CISM Exam Dumps - Isaca Certification Questions and Answers

The first course of action when the information security manager becomes aware that a third-party provider is not in compliance with the SOW is to assess the extent of the issue, which means determining the nature, scope, and impact of the non-compliance on the security of the enterprise’s data and systems. The assessment should also identify the root cause of the non-compliance and the possible remediation actions. The assessment will help the information security manager to decide the next steps, such as notifying senior management, reporting the issue to legal personnel, initiating contract renegotiation, or terminating the contract.

References = Ensuring Vendor Compliance and Third-Party Risk Mitigation, A Risk-Based Management Approach to Third-Party Data Security, Risk and Compliance

role-based access control (RBAC) is the most effective defense against malicious insiders compromising confidential information, as it helps to limit the access of users to the information and resources that are necessary for their roles and responsibilities. RBAC also helps to enforce the principle of least privilege, which reduces the risk of unauthorized or inappropriate access, disclosure, modification, or destruction of information by insiders. RBAC also facilitates the monitoring and auditing of user activities and access rights.

References = Malicious insiders | Cyber.gov.au, Insider Threat Mitigation Guide - CISA, Malicious Insiders: Types, Indicators & Common Techniques - Ekran System

Involving functional managers in program development is the most essential element of an information security program, because they are responsible for ensuring that the information security policies, standards, and procedures are implemented and enforced within their respective business units. They also provide input and feedback on the information security requirements, risks, and controls that affect their operations and objectives.

References =

CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, ISACA, 2020, p. 37: “Functional managers are responsible for ensuring that the information security policies, standards, and procedures are implemented and enforced within their respective business units.”

CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, ISACA, 2020, p. 38: “Functional managers should be involved in the development of the information security program to provide input and feedback on the information security requirements, risks, and controls that affect their operations and objectives.”

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a cloud model in which the cloud service provider (CSP) offers the basic computing resources, such as servers, storage, network, and virtualization, as a service over the internet. The cloud service buyer (CSB) is responsible for installing, configuring, managing, and securing the operating systems, applications, data, and middleware on top of the infrastructure. Therefore, the CSB assumes the most security responsibility in the IaaS model, as it has to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its own assets and information in the cloud environment.

In contrast, in the other cloud models, the CSP takes over more security responsibility from the CSB, as it provides more layers of the service stack. In Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), the CSP offers the replication and recovery of the CSB’s data and applications in the event of a disaster. In Platform as a Service (PaaS), the CSP offers the development and deployment tools, such as programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and databases, as a service. In Software as a Service (SaaS), the CSP offers the complete software applications, such as email, CRM, or ERP, as a service. In these models, the CSB has less control and visibility over the underlying infrastructure, platform, or software, and has to rely on the CSP’s security measures and contractual agreements.

References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, Chapter 3: Information Security Program Development and Management, Section: Information Security Program Management, Subsection: Cloud Computing, page 140-1411

 A detailed incident notification process is most important to include in an incident response plan to ensure incidents are responded to by the appropriate individuals. The incident notification process defines the roles and responsibilities of the incident response team members, the escalation procedures, the communication channels, the reporting requirements, and the stakeholders to be informed. The incident notification process helps to ensure that the right people are involved in the incident response, that the incident is handled in a timely and efficient manner, and that the relevant information is shared with the appropriate parties. Skills required for the incident response team, a list of external resources to assist with incidents, and service level agreements (SLAs) are also important elements of an incident response plan, but they are not as critical as the incident notification process. Skills required for the incident response team describe the competencies and qualifications of the team members, but they do not specify who should be notified or involved in the incident response. A list of external resources to assist with incidents provides a directory of external parties that can provide support or expertise in the incident response, but it does not define the criteria or process for engaging them. Service level agreements (SLAs) define the expectations and obligations of the service providers and the service recipients in the incident response, but they do not detail the steps or procedures for notifying or escalating incidents. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, pages 191-1921; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 10th Edition, page 662

= Patch management is the process of applying updates to software and hardware systems to fix security vulnerabilities and improve functionality. Patch management is one of the best ways to prevent the exploitation of system vulnerabilities, as it reduces the attack surface and closes the gaps that attackers can exploit. Patch management also helps to ensure compliance with security standards and regulations, and maintain the performance and availability of systems.

Intrusion detection is the process of monitoring network or system activities for signs of malicious or unauthorized behavior. Intrusion detection can help to detect and respond to attacks, but it does not prevent them from happening in the first place. Log monitoring is the process of collecting, analyzing and reviewing log files generated by various systems and applications. Log monitoring can help to identify anomalies, errors and security incidents, but it does not prevent them from occurring. Antivirus software is the program that scans files and systems for viruses, malware and other malicious code. Antivirus software can help to protect systems from infection, but it does not prevent the exploitation of system vulnerabilities that are not related to malware.

Therefore, patch management is the best security process to prevent the exploitation of system vulnerabilities, as it addresses the root cause of the problem and reduces the risk of compromise. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition eBook | Digital | English1, Chapter 4: Information Security Program Development and Management, Section 4.3: Information Security Program Resources, Subsection 4.3.1: Information Security Infrastructure and Architecture, Page 204.

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

4

The test addresses the critical components is the most important consideration while conducting a test of a business continuity plan (BCP), as it ensures that the test covers the essential functions, processes, and resources that are required to maintain or resume the organization’s operations in the event of a disruption. The test should also verify that the recovery objectives, such as recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO), are met. (From CISM Review Manual 15th Edition)

Incident classification helps determine severity, which allows security teams to prioritize recovery efforts. This ensures critical business functions are restored first.

"Incident classification is essential for establishing severity levels and response priorities."

— CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, Chapter 4: Incident Response Lifecycle, Section: Incident Classification*

Reporting and documentation are important, but prioritized recovery is the greatest business-impact-driven benefit.

