Sec - U - A Flashcards

Question

Question 25: How does the CVE aid in vulnerability management? By providing a detailed guide for patch management. By automatically fixing security flaws. By assessing the financial impact of vulnerabilities. By offering a unique identifier for publicly known vulnerabilities.

Answer 1

By providing a detailed guide for patch management. By automatically fixing security flaws. By assessing the financial impact of vulnerabilities. Your answer is correct By offering a unique identifier for publicly known vulnerabilities. Overall explanation The Common Vulnerability Enumeration (CVE) system aids in vulnerability management by providing a unique, standardized identifier for each publicly known vulnerability. This facilitates clear communication and coordination among security professionals, vendors, and other stakeholders, ensuring that discussions and documentation about specific vulnerabilities are consistent and accurately referenced. Unlike the other options, CVE does not directly guide patch management, fix security flaws, or assess financial impacts but rather serves as a critical tool for identifying and discussing vulnerabilities.

Answer 2

HSM Secure Enclave Correct answer TPM Your answer is incorrect Key Management System Overall explanation A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is the most suitable tool for securely storing cryptographic keys used for disk encryption on laptops. TPMs are specialized, secure cryptoprocessors designed to secure hardware through integrated cryptographic keys. Their primary purpose is to protect information on devices by providing hardware-based, security-related functions, including generating, storing, and limiting the use of cryptographic keys. Unlike HSMs, which are typically used in data centers and enterprise environments for managing keys at a larger scale, TPMs are ideal for individual devices. A Key Management System manages digital keys but lacks the hardware-specific security features of TPMs, and Secure Enclaves, while similar, are more commonly associated with mobile devices and specific to manufacturer implementations.

Answer 3

A system glitch Routine password policy enforcement Correct answer A coordinated brute-force attack Your answer is incorrect Scheduled system maintenance Overall explanation An unusually high number of account lockouts due to failed password attempts likely suggests a coordinated brute-force attack. In such attacks, attackers systematically attempt a large number of passwords to gain unauthorized access. While routine enforcement, glitches, and maintenance might cause access issues, they generally do not result in multiple account lockouts from incorrect password attempts, making the brute-force attack the most plausible explanation.

Answer 4

Birthday Replay Downgrade Your answer is correct Collision Overall explanation A collision attack in cryptographic systems occurs when two distinct pieces of data produce the same hash result, undermining the principle that hash functions should produce unique outputs for unique inputs. This differs from downgrade, birthday, and replay attacks, as those involve security protocol manipulation, probability theory applications, and unauthorized data retransmission, respectively.

Answer 5

It allows for the indiscriminate opening of all network ports It focuses on maximizing complexity in the deployment of new resources It mandates the use of a single, shared user account for simplicity Your answer is correct It enables rapid expansion or contraction of resources while maintaining security controls Overall explanation Scaling in a secure manner through automation ensures that as cloud resources are dynamically expanded or contracted, all necessary security controls and policies are automatically applied to new instances. This approach maintains a consistent security posture across the cloud environment, regardless of its size. Indiscriminately opening network ports, using shared accounts, and increasing complexity detract from security principles and do not support the goal of secure scaling.

Answer 6

Correct answer Strength of encryption Cost of implementation Compatibility with existing systems Your answer is incorrect Algorithm speed Overall explanation The strength of encryption is the most important factor to consider for SAML assertions in a single sign-on (SSO) setup. Strong encryption ensures that the data integrity and confidentiality of the SAML assertions are maintained, preventing unauthorized access and data breaches. This is essential in protecting sensitive information during the transmission between the identity provider and the service provider.

Answer 7

Correct answer Implement regular security patches and updates for the web application. Purchase additional insurance to cover potential data breach costs. Increase cybersecurity awareness training for all employees. Your answer is incorrect Redesign the company's website with a focus on user experience. Overall explanation Implementing regular security patches and updates for the web application is the most effective action because it directly addresses the vulnerability in the web application that could be exploited. Increasing cybersecurity awareness and purchasing insurance are useful risk management strategies, but they do not directly mitigate the identified threat. Redesigning the website with a focus on user experience does not address the security vulnerability.

Answer 8

Correct answer Symmetric Asymmetric Algorithms Your answer is incorrect Key exchange Overall explanation Symmetric encryption is best suited for real-time communication applications like instant messaging, where speed and efficiency are crucial. It uses the same key for encryption and decryption, offering faster processing compared to asymmetric encryption, which is more computationally intensive. Symmetric encryption ensures that messages are securely encrypted and decrypted on-the-fly, providing the necessary privacy and security for users without significantly impacting performance. Typically, a key exchange mechanism would initially use asymmetric encryption to securely share the symmetric key between the communication parties.

Answer 9

Encrypting all data in transit and at rest. Ensuring the software is free from vulnerabilities by conducting regular security audits. Implementing strong user authentication mechanisms. Your answer is correct Collecting only the data necessary for the application's functionality. Overall explanation Prioritizing the collection of only the data necessary for the application's functionality directly addresses privacy concerns and minimizes the risk associated with data breaches. By limiting the amount of collected data, the organization reduces the potential impact on users in the event of unauthorized access. While implementing strong user authentication mechanisms, ensuring the software is free from vulnerabilities, and encrypting all data are crucial security practices, focusing on minimizing data collection inherently reduces the scope of what needs to be protected, thereby enhancing overall security and privacy.

Answer 10

Conducting regular security audits of their products Standardizing coding practices across all development teams Implementing end-to-end encryption in all applications Your answer is correct Integrating privacy by design principles into product development Overall explanation Integrating privacy by design principles into product development is the most critical step to ensure that the company's products comply with global data protection standards. Privacy by design involves proactively embedding privacy into the design and operation of IT systems, networked infrastructure, and business practices from the outset. This approach ensures that privacy is considered at every stage of product development, helping to meet various global data protection standards and regulations. While standardizing coding practices, implementing end-to-end encryption, and conducting regular security audits are important security measures, they do not provide the comprehensive, foundational approach to privacy that is achieved through privacy by design principles.

Answer 11

Employee remote work capabilities Correct answer Backup data center in a geographically diverse location Mobile office units Your answer is incorrect Insurance policies for physical assets Overall explanation A backup data center in a geographically diverse location is crucial for ensuring that critical operations can continue during a disaster that affects the primary site. While insurance, mobile units, and remote work capabilities are important, the physical and accessible infrastructure to continue critical operations, regardless of the primary site's status, is fundamental to business continuity.

Answer 12

Correct answer Increasing the frequency of data backups Conducting regular security awareness training for database administrators. Purchasing insurance to cover potential data loss incidents Your answer is incorrect Implementing stronger data encryption on the database. Overall explanation Increasing the frequency of data backups best reduces the risk of data loss by directly decreasing the exposure factor, which is the percentage of loss a company would face if a specific risk were realized. Implementing stronger encryption and conducting security awareness training are important for overall security but do not directly reduce the amount of data potentially lost in an incident. Insurance may cover financial aspects of data loss but does not prevent the loss itself or reduce the exposure factor.

Answer 13

Deterrent Preventive Detective Your answer is correct Corrective Overall explanation A backup and recovery plan is a corrective control. Corrective controls are actions taken to repair and restore resources or processes following a security breach or failure. By implementing a backup and recovery plan, an organization can recover lost data and return to normal operations, effectively correcting the impact of the incident. This type of control is reactive, addressing the aftermath of security incidents, unlike preventive or detective controls, which aim to prevent incidents or detect them as they occur.

Answer 14

Agent-based management DLP Correct answer Agentless management Your answer is incorrect Antivirus Overall explanation Agentless management allows for the distribution of software and security policies across a network without the need to install dedicated agents on each device, making it the ideal choice for organizations seeking to manage devices with minimal footprint. Agent-based management requires installing agents, Antivirus is for malware protection, and DLP is for data loss prevention, not for managing software distribution without agents.

Answer 15

Blocking all email attachments. Blocking all outbound web traffic. Blocking by specific file types. Your answer is correct Blocking websites with low reputation scores. Overall explanation Blocking websites with low reputation scores is an effective way to protect against phishing attacks, as these sites are often newly created or known to host malicious content. This approach targets the threat directly, unlike blocking all email attachments or specific file types, which may not address the root of phishing attacks and could hinder legitimate business operations. Blocking all outbound web traffic would be overly restrictive and impractical.

Answer 16

Monthly AUP training sessions Correct answer Automatic enforcement through technical controls Posting the AUP on the company intranet Your answer is incorrect Annual AUP acknowledgment form Overall explanation Automatic enforcement through technical controls ensures compliance with the AUP by preventing actions that would violate the policy, rather than relying on employees to remember and adhere to the rules. While training sessions, acknowledgment forms, and accessibility of the AUP are important for awareness and understanding, technical controls actively prevent non-compliant behavior, offering a more reliable method of enforcement.

Answer 17

Physical Operational Managerial Your answer is correct Technical Overall explanation Implementing firewalls primarily serves as a technical control. This is because firewalls are hardware or software-based systems designed to filter incoming and outgoing network traffic based on a set of security rules, directly interacting with data and the technology infrastructure. Unlike managerial controls, which focus on policies and procedures, or operational controls, which involve day-to-day procedures and security practices, technical controls are specifically concerned with technology solutions to enforce security policies. Physical controls, on the other hand, deal with tangible security measures like locks and security guards, which do not apply to network traffic management.

Answer 18

Shutting down the server immediately Correct answer Blocking the malicious IP addresses on the firewall. Performing a full system backup Your answer is incorrect Monitoring the server for further suspicious activity. Overall explanation Blocking the malicious IP addresses on the firewall is the most effective immediate action to prevent data exfiltration. This measure stops the communication with the known malicious sources, mitigating the threat without disrupting server operations or potentially losing data by shutting it down. While monitoring and backup are important, they do not directly prevent ongoing data exfiltration.

Answer 19

Correct answer Endpoint logs analysis for unauthorized data access attempts Packet captures on all data leaving the network Metadata analysis of documents accessed Your answer is incorrect Firewall logs review for denied connections Overall explanation Analyzing endpoint logs for unauthorized data access attempts is crucial for identifying and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data. This approach allows for direct monitoring of actions on endpoints where sensitive data is accessed and stored. Packet captures and metadata analysis are useful for understanding data flow and access patterns but are less direct in preventing unauthorized access. Firewall log reviews focus more on network traffic control and may not directly indicate unauthorized access to sensitive files.

Answer 20

Reuse Expiration Correct answer Complexity Your answer is incorrect Length Overall explanation Complexity is the most neglected practice here, as using easily guessable personal information like birthdays and pet names does not meet complexity requirements that aim to prevent easy predictions of passwords. Length, expiration, and reuse, while important, are not directly addressed by the issue of using simple, guessable passwords.

Answer 21

Correct answer Malicious code DDoS Reflected attack On-path attack Your answer is incorrect Wireless intrusion Overall explanation The consistent spike in outbound traffic to unfamiliar addresses, especially during non-business hours, suggests that the internal devices may be infected with malicious code, such as a trojan or a worm, which communicates with external command-and-control servers. This scenario is not indicative of a wireless intrusion, which would involve unauthorized access to a wireless network; an on-path attack, where data is intercepted in transit; or a DDoS reflected attack, which targets external entities.

Answer 22

Something you know and somewhere you are Something you are and something you know Correct answer Something you have and somewhere you are Your answer is incorrect Something you are and something you have Overall explanation This scenario utilizes "something you have" (a security key) and "somewhere you are" (physical location) as factors for authentication, which is ideal for ensuring that access is both physically and digitally secured.

Answer 23

Password policy enforcement Correct answer Threat hunting Regular software updates Your answer is incorrect Antivirus scanning Overall explanation Threat hunting is the proactive search for malicious activity within an organization's network that has not been detected by existing security measures. It involves analyzing networks and endpoints for indicators of compromise to identify hidden threats. Antivirus scanning is a reactive measure, regular software updates and password policy enforcement are preventative measures, but they do not involve the active search for undetected threats within the network.

Answer 24

Key Management System TPM Correct answer HSM Your answer is incorrect Secure Enclave Overall explanation A Hardware Security Module (HSM) offers robust key storage and cryptographic operations, making it an ideal choice for cloud service providers needing to secure applications with high encryption demands. HSMs are physical devices designed to secure cryptographic keys and perform cryptographic operations within a tamper-resistant hardware device. They provide a more secure and efficient environment for key management processes than software-based solutions, ensuring that cryptographic keys are generated, stored, and managed in a hardware-backed secure manner. While Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and Secure Enclaves provide secure key storage at the device level, and Key Management Systems organize keys across systems, HSMs specifically address the need for high-security key management and cryptographic operations in cloud and enterprise environments.

