Cybersecurity-Audit-Certificate ISACA Cybersecurity Audit Certificate Exam Questions and Answers

 The presence of known dangerous artifacts like malicious IP addresses or domain names on a network typically indicates that a security breach has occurred or is in progress. These artifacts are often recognized as indicators of compromise (IoCs), which are pieces of forensic data, such as system log entries or files, that identify potentially malicious activity on a system or network. Identifying IoCs is crucial for cybersecurity as it allows organizations to detect breaches quickly and respond to them promptly.

References: The concept of indicators of compromise is a fundamental aspect of cybersecurity audits, as it relates to the identification and analysis of evidence that points to a security incident. This is covered in various ISACA resources, including the Cybersecurity Audit Certificate Study Guide, which provides guidance on understanding risk and implementing controls to protect against cyber threats1.

 The principle of least privilege is a security concept that restricts users’ access rights to only what is strictly necessary for their job functions. This control is the most effective in preventing unauthorized data access because it minimizes the chances of users, either intentionally or unintentionally, accessing data they are not authorized to view. It ensures that users are granted the minimum levels of access – or permissions – needed to perform their work. This reduces the risk of accidental or deliberate access to sensitive information.

References: The concept of least privilege is widely recognized as a fundamental security measure and is discussed in various ISACA resources. It is a key component of access control frameworks and is designed to limit the risk of unauthorized access to data, as outlined in ISACA’s guidelines1234. The principle is also part of the Identity and Access Management Audit Program provided by ISACA, which includes specific testing and evaluation criteria to assess the adequacy of safeguards in place to mitigate risks associated with unauthorized data access5.

 A feature of an intrusion detection system (IDS) is automated response. This is because an IDS is a system that monitors network or system activities for malicious or anomalous behavior, and alerts or reports on any detected incidents. An IDS can also perform automated response actions, such as blocking traffic, terminating sessions, or sending notifications, to contain or mitigate the incidents. The other options are not features of an IDS, but rather different concepts or techniques that are related to intrusion detection or prevention, such as intrusion prevention (A), interface with firewalls C, or back doors into applications (D).

The incident management team is typically activated during the Identification phase of the incident response process. This phase involves detecting and determining the nature of the incident, which is crucial before any containment, eradication, or recovery efforts can begin. The team’s activation at this early stage ensures that the incident is properly identified and assessed, allowing for a more effective response.

References = The ISACA resources outline the incident response process and emphasize the importance of the Identification phase as the starting point for the incident management team’s activities. This is supported by the incident response models and guidance provided by ISACA, which detail the steps and phases involved in responding to security incidents12.

The intrusion detection system component that is responsible for collecting data in the form of network packets, log files, or system call traces is sensors. This is because sensors are components of an intrusion detection system that are deployed on various locations or points of the network or system, such as routers, switches, servers, etc., and that capture and collect data from the network traffic or system activities. Sensors then forward the collected data to another component of the intrusion detection system, such as analyzers, for further processing and analysis. The other options are not components of an intrusion detection system that are responsible for collecting data in the form of network packets, log files, or system call traces, but rather different components or techniques that are related to intrusion detection or prevention, such as packet filters (A), analyzers (B), or administration modules C.

The device that is at GREATEST risk from activity monitoring and data retrieval is mobile devices. This is because mobile devices are devices that are portable, wireless, and connected to the Internet or other networks, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. Mobile devices are at greatest risk from activity monitoring and data retrieval, because they can be easily lost, stolen, or compromised by attackers who can access or extract the data stored or transmitted on the devices. Mobile devices can also be subject to activity monitoring and data retrieval by third-party applications or services that may collect or share the user’s personal or sensitive information without their consent or knowledge. The other options are not devices that are at greatest risk from activity monitoring and data retrieval, but rather different types of devices that may have different levels of risk or protection from activity monitoring and data retrieval, such as cloud storage devices (B), desktop workstations C, or printing devices (D).

