Isaca Cybersecurity-Audit-Certificate Dumps

The correct answer is C. SSH.

SSH stands for Secure Shell, a client-server program that opens a secure, encrypted command-line shell session from the Internet for remote logon. SSH allows users to remotely access and execute commands on a server without exposing their credentials or data to eavesdropping, tampering or replay attacks.SSH also supports secure file transfer protocols such as SFTP and SCP1.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, a technology that creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between two or more devices over a public network such as the Internet.VPN allows users to access resources on a remote network as if they were physically connected to it, while protecting their privacy and identity2.

IPsec stands for Internet Protocol Security, a set of protocols that provides security at the network layer of the Internet. IPsec supports two modes: transport mode and tunnel mode. Transport mode encrypts only the payload of each packet, while tunnel mode encrypts the entire packet, including the header.IPsec can be used to secure VPN connections, as well as other applications that require data confidentiality, integrity and authentication3.

SFTP stands for Secure File Transfer Protocol, a protocol that uses SSH to securely transfer files between a client and a server over a network. SFTP provides encryption, authentication and compression features to ensure the security and reliability of file transfers.

1:SSH (Secure Shell)2:What is a VPN? How It Works, Types of VPN | Kaspersky3:IPsec - Wikipedia: [SFTP - Wikipedia]

The increasing amount of storage space available on mobile devices poses the greatest concern for organizations needing to protect sensitive data. Larger storage capacities allow for more data to be stored on a device, which can include sensitive organizational information. If such a device is lost, stolen, or compromised, the potential for sensitive data to be accessed increases significantly. Additionally, the more data a device can hold, the more attractive it becomes as a target for attackers.

References = ISACA’s resources highlight the risks associated with mobile devices’ storage capabilities, especially when they contain sensitive organizational data. The threats, vulnerabilities, and risks related to the storage of sensitive data on mobile devices are discussed, emphasizing the importance of protecting such data from unauthorized access123.

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 characteristic of cloud computing that allows users to provision computing capabilities without human interaction from the service provider is known as on-demand self-service. This feature enables users to automatically manage their computing resources, such as server time and network storage, as needed, which provides agility and flexibility in resource management.

References: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines on-demand self-service as one of the five essential characteristics of cloud computing. It specifies that users can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider1234.

Risk assessment is a fundamental part of the cybersecurity framework and is used to identify, estimate, and prioritize risks to organizational operations, assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation, resulting from the operation and use of information systems. A risk assessment helps in understanding the potential impact of different security threats and the effectiveness of the controls in place, thereby guiding the selection of appropriate controls to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

References: The ISACA Cybersecurity Audit resources emphasize the importance of risk assessment in determining the most suitable controls for an organization’s specific security needs. This aligns with the guidance provided by ISACA, which suggests that risk assessments are crucial for identifying the right controls to mitigate cybersecurity risks123.

The PRIMARY purpose of creating a security architecture is to create a long-term information security strategy that aligns with the organization’s business goals and objectives. A security architecture defines the vision, principles, standards, policies, and guidelines for how security will be implemented and managed across the organization’s systems, networks, and data.

A security operations center (SOC) is a centralized unit that monitors, detects, analyzes, and responds to cyber threats and incidents in real time. A SOC enables continuous identification and mitigation of security threats to an organization by using various tools, processes, and expertise.

 The responsibility of an organization to protect its assets, including IT infrastructure and information, falls under the broader umbrella of governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC). Governance ensures that organizational activities, like managing IT operations, are aligned with the business’s goals, risk management involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks, and compliance ensures that the organization adheres to laws, regulations, and policies.

References = While I can’t provide direct references from the Cybersecurity Audit Manual, the concept of GRC is widely recognized in cybersecurity frameworks and best practices, such as those outlined by ISACA and other industry standards.

During the containment phase, the immediate response to an incident involves limiting its scope and magnitude, which includes preserving evidence. This is crucial for a subsequent forensic analysis and for learning lessons from the incident to prevent future occurrences.

References = The containment phase is part of the incident response process as outlined in ISACA’s resources, which include steps such as detection and analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident activities12.

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 important step to determine the risks posed to an organization by social media is to review access control processes for the organization’s social media accounts. This is becauseaccess control processes help to ensure that only authorized users can access, modify, or share the organization’s social media accounts and content, and prevent unauthorized or malicious access or disclosure of sensitive or confidential information. Access control processes also help to protect the organization’s reputation and brand image from being compromised or damaged by unauthorized or inappropriate social media posts. The other options are not as important as reviewing access control processes for the organization’s social media accounts, because they either relate to costs (A), insurance (B), or recovery C aspects that are not directly related to the risks posed by social media.

The MOST critical thing to guiding and managing security activities throughout an organization to ensure objectives are met is establishing metrics to measure and monitor security performance. This is because metrics provide quantifiable and objective data that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of security activities, as well as identify gaps and areas for improvement. Metrics also enable communication and reporting of security performance to stakeholders, such as senior management, board members, auditors, regulators, customers, etc. The other options are not as critical as establishing metrics, because they either involve spending money without knowing the return on investment (A), adopting standards without customizing them to fit the organization’s context and needs (B), or conducting training without assessing its impact on behavior change (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).