Answer 25

Backout plan Standard operating procedure Impact analysis Your answer is correct Test results Overall explanation The process of evaluating new security controls through testing before their full integration into the network is represented by the review of test results. This phase is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of the controls and their potential impact on system performance, ensuring that any changes made will enhance security without adversely affecting operations. Test results provide concrete data that can guide decision-making, distinguishing this step from impact analysis, which predicts potential effects before implementation, or the development of a backout plan, which is a precautionary measure.

Answer 26

Key exchange Full-disk Symmetric Your answer is correct Asymmetric Overall explanation Asymmetric encryption is best suited for this scenario because it uses a pair of keys for encryption and decryption: a public key to encrypt data and a private key to decrypt it. This method ensures that only the intended recipient, who possesses the corresponding private key, can decrypt the email, maintaining confidentiality. Symmetric encryption, involving a single key for both encryption and decryption, wouldn't easily facilitate secure key distribution among multiple parties. Key exchange is a method for securely sharing encryption keys, not an encryption type per se. Full-disk encryption is used to encrypt entire disks, not individual email communications.

Answer 27

Trojan Virus Worm Your answer is correct Rootkit Overall explanation Rootkits are programs that enable unauthorized access to a computer system, often by exploiting software vulnerabilities, while remaining hidden from users and security software. They are designed to provide attackers with persistent, undetectable access, distinguishing them from Trojans, which disguise malicious intent, viruses that infect other programs to spread, and worms that self-replicate across networks.

Answer 28

Apply a more restrictive firewall rule. Increase the web server's bandwidth. Correct answer Review the web server's access logs. Your answer is incorrect Reboot the web server. Overall explanation Reviewing the web server's access logs allows the security team to analyze the nature of the incoming traffic, identify potential security threats or malicious activities, and understand the source of the spike. Increasing bandwidth, applying more restrictive firewall rules, or rebooting the server do not directly address the identification of the cause and may not be effective without understanding the nature of the traffic.

Answer 29

Vulnerability scanners Correct answer SIEM SNMP traps Your answer is incorrect NetFlow Overall explanation Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems are designed to aggregate, analyze, and report on security logs from various sources in real-time. This makes SIEM the best option for a company looking to enhance its security posture by having a comprehensive view of its security events. NetFlow is used for network traffic analysis, Vulnerability scanners for assessing system vulnerabilities, and SNMP traps for alerting on specific network conditions, which do not provide the same level of aggregated security analysis.

Answer 30

Sending an all-staff email detailing the breach Running antivirus software across all systems Disconnecting the entire network from the internet Your answer is correct Initiating the containment process to isolate affected systems Overall explanation The containment process is crucial for immediately isolating affected systems to prevent the spread of the breach and minimize damage. This step ensures that the impact is limited while allowing the organization to continue operating. Disconnecting the entire network or running antivirus across all systems might be part of subsequent steps but could disrupt business operations unnecessarily at this stage. Sending an all-staff email is important for communication but does not directly contribute to minimizing damage.

Answer 31

Buffer overflow Collision Birthday Your answer is correct Downgrade Overall explanation A downgrade attack forces a system to abandon a high-security encryption standard and use an older, less secure version, making it easier to exploit vulnerabilities in the outdated protocol. This is different from collision, birthday, and buffer overflow attacks, which involve hash functions, probability theory, and memory exploitation, respectively.

Answer 32

Secure Enclave Correct answer Tokenization Data masking Your answer is incorrect Steganography Overall explanation Tokenization is the best technique for securing customer payment information within databases, as it replaces sensitive data elements with non-sensitive equivalents, or tokens, which can be safely stored and processed without exposing the original data. This method ensures that payment information is protected both at rest and in transit, allowing for the secure processing of transactions without risking exposure of the actual payment details. Unlike data masking, which obscures data but is typically used for non-production environments, tokenization allows for the operational use of the substituted data. Steganography and Secure Enclaves do not specifically address the protection of data within databases or facilitate transaction processing with protected data.

Answer 33

Dependencies Service restart Allow lists/deny lists Your answer is correct Downtime Overall explanation When updating security software, it's crucial to consider the potential for downtime to minimize operational impact. Downtime refers to the period when the system is not operational due to the update. Planning for this helps ensure that updates are done during off-peak hours or when it would cause the least disruption to network services. This consideration is more critical than allow lists/deny lists, which manage access, service restarts, which may occur during the update, or dependencies, although dependencies also play a significant role in planning the update process.

Answer 34

CYOD allows employees to use their personal devices without any restrictions. BYOD promotes a more relaxed security posture, enhancing user satisfaction. BYOD ensures that all devices have the latest anti-virus software installed. Your answer is correct CYOD offers a pre-approved list of devices that meet the company's security standards. Overall explanation The primary security advantage of a CYOD policy over a BYOD policy is that CYOD provides a pre-approved list of devices that meet the company's security and compliance standards, allowing IT to better manage and secure the devices accessing corporate resources. This reduces the risk of security vulnerabilities compared to BYOD policies, where employees might use any device with varying levels of security. The other options do not accurately represent the security advantages of CYOD; BYOD policies do not inherently ensure devices have the latest anti-virus software, and promoting a relaxed security posture can actually increase security risks.

Answer 35

Deny any. Permit by MAC address. Permit any. Your answer is correct Permit by specific IP addresses. Overall explanation Permitting access by specific IP addresses allows the firewall to only accept connections from known, authorized addresses, effectively limiting remote access to employees. Unlike permitting any or by MAC address, which don't offer the necessary specificity or are impractical for remote access, or outright denying any access, specifying IP addresses provides a balanced approach to security and accessibility.

Answer 36

To remove access rights and resources when they are no longer required To ensure users have access to additional resources as needed To increase the security of the network by adding more user accounts Your answer is correct To remove access rights and resources when they are no longer required Overall explanation De-provisioning user accounts is crucial for removing access rights and resources from users who no longer need them, such as when an employee leaves the company. This process is essential for maintaining tight security controls and ensuring that unauthorized individuals cannot access sensitive information. The other options do not accurately represent the purpose of de-provisioning, as they do not involve removing unnecessary access, which is the primary goal of de-provisioning.

Answer 37

Correct answer Hand it over to the IT department for analysis. Destroy the USB drive to prevent anyone from using it. Plug it into a computer to see if there are identifiable documents that could help return it to its owner Your answer is incorrect Ignore it and leave it where it was found Overall explanation Handing it over to the IT department allows for a controlled analysis and proper handling, minimizing security risks. The training should emphasize that unknown USB drives can pose significant security risks, including the possibility of containing malware or being part of a social engineering attack. Plugging the USB drive into a computer can compromise the system and network. Simply ignoring it might result in another person falling into a potential trap, while destroying the USB eliminates the chance to analyze it for threats or trace it back to an owner safely.

Answer 38

Organize an ad hoc meeting with the IT department to discuss server reliability. Correct answer Calculate the ALE based on past incidents. Conduct a qualitative risk analysis to gauge employee perceptions of the impact. Your answer is incorrect Use a risk register to document the server's uptime and maintenance schedule. Overall explanation Calculating the Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE) is the best approach to quantifying the potential financial impact because it combines the Annualized Rate of Occurrence (ARO) of the server failure with the Single Loss Expectancy (SLE), providing a financial estimate of the expected loss per year. Qualitative analysis and ad hoc meetings may provide insights but do not offer a quantitative financial impact. A risk register helps with documentation and tracking but does not directly calculate financial impact.

Answer 39

Correct answer Enhanced adaptability to specific regional requirements Centralized security policy management Reduced operational costs Your answer is incorrect Increased data redundancy Overall explanation A decentralized governance structure allows an organization to enhance its adaptability to specific regional requirements. This structure supports local decision-making and enables the organization to quickly respond to regional, legal, and regulatory changes. While reduced operational costs and increased data redundancy might be benefits of other organizational decisions, they are not directly related to the primary advantage of a decentralized governance structure regarding security. Centralized security policy management is, by definition, not a feature of decentralized governance.

Answer 40

Analyzing internal audit logs Correct answer Gathering information from publicly available sources Consulting a commercial vulnerability database Your answer is incorrect Monitoring dark web forums for leaked data Overall explanation While monitoring dark web forums and consulting commercial databases can be part of a comprehensive vulnerability management strategy, OSINT specifically refers to the collection and analysis of publicly available information to inform security practices. This includes sources like public databases, forums, and social media, which can provide insights into emerging threats and vulnerabilities without the need for proprietary data or insider information.

Answer 41

Correct answer To simulate a cyber incident in a controlled environment to evaluate the response plan To physically test the security of the organization's infrastructure To conduct a technical assessment of the organization's network security Your answer is incorrect To review and update the organization's security policies Overall explanation A tabletop exercise simulates a cyber incident in a controlled, discussion-based format to evaluate the effectiveness of the organization's incident response plan. It involves key personnel discussing their roles and responses to a hypothetical scenario, which helps identify gaps and areas for improvement without the need for technical assessments or physical testing. This activity focuses on the strategic and operational aspects of response planning rather than technical or physical security testing.

Answer 42

Focusing exclusively on disabling services without considering access controls Completely avoiding automation to ensure manual oversight Ensuring that all services are permanently disabled for maximum security Your answer is correct Automatically adjusting access and service permissions to meet regulatory standards Overall explanation Automating the adjustment of access and service permissions ensures that an organization's IT environment continuously meets regulatory compliance standards. This dynamic approach to compliance helps organizations adapt to changes in regulatory requirements and maintain a compliant posture without manual intervention. Permanently disabling all services or avoiding automation neglects the benefits of flexibility and efficiency provided by automation. Focusing solely on disabling services overlooks the importance of comprehensive access control in maintaining security and compliance.

Answer 43

Disruption/chaos Ethical Correct answer Philosophical/political beliefs Your answer is incorrect Revenge Overall explanation Defacing a website to protest a policy is motivated by philosophical or political beliefs, where the activists aim to express their disagreement with the government's actions and promote their viewpoint. This motivation is distinct from revenge, which seeks retribution, disruption or chaos, which aims to cause disorder without a specific ideological message, and ethical motivations, which are driven by moral standards.

Answer 44

Alerts on high bandwidth consumption Anomalies in user login patterns Frequent changes in firewall rules Your answer is correct Signature-based alerts on known malware traffic Overall explanation Signature-based alerts on known malware traffic are direct indicators of potential intrusion attempts, as these alerts are based on recognized patterns of malicious activity. High bandwidth consumption and anomalies in login patterns may suggest suspicious activity but are not as directly indicative of intrusion attempts as signature-based alerts. Frequent changes in firewall rules could indicate an issue with policy management rather than an external attack.

Answer 45

Use of third-party tools to enforce security policies. Correct answer Use of Group Policy to enforce security settings. Manual configuration of each computer. Your answer is incorrect Rely on users to configure their security settings. Overall explanation Using Group Policy to enforce security settings allows the IT manager to centrally manage and apply consistent security configurations across all Windows-based computers in the organization. This method is efficient and reliable, ensuring that all machines adhere to the organization’s security policies without relying on manual configuration, user compliance, or third-party tools, which may not offer the same level of integration or control.

Answer 46

Correct answer It allows for the immediate detection and response to new risks. It eliminates the need for a dedicated risk management team It provides real-time updates on the company's financial status. Your answer is incorrect It ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements. Overall explanation The primary benefit of adopting a continuous risk analysis approach is that it allows for the immediate detection and response to new risks, ensuring that the organization can quickly adapt to changing threat landscapes and vulnerabilities. This proactive stance enhances the organization's resilience against threats. While compliance and financial updates are important, they are not the direct benefits of continuous risk analysis. Eliminating the need for a risk management team is not feasible, as continuous analysis requires skilled personnel to interpret and act on the findings.

Answer 47

Logic bomb Correct answer Rootkit Virus Your answer is incorrect Trojan Overall explanation Rootkits are designed to provide unauthorized root or administrative access to a system while concealing their existence from users and security tools. This makes them particularly dangerous as they can enable persistent, undetected access to the system. Unlike Trojans, which might not conceal their presence, logic bombs, which are triggered by specific events, or viruses, which primarily replicate, rootkits specifically aim to maintain hidden access.