 An incremental backup is a type of backup that only copies the files that have changed since the last backup was made. This means that after a full backup, subsequent incremental backups will only include the data that has been altered or newly created since the previous backup, making it a more efficient way to save storage space and reduce backup time.

References = While I can’t provide direct references from the Cybersecurity Audit Manual, the concept of incremental backups is a standard practice in data management and is covered in various cybersecurity and IT audit resources, including those provided by ISACA1. For a detailed understanding, you may refer to the ISACA Cybersecurity Audit Certificate resources or other ISACA study materials.

Standards define the minimum acceptable rules for policy compliance. They are established by consensus and approved by a recognized body that provides forcommon and repeated use, rules, guidelines, or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context.

References: The information aligns with the ISACA’s definitions and usage of terms related to cybersecurity audits, where standards are often referred to as the mandatory requirements that must be followed to ensure policy compliance12.

The BEST method of maintaining the confidentiality of digital information is using access controls, file permissions, and encryption. This is because these techniques help to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or modification of digital information, by restricting who can access the information, what they can do with it, and how they can access it. The other options are not as effective as using access controls, file permissions, and encryption, because they either relate to protecting availability (B), integrity C, or awareness (D).

From a regulatory perspective, the MOST important thing for the healthcare organization to determine when outsourcing its patient information processing to a third-party Software as a Service (SaaS) provider is the incident escalation procedures. This is because incident escalation procedures define how security incidents involving patient information are reported, communicated, escalated, and resolved between the healthcare organization and the SaaS provider. This is essential for complying with regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, which mandate timely notification and response to breaches of protected health information. The other options are not as important as incident escalation procedures from a regulatory perspective, because they either relate to technical aspects that may not affect compliance (A, B), or operational aspects that may not affect patient information security (D).

Hacktivists are politically motivated hackers who target specific individuals or organizations to achieve various ideological ends. They may use various methods such as defacing websites, launching denial-of-service attacks, leaking confidential information, or spreading propaganda to advance their causes or protest against perceived injustices.

The cloud characteristic that refers to resource utilization that can be optimized by leveraging charge-per-use capabilities is measured service. This is because measured service is a characteristic of cloud computing that involves monitoring, controlling, and reporting on the usage and consumption of cloud resources by cloud providers and consumers. Measured service helps to optimize resource utilization by leveraging charge-per-use capabilities, which means that cloud consumers only pay for the amount of resources that they actually use or consume, rather than paying for fixed or predetermined amounts of resources. The other options are not cloud characteristics that refer to resource utilization that can be optimized by leveraging charge-per-use capabilities, but rather different characteristics of cloud computing that describe other aspects or benefits of cloud services, such as on demand self-service (A), elasticity (B), or resource pooling (D).

The process that converts extracted information to a format understood by investigators is reporting. This is because reporting is a technique that involves presenting and communicating the results and findings of an investigation in a clear, concise, and accurate manner, using appropriate formats, such as tables, charts, graphs, etc. Reporting helps to convey the meaning and significance of the extracted information to the investigators, as well as other stakeholders, such as management, auditors, regulators, etc. The other options are not processes that convert extracted information to a format understood by investigators, but rather differenttechniques that are related to information extraction or analysis, such as ingestion (B), imaging C, or filtering (D).

The FIRST phase of the ISACA framework for auditors reviewing cryptographic environments is inventory and discovery. This is because the inventory and discovery phase helps auditors to identify and document the scope, objectives, and approach of the audit, as well as the cryptographic assets, systems, processes, and stakeholders involved in the cryptographic environment. The inventory and discovery phase also helps auditors to assess the maturity and effectiveness of the cryptographic governance and management within the organization. The other phases are not the first phase of the ISACA framework for auditors reviewing cryptographic environments, but rather follow after the inventory and discovery phase, such as evaluation of implementation details (A), hands-on testing (B), or risk-based shakeout C.

