Isaca CISM - Certified Information Security Manager

 The number of business objectives directly supported by information security initiatives is the best indication of information security strategy alignment with the organizational goals and objectives. This metric shows how well the information security strategy is aligned with the business strategy, and how effectively the information security program is delivering value to the organization. The more business objectives that are supported by information security initiatives, the more aligned the information security strategy is with the organizational goals and objectives.

The other options are not the best indicators of information security strategy alignment, as they do not directly measure the impact or contribution of information security initiatives to the business objectives. The percentage of information security incidents resolved within defined SLAs is a measure of the efficiency and effectiveness of the incident management process, but it does not reflect how well the information security strategy is aligned with the business strategy. The percentage of corporate budget allocated to information security initiatives is a measure of the investment and commitment of the organization to information security, but it does not indicate how well the information security initiatives are aligned with the business objectives or how they are prioritized. The number of business executives who have attended information security awareness sessions is a measure of the awareness and involvement of the senior management in information security, but it does not show how well the information security strategy is aligned with the business strategy or how it supports the business objectives. References =

CISM Exam Content Outline | CISM Certification | ISACA, Domain 1, Task 1.1

CISM MASTER CHEAT SHEET - SkillCertPro, Chapter 1, page 2

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), page 1

Certified Information Security Manager Exam Prep Guide: Aligned with …, page 1

CISM: Certified Information Security SKILLS COVERED Manager, page 1

= The PRIMARY objective of performing a post-incident review is to identify the root cause of the incident, which is the underlying factor or condition that enabled the incident to occur. Identifying the root cause helps to prevent or mitigate future incidents, as well as to improve the incident response process. Re-evaluating the impact of incidents, identifying vulnerabilities, and identifying control improvements are secondary objectives of a post-incident review, which are derived from the root cause analysis. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, page 3061; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 10th Edition, page 1512

The primary objective of performing a post-incident review is to identify the root cause of the incident. After an incident has occurred, the post-incident review process involves gathering and analyzing evidence to determine the cause of the incident. This analysis will help to identify both the underlying vulnerability that allowed the incident to occur, as well as any control improvements that should be implemented to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Additionally, the post-incident review process can also be used to re-evaluate the impact of the incident, as well as any potential implications for the organization.

Involving functional managers in program development is the most essential element of an information security program, because they are responsible for ensuring that the information security policies, standards, and procedures are implemented and enforced within their respective business units. They also provide input and feedback on the information security requirements, risks, and controls that affect their operations and objectives.

References =

CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, ISACA, 2020, p. 37: “Functional managers are responsible for ensuring that the information security policies, standards, and procedures are implemented and enforced within their respective business units.”

CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, ISACA, 2020, p. 38: “Functional managers should be involved in the development of the information security program to provide input and feedback on the information security requirements, risks, and controls that affect their operations and objectives.”

The risk owner is the best positioned to be accountable for risk acceptance decisions based on risk appetite, because the risk owner is the person or entity with the accountability and authority to manage a risk1. The risk owner is responsible for evaluating the risk level, comparing it with the risk appetite, and deciding whether to accept, avoid, transfer, or mitigate the risk2. The risk owner is also accountable for monitoring and reporting on the risk status and outcomes3. The information security manager, the chief risk officer (CRO), and the information security steering committee may have some roles and responsibilities in the risk management process, but they are not the primary accountable parties for risk acceptance decisions.

References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, page 754; Risk Acceptance

An emerging technology roadmap is a strategic plan that identifies the potential benefits, risks, and challenges of adopting new technologies in alignment with the organization’s goals and objectives. It also defines the roles and responsibilities, processes, and controls for managing the technology lifecycle, from evaluation to implementation to maintenance. An emerging technology roadmap can help the information security program support the adoption of emerging technologies by ensuring that security requirements are considered and addressed at every stage, and that the technologies are aligned with the organization’s risk appetite and compliance obligations.