Answer 48

Designing systems that require no maintenance or updates Correct answer Ensuring systems are easily updatable and maintainable Ignoring cost implications to prioritize speed Your answer is incorrect Avoiding documentation to speed up the development process Overall explanation Ensuring that automated systems are easily updatable and maintainable is crucial for their ongoing supportability. This consideration ensures that systems can adapt to changing requirements, technologies, and threats without excessive downtime or resource investment. Systems that require no maintenance or are developed without consideration of cost, maintainability, or documentation are likely to become obsolete, insecure, or difficult to support, undermining the benefits of automation.

Answer 49

Correct answer Code reviews during the development phase Penetration testing during the deployment phase Security audits at project completion Your answer is incorrect End-user feedback after release Overall explanation Code reviews during the development phase are the most effective method to identify security flaws early in the SDLC because they allow developers to identify and address vulnerabilities before the software progresses further in the development process, reducing the cost and complexity of fixes. Penetration testing, security audits, and end-user feedback are valuable but occur later in the lifecycle, potentially allowing flaws to go undetected longer.

Answer 50

DDoS Reflected attack On-path attack Correct answer DDoS Amplified attack Your answer is incorrect Credential replay attack Overall explanation An amplified DDoS attack involves the attacker using the amplification effect of certain protocols to generate a large volume of data to send to the target. A high volume of ICMP echo requests, also known as a ping flood, directed at a single resource from multiple locations, suggests an attempt to overwhelm the system with traffic, characteristic of an amplified DDoS attack. This is distinct from a reflected attack, which involves redirecting legitimate requests; an on-path attack, which involves data interception; and a credential replay attack, which involves unauthorized credential use.

Answer 51

Correct answer By determining the percentage of loss a vulnerability would cause. By scoring the severity of vulnerabilities By enumerating all known vulnerabilities in a system. Your answer is incorrect By automatically patching detected vulnerabilities. Overall explanation The exposure factor (EF) is crucial in vulnerability management as it helps to quantify the potential loss in percentage terms that a vulnerability exploitation would cause to an asset. This quantification is essential for calculating risk and prioritizing remediation efforts based on potential impact. Enumerating vulnerabilities, automatically patching vulnerabilities, and scoring the severity are all important actions within vulnerability management, but they don't specifically relate to the purpose of the exposure factor.

Answer 52

Access badge Correct answer Lighting Security guard Your answer is incorrect Video surveillance Overall explanation Lighting is the physical security measure that effectively deters criminal activity by increasing visibility during nighttime. Well-lit areas are less attractive to potential intruders because the increased visibility raises the likelihood of detection. Unlike video surveillance, which records and monitors areas but does not necessarily deter through visibility; security guards, who can only patrol limited areas at any given time; or access badges, which control entry but do not affect visibility, lighting directly impacts the environment by making it more secure through illumination.

Answer 53

Maintenance window Ownership Correct answer Approval process Your answer is incorrect Stakeholders Overall explanation Presenting a comprehensive plan for upgrading firewall software to a committee for review and authorization is an example of the approval process within change management. The approval process is a critical step where plans for changes are evaluated by relevant authorities or committees to ensure they align with the organization's objectives, security policies, and risk management strategies. This process ensures that all significant changes are scrutinized and approved before implementation, differentiating it from determining ownership, scheduling maintenance windows, or identifying stakeholders.

Answer 54

Honeytoken Honeypot Honeyfile Your answer is correct Honeynet Overall explanation A honeynet is a simulated network environment that contains multiple honeypots, designed to mimic a real network. It is used to attract and engage attackers, allowing security teams to study advanced persistent threats (APTs) and their tactics, including lateral movements within a network. Unlike a single honeypot, which mimics one system or server; honeyfiles, which are decoy files; or honeytokens, which are decoy data elements, a honeynet provides a more complex and interactive environment to analyze attacker behaviors in a controlled manner.

Answer 55

Physical Correct answer Operational Technical Your answer is incorrect Managerial Overall explanation Regularly updating software applications and operating systems is an example of operational control. Operational controls are the procedures and actions that employees undertake to implement the policies and procedures set forth by managerial controls. This includes the maintenance of IT systems, such as applying patches and updates to software to address vulnerabilities. While technical controls might involve the specific tools and technologies for security, and managerial controls focus on the policies guiding these actions, operational controls are about the day-to-day execution of these policies and the use of technology to maintain security.

Answer 56

Physical penetration testing Active reconnaissance Correct answer Passive reconnaissance Your answer is incorrect Offensive penetration testing Overall explanation Passive reconnaissance. Passive reconnaissance involves collecting information about a target without direct interaction, such as analyzing traffic to identify vulnerabilities. This method is less likely to be detected and provides valuable insights into the security posture without alerting the target. Unlike active reconnaissance, which involves interacting with the target system, or specific types of penetration testing, passive reconnaissance focuses on information gathering from a distance.

Answer 57

Limit data collection to essential information only Use a one-size-fits-all privacy policy Outsource data processing to a third party Your answer is correct Implement region-specific data governance frameworks Overall explanation Implementing region-specific data governance frameworks is the most efficient approach for managing varying legal obligations across different countries. This allows the company to tailor its data handling and processing practices to meet the unique legal requirements of each region, ensuring compliance while maintaining operational efficiency. Using a one-size-fits-all privacy policy might overlook specific regional laws, outsourcing data processing does not absolve the company of its legal responsibilities, and limiting data collection, although a good privacy practice, does not address the complexity of complying with diverse legal landscapes.

Answer 58

Training staff on basic cybersecurity principles. Regularly updating antivirus definitions. Correct answer Customizing alert thresholds. Your answer is incorrect Increasing storage capacity for logs. Overall explanation Customizing alert thresholds is crucial for ensuring that the SIEM system can effectively identify anomalies and potential security incidents without overwhelming the security team with false positives. While increasing storage, training staff, and updating antivirus are important security practices, they do not directly contribute to the effectiveness of a SIEM system in identifying security incidents.

Answer 59

Increasing the speed of internet connections Reducing the need for regular software updates Correct answer Detecting and responding to threats on endpoints in real-time Your answer is incorrect Encrypting data on endpoints to prevent unauthorized access Overall explanation The primary benefit of Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) technology is its ability to detect and respond to threats on endpoints in real-time. EDR tools continuously monitor and collect data from endpoints, allowing for the rapid identification of threat patterns and anomalies. This capability enables organizations to quickly mitigate threats, reducing the potential impact on their operations. While increasing internet speeds, reducing the need for updates, and encrypting data are beneficial, they are not the primary functions or benefits of EDR, which focuses on proactive threat detection and response on endpoints.

Answer 60

Correct answer Selecting the correct scan type and depth Scheduling the scan during off-peak hours Ensuring the scan results are encrypted Your answer is incorrect Updating the scanning tool to its latest version Overall explanation While updating the scanning tool, encrypting scan results, and scheduling scans during off-peak hours are good practices, selecting the correct scan type and depth directly impacts the scan's ability to accurately identify vulnerabilities by ensuring that the scan is appropriately targeted and comprehensive, addressing the specific needs and architecture of the environment being scanned.

Answer 61

Correct answer DLP Vulnerability scanners SNMP traps Your answer is incorrect SIEM Overall explanation Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools are specifically designed to detect and prevent unauthorized transmission and use of sensitive data, making them the best option for a company looking to protect sensitive information from being transmitted outside its network. SNMP traps are used for alerting, Vulnerability scanners for identifying security weaknesses, and SIEM for analyzing security events, none of which are primarily focused on preventing data transmission.

Answer 62

Correct answer Virtual machine escape Cloud-specific Resource reuse Your answer is incorrect Misconfiguration Overall explanation This incident is an example of a virtual machine escape vulnerability, where an attacker can break out from their own VM to interfere with the host system or other VMs. This is distinct from resource reuse, which involves improper sanitization of hardware resources between uses, cloud-specific vulnerabilities that are unique to cloud environments, or misconfigurations, which refer to incorrect system settings but not necessarily to inter-VM breaches.

Answer 63

Flexible work hours Global team collaboration The use of a VPN Your answer is correct Concurrent session usage as an indicator of account compromise Overall explanation Detecting simultaneous logins to a single account from geographically dispersed locations is a strong indicator of concurrent session usage, which often points to account compromise. While VPN use, global collaboration, and flexible working hours might explain simultaneous logins under certain circumstances, the geographical disparity without a legitimate reason strongly suggests unauthorized access, making account security measures imperative.

Answer 64

To negotiate lower prices and better payment terms To ensure that the vendor has a sustainable environmental policy To determine the vendor's capability to meet delivery deadlines Your answer is correct To assess the vendor's reputation, stability, and operational capabilities Overall explanation Vendor due diligence is considered a critical step in the vendor selection process to assess the vendor's reputation, stability, and operational capabilities. This comprehensive evaluation helps in determining whether the vendor can reliably meet the organization's needs over the duration of the contract. Due diligence looks beyond immediate concerns like pricing and delivery deadlines to ensure the vendor's alignment with the organization's long-term strategic, operational, and ethical standards.

Answer 65

Risk tolerance Correct answer Risk reporting Risk appetite Your answer is incorrect Risk mitigation Overall explanation Risk reporting. Regularly updating the risk management plan and communicating potential impacts to stakeholders is an example of effective risk reporting. This practice ensures that all relevant parties are informed about potential risks and the measures in place to manage them, which is a key component of comprehensive risk management. The other options relate more to the decision-making aspects of handling risk rather than the communication and oversight aspects.

Answer 66

It increases the workload on the security team by generating excessive tickets Correct answer It automatically generates tickets, speeding up the incident response process It replaces the need for a security information and event management (SIEM) system Your answer is incorrect It ensures that all incidents are ignored unless manually verified Overall explanation Scripting ticket creation for identified security incidents automates the initial step of the incident response process, ensuring that incidents are promptly recorded and queued for investigation. This automation speeds up the response process by facilitating quicker engagement of response teams and reducing the time incidents remain unaddressed. Ignoring incidents, increasing workloads through excessive tickets, and replacing SIEM systems are not direct benefits of this approach. Instead, it complements SIEM functions by ensuring efficient incident tracking and management.

Answer 67

Tailgating Brute force Social engineering Your answer is correct RFID cloning Overall explanation RFID cloning involves duplicating the RFID signal of an authorized badge to gain unauthorized access, directly targeting the physical security measures that rely on RFID technology for access control. Unlike social engineering, which manipulates people, tailgating, which involves following someone into a restricted area, or brute force attacks, RFID cloning specifically involves the replication of RFID signals.

Answer 68

It allows for the rapid deployment of new features without security reviews. Correct answer It enables the early detection and remediation of vulnerabilities in code. It reduces the need for manual testing and quality assurance. Your answer is incorrect It focuses solely on performance optimization. Overall explanation Continuous integration and testing enable organizations to detect and fix vulnerabilities early in the development cycle, making it a key practice for maintaining application security. This approach facilitates the integration of security checks into the development process, allowing for immediate feedback and remediation of issues before deployment. The rapid deployment of new features without security reviews, while reducing manual testing needs and focusing on performance, does not address the fundamental advantage of early vulnerability detection.

Answer 69

RBAC DAC Correct answer ABAC Your answer is incorrect MAC Overall explanation Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) uses attributes, such as department, job title, and project involvement, to make access decisions. This allows for more granular and dynamic access control compared to DAC, RBAC, or MAC, which are more rigid in their approach to access determination.

Answer 70

Financial gain Correct answer Service disruption Ethical Your answer is incorrect Espionage Overall explanation Overloading a website with traffic to force it offline is indicative of a denial-of-service attack, aimed at disrupting services rather than stealing data, gaining financially, or promoting ethical standards. This type of attack seeks to inconvenience the target and its users by making critical services unavailable, differentiating it from espionage, which seeks to covertly gather intelligence, and ethical motivations, which aim to promote moral standards or highlight issues without causing harm to services.

Answer 71

Password complexity requirements Correct answer Biometrics Password expiration policies Your answer is incorrect Password managers Overall explanation Biometrics provide a passwordless authentication method by using unique biological traits for identification, such as fingerprints or facial recognition. This method enhances user convenience and security, unlike password managers, complexity requirements, or expiration policies, which all involve password use.

Answer 72

Increasing firewall security settings. Correct answer Deploying an email filtering solution. Implementing a VPN for remote access. Your answer is incorrect Upgrading network encryption protocols Overall explanation Deploying an email filtering solution is the most effective measure against phishing attacks. It helps identify and block malicious emails before they reach the end user, reducing the risk of successful phishing attempts. While increasing firewall security and upgrading encryption can enhance overall security, they do not directly address the threat of phishing emails like an email filtering solution does.