The backup procedure that would only copy files that have changed since the last backup was made is an incremental backup. This is because an incremental backup is a type of backup that only copies the files that have been created or modified since the previous backup, whether it was a full or an incremental backup. An incremental backup helps to reduce the backup time and storage space, as well as the recovery time, as only the changed files need to be restored. The other options are not backup procedures that would only copy files that have changed since the last backup was made, but rather different types of backup procedures that copy files based on different criteria, such as daily backup (B), differential backup C, or full backup (D).

HTTPS, or Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is an extension of HTTP that is protected by encryption via Transport Layer Security (TLS). This protocol ensures secure communication over a computer network by encrypting the data exchanged between a web server and a web browser, thereby protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the transmitted data.

References = While I cannot provide direct references from the Cybersecurity Audit Manual, the definition and workings of HTTPS are well-established in cybersecurity resources. HTTPS uses TLS (formerly SSL) to secure the data transfer, which is a fundamental concept covered in various cybersecurity literature, including ISACA’s materials123. For detailed information, please refer to the official ISACA resources and study guides.

A data loss prevention (DLP) program helps protect an organization from exfiltration of sensitive data. This is because exfiltration of sensitive data is a type of cyberattack that involves stealing or leaking sensitive or confidential information from an organization’s systems or networks to an external destination or party. Exfiltration of sensitive data can cause serious harm to an organization’s reputation, operations, finances, legal compliance, etc. A DLP program helps to prevent exfiltration of sensitive data by detecting and blocking any unauthorized or suspicious attempts to access, copy, transfer, or share sensitive data by users or applications. The other options are not cyberattacks that a DLP program helps protect an organization from, but rather different types of cyberattacks that affect other aspects or objectives of information security, such as crypto ransomware infection (A), unauthorized access to servers and applications (B), or unauthorized data modification C.

The FIRST phase of the ISACA framework for auditors reviewing cryptographic environments is inventory and discovery. This is because the inventory and discovery phase helps auditors to identify and document the scope, objectives, and approach of the audit, as well as the cryptographic assets, systems, processes, and stakeholders involved in the cryptographic environment. The inventory and discovery phase also helps auditors to assess the maturity and effectiveness of the cryptographic governance and management within the organization. The other phases are not the first phase of the ISACA framework for auditors reviewing cryptographic environments, but rather follow after the inventory and discovery phase, such as evaluation of implementation details (A), hands-on testing (B), or risk-based shakeout C.

 Continuous auditing tools are designed to monitor and analyze business transactions on an ongoing basis. An automated GRC tool fits this description as it can scan and flag transactions according to predefined criteria in real-time. This is in contrast to vulnerability scanners, IDS, or antivirus tools, which serve different purposes such as scanning for system weaknesses, detecting unauthorized access, or protecting against malware, respectively.

References: The information aligns with the principles of continuous auditing, which involves the examination of accounting practices, risk controls, compliance, information-technology systems, and business procedures on an ongoing basis123. Continuous auditing tools, like an automated GRC tool, enable real-time monitoring and analysis, which is essential for maintaining compliance and managing risk effectively3.

A passive activity that could be used by an attacker during reconnaissance to gather information about an organization is using open source discovery. This is because open source discovery is a technique that involves collecting and analyzing publicly available information about an organization, such as its website, social media, press releases, annual reports, etc. Open source discovery does not require any direct interaction or communication with the target organization or its systems or network, and therefore does not generate any traffic or alerts that could be detected by the organization’s security controls. The other options are not passive activities that could be used by an attacker during reconnaissance to gather information about an organization, but rather active activities that involve direct or indirect interaction or communication with the target organization or its systems or network, such as scanning the network perimeter (B), social engineering C, or crafting counterfeit websites (D).

