Isaca Certification CISA Reddit Questions

 The type of firewall that provides the greatest degree of control against hacker intrusion is an application level gateway. A firewall is a device or software that filters or blocks network traffic based on predefined rules or policies. A firewall can help protect an information system or networkfrom unauthorized access or attack by hackers or other malicious entities. An application level gateway is a type of firewall that operates at the application layer of the network model (layer 7), which is where user applications communicate with each other over the network. An application level gateway provides the greatest degree of control against hacker intrusion, by inspecting and analyzing the content and context of each network packet at the application level, such as protocols, commands, requests, responses, etc., and allowing or denying access based on specific criteria or conditions. An application level gateway can also perform additional functions such as authentication, encryption, caching, logging, etc., to enhance the security and performance of network traffic. A circuit gateway is a type of firewall that operates at the transport layer of the network model (layer 4), which is where data are transferred between end points over the network. A circuit gateway provides a moderate degree of control against hacker intrusion by establishing a secure connection between two end points (such as client and server) and relaying network packets between them without inspecting or analyzing their content. A circuit gateway can also perform functions such as encryption, authentication, or address translation to improve the security and privacy of network traffic. A packet filtering router is a type of firewall that operates at the network layer of the network model (layer 3), which is where data are routed between different networks or subnets. A packet filtering router provides a low degree of control against hacker intrusion by examining the header of each network packet and allowing or denying access based on basic criteria such as source address, destination address, port number, protocol, etc. A packet filtering router can also perform functions such as routing, forwarding, or address translation tooptimize the delivery and efficiency of network traffic. A screening router is a type of firewall that operates at the network layer of the network model (layer 3), which is where data are routed between different networks or subnets. A screening router provides a low degree of control against hacker intrusion by examining the header of each network packet and allowing or denying access based on basic criteria such as source address, destination address, port number, protocol, etc. A screening router can also perform functions such as routing, forwarding, or address translation to optimize the delivery and efficiency of network traffic. 

Recent third-party IS audit reports would be most helpful in determining the effectiveness of the IT governance framework of the target company. IT governance is a framework that defines the roles, responsibilities, and processes for aligning IT strategy with business strategy. A third-party IS audit is an independent and objective examination of an organization’s IT governance framework by an external auditor. Recent third-party IS audit reports can provide reliable and unbiased evidence of the strengths, weaknesses, and maturity of the IT governance framework of the target company. The other options are not as helpful as recent third-party IS audit reports, as they may not be as comprehensive, accurate, or current as external audits. References: CISA Review Manual, 27th Edition, page 94

Penetration testing is a method of evaluating the security of a system or network by simulating an attack from a malicious source. Penetration testing typically consists of four phases: planning, discovery, attacks, and reporting. In the discovery phase, penetration testers gather information about the target system or network, such as host detection, domain name system (DNS) interrogation, port scanning, service identification, operating system fingerprinting, vulnerability scanning, etc. This information can help to identify potential entry points, weaknesses, or vulnerabilities that can be exploited in the subsequent attack phase. Host detection and DNS interrogation are techniques that can be used in the discovery phase to determine the active hosts and their IP addresses and hostnames on the target network. References: [ISACA CISA Review Manual 27th Edition], page 368.

The best recommendation for the IS auditor to facilitate compliance with the new regulation is to include the requirement in the incident management response plan. An incident management response plan is a document that defines the roles, responsibilities, processes, and procedures for responding to security incidents. By including the new regulation in the plan, the IS auditor can ensure that the organization is aware of the reporting obligation, has a clear workflow for notifying the regulator within 24 hours, and has the necessary documentation and evidence to support the report.

The other options are not as effective as including the requirement in the incident management response plan:

Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) for timely identification of security incidents is a good practice, but it does not guarantee compliance with the regulation. KPIs are metrics that measure the performance of a process or activity, but they do not specify how to perform it. The IS auditor should also provide guidance on how to identify and report security incidents within 24 hours.

Engaging an external security incident response expert for incident handling is a possible option, but it may not be feasible or cost-effective. The organization may not have the budget or time to hire an external expert, or may prefer to handle the incidents internally. The IS auditor should also evaluate the qualifications and trustworthiness of the external expert, and ensure that they comply with the regulation and other contractual or legal obligations.

Enhancing the alert functionality of the intrusion detection system (IDS) is a useful measure, but it is not sufficient to comply with the regulation. An IDS is a tool that monitors network traffic for malicious activity and alerts the network administrator or takes preventive action. However, an IDS may not detect all types of security incidents, or may generate false positivesor negatives. The IS auditor should also consider other sources of incident detection, such as logs, reports, audits, or user feedback.