Answer 73

It allows for modifications to the scope of work without additional costs. Correct answer It permits the hiring company to audit the vendor’s processes and compliance. It ensures competitive pricing throughout the contract duration. Your answer is incorrect It guarantees confidentiality of the data shared with the vendor. Overall explanation Including a right-to-audit clause in the agreement permits the hiring company to audit the vendor's processes and compliance. This is important for ensuring that the vendor adheres to agreed-upon security standards, regulations, and best practices. It allows the organization to identify and mitigate risks proactively. Competitive pricing, modifications to the scope of work, and data confidentiality, while important, are addressed through other clauses and agreements.

Answer 74

Directly on the endpoint devices. Inline between the internal network and the internet gateway. Correct answer On a mirrored port from the core switch. Your answer is incorrect Inline between the wireless access point and the endpoint devices. Overall explanation The correct placement is on a mirrored port from the core switch because it allows the NIDS to monitor all network traffic without impacting the traffic flow. Placing it directly on endpoint devices would not provide visibility across the network and could degrade performance on the endpoints. Placing it inline, whether between the internal network and the gateway or between the access point and endpoints, would provide visibility but at the risk of creating a single point of failure and potentially degrading network performance.

Answer 75

Employee performance metrics related to security incidents A list of preferred vendors for security software A detailed history of past incidents within the industry Your answer is correct Procedures for reporting and responding to security incidents Overall explanation The most critical element of a security incident response policy is the procedures for reporting and responding to security incidents. This includes clear guidelines on what constitutes an incident, how to report it, and the steps to be taken in response. While understanding past incidents, choosing security software, and evaluating employee performance can be useful, they do not directly contribute to the immediate handling and mitigation of incidents.

Answer 76

Disable remote access to the servers. Conduct a penetration test on the network. Correct answer Change the default credentials to strong, unique passwords. Your answer is incorrect Implement two-factor authentication. Overall explanation Changing default credentials to strong, unique passwords is crucial to protect against unauthorized access. Default credentials are easily discoverable by attackers, making systems vulnerable to compromise. While implementing two-factor authentication and disabling remote access can enhance security, addressing the immediate risk involves securing the login process by updating the credentials

Answer 77

To reduce costs associated with vendor services Correct answer To verify vendors’ claims about their products and services To establish a direct communication channel with the vendor’s management Your answer is incorrect To ensure vendors are using the latest technology Overall explanation Conducting independent assessments of vendors is critical to verify vendors' claims about their products and services. Independent assessments provide an objective review of the vendor's capabilities, security practices, and compliance with relevant standards, thereby ensuring that the organization's expectations are met. While using the latest technology and establishing communication channels are beneficial, they are not the primary reasons for independent assessments.

Answer 78

Upgrading network devices Encouraging strong user passwords Installation of antivirus software Your answer is correct Configuration enforcement Overall explanation Configuration enforcement is crucial for ensuring that systems remain in their secure, authorized states and that unauthorized changes are prevented or rolled back, directly addressing the concern of unauthorized modifications unlike antivirus installation or user password policies.

Answer 79

To outline the legal framework of the partnership To document the mutual understandings without enforceable obligations Correct answer To specify the expected performance and uptime metrics Your answer is incorrect To detail the specific tasks and deliverables for a project Overall explanation The main purpose of a Service-level Agreement (SLA) between an organization and its vendor is to specify the expected performance and uptime metrics. SLAs define measurable criteria that the vendor must meet, such as availability, response times, and quality of service, which are crucial for holding the vendor accountable and ensuring service quality. While legal frameworks and specific tasks are important, they are covered by other types of agreements.

Answer 80

Formatting the hard drives multiple times. Correct answer Degaussing the hard drives Selling the hard drives as is to recoup costs. Your answer is incorrect Deleting all files from the hard drives. Overall explanation Degaussing is a process that destroys the magnetic field and data on a hard drive, making it an effective method for securely disposing of hard drives containing sensitive data. Simply deleting files or formatting the drives does not completely remove the data and can often be recovered with the right tools. Selling the hard drives without properly sanitizing them poses a significant security risk.

Answer 81

RBAC ABAC Correct answer DAC Your answer is incorrect MAC Overall explanation In Discretionary Access Control (DAC), the access rights are at the discretion of the data or resource owner, allowing them to decide who gets access. This contrasts with MAC, where access is determined by system-enforced policies, RBAC, which is based on roles, and ABAC, which uses attributes for decision-making.

Answer 82

Masking Correct answer Encryption Hashing Your answer is incorrect Obfuscation Overall explanation Encryption is the most suitable method for protecting sensitive financial information during transmission. It ensures that the data remains secure and unreadable to unauthorized parties. Hashing, obfuscation, and masking are not designed for securing data during transit and may not provide the necessary level of protection.

Answer 83

Correct answer Segmentation Encryption Obfuscation Your answer is incorrect Permission restrictions Overall explanation Segmentation involves dividing a network into smaller segments to control the flow of traffic and restrict access. This method is particularly effective for securing critical infrastructure data by limiting access to authorized personnel only. Encryption, permission restrictions, and obfuscation may complement segmentation but are not as directly related to controlling access to critical infrastructure data.

Answer 84

On-path attack DDoS reflected attack Correct answer DNS poisoning Your answer is incorrect Wireless attack Overall explanation DNS poisoning involves corrupting the DNS cache with false information, leading users to malicious websites instead of the intended destination. This scenario fits DNS poisoning, as the altered DNS records are redirecting users. This isn't a wireless attack, which targets wireless networks; a DDoS reflected attack, which uses public network resources to flood a target with unsolicited traffic; or an on-path attack, which intercepts data between two entities.

Answer 85

Virus Spyware Worm Your answer is correct Keylogger Overall explanation Keyloggers are designed to record and transmit keystrokes, allowing attackers to potentially capture sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers. Unlike viruses and worms, which spread and replicate, or general spyware, which may have a broader data collection purpose, keyloggers specifically target user input for theft.

Answer 86

Buffer overflow Correct answer Replay Injection Your answer is incorrect Privilege escalation Overall explanation Replay attacks involve the malicious or fraudulent repeat of a valid data transmission. This is different from buffer overflow, injection, or privilege escalation, as it specifically relates to the unauthorized retransmission of data, not code execution or elevation of access.

Answer 87

Ransomware Rootkit Worm Your answer is correct Logic bomb Overall explanation Logic bombs are malicious code that triggers unauthorized actions based on specific conditions, such as time or date. This scenario, where malicious actions occur at a set time, is characteristic of a logic bomb, differing from ransomware that encrypts files for ransom, worms that spread across networks, and rootkits that hide their presence and maintain unauthorized access.

Answer 88

Increasing the server's bandwidth. Regularly changing the website's URL Correct answer Implementing a WAF. Your answer is incorrect Disabling cookies on the web application. Overall explanation A web application firewall (WAF) is specifically designed to monitor, filter, and block harmful traffic and attacks towards web applications, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). Increasing bandwidth, changing the URL frequently, or disabling cookies do not directly protect against web application attacks, making the WAF the most effective choice for securing a public-facing web application.

Answer 89

Disconnect the application from the internet but allow internal use Continue using the application while monitoring for any unusual activity. Train employees to use the application cautiously Your answer is correct Replace the application with a supported and regularly updated alternative. Overall explanation Continuing to use the unsupported application leaves the company vulnerable to unpatched security vulnerabilities. Disconnecting the application from the internet reduces some risk but does not eliminate the threat of internal attacks or malware spread. Training employees provides awareness but does not address the root of the security risk. Replacing the unsupported application with one that is supported and receives regular updates is the best way to ensure security vulnerabilities are addressed.

Answer 90

To delegate the task of risk analysis to more team members. To distribute the financial responsibility for risks across the company. To ensure that all employees are aware of the risks. Your answer is correct To have specific individuals accountable for monitoring and mitigating risks. Overall explanation Having specific individuals accountable for monitoring and mitigating risks ensures that each risk is actively managed and that mitigation strategies are effectively implemented. While raising awareness and distributing tasks and financial responsibilities are important, the primary purpose of assigning risk owners is to ensure that there is a clear point of accountability for each identified risk, facilitating better risk management and response.

Answer 91

Correct answer ACL Bandwidth throttling User awareness training Your answer is incorrect Anti-malware software Overall explanation Configuring access control lists (ACLs) meticulously limits access to sensitive network segments by defining who or what is allowed to access certain resources, providing a direct method to control access more effectively than general security measures like anti-malware software or user training.

Answer 92

Correct answer To reduce the potential attack surface for cyber attackers To increase the network's bandwidth for critical services To ensure compliance with international data protection regulations Your answer is incorrect To simplify the management of networked devices. Overall explanation Disabling services and ports that are not in use is important to reduce the potential attack surface for cyber attackers. Open ports and running services can be exploited to gain unauthorized access or to launch attacks against the network. By minimizing the number of active services and open ports, you significantly lower the risk of such vulnerabilities.

Answer 93

Using a public cloud service for all internal services Allowing SSH access from the internet. Correct answer Implementing a jump server Your answer is incorrect Setting up a direct VPN for each technician Overall explanation A jump server is the best solution because it provides a controlled access point to the server farm, reducing the attack surface by centralizing access control and monitoring. Direct VPNs could provide secure access but lack centralized control and logging. Allowing direct SSH access from the internet significantly increases the attack surface. Using a public cloud service does not inherently solve the controlled access issue for internal services.

Answer 94

RBAC DAC Correct answer Time-of-Day Restrictions Your answer is incorrect MAC Overall explanation Time-of-Day Restrictions limit access to resources based on the time. This is specifically designed to control when certain users or roles can access specific areas or systems, unlike RBAC, MAC, or DAC, which focus on who can access and under what permissions rather than when.

Answer 95

Using a common password for all privileged accounts to simplify access Assigning all employees administrator privileges to avoid bottlenecks Hardcoding administrator passwords into scripts Your answer is correct Employing just-in-time permissions with automated oversight Overall explanation Just-in-time permissions with automated oversight allow for the dynamic and flexible granting of access rights based on immediate needs, with the system automatically managing and revoking these permissions to minimize risk. This approach supports scalability by adapting to changing access requirements without compromising security, unlike hardcoding passwords, granting universal admin privileges, or using a common password for all accounts, which all present significant security vulnerabilities.

Answer 96

Record all incoming calls to identify the attackers. Correct answer Instruct employees to hang up and call back using an official company number. Ignore the calls, assuming that employees know better than to share their credentials. Your answer is incorrect Advise employees to give out passwords only if the caller can provide a verification code. Overall explanation Instructing employees to hang up and then call back using a known official number ensures they are communicating with genuine company representatives, thus mitigating the risk of information being divulged to an attacker. Advising employees to give out passwords under any circumstances is extremely risky. Ignoring the problem does not protect against employees who may be tricked. Recording calls may help identify attackers but does not prevent the immediate risk.

Answer 97

Spyware Correct answer Trojan Virus Your answer is incorrect Worm Overall explanation Trojans are malicious programs that appear to be legitimate software but perform hidden, unauthorized actions. This distinguishes them from viruses, which infect other programs, worms that self-replicate across networks, and spyware that covertly collects information, highlighting the deceptive nature of Trojans.

Answer 98

Correct answer To verify the vendor’s financial health, reputation, and operational capabilities To guarantee the vendor offers the lowest price in the market To confirm the vendor’s geographical location matches the organization's needs Your answer is incorrect To ensure the vendor’s marketing strategies align with the organization's Overall explanation Due diligence is important in vendor selection to verify the vendor's financial health, reputation, and operational capabilities. This comprehensive evaluation helps in assessing whether the vendor can meet the organization's requirements reliably and sustainably. While geographical location and pricing are considerations, they do not encompass the broader and more critical aspects of ensuring a vendor's suitability that due diligence covers.

Answer 99

Continuous risk analysis throughout the project lifecycle Qualitative risk analysis focusing on team member opinions. One-time risk analysis at the project initiation phase. Your answer is correct Quantitative risk analysis using historical data on similar projects. Overall explanation Quantitative risk analysis using historical data on similar projects is the best technique for estimating potential financial losses from project delays or failures. This approach allows the firm to use objective data to calculate metrics like Single Loss Expectancy (SLE) and Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE), providing a clearer financial perspective on potential risks. While qualitative analysis and continuous monitoring are important, they do not offer the specific financial estimates that quantitative analysis does, especially for new projects where financial implications are a major concern.

