Isaca CISM - Certified Information Security Manager

 The board of directors is ultimately responsible for the governance of the organization, including the approval of the information security governance framework and the oversight of its implementation and performance. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, Domain 1: Information Security Governance, Chapter 2: Establish and Maintain an Information Security Governance Framework, Section: Roles and Responsibilities of Senior Management and the Board of Directors1

The best action for the system admin manager to address the issue of negligent handling of incident alerts by system admins is to provide incident response training to data custodians because it helps to improve their awareness and skills in recognizing and reporting security incidents, and following the incident response procedures and protocols. Conducting a risk assessment and sharing the result with senior management is not a good action because it does not address the root cause of the issue or provide any solutions or improvements. Revising the incident response plan to align with business processes is not a good action because it does not address the root cause of the issue or provide any solutions or improvements. Providing incident response training to data owners is not a good action because data owners are not responsible for handling incident alerts or performing incident response tasks. References: https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2017/volume-5/incident-response-lessons-learned https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2018/volume-3/incident-response-lessons-learned

Data backups are recoverable from an offsite location is the most important thing to verify when testing an incident response plan for recovery from a ransomware attack, as it ensures that the organization can restore its data and resume its operations without paying the ransom or losing critical information. Data backups should be performed regularly, stored securely, and tested for integrity and availability. (From CISM Review Manual 15th Edition)

The best way to support effective communication during information security incidents is to have predetermined service level agreements (SLAs) because they define the expectations and responsibilities of the parties involved in the incident response process, and specify the communication channels, methods, and frequency for reporting and updating on the incident status and resolution. Frequent incident response training sessions are not very effective because they do not address the communication needs or challenges during an actual incident. Centralized control monitoring capabilities are not very effective because they do not address the communication needs or challenges during an actual incident. Responsibilities defined within role descriptions are not very effective because they do not address the communication needs or challenges during an actual incident. References: https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2017/volume-5/incident-response-lessons-learned https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2018/volume-3/incident-response-lessons-learned

An anomaly-based intrusion detection system (IDS) operates by gathering data on normal network behavior and using it as a baseline for measuring abnormal activity. This is important because it allows the IDS to detect any activity that is outside of the normal range of usage for the network, which can help to identify potential malicious activity or security threats. Additionally, the IDS will monitor for any changes in the baseline behavior and alert the administrator if any irregularities are detected. By contrast, signature-based IDSs operate by gathering attack pattern signatures from historical data and comparing them against incoming traffic in order to identify malicious activity.

The first step in developing an information security strategy is to identify key stakeholders who can provide support, guidance and resources for information security initiatives. These stakeholders may include senior management, business unit leaders, legal counsel, audit and compliance officers and other relevant parties. By engaging these stakeholders early on, an information security manager can ensure that the strategy aligns with business objectives and expectations, as well as gain buy-in and commitment from them. Determining acceptable levels of risk, creating a roadmap and performing a gap analysis are all important steps in developing an information security strategy, but they should follow after identifying key stakeholders.

The results of a risk assessment would best enable an informed decision by senior management when developing a business case to justify an information security investment. A risk assessment will help to identify and prioritize the threats and vulnerabilities that affect the organization’s assets and processes, as well as the potential impact and likelihood of occurrence. A risk assessment will also provide a basis for selecting and evaluating the effectiveness of controls to mitigate the risks. According to CISA, developing a business case for security will be based on an in-depth understanding of organizational vulnerabilities, operational priorities, and return on investment1. The information security strategy, losses due to security incidents, and security investment trends in the industry are possible inputs or outputs of a risk assessment, but they are not sufficient to enable an informed decision by senior management. References: 1: The Business Case for Security - CISA 2: The Business Case for Security | CISA 3: #HowTo: Build a Business Case for Cybersecurity Investment 4: Making the Business Case for Information Security

The best automated control to resolve the issue of security incidents not being appropriately escalated by the help desk is to integrate incident response workflow into the help desk ticketing system. This will ensure that the help desk staff follow the predefined steps and procedures for handling and escalating security incidents, based on the severity, impact, and urgency of each incident. The incident response workflow will also provide clear guidance on who to notify, when to notify, and how to notify the relevant stakeholders and authorities. This will improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and consistency of the incident response process.