When reviewing user management roles, the group that presents the GREATEST risk based on their permissions is privileged users. This is because privileged users are users who have elevated or special access rights or permissions to systems or resources, such as administrators, superusers, root users, etc. Privileged users present the greatest risk based on their permissions, because they can perform actions or operations that can affect the security, availability, or functionality of systems or resources, such as installing or uninstalling software, modifying or deleting files, granting or revoking access rights, etc. Privileged users can also abuse or misuse their permissions for malicious or unauthorized purposes, such as stealing or leaking sensitive data, sabotaging systems or services, bypassing security controls, etc. The other options are not groups that present the greatest risk based on their permissions, but rather different types of users that may have different levels of access rights or permissions to systems or resources, such as database administrators (B), terminated employees C, or contractors (D).

• Identify Baseline Standards: Establish a secure baseline configuration that includes only necessary services and features.
• Compare Server Configurations: Regularly compare current server configurations against the baseline to identify any deviations or unnecessary features.
• Remove Unnecessary Features: Uninstall or disable any services or features not required for the server’s role, reducing the attack surface.

References: Baseline standards serve as a guide for secure configuration and are essential for maintaining the principle of least functionality on servers12. They help in identifying and removing services that are not necessary, thereby reducing potential vulnerabilities.

The SLOWEST method of restoring data from backup media is an incremental backup. This is because an incremental backup is a type of backup that only copies the files that have been created or modified since the previous backup, whether it was a full or an incremental backup. An incremental backup makes the restoration process slower, as it requires restoring multiple backups in a specific order and sequence, starting from the last full backup and then applying each incremental backup until the desired point in time is reached. The other options are not methods of restoring data from backup media that are slower than an incremental backup, but rather different types of backup procedures that copy files based on different criteria, such as monthly backup (A), full backup (B), or differential backup C.

 In key protection/management, access should be aligned with the principle of least privilege. This means that users should only have the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks and no more. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access, misuse, or compromise of sensitive data or systems.

An information security procedure that indicates a requirement to sandbox emails means that the emails need to be isolated and tested for malicious content. This is because sandboxing is a technique that creates a virtual or isolated environment, where suspicious or untrusted emails can be executed or analyzed without affecting the rest of the system or network. Sandboxing helps to detect and prevent malware, phishing, or spam attacks that may be embedded inemails, and protect the users and the organization from potential harm. The other options are not what sandboxing emails means, but rather different concepts or techniques that are related to information security, such as encryption and nonrepudiation (A), backup and recovery (B), or firewall and delivery (D).

The MOST important thing to verify when reviewing the effectiveness of an organization’s identity management program is whether the processes are aligned with industry best practices. Identity management is the process of managing the identities and access rights of users across an organization’s systems and resources. Industry best practices provide guidelines and standards for how to implement identity management in a secure, efficient, and compliant manner.

Data packet analysis is the most helpful feature of an anti-malware application in protecting an organization from the potential of infected computers using a VPN. This feature involves examining the data packets that are being transmitted over the network. By analyzing these packets, the anti-malware can detect malicious activity or anomalies that may indicate an infection. This is particularly important for VPN traffic, as it is encrypted and not easily inspected by traditional methods.

References: The effectiveness of data packet analysis in a VPN context is supported by cybersecurity best practices that emphasize the importance of monitoring and analyzing network traffic to identify and mitigate threats12.

The MOST cost-effective technique for implementing network security for human resources (HR) desktops and internal laptop users in an organization is using a virtual local area network (VLAN). A VLAN is a logical grouping of network devices that share the same broadcast domain regardless of their physical location or connection. A VLAN can enhance network security by isolating different types of traffic or users from each other and applying different security policies or rules based on the VLAN membership. For example, an organization can create a VLAN for HR desktops and internal laptop users that restricts their access to only HR-related systems or resources. A VLAN can also reduce network costs by saving bandwidth, improving performance, and simplifying management.

Trend/variance-detection tools are tools that look for anomalies in user behavior. These tools use statistical methods to establish a baseline of normal user activity and then compare it with current or historical data to identify deviations or outliers. These tools can help to detect unauthorized access, fraud, insider threats, or other malicious activities.