Answer 100

Correct answer Spraying Privilege escalation Buffer overflow Your answer is incorrect Replay attack Overall explanation Password spraying attacks involve attempting a small number of common passwords against a large number of accounts to avoid account lockouts that would typically occur with brute force attacks. Unlike buffer overflow, replay, or privilege escalation attacks, spraying targets weaknesses in password policies and is characterized by multiple login attempts from different IPs.

Answer 101

Using a single shared account for all administrators Requiring complex passwords changed yearly Assigning permanent admin rights to users Your answer is correct Implementing password vaulting Overall explanation Password vaulting is a security practice where privileged passwords are stored securely and accessed by users when needed, often involving an additional layer of authentication to access the vault. This approach minimizes risks by ensuring that privileged credentials are not overexposed and are only available to authorized users on an as-needed basis, reducing the attack surface for potential credential theft. Assigning permanent admin rights, using a single shared account, and merely requiring complex passwords do not effectively minimize the risks associated with privileged account management as they either overexpose credentials or fail to address the root issue of credential management.

Answer 102

Keep the SSID default to avoid drawing attention Use WEP encryption for compatibility with older devices Correct answer Enable WPA3 encryption on the wireless network. Your answer is incorrect Limit the signal strength to just within the office premises. Overall explanation Enabling WPA3 encryption on the wireless network is the most effective strategy to secure it against eavesdropping. WPA3 is the latest security standard that provides stronger data protection by using advanced encryption. This makes it more difficult for attackers to intercept and decipher network traffic compared to older standards like WEP, which has known vulnerabilities.

Answer 103

Regulated data Financial information Legal information Your answer is correct Intellectual property Overall explanation Trade secrets are a type of intellectual property that encompasses confidential information critical to a company's competitive advantage. Classifying this data under intellectual property ensures that appropriate measures are taken to protect it from unauthorized access or disclosure.

Answer 104

Calculating the Probability and Impact of unauthorized access incidents. Correct answer Estimating the ALE for unauthorized access incidents. Conducting a one-time risk assessment at the launch of the platform. Your answer is incorrect Performing a recurring qualitative risk analysis annually. Overall explanation Estimating the Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE) for unauthorized access incidents provides the most accurate assessment of the potential financial impact by combining the frequency of the event occurring within a year (ARO) with the financial impact of each occurrence (SLE). This method offers a clear financial metric that helps in decision-making and prioritization of mitigation strategies. While conducting risk assessments and analyzing probability and impact are crucial, ALE provides a specific financial perspective crucial for financial institutions.

Answer 105

Correct answer OCSP Blockchain CRLs Your answer is incorrect Secure Enclave Overall explanation The Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) is the most efficient mechanism for an organization to ensure browsers and clients are immediately aware that a compromised certificate is no longer valid. OCSP allows browsers and clients to check the revocation status of certificates in real-time, providing quicker and more efficient verification compared to Certificate Revocation Lists (CRLs), which require downloading a list that may not be immediately updated. While Secure Enclaves and Blockchain provide security in different contexts, OCSP directly addresses the need for timely notification of certificate revocation to maintain secure communications.

Answer 106

Implementing 2FA. Encrypting data stored by the application Correct answer Conducting code reviews with a focus on security Your answer is incorrect Deploying a NIDS. Overall explanation Memory injection vulnerabilities are often due to coding errors that allow attackers to inject malicious code into an application's memory. Conducting code reviews with a focus on security allows developers to identify and fix these errors early in the development process, reducing the risk of exploitation. While deploying NIDS, implementing 2FA, and encrypting data are valuable security measures, they do not directly address the root cause of memory injection vulnerabilities in the application code

Answer 107

Tokenization Masking Correct answer Permission restrictions Your answer is incorrect Encryption Overall explanation Permission restrictions allow organizations to control access to specific data based on users' roles and privileges. This method ensures that only authorized individuals can access the private customer database, reducing the risk of unauthorized disclosure or misuse. Tokenization, masking, and encryption focus more on data protection mechanisms but may not directly address access control requirements.

Answer 108

DDoS Reflected attack On-path attack Correct answer Wireless attack Your answer is incorrect DNS poisoning Overall explanation Unauthorized devices connecting to the corporate Wi-Fi network suggest a wireless attack, possibly due to insufficient security measures like weak encryption or the lack of a robust access control system. This situation is not indicative of a DDoS reflected attack, which involves overwhelming a system with external requests; DNS poisoning, which misdirects traffic; or an on-path attack, which involves intercepting communication between two parties.

Answer 109

Correct answer They offer immediate power backup during outages They improve data transfer speeds They reduce the overall energy consumption Your answer is incorrect They provide long-term power supply Overall explanation UPS systems are critical for providing immediate power backup during outages, ensuring that data centers can continue operations without interruption until a more long-term solution, like a generator, can take over or until the main power supply is restored, unlike offering long-term power, reducing energy consumption, or improving data transfer speeds, which are not the primary functions of UPS systems

Answer 110

The total cost of implementing mitigation strategies for each risk. The ease of implementing mitigation strategies for each risk. Correct answer The likelihood of each risk occurring and its potential impact. Your answer is incorrect The opinions of senior management on the importance of each risk. Overall explanation The likelihood of each risk occurring and its potential impact should be considered most critically in determining the priority for risk mitigation. This approach ensures that the company focuses its resources on mitigating risks that pose the greatest threat to its operations, based on both the probability of occurrence and the severity of the potential impact. While cost, management opinions, and ease of implementation are important considerations, they do not directly relate to the intrinsic threat level of each risk, making them secondary factors in prioritization.

Answer 111

Correct answer Hacktivist Nation-state Organized crime Your answer is incorrect Unskilled attacker Overall explanation Hacktivists are activists who use hacking techniques to promote political ends or social causes. The described scenario is indicative of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, which is a common tool for hacktivists aiming to disrupt services and draw attention to their causes. Unlike nation-states or organized crime groups, which typically pursue espionage or financial gain, hacktivists are motivated by ideological objectives and often target government or corporate entities to make a statement.

Answer 112

Time-of-Day Restrictions Correct answer Least Privilege DAC Your answer is incorrect MAC Overall explanation The principle of least privilege restricts users' access rights to only what is strictly required to perform their jobs, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information. This is more about limiting access based on necessity rather than the mechanism of control (such as DAC or MAC) or the conditions under which access is allowed (like time-of-day restrictions).

Answer 113

Correct answer Injection Replay Buffer overflow Your answer is incorrect Directory traversal Overall explanation Injection attacks occur when an attacker sends malicious input to a program, leading the program to execute unintended commands or access unauthorized data. This differs from buffer overflow, replay, and directory traversal as those involve overflow errors, repeating actions, or accessing files, respectively, not executing commands through user input.

Answer 114

The slow transfer speed compared to Wi-Fi. The file size limit of Bluetooth transfers. Correct answer Vulnerability to eavesdropping and data interception. Your answer is incorrect The need for devices to be in close proximity. Overall explanation The primary security concern when using Bluetooth for file transfers is vulnerability to eavesdropping and data interception. Bluetooth connections can be less secure than other methods, making them susceptible to being intercepted by unauthorized individuals if not properly secured, posing a significant risk to data privacy and security.

Answer 115

Upgrading to the latest hardware Maintaining inventory records Increasing the hardware's resale value Your answer is correct Ensuring physical destruction of storage devices Overall explanation Ensuring the physical destruction of storage devices is the most effective way to prevent data leakage from decommissioned hardware, as it makes data recovery impossible, which is a more direct and secure method than inventory management or focusing on hardware upgrades.

Answer 116

Unrestricted access to all systems for convenience Single-factor authentication for quick access Correct answer Just-in-time permissions with role-based access control Your answer is incorrect Always-on VPN connections for remote access Overall explanation Just-in-time permissions with role-based access control (RBAC) provide a secure and efficient method to grant administrators access based on their roles and current needs, minimizing unnecessary exposure of sensitive systems and information. This approach combines the flexibility needed for efficient operations with the security required to protect resources. Always-on VPNs, unrestricted access, and single-factor authentication do not provide the same level of targeted access control and could introduce significant security vulnerabilities.

Answer 117

Correct answer Using ephemeral credentials Writing down access codes on paper Implementing the same passwords across multiple accounts Your answer is incorrect Regular manual audit of account permissions Overall explanation Ephemeral credentials are temporary and automatically expire after a short duration or once their purpose has been served. This approach is highly effective in cloud environments, as it ensures that access is only granted for the required period, significantly reducing the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit privileged accounts. Writing down access codes, using the same passwords for multiple accounts, and relying solely on manual audits do not provide the dynamic security posture needed to protect against the evolving threats faced by organizations using cloud resources.

Answer 118

Correct answer Steganography Tokenization Secure Enclave Your answer is incorrect Data masking Overall explanation Steganography is the technique that should be used to conceal a message within an email, making it undetectable to unauthorized viewers. It involves hiding data within other data, such as embedding a text message within an image or another file type, in a way that makes the hidden data not apparent to the observer. This method is ideal for enhancing the privacy of email messages by ensuring that only intended recipients know of the existence and how to access the concealed message. Unlike tokenization or data masking, which replace or obscure data for protection, steganography uniquely hides the existence of the data itself. Secure Enclaves provide secure storage and processing environments but do not relate to the method of concealing data within communications.

Answer 119

Correct answer Deploying password vaulting and regular credential rotation Using memorable passwords to avoid the need for password resets Reusing passwords across multiple systems for consistency Your answer is incorrect Keeping a printed list of passwords in a secure office Overall explanation Password vaulting and regular credential rotation are critical components of a comprehensive PAM strategy. Vaulting securely stores credentials, while rotation ensures they are changed regularly, making it harder for attackers to gain persistent access through compromised credentials. Reusing passwords, keeping printed lists, and using memorable (and potentially weak) passwords do not effectively protect against the risks associated with privileged account compromise.

Answer 120

Correct answer Physically secure network ports and infrastructure. Implement MAC address filtering on the network. Use VPNs for all data transmitted over the network. Your answer is incorrect Encrypt data at rest using strong encryption standards. Overall explanation Physically securing network ports and infrastructure is the most effective measure against attacks exploiting unsecured wired network connections. While VPNs, MAC address filtering, and data encryption are important security measures, they do not address the direct risk of someone physically connecting to the network through unsecured ports. Physical security controls such as locking network rooms and securing network ports are essential to prevent unauthorized physical access.

Answer 121

The benefits of open-source software. Correct answer How to identify and respond to phishing emails. The importance of strong passwords Your answer is incorrect The history of computer science Overall explanation Educating employees on how to identify and respond to phishing emails is the most direct and effective method to prevent phishing attacks. While strong passwords are important, they do not directly address the issue of phishing. Similarly, the history of computer science and the benefits of open-source software are not directly relevant to preventing phishing attacks.

Answer 122

Misconfiguration Supply chain Correct answer End-of-life hardware Your answer is incorrect Firmware exploitation Overall explanation The scenario describes an end-of-life hardware vulnerability, where devices that are no longer supported or updated by the manufacturer become security risks. This is because they may contain sensitive data or configurations that, if not properly sanitized or disposed of, can be exploited. Unlike firmware exploitation, which involves attacking the device's software, misconfiguration, which is an incorrect setup, or supply chain vulnerabilities, which are related to third-party suppliers, this issue arises specifically due to the mishandling of outdated hardware.

Answer 123

Allowing only voice calls on mobile devices Correct answer Mandating the use of screen locks. Prohibiting the use of mobile devices Your answer is incorrect Requiring the installation of third-party app stores Overall explanation Mandating the use of screen locks is an effective and practical security control for mobile devices. It helps prevent unauthorized access in case the device is lost or stolen. Prohibiting the use of mobile devices is impractical and counterproductive, restricting devices to only voice calls limits their functionality, and allowing the installation of apps from third-party stores can increase the risk of malware, making screen locks the most balanced and effective option.

Answer 124

Leave the ports open but monitor them for suspicious activity. Correct answer Implement a firewall to control access to the ports. Close all open ports on the servers. Your answer is incorrect Only close ports known to be exploited by malware. Overall explanation Implementing a firewall to control access to the ports is the immediate next step. A firewall allows you to manage which ports are accessible and to whom, providing a balance between necessary services and security. Simply closing all open ports might disrupt legitimate business operations, while monitoring without action or only closing known vulnerable ports doesn't sufficiently reduce the risk.