Following the escalation process ensures that the incident is managed in accordance with established protocols, involving the right stakeholders and prioritizing the incident appropriately.

“Following the escalation process is critical to ensure that incidents are handled appropriately and that the right personnel are engaged at the right time.”

— CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, Chapter 4: Incident Management, Section: Escalation Procedures*

ISACA practice questions highlight that proper escalation is vital to ensure incidents are managed effectively and consistently.

This approach is the best because it ensures that users have the minimum level of access required to perform their job functions, which reduces the risk of unauthorized access or misuse of data. User roles are defined based on the business needs and responsibilities of the users, and they can be easily managed and audited.

The program goals are communicated and understood by the organization is the most important factor for the effective implementation of an information security governance program because it ensures that the program is aligned with the business objectives and supported by the stakeholders. Employees receive customized information security training is not the most important factor, but rather a means to achieve the program goals and raise awareness among the staff. The program budget is approved and monitored by senior management is not the most important factor, but rather a resource to enable the program activities and measure its performance. Information security roles and responsibilities are documented is not the most important factor, but rather a way to define and assign the program tasks and accountabilities. References: https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2015/volume-1/how-to-measure-the-effectiveness-of-information-security-governance https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2016/volume-2/how-to-align-security-initiatives-with-business-goals-and-objectives

The control owner is the individual accountable for implementing and managing specific controls that mitigate risks. While the risk owner is responsible for the overall risk and decision-making, it is the control owner who ensures the selected mitigation is effectively implemented and maintained.

“The control owner is responsible for ensuring that the control is properly designed, implemented, and operating effectively.”

— CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, Chapter 2: Risk Management, Section: Risk Treatment

ISACA practice questions stress this distinction: the control owner is tasked with the execution of mitigation strategies.

 The business process owner is the person who is responsible for overseeing and managing the business processes and functions that are essential for the organization’s operations and objectives. The business process owner has the most direct and detailed knowledge of the inputs, outputs, dependencies, resources, and performance indicators of the business processes and functions. Therefore, the business process owner is the best person to calculate the recovery time and cost estimates when performing a business impact analysis (BIA), which is a process of identifying and quantifying the potential losses, damages, or consequences that could result from a disruption or an incident that affects the availability, integrity, or confidentiality of the information assets and systems that support the business processes and functions. The recovery time and cost estimates are the measures that indicate the time and money that are needed to resume and restore the normal business operations and functions after the disruption or incident. The recovery time and cost estimates can help to prioritize and protect the critical activities and resources, to allocate the appropriate budget and resources, to implement the necessary controls and measures, and to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the business continuity and disaster recovery plans.

The business continuity coordinator, the senior management, and the information security manager are all important roles in the BIA process, but they are not the best ones to calculate the recovery time and cost estimates. The business continuity coordinator is the person who is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the BIA process, as well as the development, implementation, and maintenance of the business continuity and disaster recovery plans. The business continuity coordinator can help to define and communicate the scope, objectives, and methodology of the BIA, to collect and analyze the data and information from the business process owners and other stakeholders, to report and present the BIA results and recommendations, and to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement and optimization of the BIA and the plans. The senior management is the group of people who have the ultimate authority and accountability for the organization’s strategy, direction, and performance. The senior management can help to approve and support the BIA process and the plans, to provide the strategic guidance and vision for the business continuity and disaster recovery, to allocate the necessary budget and resources, to oversee and monitor the BIA and the plans, and to make the final decisions and approvals. The information security manager is the person who is responsible for ensuring the security of the information assets and systems that support the business processes and functions. The information security manager can help to identify and assess the information security risks and issues that could affect the BIA and the plans, to implement and manage the security controls and measures that are needed to protect and recover the information assets and systems, to coordinate and collaborate with the business process owners and other stakeholders on the security aspects of the BIA and the plans, and to provide the security expertise and advice. References = CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, pages 228-2291; CISM Practice Quiz, question 1722

Misconfigured alert thresholds can lead to either false positives (alert fatigue) or missed critical events, undermining the purpose of the SIEM.

“SIEM effectiveness relies on appropriate configuration. Poor threshold settings can result in either overwhelming alerts or failure to detect real threats.”

— CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, Chapter 4: Incident Management, Section: Security Monitoring Tools*

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Metrics should provide meaningful insights into the organization’s risk exposure and security performance. Evaluating this option:

A. The number of blocked external attacks is not representative of the true threat profile: This is the BEST answer because counting attacks blocked does not reveal the effectiveness of security controls or the real risk environment.

B. The number of blocked external attacks will vary by month, causing inconsistent graphs: While variability is a concern, it does not make the metric invalid.

C. The number of blocked external attacks is an indicator of the organization's popularity: This is true but irrelevant to assessing the effectiveness of security measures.

D. The number of blocked external attacks over time does not explain the attackers' motivations: Understanding motivations is useful but not directly tied to evaluating the firewall metric's effectiveness.

Initiating incident response is the first course of action for an information security manager when an employee reports the loss of a personal mobile device containing corporate information. This will help to contain the incident, assess the impact, and take appropriate measures to prevent or mitigate further damage. According to ISACA, incident management is one of the key processes for information security governance. Initiating a device reset, disabling remote access, and conducting a risk assessment are possible subsequent actions, but they should be part of the incident response plan. References: 1: Find, lock, or erase a lost Android device - Google Account Help 2: Find, lock, or erase a lost Android device - Android Help 3: Lost or Stolen Mobile Device Procedure - Information Security Office : CISM Practice Quiz | CISM Exam Prep | ISACA : 200 CISM Exam Prep Questions | Free Practice Test | Simplilearn : CISM practice questions to prep for the exam | TechTarget