References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, page 2901; A Practical Approach to Incident Management Escalation2

Performing a vulnerability analysis is the best option to ensure that a new application complies with information security policy because it helps to identify and evaluate any security flaws or weaknesses in the application that may expose it to potential threats or attacks, and provide recommendations or solutions to mitigate them. Reviewing the security of the application before implementation is not a good option because it may not detect or prevent all security issues that may arise after implementation or deployment. Integrating security functionality at the development stage is not a good option because it may not account for all security requirements or challenges of the application or its environment. Periodically auditing the security of the application is not a good option because it may not address any security issues that may occur between audits or after deployment. References: https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2017/volume-2/secure-software-development-lifecycle https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2016/volume-4/integrating-assurance-functions

 The FIRST step in developing an information security strategy is to perform a gap analysis based on the current state of the organization’s information security posture. A gap analysis is a systematic process of comparing the current state with the desired state and identifying the gaps or deficiencies that need to be addressed. A gap analysis helps to establish a baseline for the information security strategy, as well as to prioritize the actions and resources needed to achieve the strategic objectives. A gap analysis also helps to align the information security strategy with the organizational goals and strategies, as well as to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, page 331; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 10th Edition, page 162

first step in developing an information security strategy is to conduct a risk-aware and comprehensive inventory of your company’s context, including all digital assets, employees, and vendors. Then you need to know about the threat environment and which types of attacks are a threat to your company1. This is similar to performing a gap analysis based on the current state3.

 Residual risk is the risk that remains after implementing controls to mitigate the inherent risk. A reduction in residual risk indicates that the information security program is effective in managing the risks to an acceptable level. This would best justify the continued investment in the program, as it demonstrates the value and benefits of the security activities. Security framework alignment, speed of implementation, and industry peer benchmarking are not direct measures of the effectiveness or value of the information security program. They may be useful for comparison or compliance purposes, but they do not necessarily reflect the impact of the program on the risk profile of the organization. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, page 431; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 10th Edition, page 622

Residual risk is the remaining risk after all security controls have been implemented. It is important to measure the residual risk of an organization in order to determine the effectiveness of the security program and to justify continued investment in the program. A reduction in residual risk is an indication that the security program is effective and that continued investment is warranted.

Compartmentalization is the best defense-in-depth implementation for protecting high value assets or for handling environments that have trust concerns because it is a strategy that divides the network or system into smaller segments or compartments, each with its own security policies, controls, and access rules. Compartmentalization helps to isolate and protect the most sensitive or critical data and functions from unauthorized or malicious access, as well as to limit the damage or impact of a breach or compromise. Compartmentalization also helps to enforce the principle of least privilege, which grants users or processes only the minimum access rights they need to perform their tasks. Therefore, compartmentalization is the correct answer.

A digital signature validates the authenticity and integrity of a message or document. It ensures that the data was not tampered with and originated from a verified sender.

“Digital signatures provide non-repudiation and confirm both the identity of the sender and the data integrity during transmission.”

— CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, Chapter 3: Program Development, Section: Cryptographic Controls*

The information owner is the person who has the authority and responsibility for the information asset and its protection. The information security manager should contact the information owner as soon as possible after the incident has been confirmed, to inform them of the incident, its impact, and the actions taken or planned to resolve it. The information owner may also need to be involved in the decision-making process regarding the incident response and recovery. (From CISM Review Manual 15th Edition)

 The best way to ensure information security governance is aligned with corporate governance is to integrate security reporting into corporate reporting. This will enable the board and senior management to oversee and monitor the performance and effectiveness of the information security program, as well as the alignment of information security objectives and strategies with business goals and risk appetite. Security reporting should provide relevant, timely, accurate, and actionable information to support decision making and accountability. The other options are important components of information security governance, but they do not ensure alignment with corporate governance by themselves. References = CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 411; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Database - 12 Month Subscription, Question ID: 1027