The greatest concern for an IS auditor when a VPN is implemented on employees’ personal mobile devices would likely be B. Users may store the data in plain text on their mobile devices. This is because storing sensitive data in plain text can lead to security breaches if the device is lost, stolen, or compromised.

Detailed Step by Step Explanation:

• Data at Rest: Personal devices often lack the same level of security as corporate devices, making stored data more vulnerable.

• Device Loss or Theft: Personal devices are more likely to be lost or stolen, and if data is stored in plain text, it could be easily accessed.

• Compliance and Data Protection: Storing data in plain text may violate compliance requirements and data protection laws, which mandate encryption of sensitive information.

The feature that provides the GREATEST assurance that data can be recovered and restored in a timely manner in the event of data loss is that backups of information are regularly tested. This is because testing backups helps to ensure that they are valid, complete, and usable, and that they can be restored within the expected time frame and without errors or corruption. Testing backups also helps to identify and resolve any issues or problems with the backup process, media, or software. The other options are not features that provide the greatest assurance that data can be recovered and restored in a timely manner in the event of data loss, but rather different aspects or factors that affect the backup process, such as availability (B), execution C, or frequency (D) of backups.

The main objective of an intrusion detection system (IDS) policy is to establish the criteria for what constitutes an intrusion event and the reporting requirements once such an event is detected. This includes defining what activities are considered anomalies, ensuring that security breaches are identified, and specifying how and to whom these incidents should be reported. The policy sets the foundation for how intrusions are detected, assessed, and managed within an organization’s network infrastructure1.

References: ISACA’s resources on cybersecurity highlight the importance of having a clear IDS policy that outlines the detection and response procedures for security incidents. Such a policy is crucial for the effective monitoring and management of potential security breaches, ensuring that they are promptly identified and addressed1.

An example of an attack attribute of an advanced persistent threat (APT) that is designed to remove data from systems and networks is an exfiltration attack vector. An exfiltration attack vector is a method or channel that an APT uses to transfer data from a compromised system or network to an external location. Examples of exfiltration attack vectors include email, FTP, DNS, HTTP, or covert channels.

The role of risk management is to provide an oversight function, ensuring that the business management’s decisions align with the organization’s risk appetite and strategy. If the risk management function were to overrule business management decisions, it could compromise its objectivity. This could lead to a conflict of interest and diminish the function’s ability to provide unbiased oversight and measurement of business activities.

References: The ISACA resources suggest that risk management should be a separate function that aids in the objective assessment and management of risks without directly intervening in business decisions12. This separation is crucial to maintain the integrity of the risk management process and to ensure that it can effectively monitor and measure business activities from an independent standpoint.

System hardening is a process that involves implementing security measures to reduce the system’s vulnerability. The main purpose of this process is to limit the number of attack vectors that can be exploited by threats. By removing unnecessary programs, closing unused ports, and applying security patches, the system’s attack surface is reduced, making it more difficult for attackers to find vulnerabilities to exploit.

References: The concept of system hardening is covered in ISACA’s resources as a means to protect information assets by addressing threats to information processed, stored, and transported by internetworked information systems1. It is a collection of tools and techniques aimed at reducing vulnerability in various areas of an IT system2.

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.

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.

 Heuristic-based anti-malware is designed to detect new, previously unknown viruses and exploits by looking for known suspicious behavior patterns or anomalies. Unlike signature-based anti-malware, which relies on a database of known malware signatures, heuristic analysis can identify new threats without prior knowledge of the specific malware, making it more effective against unknown malware.

References: The effectiveness of heuristic-based anti-malware is supported by cybersecurity resources that highlight its ability to catch and block new and emerging threats before they can cause harm, as well as its capability to reduce false positives by evaluating the behavior of a file or program1. Additionally, heuristic analysis is recognized for its proactive threat detection, offering protection against malware that has yet to be discovered2.

The MOST significant limitation of vulnerability scanning is the fact that modern scanners only detect known vulnerabilities. This is because vulnerability scanners rely on databases or repositories of known vulnerabilities, such as CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), to compare and identify the weaknesses or flaws in systems or applications. Vulnerability scanners cannot detect unknown vulnerabilities, such as zero-day vulnerabilities, that have not been reported or disclosed yet, and may be exploited by attackers before they are patched or fixed. The other options are not the most significant limitation of vulnerability scanning, because they either involve detecting common (A), unknown (B), or zero-day (D) vulnerabilities, which are not the capabilities or limitations of modern scanners.

The GREATEST advantage of using a virtual private network (VPN) over dedicated circuits and dial-in servers is that it is more cost effective. This is because a VPN is a technology that creates a secure and encrypted connection between a client and a server over an existing public network, such as the Internet. A VPN reduces the cost of establishing and maintaining a secure communication channel, as it does not require any additional hardware, software, or infrastructure, unlike dedicated circuits and dial-in servers, which require dedicated lines, modems, routers, switches, etc. The other options are not the greatest advantage of using a VPN over dedicated circuits and dial-in servers, because they either involve security (A), reliability (B), or speed C aspects that may not be significantly different or better than dedicated circuits and dial-in servers.