References = CISM Review Manual, 15th Edition, page 97; Privacy, Security and Bias in Emerging Technologies; The Impact of Emerging Technology on the Future of Cybersecurity

= A supply chain attack is a type of cyberattack that targets the suppliers or service providers of an organization, rather than the organization itself. The attackers exploit the vulnerabilities or weaknesses in the supply chain to gain access to the organization’s network, systems, or data. The attackers may then use the compromised third-party resources to launch further attacks, steal sensitive information, disrupt operations, or damage reputation. Therefore, the most likely risk scenario that emerges from a supply chain attack is the compromise of critical assets via third-party resources. This scenario poses a high threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the organization’s assets, as well as its compliance and trustworthiness. Unavailability of services provided by a supplier, loss of customers due to unavailability of products, and unreliable delivery of hardware and software resources by a supplier are all possible consequences of a supply chain attack, but they are not the most likely risk scenarios. These scenarios may affect the organization’s productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction, but they do not directly compromise the organization’s critical assets. Moreover, these scenarios may be caused by other factors besides a supply chain attack, such as natural disasters, human errors, or market fluctuations. References = CISM Review Manual 2023, page 189 1; CISM Practice Quiz 2

According to the CISM Review Manual (Digital Version), Chapter 3, Section 3.2.1, Information owners are responsible for developing an information classification framework based on business needs1. They are also responsible for defining and maintaining the classification scheme, policies, and procedures for their information assets1.

The CISM Review Manual (Digital Version) also states that information owners should collaborate with other stakeholders, such as information security managers, information security steering committees, senior management, and legal counsel, to ensure that the classification framework is aligned with the organization’s objectives and complies with applicable laws and regulations1.

The CISM Exam Content Outline also covers the topic of information classification frameworks in Domain 3 — Information Security Program Development and Management (27% exam weight)2. The subtopics include:

3.2.1 Information Classification Frameworks

3.2.2 Information Classification Policies

3.2.3 Information Classification Procedures

3.2.4 Information Classification Training

I hope this answer helps you prepare for your CISM exam. Good luck! 😊

According to the NIST SP 800-61 Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, the type of confirmed incident is one of the most important criteria for choosing a containment strategy, as different types of incidents may require different levels of urgency, scope, and impact1. For example, a denial-of-service attack may require a different containment strategy than a ransomware attack or a data breach.

References = 1: NIST SP 800-61: 3.1. Choosing a Containment Strategy2

Complying with regulations regarding notification is the most important reason for an organization to communicate to affected parties that a security incident has occurred, as it helps to avoid legal penalties, fines, or sanctions that may result from failing to notify the relevant authorities, customers, or other stakeholders in a timely and appropriate manner. Additionally, complying with regulations regarding notification may also help to preserve the trust and reputation of the organization, as well as to facilitate the investigation and resolution of the incident.

References = CISM Review Manual 2022, page 3151; CISM Exam Content Outline, Domain 4, Task 4.5

= Developing the test plan is the task that should be performed once a disaster recovery plan (DRP) has been developed. The test plan is a document that describes the objectives, scope, methods, and procedures for testing the DRP. The test plan should also define the roles and responsibilities of the test team, the test scenarios and criteria, the test schedule and resources, and the test reporting and evaluation. The purpose of testing the DRP is to verify its effectiveness, identify any gaps or weaknesses, and improve its reliability and usability. Testing the DRP also helps to increase the awareness and readiness of the staff and stakeholders involved in the disaster recovery process. Analyzing the business impact, defining response team roles, and identifying recovery time objectives (RTOs) are all tasks that should be performed before developing the DRP, not after. These tasks are part of the business continuity planning (BCP) process, which aims to identify the critical business functions and assets, assess the potential threats and impacts, and determine the recovery strategies and requirements. The DRP is a subset of the BCP that focuses on restoring the IT systems and services after a disaster. Therefore, the DRP should be based on the results of the BCP process, and tested after it has been developed. References = CISM Review Manual 2023, page 218 1; CISM Practice Quiz 2

