BCS CISMP-V9 - BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles V9.0

SMS technology was originally designed for casual, low-security communication. It lacks the robust security features required for transmitting sensitive information, such as one-time payment codes. The protocol does not encrypt messages, leaving them vulnerable to interception during transmission. Furthermore, the widespread adoption of SMS for various services has made it an attractive target for attackers, leading to exploitation through methods like SIM swapping, phishing, and other forms of abuse12.

References: The explanation is based on the general knowledge of SMS technology’s limitations and security vulnerabilities, as well as information from sources discussing SMS attacks and mitigation strategies12.

 Botnets are typically used by attackers for a variety of malicious activities, most commonly for:

Generating and distributing spam messages: Botnets can send out large volumes of spam emails to promote products or services, or to distribute malware.

Conducting DDoS attacks: Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are often carried out using botnets to overwhelm a target’s servers with traffic.

Scanning for system & application vulnerabilities: Botnets can be used to scan a large number of systems for vulnerabilities that can be exploited in further attacks.

However, vishing attacks, which involve voice phishing through phone calls, are not commonly associated with the use of botnets. Vishing typically involves direct voice communication to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information and does not leverage the distributed computing power of botnets, which is central to their usual applications such as spam distribution, DDoS attacks, and vulnerability scanning123.

References: The answer is informed by the common uses of botnets as outlined in various cybersecurity resources, including the BCS Information Security Management Principles, which emphasize the importance of understanding botnet capabilities in the context of information security management12

The cryptographic protocol that preceded Transport Layer Security (TLS) is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). SSL was the standard security protocol designed to provide communications security over a computer network before TLS was introduced. TLS evolved from SSL, with the first version of TLS (1.0) being developed as SSL version 3.1. However, the name was changed to TLS to indicate that it was no longer associated with Netscape, the company that developed SSL123.

SSL was used from 1994 until it was deprecated in 2015 by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) due to security vulnerabilities. Before its deprecation, TLS was already being used as a backup protocol for SSL 3.0 and quickly became the successor to SSL3. This transition highlights the continuous effort to improve cryptographic protocols to ensure secure communications over the internet.

References: The explanation utilizes information from authoritative sources on the history and development of TLS and SSL, including Cloudflare and Wikipedia, which provide detailed insights into the evolution of these cryptographic protocols123.

Digital signatures are a form of electronic signature that uses cryptographic techniques to provide secure and verifiable means of signing electronic documents. They are widely recognized and accepted as legally binding in many jurisdictions around the world. The enforceability of digital signatures is backed by various laws and regulations that recognize electronic signatures as equivalent to handwritten signatures, provided they meet certain criteria for authenticity and integrity. For instance, in the United States, the ESIGN Act establishes the legal validity of electronic signatures, including digital signatures1. Similarly, the eIDAS regulation in the European Union provides a legal framework for electronic signatures and trust services, including digital signatures2.

References := The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles addresses the legal aspects of information security, including the enforceability of digital signatures. It aligns with international standards and practices that affirm the legal validity of digital signatures, as reflected in documents such as the ESIGN Act and the eIDAS regulation34.

The ports discovered during the port scan are indicative of the services that are likely running on the device. Here’s a breakdown of what each port typically signifies:

TCP port 22: This is commonly used for Secure Shell (SSH) which is used for secure logins, file transfers (scp, sftp) and port forwarding.

TCP port 80: This port is used for Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), which is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web; essentially, it’s the standard port for web traffic.

TCP port 443: This is used for HTTP Secure (HTTPS). It’s the protocol for secure communication over a computer network within a web browser, providing a secure version of HTTP.

TCP port 3306: This is the default port for the MySQL database, which is often used in conjunction with web applications.

TCP port 8080: This is an alternative to port 80 and is used for web traffic, particularly for proxy and caching.

Given this information, the most likely type of device is a Web server, as it uses these ports for web traffic, secure communication, and potentially for a database that supports web applications.

References: The information provided here is based on common networking standards and practices, which are part of the foundational knowledge of Information Security Management Principles as outlined by BCS and other information security frameworks12.

