership. Zero trust architecture requires verifying every request and transaction before granting access or allowing data transfer. Zero trust architecture also requires minimizing the attack surface and reducing the risk of lateral movement by attackers.

A. Least privilege is a principle that states that every entity or resource should only have the minimum level of access or permissions necessary to perform its function. Least privilege can help enforce granular and dynamic policies that limit the exposure and impact of potential breaches. Least privilege can also help prevent privilege escalation and abuse by malicious insiders or compromised accounts.

C. Policy automation is a process that enables the creation, enforcement, and management of security policies using automated tools and workflows. Policy automation can help simplify and streamline the implementation of zero trust architecture by reducing human errors, inconsistencies, and delays. Policy automation can also help adapt to changing conditions and requirements by updating and applying policies in real time.

F. Continuous validation is a process that involves verifying the identity, context, and risk level of every request and transaction throughout its lifecycle. Continuous validation can help ensure that only authorized and legitimate requests and transactions are allowed to access or transfer data. Continuous validation can also help detect and respond to anomalies or threats by revoking access or terminating sessions if the risk level changes.

B. VPN is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, which is a technology that creates a secure tunnel between a device and a network over the internet. VPN can provide confidentiality, integrity, and authentication for network communications, but it does not providezero trust security by itself. VPN still relies on network-based perimeters and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

D. PKI is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. PKI stands for Public Key Infrastructure, which is a system that manages the creation, distribution, and verification of certificates. Certificates are digital documents that contain public keys and identity information of their owners. Certificates can be used to prove the identity and authenticity of the certificate holders, as well as to encrypt and sign data. PKI can provide encryption and authentication for data communications, but it does not provide zero trust security by itself. PKI still relies on trusted authorities and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

E. Firewall is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. Firewall is a device or software that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules. Firewall can provide protection against unauthorized or malicious network access, but it does not provide zero trust security by itself. Firewall still relies on network-based perimeters and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

G. Continuous integration is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. Continuous integration is a software development practice that involves merging code changes from multiple developers into a shared repository frequently and automatically. Continuous integration can help improve the quality, reliability, and performance of software products, but it does not provide zero trust security by itself. Continuous integration still relies on code-based quality assurance and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

H. IaaS is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service, which is a cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS can provide scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency for IT infrastructure, but it does not provide zero trust security by itself. IaaS still relies on cloud-based security controls and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

The root cause of this issue is that the iOS keychain imported only the client public and private keys, but not the CA certificate. A PKCS#12 file (.p12 or .pfx) is a file format that contains a certificate and its private key, optionally protected by a password. A PKCS#12 file can also contain intermediate certificates or root certificates that are needed to verify the certificate chain. However, when importing a PKCS#12 file into the iOS keychain, only the certificate and its private key are imported, not the CA certificate. This means that the iOS device cannot verify the authenticity of the certificate, and displays the error message “mbedTLS: ca certificate undefined”. To fix this issue, the CA certificate needs to be imported separately into the iOS keychain, either manually or using a configuration profile. Verified References:

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/certificatepkcs12

https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/distribute-certificates-depcdc9a6a3f/web

https://openvpn.net/faq/how-do-i-use-a-client-certificate-and-private-key-from-the-ios-keychain/

A next-generation firewall (NGFW) is a device or software that provides advanced network security features beyond the traditional firewall functions. A NGFW can provide the following capabilities:

Recognize and block fake websites, using URL filtering and reputation-based analysis

Decrypt and scan encrypted traffic on standard and non-standard ports, using SSL/TLS inspection and deep packet inspection

Use multiple engines for detection and prevention, such as antivirus, intrusion prevention system (IPS), application control, and sandboxing

Have central reporting, using a unified management console and dashboard A cloud access security broker (CASB) is a device or software that acts as an intermediary between cloud service users and cloud service providers. A CASB can provide various security functions such as visibility, compliance, data security, and threat protection, but it does not provide all the capabilities of a NGFW. Web filtering is a technique that blocks or allows web access based on predefined criteria such as categories, keywords, or reputation. Web filtering can help recognize and block fake websites, but it does not provide all the capabilities of a NGFW. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a technology that monitors and analyzes the activity and behavior of endpoints such as computers or mobile devices. EDR can help detect and respond to advanced threats, but it does not provide all the capabilities of a NGFW. References: [CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 2: Enterprise Security Architecture, Objective 2.2: Select appropriate hardware and software solutions

Labeling files and requiring formal access authorization is a method that aligns with the principle of least privilege and the need-to-know basis. By assigning labels to files based on their sensitivity and requiring formal access approval from the data owner, the security officer can ensure that only personnel with the necessary clearance and a legitimate need to access the information can do so. This approach helps in maintaining data confidentiality and integrity in line with the project's security requirements.