Answer 125

Placing all printers on the same network subnet Setting all computers to the same time zone. Correct answer Implementing VLANs with proper access controls Your answer is incorrect Using a single shared account for network administration. Overall explanation Implementing VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) with proper access controls allows an organization to segment and isolate sensitive data effectively. This approach provides a way to enforce security policies by controlling access between different segments of the network. Setting computers to the same time zone, using a shared account, or grouping printers together do not provide the segmentation or security needed to protect sensitive data.

Answer 126

In a public library's free Wi-Fi network. In a fire alarm system for a large commercial building. Correct answer In an e-commerce platform's payment gateway. Your answer is incorrect In a digital advertising display network Overall explanation In a payment gateway, a fail-closed system is preferable to prevent unauthorized access or transactions in the event of a system failure. A fail-open system in this context could allow fraudulent transactions. In contrast, fail-open might be suitable for non-critical services like a public library's Wi-Fi, where service availability is more important than strict security.

Answer 127

Unskilled attacker Hacktivist Correct answer Nation-state Your answer is incorrect Insider threat Overall explanation The complexity and sophistication of the attack suggest it was carried out by an actor with significant resources and capabilities. Nation-states are known for engaging in cyber espionage to gain economic, military, or political advantages and often have the means to leverage advanced persistent threats and exploit zero-day vulnerabilities. Unlike unskilled attackers, hacktivists, or insider threats, nation-states have the funding and technical expertise to conduct such high-level operations.

Answer 128

To reduce electricity consumption. To encourage the use of cloud storage solutions Correct answer To prevent data loss through physical removal Your answer is incorrect To increase the speed of the internal network. Overall explanation The primary reason for restricting USB device usage is to prevent data loss or theft through physical removal of data from the network. USB devices can easily be used to copy and transport large amounts of sensitive data, making them a significant security risk. While encouraging cloud storage and reducing electricity consumption might be beneficial, they are not the primary reasons for USB restrictions.

Answer 129

Granting CSPs unlimited access to ensure service availability Correct answer Implementing ephemeral credentials for CSP access Using static, long-term access keys shared via email Your answer is incorrect Documenting access credentials in shared online documents Overall explanation Implementing ephemeral credentials for cloud service provider access ensures that CSPs have temporary, time-limited access necessary for specific tasks, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access and potential security breaches. This approach allows for secure, controlled access management that can adapt to the dynamic needs of cloud infrastructure. Static keys, unlimited access, and documenting credentials in shared spaces do not offer the same level of security and could lead to compromised access controls.

Answer 130

Correct answer Credential replay attack On-path attack DDoS Amplified attack Your answer is incorrect Wireless attack Overall explanation A credential replay attack involves an attacker capturing and reusing credentials to gain unauthorized access. The pattern of multiple unsuccessful logins from various locations suggests that stolen credentials are being tested. This is not characteristic of an on-path attack, which involves intercepting data; a DDoS attack, which aims to overwhelm systems with traffic; or a wireless attack, which targets wireless network vulnerabilities.

Answer 131

Correct answer Key stretching Certificates Digital signatures Your answer is incorrect Blockchain Overall explanation Key stretching is the technique that should be implemented to enhance the security of stored passwords, especially in the face of brute-force attack risks. This method involves applying a hashing function multiple times or using a cryptographic algorithm to make the hashing process computationally more demanding. By doing so, it significantly increases the time and effort required to crack each password, even if the attacker has access to the hashed passwords. Unlike digital signatures or certificates, which are used for verifying integrity and establishing secure connections, or blockchain, which is used for decentralized record-keeping, key stretching specifically targets the enhancement of password security.

Answer 132

Disabling unused ports. MAC address filtering Correct answer 802.1X authentication Your answer is incorrect Simple port forwarding. Overall explanation 802.1X authentication is the correct choice because it provides robust network access control by requiring devices to authenticate before they can access network resources. MAC address filtering is less secure as MAC addresses can be spoofed. Simple port forwarding does not provide authentication, only directing traffic from one address to another. Disabling unused ports helps reduce vulnerabilities but does not control access on active ports.

Answer 133

Correct answer Sensitive Public Confidential Your answer is incorrect Restricted Overall explanation Patient records contain private and sensitive information, making the classification "Sensitive" the most appropriate. This classification indicates that access to this data should be strictly controlled to prevent unauthorized disclosure or misuse.

Answer 134

Correct answer Misconfiguration exploitation Hardware failure End-of-life hardware Your answer is incorrect Firmware exploitation Overall explanation The situation exemplifies a misconfiguration vulnerability, where devices are left with default settings, making them easy targets for attackers. This is different from hardware failure, which pertains to physical malfunctions, firmware exploitation, which targets the software programmed on the device, or end-of-life hardware, which deals with outdated and unsupported devices. Misconfiguration, particularly failing to change default settings, is a common security oversight.

Answer 135

Correct answer Change the default credentials to strong, unique passwords. Leave the credentials as they are; they're not a significant risk. Disable the accounts that use default credentials. Your answer is incorrect Monitor the network traffic more closely for signs of unauthorized access. Overall explanation Changing the default credentials to strong, unique passwords is essential because using default credentials is a common vulnerability that attackers exploit to gain unauthorized access. By changing these credentials, you significantly reduce the attack surface and the likelihood of unauthorized access.

Answer 136

Changes in employee satisfaction scores from internal surveys Number of failed login attempts on the company's systems. Frequency of security patches applied to email servers. Your answer is correct Increase in received emails flagged as phishing by the email filter. Overall explanation Monitoring the increase in received emails flagged as phishing by the email filter is the most relevant key risk indicator (KRI) for early detection of an increased threat of phishing attacks. This KRI provides direct evidence of the threat's manifestation and allows the organization to gauge the frequency and severity of phishing attempts. Failed login attempts and security patches are important security measures but are less direct indicators of phishing activity. Employee satisfaction scores, while important for organizational health, do not directly indicate phishing threats.

Answer 137

Correct answer Validating and sanitizing all user inputs. Utilizing CSP headers. Restricting file permissions on the web server. Your answer is incorrect Conducting black box security testing regularly Overall explanation Both SQL injection and XSS attacks exploit vulnerabilities that arise from improper handling of user input. By validating (ensuring input meets specific criteria) and sanitizing (removing or encoding dangerous characters) all user inputs, an application can significantly reduce the risk of these attacks. While CSP headers can help mitigate the impact of XSS attacks by restricting resources the browser can load, and while file permissions and security testing are important, they do not address the core issue of malicious user input directly.

Answer 138

Key stretching Hashing Correct answer Digital signatures Your answer is incorrect Salting Overall explanation Digital signatures are the best technology for authenticating digital documents in a legal firm. They ensure the integrity of the document content by indicating any alterations made after signing and verify the signer's identity through cryptographic means. This technology uses a combination of hashing and asymmetric encryption to create a unique signature tied to both the document and the signer, providing a high level of security and trustworthiness. Unlike salting or key stretching, which are used for password security, digital signatures directly address the requirements of document authentication and integrity.

Answer 139

There is a malfunction in the Bluetooth devices An employee is trying to connect a new device to the network. The Bluetooth devices are automatically updating. Your answer is correct Attackers are attempting a Bluejacking attack. Overall explanation The most likely reason behind the unusual spike in Bluetooth pairing requests is attackers attempting a Bluejacking attack. Bluejacking involves sending unsolicited messages or connections to Bluetooth-enabled devices. This can be a precursor to more malicious attacks such as Bluesnarfing, where attackers gain unauthorized access to information.

Answer 140

Correct answer Eavesdropping Man-in-the-middle attack Spoofing Your answer is incorrect Phishing Overall explanation Eavesdropping involves passively intercepting and listening to private communications, in this case, attempting to decrypt messages without actively altering or redirecting the traffic. Unlike man-in-the-middle attacks, which involve intercepting and potentially altering communications between two parties, phishing, which involves deceitful attempts to obtain sensitive information, or spoofing, where an attacker disguises themselves as another entity, eavesdropping is characterized by its passive nature.

Answer 141

Granting them permanent full access to production servers Correct answer Utilizing ephemeral credentials for temporary access Sharing a set of credentials among the development team Your answer is incorrect Requiring manual approval for each access request Overall explanation Ephemeral credentials offer a secure way to provide developers with temporary access to production environments as needed, automatically expiring after a set period or task completion. This method minimizes security risks by limiting the duration of access and reducing the potential for credentials misuse or theft. Permanent access, shared credentials, and solely relying on manual approvals can lead to security gaps, such as unauthorized access or inefficient access management processes.

Answer 142

Replay Correct answer Privilege escalation Directory traversal Your answer is incorrect Injection Overall explanation Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker gains unauthorized access to a system's functions or data beyond their initial permissions. Unlike replay, injection, or directory traversal attacks, privilege escalation directly increases an attacker's access level within the compromised system.

Answer 143

Sharing passwords among the IT team Correct answer Utilizing just-in-time permissions Documenting passwords in a secure spreadsheet Your answer is incorrect Granting permanent emergency accounts Overall explanation Just-in-time permissions provide a method to grant access rights to users on an as-needed basis, with the permissions being automatically revoked after a predefined time. This method aligns with best practices by ensuring that users have the necessary access to perform specific tasks without granting permanent or long-term access, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized access or abuse of privileges. Granting permanent emergency accounts, sharing passwords, and documenting passwords in a spreadsheet all introduce significant security risks, such as unauthorized access and difficulty in managing and securing credentials effectively.

Answer 144

Implementation of strict password policies Correct answer Monitoring Deployment of a guest Wi-Fi network Your answer is incorrect Regular data backups Overall explanation Real-time monitoring is essential for detecting and responding to threats as they occur, providing visibility into network traffic and potential security breaches. This is more directly related to threat detection and response than options like deploying a guest Wi-Fi network or implementing password policies.

Answer 145

Correct answer To prevent unauthorized access to the organization’s network through third-party vendors. To maintain competitive market pricing To comply with supply chain management standards Your answer is incorrect To ensure timely delivery of products and services. Overall explanation It's important for organizations to manage and monitor their supply chain cybersecurity risks to prevent unauthorized access to the organization’s network through third-party vendors. Attackers often target less secure elements in the supply chain as entry points into the networks of larger organizations, making supply chain security a critical component of an overall cybersecurity strategy.

Answer 146

Correct answer Shadow IT Hacktivist Unskilled attacker Your answer is incorrect Organized crime Overall explanation Shadow IT refers to IT systems or software used within an organization without explicit organizational approval. This scenario indicates employees or departments are bypassing official channels to meet their immediate needs, posing security risks without malicious intent. Shadow IT represents an internal threat stemming from the organization's personnel seeking convenience or efficiency, contrasting with the external malicious intent of organized crime, hacktivists, or unskilled attackers.

Answer 147

Phishing simulations Social media monitoring Public Wi-Fi restrictions Your answer is correct Patching Overall explanation Regular patching is critical for maintaining system integrity and protecting against known vulnerabilities by applying updates that fix security holes, offering a direct solution to the problem of vulnerabilities unlike more indirect approaches like social media monitoring or phishing simulations.

Answer 148

Increase risk tolerance Correct answer Enhance data backup frequency Transfer data recovery responsibilities Your answer is incorrect Accept the current RPO as is Overall explanation To align the recovery capabilities with the established Recovery Point Objective (RPO), the company should prioritize enhancing the frequency of its data backups. This adjustment ensures that data can be restored to a point as close as possible to the time of a disruption, minimizing data loss and meeting the RPO criteria. Increasing risk tolerance, transferring responsibilities, or accepting the current RPO would not directly address the discrepancy between the recovery capabilities and the RPO.

Answer 149

Tap/monitor mode on the device Correct answer Passive device placement Inline device placement. Your answer is incorrect Active device placement. Overall explanation Passive device placement is the correct choice for monitoring for data breaches as it allows the device to analyze and log traffic without interfering with network operations. Active device placement could block legitimate traffic if configured incorrectly. Inline placement could cause network delays, and while tap/monitor mode is similar to passive, passive placement generally refers to the device's non-interfering role in network monitoring.

Answer 150

Correct answer Validating and sanitizing all user inputs. Utilizing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers. Conducting black box security testing regularly Your answer is incorrect Restricting file permissions on the web server. Overall explanation Both SQL injection and XSS attacks exploit vulnerabilities that arise from improper handling of user input. By validating (ensuring input meets specific criteria) and sanitizing (removing or encoding dangerous characters) all user inputs, an application can significantly reduce the risk of these attacks. While CSP headers can help mitigate the impact of XSS attacks by restricting resources the browser can load, and while file permissions and security testing are important, they do not address the core issue of malicious user input directly.