Using a data loss prevention (DLP) solution to monitor data saved to a USB memory device is an example of managing data at rest. Data at rest is data that is stored on a device or media, such as hard disks, flash drives, tapes, or CDs. Data at rest can be exposed to unauthorized access, theft, orloss if not properly protected. A DLP solution is a tool that monitors and controls the movement and usage of data across an organization’s network or endpoints. A DLP solution can prevent users from saving sensitive data to removable devices or alert on any violations of data policies.

When roles and responsibilities for cybersecurity are not clearly identified and formalized, it can lead to confusion and gaps in the cybersecurity posture of anorganization. Without clear accountability, certain risks may not be identified, managed, or mitigated effectively, leading to potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

References = The importance of defining roles and responsibilities is highlighted in various cybersecurity frameworks and best practices, including those recommended by ISACA. It is a common theme in cybersecurity governance to ensure that all individuals within an organization understand their role in maintaining cybersecurity1.

When fraud has been detected following an incident, a forensics audit is the most relevant type of audit to conduct. A forensics audit is specifically designed to investigate and uncover evidence of fraud, misconduct, or other financial crimes. It involves the use of auditing and investigative skills to examine financial records, identify irregularities, and gather evidence that can be used in legal proceedings1.

References: The information aligns with the guidance provided by ISACA, which suggests that when fraud is suspected or detected, an audit should focus on the forensic examination of the evidence to understand the nature of the fraud and to gather proof1. Additionally, the role of internal audit in such cases is to assess the controls in place to prevent fraud and not necessarily to investigate the fraud itself unless they have the specific experience and expertise required1.

The GREATEST risk pertaining to sensitive data leakage when users set mobile devices to “always on” mode is that authorization tokens could be exploited. Authorization tokens are pieces of data that are used to authenticate users and grant them access to certain resources or services. Authorization tokens are often stored on mobile devices to enable seamless and convenient access without requiring users to enter their credentials repeatedly. However, if users set their mobile devices to “always on” mode, they increase the risk of losing their devices or having them stolen by attackers. Attackers can then access the authorization tokens stored on the devices and use them to impersonate the users or access their sensitive data.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides additional protection to messages transmitted using portable wireless devices by creating a secure and encrypted tunnel for data transmission. This helps protect the data from being intercepted or accessed by unauthorized entities. While encryption secures the content of the messages, a VPN secures the transmission path, adding an extra layer of security.

References: The use of VPNs for enhancing the security of mobile devices is discussed in ISACA’s resources. VPNs are recommended as a measure to protect data in transit, especially when using public or unsecured networks, which is a common scenario for portable wireless devices

Specific, mandatory controls or rules to support and comply with a policy are known as standards. This is because standards define the minimum level of performance or behavior that is expected from an organization or its employees in order to achieve a policy objective or requirement. Standards also provide clear and measurable criteria for auditing and monitoring compliance with policies. The other options are not specific, mandatory controls or rules to support and comply with a policy, but rather different types of documents or tools that provide guidance or recommendations for implementing policies or controls, such as frameworks (A), guidelines (B), or baselines C.

Broad network access refers to the computing capabilities that are available over a network and can be accessed by diverse client platforms, such as personal computers, mobile phones, and tablets. This characteristic is one of the essential features of cloud computing, which allows users to access services using a variety of devices through standard mechanisms.

References: The concept of broad network access is integral to the understanding of cloud services and is often discussed in cybersecurity resources, including those provided by ISACA, which emphasize the importance of securing access to these services across different platforms1

 One way to control the integrity of digital assets is through the use of hashing. This is because hashing is a technique that applies a mathematical function to a digital asset, such as a file or amessage, and produces a unique and fixed-length value, known as a hash or a digest. Hashing helps to verify the integrity of digital assets, by comparing the hash values before and after transmission or storage, and detecting any changes or modifications to the original asset. The other options are not ways to control the integrity of digital assets, but rather different concepts or techniques that are related to information security, such as policies (A), frameworks (B), or caching C.