The observation that the load balancer has only a single server assigned suggests an issue with scalability. Scalability refers to the ability of the system to handle increasing loads by addingresources. In this case, having a single server assigned to a load balancer may not be adequate to handle increased traffic or load, which could lead to performance issues.

LAN:

Workstation

Workstation

Shared Services Zone:

File server

Authentication server

Database server

Screened Subnet (DMZ):

Web server

Email proxy

VPN concentrator

Let's Map Them by Zone

🔹LAN (Top Right, 2 boxes) – Workstations only

Workstation

Workstation

🔹Shared Services Zone (Middle Row) – Internal-use servers

File server

Authentication server

Database server

🔹Screened Subnet / DMZ (Bottom Row) – Public-facing services

Web server

Email proxy

VPN concentrator

✅Remaining Workstations:

Go in theLAN(you’ll have two more slots)

✅Final Assignment:

LAN (Top Right)

Workstation

Workstation

Shared Services Zone (Middle Row)

File server

Authentication server

Shared Services Zone (Middle Row)

Database server

Workstation❌←This is not allowed!(Needs to go elsewhere)

So we must placeall 4 workstationsinto theLAN, and all 3 internal servers into themiddlerow.

Corrected Mapping:

LAN (Top Right - 2 slots)

Workstation

Workstation

Middle Row (Shared Services Zone - 2 boxes)

File server

Authentication server

Bottom Row (Shared Services or DMZ - 3 boxes)

Database server

Web server

Email proxy / VPN concentrator

The combination of DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) and SAST (Static Application Security Testing) would meet the developers' requirements. DAST is used for runtime testing, capable of simulating attacks like SQL injection and reflected XSS, which fulfills the first requirement. SAST analyzes the code statically to ensure that the application is not vulnerable to issues like memory leaks, fulfilling the second requirement. Implementing both will integrate security testing into the SDLC, addressing the security concerns earlier in the development cycle, as recommended in CASP+.

Immutable infrastructure through containers ensures that the deployed systems remain consistent and resistant to drift. Any changes require rebuilding and redeploying containers, eliminating configuration inconsistencies. This aligns with CASP+ objective 2.2, which emphasizes implementing scalable, secure system configurations.

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Before migrating previously isolated systems to the cloud, it is essential to perform patching and hardening. These systems may have been neglected while isolated, so updating them with the latest security patches and applying hardening measures (such as disabling unnecessary services and implementing strict access controls) is crucial to reduce vulnerabilities. This ensures that the systems are secure before they are exposed to the wider cloud environment. CASP+ emphasizes the importance of securing systems through patch management and hardening before integrating them into more exposed environments like the cloud.

The primary goal of an after-action review (AAR) is to evaluate the response to an incident critically and identify what was done well and what could be improved. An AAR is a structured review or de-brief process for analyzing what happened, why it happened, and how it can be done better by the participants and those responsible for the project or event.

The most significant risk to the development of a machine-learning-based threat detection tool is the Big Data processing required for maturity. Machine learning models often require large datasets to train effectively, and processing and analyzing this data can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. This can delay the development timeline, especially in a rapid CI/CD pipeline environment where timely delivery is crucial. CASP+ highlights the challenges associated with machine learning and Big Data in security tool development, particularly the resource demands and the need for extensive data to ensure accuracy and maturity.

Step by Step Explanation:

RPO (Recovery Point Objective): Specifies the maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time. If data loss of more than one hour is unacceptable, the RPO should be set to less than or equal to one hour.

RTO (Recovery Time Objective): Refers to the acceptable duration of system downtime, which is not relevant to the question.

The BCP, DRP, and SLA do not directly address data loss.