Answer 151

Increasing the encryption level on Bluetooth devices. Implementing a network intrusion detection system (NIDS). Conducting regular network security assessments. Your answer is correct Disabling Bluetooth on all non-essential devices Overall explanation Disabling Bluetooth on all non-essential devices effectively reduces the attack surface, limiting opportunities for attackers to exploit Bluetooth vulnerabilities. While increasing encryption and conducting assessments can improve security, directly eliminating the unnecessary use of Bluetooth addresses the immediate vulnerability by minimizing potential entry points for attackers.

Answer 152

Conducting background checks on all external contractors Correct answer Implementing network segmentation Revoking VPN access for all external contractors. Your answer is incorrect Enforcing multi-factor authentication for VPN access Overall explanation Implementing network segmentation is the most effective way to limit the access of external contractors to only those parts of the network necessary for their work. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information and systems. While enforcing multi-factor authentication adds a layer of security, segmentation directly addresses the problem by controlling access more granitely.

Answer 153

The USB drive may not be compatible with the company's hardware. The employee may waste time trying to find the owner. Correct answer The USB drive could introduce malware into the company’s network. Your answer is incorrect The employee might damage the USB drive Overall explanation While compatibility and time waste are minor concerns, and damaging the USB is more of a personal inconvenience, the introduction of malware represents a significant threat to the organization's security. Plugging in a found USB drive without knowing its contents can easily result in malware infection, compromising the entire network

Answer 154

Wireless intrusion DDoS Amplified attack Correct answer DDoS Amplified attack Your answer is incorrect On-path attack Overall explanation An amplified DDoS attack involves an attacker sending a small number of forged requests to reflectors on the Internet. These reflectors then send large responses to the victim's IP address. The significant increase in UDP traffic from multiple sources, especially during off-peak hours, is characteristic of this type of attack. It is not a wireless intrusion, which would typically involve unauthorized access to wireless networks; an on-path attack, which involves intercepting communication between two parties; or a credential replay attack, which involves reusing valid data transmission credentials

Answer 155

Increasing network throughput Correct answer Isolation Enforcing two-factor authentication Your answer is incorrect Applying frequent password changes Overall explanation Isolating legacy systems that cannot be updated or replaced is an effective strategy to reduce risk by limiting their interaction with other network resources and potential attack vectors, more so than measures like password changes or two-factor authentication, which do not address the inherent vulnerabilities of these systems.

Answer 156

Medium severity vulnerabilities on public-facing web servers Informational findings on internal network infrastructure Low severity vulnerabilities on non-essential systems Your answer is correct High severity vulnerabilities on systems storing sensitive data Overall explanation High severity vulnerabilities on systems storing sensitive data should be prioritized for remediation to prevent potential data breaches. These vulnerabilities pose a direct risk to the security and confidentiality of sensitive information. While all vulnerabilities are of concern, those affecting systems with sensitive data have the most immediate and potentially severe impact on an organization's security posture. Low severity and informational findings, while still important, do not present as immediate a threat as high severity vulnerabilities on critical systems.

Answer 157

Static code analysis Input validation Correct answer Individualized data encryption Your answer is incorrect Sandboxing Overall explanation Individualized data encryption is a key feature of WPA3, providing enhanced security by ensuring that each user's data is encrypted individually, even on public networks. This prevents attackers from eavesdropping on wireless communications. Input validation, static code analysis, and sandboxing are not features of WPA3 as they relate to different aspects of security not specific to wireless networking.

Answer 158

Complexity in managing different security solutions for physical and virtual systems. Correct answer Potential for security breaches in the virtual environment due to lack of visibility. Increased resource usage on the host machine. Your answer is incorrect Inability to track the physical location of virtual machines. Overall explanation The main concern with not implementing agentless security solutions in virtualized environments is the reduced visibility and control over security within these environments, leading to potential breaches. While increased resource usage and management complexity are valid concerns, they do not directly impact the security of virtual environments as significantly as the lack of appropriate security controls.

Answer 159

Correct answer Isolating affected systems to contain the breach. Disconnecting the internet connection to the entire network. Informing all employees about the breach via email Your answer is incorrect Updating all system passwords immediately Overall explanation Isolating affected systems is a critical first step in responding to a potential intrusion, as it helps contain the breach and prevents further spread across the network. This action allows the security team to analyze and mitigate the threat without disrupting the entire network. While updating passwords and informing employees are important, containment is the immediate priority to limit damage.

Answer 160

Dependencies Version control Restricted activities Your answer is correct Documentation Overall explanation Updating network diagrams following significant changes to the infrastructure emphasizes the importance of documentation. Accurate and up-to-date documentation, like network diagrams, is vital for understanding the current state of the network, aiding in troubleshooting, planning future changes, and maintaining security. This action underscores the role of documentation in ensuring that everyone involved has a clear and current understanding of the network's layout and components, which is more directly related to maintaining operational efficiency and security than dependencies, restricted activities, or version control.

Answer 161

Correct answer To identify vulnerabilities in the vendor's IT systems and applications To evaluate the vendor's customer service responsiveness To assess the physical security of the vendor’s premises Your answer is incorrect To measure the vendor's operational efficiency Overall explanation The primary purpose of conducting penetration testing on a vendor's systems is to identify vulnerabilities in the vendor's IT systems and applications. This proactive security measure helps in assessing how well the vendor can protect both its own and the client's data against potential cyber attacks. It's crucial for ensuring that the vendor adheres to high-security standards and practices, unlike assessing customer service responsiveness, physical security, or operational efficiency, which, while important, are not the main objectives of penetration testing.

Answer 162

LDAP Correct answer OAuth Federation Your answer is incorrect SAML Overall explanation OAuth is an open standard for access delegation, used in internet protocols to authorize clients by web servers. It allows third-party services to exchange web resources without revealing user credentials, enhancing security by providing tokens instead. SAML is focused on exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties, particularly in single sign-on scenarios, not on delegating access. LDAP is for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services, and Federation involves identity sharing across different systems or domains, neither of which directly handles the specific case of third-party access without exposing user credentials like OAuth does.

Answer 163

Ensuring all users have the same level of access to simplify management Using social media profiles as the sole verification method . Assigning temporary passwords that never expire Your answer is correct Verifying the identity of users through multiple pieces of evidence Overall explanation Identity proofing involves verifying the identity of users to ensure that they are who they claim to be, and using multiple pieces of evidence or factors is crucial for a secure and effective process. This multi-factor approach increases security by making it more difficult for unauthorized individuals to impersonate legitimate users. The other options can potentially compromise security, such as using social media profiles as the sole verification method or assigning temporary passwords that never expire, which does not align with best security practices.

Answer 164

Higher data transfer speeds Lower costs Immediate accessibility Your answer is correct Protection from local disasters Overall explanation Offsite backups offer protection from local disasters affecting the primary site, unlike onsite backups which are vulnerable to the same physical threats, making them a key component of comprehensive disaster recovery planning, despite potentially higher costs and lower data transfer speeds compared to local backups.

Answer 165

Ensuring data portability Correct answer Choosing a cloud service provider with a strong security reputation Maximizing data storage capacity Your answer is incorrect Focusing on reducing storage costs Overall explanation Choosing a cloud service provider with a strong security reputation should be a primary consideration to ensure compliance with industry regulations when storing sensitive customer data. This ensures that the provider adheres to best practices in security and compliance, offering the necessary controls and safeguards to protect the data and meet regulatory requirements. While maximizing data storage capacity and reducing storage costs are important operational considerations, and ensuring data portability is valuable for flexibility, the security and compliance track record of the provider is paramount for regulatory compliance.

Answer 166

MTTR Risk appetite Correct answer RTO Your answer is incorrect Risk tolerance Overall explanation Focusing on the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) is essential in this scenario, as it helps the company plan for the maximum time that the critical process can be down before significantly impacting operations. RTO is a direct measure related to business continuity planning. Risk tolerance and appetite are more about the company's overall approach to handling risks, and MTTR, while related to repairs, does not directly influence the planning for business continuity as RTO does.

Answer 167

It mandates the use of specific technologies by the vendor It ensures priority service delivery over other clients of the vendor Correct answer It restricts the vendor's ability to enter into agreements with the organization's competitors Your answer is incorrect It guarantees the lowest price by the vendor for the duration of the agreement Overall explanation The inclusion of a Non-compete Clause in a Business Partner Agreement (BPA) benefits an organization by restricting the vendor's ability to enter into agreements with the organization's competitors. This helps in protecting the organization's competitive advantage and sensitive information that might otherwise be at risk if the vendor were to engage with direct competitors. Unlike ensuring pricing benefits, service priority, or technology use, a non-compete clause safeguards the organization's strategic interests.

Answer 168

Risk appetite MTBF RPO Your answer is correct Risk tolerance Overall explanation Risk tolerance is key for a small business with a limited budget, as it helps the business determine how much risk it is willing to accept before taking action. This guides the allocation of scarce resources to the most critical areas. Risk appetite is related but focuses more on the level of risk a company is willing to pursue; RPO and MTBF are important for planning but do not directly guide threat prioritization.

Answer 169

Correct answer Vishing Impersonation Phishing Your answer is incorrect Pretexting Overall explanation The described scenario is a classic example of vishing, where voice communication (in this case, a phone call) is used to deceive the individual into divulging sensitive information, such as login credentials. The caller pretends to be from a legitimate department within the company to gain the manager's trust. Unlike impersonation, which doesn't necessarily involve direct communication, phishing, which uses emails, or pretexting, which involves a fabricated scenario but not specifically over the phone, vishing directly involves voice-based deception.

Answer 170

Correct answer Disabling unused ports Enabling port mirroring. Setting all ports to trunk mode. Your answer is incorrect Configuring each port for maximum speed Overall explanation Disabling unused ports helps minimize the attack surface by preventing unauthorized devices from connecting to the network. While enabling port mirroring can be useful for monitoring, it doesn't inherently increase security. Setting all ports to trunk mode and configuring each port for maximum speed are not security practices; they pertain to network performance and configuration.

Answer 171

To evaluate the vendor's corporate social responsibility initiatives To assess the vendor's geographical reach and market presence To verify the vendor's financial solvency Your answer is correct To ensure the vendor's adherence to industry standards and regulatory compliance Overall explanation Including evidence of internal audits in a vendor assessment process is important to ensure the vendor's adherence to industry standards and regulatory compliance. Internal audits provide insight into the vendor's operational processes, risk management practices, and compliance with laws and regulations. This evidence supports the vendor's claims of reliability and security, offering assurance that they are capable of meeting contractual obligations responsibly.

Answer 172

To specify the payment schedule and penalties for late payments To outline the legal consequences of contract termination Correct answer To set boundaries and guidelines for interaction and information exchange Your answer is incorrect To detail the vendor's advertising and marketing strategies Overall explanation In vendor monitoring, having a clearly defined Rules of Engagement document is critical to set boundaries and guidelines for interaction and information exchange between the organization and its vendors. This ensures that both parties understand the acceptable methods and protocols for communication, security practices, and handling of sensitive information, thereby minimizing risks associated with data breaches, miscommunication, and unauthorized access. Unlike focusing on legal consequences, payment schedules, or marketing strategies, the Rules of Engagement prioritize the operational and security aspects of the vendor relationship.

Answer 173

Code signing WPA3 RADIUS Your answer is correct Sandboxing Overall explanation Sandboxing is the most effective mechanism for isolating untrusted applications because it restricts their access to system resources and data, preventing them from causing harm to the overall system. WPA3 secures wireless networks, code signing verifies the integrity and origin of code, and RADIUS is used for network authentication, none of which directly contribute to isolating applications to mitigate risk.

Answer 174

To encrypt user inputs Correct answer To ensure user inputs are syntactically and semantically correct To sign code digitally Your answer is incorrect To authenticate user identities Overall explanation Input validation is essential for application security because it ensures that all user input is syntactically and semantically correct, preventing malicious data from causing harm to the system, such as through SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. Encrypting user inputs, authenticating user identities, and signing code digitally are all security measures that serve different purposes unrelated to directly scrutinizing and sanitizing the inputs provided by users.

Answer 175

Correct answer Scan all received image files with updated antivirus software before opening. Only accept images from clients known personally to the designer. Convert all images to a different format before using them. Your answer is incorrect Open and edit the images only on isolated computers disconnected from the network. Overall explanation Scanning files with updated antivirus software before opening provides a practical and effective level of security against malware embedded in image files. While isolating computers can provide a high level of security, it may not be practical for everyday work. Converting image formats does not necessarily remove embedded malware. Limiting sources to known clients reduces risk but does not eliminate it, as their systems could be compromised.

