CAS-005 Premium Exam Questions

Creating a separate network for users who need access to the application is the best action to secure an internal application that is critical to the production area and cannot be updated.

Why Separate Network?

Network Segmentation: Isolates the critical application from the rest of the network, reducing the risk of compromise and limiting the potential impact of any security incidents.

Controlled Access: Ensures that only authorized users have access to the application, enhancing security and reducing the attack surface.

Minimized Risk: Segmentation helps in protecting the application from vulnerabilities that could be exploited from other parts of the network.

Other options, while beneficial, do not provide the same level of security for a critical application:

A. Disallow wireless access: Useful but does not provide comprehensive protection.

B. Deploy intrusion detection capabilities using a network tap: Enhances monitoring but does not provide the same level of isolation and control.

C. Create an acceptable use policy: Important for governance but does not provide technical security controls.

References:

CompTIA SecurityX Study Guide

NIST Special Publication 800-125, "Guide to Security for Full Virtualization Technologies"

"Network Segmentation Best Practices," Cisco Documentation

The best way to prevent application-focused attacks for a platform-as-a-service solution with a web-based front end is to create Web Application Firewall (WAF) policies for relevant programming languages. Here's why:

Application-Focused Attack Prevention: WAFs are designed to protect web applications by filtering and monitoring HTTP traffic between a web application and the Internet. They help prevent attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other application-layer attacks.

Customizable Rules: WAF policies can be tailored to the specific programming languages and frameworks used by the web application, providing targeted protection based on known vulnerabilities and attack patterns.

Real-Time Protection: WAFs provide real-time protection, blocking malicious requests before they reach the application, thereby enhancing the security posture of the platform.

References:

CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Study Guide by Mike Chapple and David Seidl

OWASP Top Ten: Web Application Security Risks

NIST Special Publication 800-95: Guide to Secure Web Services

A Configuration Management Database (CMDB) provides the best foundation for identifying which specific assets are affected by a given vulnerability. A CMDB maintains detailed information about the IT environment, including hardware, software, configurations, and relationships between assets. This comprehensive view allows organizations to quickly identify and address vulnerabilities affecting specific assets.

References:

CompTIA SecurityX Study Guide: Discusses the role of CMDBs in asset management and vulnerability identification.

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) Framework: Recommends the use of CMDBs for effective configuration and asset management.

"Configuration Management Best Practices" by Bob Aiello and Leslie Sachs: Covers the importance of CMDBs in managing IT assets and addressing vulnerabilities.

To meet the requirements of having all endpoints establish telemetry with a SIEM, integrate into an XDR platform, and allow SOC services to monitor the XDR platform, the best approach is to implement Host Intrusion Prevention Systems (HIPS) and a host-based firewall. HIPS can provide detailed telemetry data to the SIEM and can be integrated into the XDR platform for comprehensive monitoring and response. The host-based firewall ensures that only authorized traffic is allowed, providing an additional layer of security.

References:

CompTIA SecurityX Study Guide: Describes the roles of HIPS and host-based firewalls in endpoint security and their integration with SIEM and XDR platforms.

NIST Special Publication 800-94, "Guide to Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)": Highlights the capabilities of HIPS for security monitoring and incident response.

"Network Security Monitoring" by Richard Bejtlich: Discusses the integration of various security tools, including HIPS and firewalls, for effective security monitoring.