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.

 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.

A full backup involves copying all data to the backup storage location. It is the most comprehensive type of backup, which makes it the most time-consuming. This is because every file and folder is included in the backup, regardless of when it was last modified.

Incremental and differential backups are faster because they only copy data that has changed since the last backup. Incremental backups include data that has changed since the last incremental backup, while differential backups include data that has changed since the last full backup.

Offsite backups refer to the location where the backup is stored rather than the method of backup, so the time required can vary widely depending on the specific circumstances.

References: The information provided here is based on standard backup practices and principles, which are likely to be consistent with those found in ISACA’s Cybersecurity Audit resources. For specific references, please consult the ISACA Cybersecurity Audit Manual or related study guides12.

A cloud service provider is used to perform analytics on an organization’s sensitive data. A data leakage incident occurs in the service provider’s network. From a regulatory perspective, the organization is responsible for the data breach. This is because the organization is the data owner and has the ultimate accountability and liability for the security and privacy of its data, regardless of where it is stored or processed. The organization cannot transfer or delegate its responsibility to the service provider, even if there is a contractual agreement or service level agreement that specifies the security obligations of the service provider. The other options are not correct, because they either imply that the service provider is responsible (A), or that the responsibility depends on the nature of breach (B) or specific regulatory requirements C, which are not relevant factors.

The best practice to prevent misuse of administrative privileges is to have administrators use a separate non-privileged account for routine tasks that do not require administrative rights. This reduces the risk of accidental changes or security breaches that could occur if the administrator’s highly privileged account were compromised or misused during daily operations.

References = This control measure is aligned with the principle of least privilege and is commonly recommended in cybersecurity frameworks. While I cannot cite the Cybersecurity Audit Manual directly, similar guidelines are often included in cybersecurity literature and standards, including those from ISACA1. For specific references, please consult the ISACA Cybersecurity Audit resources.

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).

 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.

 Asymmetric algorithms are commonly used to securely distribute symmetric keys. The asymmetric encryption process involves a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. This method ensures that even if the public key is intercepted, the encrypted data cannot be decrypted without the corresponding private key. Symmetric keys are then used for the bulk encryption of data due to their efficiency in processing large volumes of information.

References = The use of asymmetric algorithms for key distribution is a well-established practice in the field of cryptography. It is mentioned in various ISACA resources that asymmetric encryption, such as RSA and ECC, is crucial for secure communications, especially for the initial exchange of symmetric keys, which are then used for encrypting data streams or bulk data123.

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

The feature of continuous auditing that provides the BEST level of assurance over traditional sampling is that voluminous data can be analyzed at a high speed to show relevant patterns. This is because continuous auditing is a technique that uses automated tools and processes to perform audit activities on a continuous or near-real-time basis, and to analyze large amounts of data from various sources and systems. Continuous auditing helps to provide a higher level of assurance than traditional sampling, by covering the entire population of transactions or events, rather than a subset or sample, and by identifying trends, anomalies, or exceptions that may indicate risks or issues. The other options are not features of continuous auditing that provide the best level of assurance over traditional sampling, but rather different aspects or benefits of continuous auditing, such as reporting frequency (A), reliability (B), or complexity (D).

Replicating privileged access to a user’s own mobile device presents the greatest risk to corporate data. This is because it potentially allows unauthorized access to sensitive information if the device is lost, stolen, or compromised. Privileged access means having elevated permissions that are typically reserved for administrators. When such access is available on a personal device, it bypasses many of the security controls that a company would normally have in place.

Option A, remote wipe, is actually a security feature that can protect data if a device is lost or stolen. Option B, lack of training, can increase risk but does not directly expose data like privileged access does. Option C, devices not obtained through corporate provisioning, can be a risk, but this risk is generally less than that of replicating privileged access.

References: The information provided here is based on standard cybersecurity practices and principles, which are likely to be consistent with those found in ISACA’s Cybersecurity Audit resources. For specific references, please consult the ISACA Cybersecurity Audit Manual or related study guides1.

 Security frameworks are crucial in a cybersecurity strategy because they provide a structured approach to managing and mitigating risks. They help in integrating various cybersecurity activities and guiding them towards achieving the strategic objectives of the organization. By establishing a common language and systematic methodology, they ensure that all parts of the organization’s cybersecurity program are aligned and working cohesively.

References: The importance of security frameworks is highlighted in ISACA’s resources, which discuss how these frameworks support the organization’s missions and enhance the cybersecurity strategy by providing a clear structure for managing cybersecurity risks1.

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 control mechanism that is used to detect the unauthorized modification of key configuration settings is file integrity. File integrity is the property of ensuring that files are not altered or corrupted by unauthorized users or processes. File integrity can be monitored by using tools that compare the current state of files with a baseline or checksum and alert on any changes.