When preventive controls to appropriately mitigate risk are not feasible, the most important action for the information security manager is to manage the impact, which means taking measures to reduce the likelihood or severity of the consequences of the risk. Managing the impact can involve using alternative controls, such as engineering, administrative, or personal protective controls, that can lower the exposure or harm to the organization. The other options, such as identifying unacceptable risk levels, assessing vulnerabilities, or evaluating potential threats, are part of the risk assessment process, but they are not actions to mitigate risk when preventive controls are not feasible. References:

https://bcmmetrics.com/risk-mitigation-evaluating-your-controls/

https://www.osha.gov/safety-management/hazard-prevention

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/default.html

Inherent risk is the risk that exists before any controls are applied. It is influenced by factors such as the nature, value, sensitivity, and exposure of the information asset. Business criticality is one of the most important factors that affect the inherent risk of an information asset, as it reflects how essential the asset is for the organization’s operations and objectives. The higher the business criticality, the higher the inherent risk. Risk tolerance, NPV, and ROI are not directly related to the inherent risk of an information asset, as they are more relevant for the risk assessment and risk treatment processes. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, page 971

Business criticality is the degree to which an asset is essential to the success of the business and the extent to which its loss or compromise could have a significant impact on the business. Business criticality is one of the main factors that help to determine the inherent risk of an asset, as assets that are more critical to the business tend to have a higher inherent risk.

An endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution provides advanced visibility, detection, and response capabilities at the endpoint level, which are critical for investigating and responding to incidents.

“EDR solutions help identify, investigate, and respond to threats on endpoints quickly, making them vital for incident response teams.”

— CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, Chapter 4: Incident Management, Section: Tools and Technologies for Incident Response*

ISACA’s practice questions highlight EDR as the most helpful tool for comprehensive incident analysis and response.

= When briefing executives about the current state of the information security program, the most important consideration is to use appropriate language for the target audience. This means avoiding technical jargon, acronyms, and details that may confuse or bore the executives, and instead focusing on the business value, risks, and benefits of the information security program. The other options are not as important or relevant as using appropriate language, although they may also be useful to include in the briefing. For example, a situational forecast may be helpful to show the future trends and challenges, but it is not as essential as communicating the current state clearly and concisely. Similarly, trend charts for metrics and a rating system to demonstrate program effectiveness may be useful to support the briefing, but they are not as critical as using language that the executives can understand and relate to. References =

Information Security Guide for Government Executives, page 7: “Reminding employees of their responsibilities and demonstrating management’s commitment to the security program are key to maintaining effective security within the constantly changing information security environment.”

Information security guide for government executives - NIST, page 3: “The executive should communicate the importance of information security to the organization and its staff, using language that is meaningful to the target audience.”

Information Security Committee Charter - SecurityStudio, page 1: “The committee also coordinates and communicates the direction, current state, and oversight of the information security program.”

According to the CISM Review Manual, a business impact analysis (BIA) is the most useful tool when determining the business continuity strategy for a large organization’s data center, as it helps to identify and prioritize the critical business processes and resources that depend on the data center, and the impact of their disruption or loss. A BIA also provides the basis for defining the recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs) for the data center, which guide the selection of the appropriate business continuity strategy.

References = CISM Review Manual, 27th Edition, Chapter 3, Section 3.5.2, page 1511.

The first step when integrating information security into HR management processes is to assess the business objectives of the processes, which means understanding the purpose, scope, and expected outcomes of the HR functions and activities, and how they relate to the organization’s strategy and goals. The assessment will help to identify the information security requirements, risks, and controls that are relevant and applicable to the HR processes, and to align the information security objectives with the business objectives.

References = CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, CISM: Overview of domains [updated 2022]

A new security project is more likely to be approved if it aligns with the organization’s goals, objectives, and strategies. This shows that the project supports the business needs and adds value to the organization. Organizational alignment is one of the key elements of a business case for information security, as stated in the CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition1, page 41. IT strategy alignment, threats to the organization, and existing control costs are also important factors to consider, but they are not as persuasive as organizational alignment in obtaining approval for a new security project. References = 1: CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition by Isaca (Author)

Learn more:

1. isaca.org2. amazon.com3. gov.uk

AI-driven tools enable real-time analysis, anomaly detection, and automated response, drastically reducing the time to identify and respond to threats. This capability is particularly effective against advanced persistent threats (APTs) and zero-day exploits.

“AI tools enhance security operations by enabling rapid threat detection and incident response, often before traditional tools can react.”

— CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, Chapter 4: Security Operations and Threat Intelligence*

Other benefits (e.g., prioritization or patching) are secondary compared to the speed and precision of AI-based threat response.