Quantitative risk assessment is the process of objectively measuring risk by assigning numerical values to the probability of an event occurring and its potential impact. This method is most likely to provide objective support for a security Return on Investment (ROI) case because it allows for the calculation of potential losses in monetary terms, which can be directly compared to the cost of implementing security measures. By quantifying risks and their financial implications, organizations can make informed decisions about where to allocate resources and how to prioritize security investments to maximize ROI. This approach is particularly useful when making a business case to stakeholders who require clear, financial justification for security expenditures.

References: The use of quantitative risk assessment for supporting security ROI is consistent with the principles of Information Security Management, as it provides a structured and measurable method to evaluate and manage risks. It aligns with the Information Risk and Security Lifecycle domains, which emphasize the importance of understanding and addressing risks in a quantifiable manner12345.

The access control method described is Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). In RBAC, access permissions are based on the roles within an organization, and users are assigned to these roles based on their responsibilities and qualifications. Each role has a defined set of access permissions to perform certain operations. This method simplifies management and ensures that only authorized users can perform actions relevant to their role. For instance, ‘Developers’ can create and update files, ‘Reviewers’ can upload and update files, and ‘Administrators’ have the rights to upload, delete, and update files. This aligns with the RBAC model where permissions are grouped by role rather than by individual user, making it easier to manage and audit.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles provides a framework for understanding the principles of information security management, including access control mechanisms like RBAC12.

The primary reason organizations opt for outsourced managed security services is to gain access to specialized security tools and expertise that may not be feasible to maintain in-house due to cost or resource constraints. Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) offer a range of security services that can be tailored to an organization’s needs, allowing them to benefit from advanced security measures without the need for significant capital investment or the hiring of specialized staff. This shared service model is cost-effective and enables organizations to focus on their core business activities while ensuring robust security measures are in place. MSSPs can provide continuous monitoring, management of security devices and systems, incident response, and compliance support, which are crucial for maintaining a strong security posture in the face of evolving threats and complex regulatory environments.

References: The answer aligns with the knowledge provided by the BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles, which emphasizes the importance of cost-effective access to specialized tools and expertise through managed security services. Additionally, the benefits of MSSPs are supported by industry sources1234.

The statement defines Information Lifecycle Management (ILM), which is a set of policies, processes, practices, and tools that manage the flow of an organization’s information throughout its life cycle. ILM is concerned with aligning the business value of information with the most appropriate and cost-effective infrastructure from the moment the information is created until its final disposition. This includes how information is created, stored, used, archived, and eventually disposed of. An effective ILM strategy helps organizations manage their data in compliance with business requirements, regulatory obligations, and cost constraints.

References: The definition and explanation of ILM align with the information provided by TechTarget1, which describes ILM as a comprehensive approach to managing an organization’s data and associated metadata. It also matches the insights from Digital Guardian2, which explains that ILM oversees data throughout its lifecycle, optimizing storage systems and lowering associated costs while dealing with security, compliance, and regulatory issues.

In the context of cloud delivery models, the term “trusted” typically refers to the level of security control and assurance that clients can expect. Among the options provided, the Public cloud delivery model is generally considered to be the least “trusted” in terms of security by clients using the service. This is because public clouds are shared environments where the infrastructure and services are owned and operated by a third-party provider and shared among multiple tenants. The multi-tenant nature of public clouds can introduce risks such as data breaches or other security incidents that might not be as prevalent in more controlled environments.

In contrast, Private clouds are dedicated to a single organization, providing more control over data, security, and compliance. Hybrid clouds combine both public and private elements, offering a balance of control and flexibility. Community clouds are shared between organizations with common goals and compliance requirements, offering a level of trust tailored to the group’s needs.

Therefore, while all cloud models come with their own security considerations and potential risks, the public cloud model is typically the one where clients have to place more trust in the provider’s security measures, as they have less control over the environment.

References: The information provided here is based on common cloud computing frameworks and security considerations, which are part of the foundational knowledge of Information Security Management Principles as outlined by BCS and supported by industry insights12.