CISM Premium Exam Questions

According to the CISM Review Manual (Digital Version), page 212, the incident response process consists of six phases: preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned. Containment is the phase where the incident response team isolates the affected systems or networks to prevent further damage or spread of the malware. Eradication is the phase where the incident response team removes the malware and any traces of its activity from the affected systems or networks. Recovery is the phase where the incident response team restores the normal operations of the systems or networks. Identification is the phase where the incident response team detects and analyzes the signs of the incident. Therefore, the information security manager should be confident that the malware has not continued to spread at the completion of the containment phase, which is the earliest phase where the incident response team can stop the propagation of the malware. References = 1: CISM Review Manual (Digital Version), page 212

Implementing the principle of least privilege primarily requires the identification of job duties. Job duties are the specific tasks and responsibilities that an individual performs as part of their role in the organization. By identifying the job duties, the organization can determine the minimum access privileges necessary for each individual to perform their assigned function, and nothing more. This helps to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, misuse, or compromise of information and resources. The principle of least privilege is a key security principle that states that every module (such as a user, a process, or a program) must be able to access only the information and resources that are necessary for its legitimate purpose12.

The other options are not the primary factors that require identification for implementing the principle of least privilege. Data owners are the individuals or entities that have the authority and responsibility to define the classification, usage, and protection of data. Data owners may be involved in granting or revoking access privileges to data, but they are not the ones who identify the job duties of the data users. Primary risk factors are the sources or causes of potential harm or loss to the organization. Primary risk factors may influence the level of access privileges granted to users, but they are not the ones who define the job duties of the users. Authentication controls are the mechanisms that verify the identity of users or systems before granting access to resources. Authentication controls may enforce the principle of least privilege, but they are not the ones who determine the job duties of the users. References =

Principle of least privilege

What Is the Principle of Least Privilege and Why is it Important? - F5 1

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The reduction of organizational risk is the desired outcome that best supports a decision to invest in a new security initiative. The organizational risk is the level of exposure or uncertainty that the organization faces in achieving its objectives. The organizational risk is influenced by various factors, such as the threat landscape, the vulnerability of the assets, the impact of the incidents, and the effectiveness of the controls. The information security manager should evaluate the organizational risk and propose security initiatives that can reduce the risk to an acceptable level. The security initiatives should be aligned with the business goals, the risk appetite, and the available resources of the organization. The security initiatives should also provide a positive return on investment (ROI) or value for money (VFM) for the organization. The reduction of organizational risk is the ultimate goal and benefit of any security initiative, as it enhances the security posture, performance, and resilience of the organization. Enhanced security monitoring and reporting, reduced control complexity, and enhanced threat detection capability are all possible outcomes of security initiatives, but they are not the best ones to support a decision to invest in a new security initiative. These outcomes are more specific and technical, and they may not directly relate to the business objectives or the risk appetite of the organization. These outcomes are also intermediate or enabling, rather than final or ultimate, as they may not necessarily lead to the reduction of organizational risk. For example, enhanced security monitoring and reporting may improve the visibility and awareness of the security status, but it may not prevent or mitigate the incidents. Reduced control complexity may simplify the security management and maintenance, but it may not address the emerging or evolving threats. Enhanced threat detection capability may increase the speed and accuracy of identifying the attacks, but it may not reduce the impact or the likelihood of the attacks. Therefore, the reduction of organizational risk is the best outcome to support a decision to invest in a new security initiative, as it demonstrates the value and effectiveness of the security initiative for the organization. References = CISM Review Manual 2023, page 40 1; CISM Practice Quiz 2

The best security control for an organization that permits the storage and use of its critical and sensitive information on employee-owned smartphones is establishing the authority to remote wipe. Remote wipe is a feature that allows an authorized administrator or user to remotely erase the data on a device in case of loss, theft, or compromise1. Remote wipe can help prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of the organization’s information on employee-owned smartphones, as well as protect the privacy of the employee’s personal data. Remote wipe can be implemented through various methods, such as mobile device management (MDM) software, native device features, or third-party applications2. However, remote wipe requires the consent and cooperation of the employee, as well as a clear policy that defines the conditions and procedures for its use. The other options are not the best security controls for an organization that permits the storage and use of its critical and sensitive information on employee-owned smartphones. Developing security awareness training is an important measure to educate employees about the security risks and responsibilities associated with using their own smartphones for work purposes, but it does not provide a technical or physical protection for the data on the devices3. Requiring the backup of the organization’s data by the user is a good practice to ensure data availability and recovery in case of device failure or loss, but it does not prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of the data on the devices4. Monitoring how often the smartphone is used is a possible way to detect abnormal or suspicious activities on the devices, but it does not prevent or mitigate the impact of a data breach on the devices. References: 4: Mobile Device Backup - NIST 3: Security Awareness Training - NIST 1: Remote Wipe - Lifewire 2: How Businesses with a BYOD Policy Can Secure Employee Devices - IBM : Mobile Device Security Policy – SANS