Answer 176

RADIUS Correct answer SSL/TLS Static code analysis Your answer is incorrect WPA3 Overall explanation SSL/TLS is the correct answer because it is specifically designed to provide secure communication over a computer network by encrypting the data transmitted between the client and server and ensuring both parties are who they claim to be before data is exchanged. WPA3 is focused on securing wireless networks and does not involve direct client-server communication validation. RADIUS is an authentication, authorization, and accounting protocol, not a method for securing client-server communications directly. Static code analysis is a method for detecting vulnerabilities in code and does not facilitate secure communications.

Answer 177

Advise employees to ignore all SMS messages. Correct answer Train employees to verify the legitimacy of such requests through internal channels before responding. Instruct employees to respond to SMS with the required information if they recognize the sender's number. Your answer is incorrect Encourage employees to block any numbers sending unsolicited SMS messages. Overall explanation Training employees to verify requests through known internal channels before responding addresses the threat without disrupting legitimate communication, enhancing overall security awareness. Instructing employees to respond based on sender recognition can be misleading, as phone numbers can be spoofed. Ignoring all SMS messages is impractical and could lead to missing important communications. Blocking numbers may prevent future messages but does not address the root issue or educate employees.

Answer 178

egularly change the server administrator's password. Increase the server's memory and CPU resources. Correct answer Disable unnecessary services and ports on the servers Your answer is incorrect Install additional security software on the servers Overall explanation Disabling unnecessary services and ports reduces the attack surface by eliminating potential vectors for attackers to exploit. While installing security software and changing passwords are important, they do not address the direct risk of having unnecessary services running. Increasing hardware resources does not directly enhance security, making b the most effective measure in this scenario.

Answer 179

Wasting company time browsing non-work-related websites. Violating company policy on the use of instant messaging. Correct answer Potentially exposing the company network to malware or ransomware. Your answer is incorrect Overloading the company’s internet bandwidth. Overall explanation While wasting time and violating company policies are concerns, the primary risk is the potential introduction of malware or ransomware into the company network. This can lead to significant security breaches, data loss, and financial damage.

Answer 180

Software provider Correct answer Service provider Hardware provider Your answer is incorrect Cloud-specific Overall explanation This scenario describes a service provider vulnerability, where the security weaknesses of a third-party service provider lead to a data breach. Unlike hardware provider vulnerabilities, which relate to physical devices, software provider vulnerabilities, which pertain to issues within provided software, or cloud-specific vulnerabilities, which are unique to cloud services, this problem stems from the inadequate security practices of a service provider.

Answer 181

Immediate full-scale implementation User training sessions after implementation Comprehensive system testing before implementation Your answer is correct Feedback collection from a pilot group before full-scale implementation Overall explanation Feedback collection from a pilot group before full-scale implementation ensures that any issues can be identified and addressed in a controlled environment, minimizing the impact on current operations when the system is fully implemented. While testing and user training are important, they do not offer the same real-world insights as a pilot, and immediate full-scale implementation carries significant risk.

Answer 182

Operational Physical Technical Your answer is correct Managerial Overall explanation Documenting security procedures, including incident response protocols, falls under managerial controls. Managerial controls involve the policies, procedures, and guidelines that dictate how the organization manages and protects its information assets. This includes the documentation of security procedures to ensure a standardized and informed response to incidents. Unlike technical controls, which focus on technology-based security measures, or operational controls, which are the execution of these measures, managerial controls deal with the overarching management and strategic framework for security within the organization.

Answer 183

Risk avoidance Conservative Neutral Your answer is correct Expansionary Overall explanation Entering a new, untested market with a high risk tolerance exemplifies an expansionary risk management strategy. This strategy is characterized by a willingness to take on higher risks for the potential of higher rewards, which aligns with a company's decision to explore new markets despite the uncertainties involved. Conservative would imply caution and minimal risk-taking, neutral a balanced approach, and risk avoidance the opposite of entering new markets.

Answer 184

Restricted activities Correct answer Dependencies Downtime Your answer is incorrect Allow lists/deny lists Overall explanation Understanding dependencies is critical before deploying a new application because dependencies can affect the application's functionality, compatibility, and security. If an application relies on other software or services that are outdated or vulnerable, it could inherit those vulnerabilities or fail to operate correctly. This assessment is crucial to ensure that all components work harmoniously and securely, surpassing the concerns related to managing allow lists/deny lists, which control access, restricting activities, or planning for downtime, though those are also important in their contexts.

Answer 185

Correct answer CISO All employees through a voting system Departmental Managers Your answer is incorrect IT Department Head Overall explanation In a company with a centralized governance structure, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is typically responsible for making final decisions regarding data security policies and procedures. The CISO oversees the company's overall security posture, ensuring that policies align with the organization's strategic objectives and compliance requirements. While IT department heads and departmental managers may contribute to the policy development process, and employees play a role in adhering to and enforcing these policies, the CISO is the central figure who has the authority to make final policy decisions.

Answer 186

Typosquatting Watering hole Pretexting Your answer is correct Brand impersonation Overall explanation This situation illustrates brand impersonation, where attackers create fake advertisements or websites that mimic legitimate products or services to deceive users. In this case, the attackers used the reputation of popular software to lure individuals into purchasing from a malicious website, leading to malware installation. Unlike a watering hole attack, which targets users through compromised websites they normally visit, pretexting, which involves creating a false scenario, or typosquatting, which focuses on domain name misspellings, brand impersonation directly exploits the trust in a well-known brand.

Answer 187

Correct answer The strength of the encryption algorithm and the key length The complexity of the password used to access the corporate network The brand of the encryption software used. Your answer is incorrect The length of time it takes to encrypt and decrypt the data Overall explanation The strength of the encryption algorithm and the key length are crucial factors in ensuring the confidentiality of encrypted data. Stronger algorithms and longer keys are harder for attackers to break, providing better protection for data. While password complexity, encryption/decryption speed, and software brand can have impacts on security, they do not directly influence the encryption's ability to protect data confidentiality as much as the algorithm strength and key length.

Answer 188

Accept Mitigate Avoid Your answer is correct Transfer Overall explanation The company is employing the transfer strategy by outsourcing the storage of sensitive data to a third-party vendor. This transfers the risk associated with data storage and protection to another entity. Avoidance would mean not storing data at all, mitigation involves reducing the risk's impact, and acceptance means acknowledging the risk without taking action to reduce its impact.

Answer 189

Correct answer Failover Tabletop exercises Manual switchover Your answer is incorrect Parallel processing Overall explanation Failover systems are designed for seamless transition to a backup upon primary system failure, minimizing service interruption, unlike parallel processing which focuses on efficiency rather than redundancy, manual switchover that requires human intervention, and tabletop exercises which are preparatory discussions rather than technical solutions.

Answer 190

To establish the payment schedule for the project’s duration To list all potential vendors for a project To ensure the organization’s marketing material is consistent with the vendor's Your answer is correct To precisely outline the project's scope, deliverables, timelines, and payment terms Overall explanation The significance of having a detailed Statement of Work (SOW) or Work Order (WO) when working with vendors is to precisely outline the project's scope, deliverables, timelines, and payment terms. This ensures both parties have a clear understanding of what is expected, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and disputes. It provides a comprehensive framework for the project's execution, including responsibilities, standards, and benchmarks for performance. While payment schedules are part of this documentation, they are just one aspect of the detailed planning and agreements SOWs and WOs provide.

Answer 191

Avoid Correct answer Mitigate Transfer Your answer is incorrect Accept Overall explanation Mitigation is the most appropriate strategy because it involves taking steps to reduce the impact of a risk, ensuring that if any issues arise with the new online service, they can be managed effectively to meet the Recovery Time Objective. Acceptance might not adequately address the potential downtime, avoidance would mean not pursuing the service, and transfer (such as through insurance) does not directly ensure service availability or compliance with the RTO.

Answer 192

Consistent traffic flow with known external partners High volumes of allowed inbound traffic during off-peak hours Occasional spikes in outbound traffic to various destinations Your answer is correct Repeated failed login attempts from a single external IP address Overall explanation Repeated failed login attempts from a single external IP address suggest a brute force attack aiming to gain unauthorized access. High volumes of inbound traffic could be concerning but aren't necessarily indicative of an attack without further context. Consistent traffic with known partners is expected in normal business operations. Occasional spikes in outbound traffic could be a concern for data exfiltration but would require more context to be deemed malicious.

Answer 193

Simulation Parallel processing Correct answer Tabletop exercises Your answer is incorrect Failover testing Overall explanation Tabletop exercises involve team discussions on hypothetical scenarios to improve decision-making and readiness without the use of live systems, making it distinct from simulations that often use software to mimic real-world incidents, failover testing that specifically tests the switching to backup systems, and parallel processing that involves simultaneous data processing to increase efficiency rather than prepare for incidents.

Answer 194

Insider threat Hacktivist Unskilled attacker Your answer is correct Organized crime Overall explanation Organized crime groups often conduct targeted, well-planned cyber attacks to steal financial information for monetary gain. Their operations are characterized by a high level of organization and sophistication, aiming to minimize detection and maximize profit. Unlike hacktivists, who are typically motivated by ideological goals, or insider threats, who operate within the organization, organized crime units operate externally with significant resources and expertise in cybercrime.

Answer 195

Preventive Correct answer Detective Corrective Your answer is incorrect Deterrent Overall explanation An intrusion detection system (IDS) is an example of a detective control. Detective controls are designed to identify and alert on incidents that have occurred, allowing the organization to respond accordingly. By monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities, an IDS detects potential security breaches, providing timely alerts that enable the organization to take action to mitigate the impact of the incident. This is in contrast to preventive controls, which aim to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place, and corrective controls, which are measures taken to repair the damage after an incident has occurred.

Answer 196

Correct answer Gap analysis Non-repudiation audit Zero Trust implementation Your answer is incorrect AAA protocol assessment Overall explanation Conducting an assessment to identify differences between the current security posture and industry best practices, aiming to highlight areas for improvement, is known as gap analysis. Gap analysis in security is a strategic tool used to compare what a company is currently doing in terms of security against what it should be doing, based on best practices or regulatory requirements. This process helps in identifying vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and areas needing enhancement to strengthen the security framework. This is distinct from implementing Zero Trust, which is a security model that assumes breaches are inevitable and verifies every request as if it originates from an open network, AAA protocol assessment, which involves reviewing authentication, authorization, and accounting processes, and non-repudiation audits, which focus on ensuring actions or transactions cannot be denied by the parties involved.

Answer 197

The firewall is misconfigured. An internal device is downloading updates The network is experiencing a DDoS attack Your answer is correct Telnet is being used, which is not secure. Overall explanation The use of Telnet, which operates on port 23, is likely the reason for the high traffic observed. Telnet transmits data in plain text, making it insecure for transmitting sensitive information. This method is less secure compared to encrypted alternatives like SSH, which reduces the risk of data interception and unauthorized access.

Answer 198

By ensuring the organization retains ownership of any developed intellectual property By preventing the vendor from engaging with competitors for a specified period By requiring the vendor to adhere to specific operational processes Your answer is correct By prohibiting the vendor from disclosing or misusing the organization's confidential information Overall explanation A Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) protects an organization by prohibiting the vendor from disclosing or misusing the organization's confidential information. NDAs are crucial for safeguarding sensitive data shared during vendor interactions, ensuring that such information is not leaked or used without authorization. While intellectual property ownership and non-compete clauses are important, they are typically addressed in separate agreements.

Answer 199

Assigning static IP addresses to all IoT devices Correct answer Isolating IoT devices on a separate network VLAN. Increasing the power output of the wireless access points. Your answer is incorrect Ensuring that all IoT devices are from the same manufacturer. Overall explanation Isolating IoT devices on a separate network VLAN is a key security measure as it limits the potential impact of a compromised IoT device on the rest of the network. Static IP addresses do not enhance security directly, increasing the power output of wireless access points can lead to security vulnerabilities by extending the network's reach beyond intended areas, and using devices from the same manufacturer does not inherently improve security.

Answer 200

Attestation Correct answer External Regulatory Audit Internal Self-Assessment Your answer is incorrect Internal Audit Committee Overall explanation External regulatory audits are the most appropriate choice for companies looking to ensure compliance with industry regulations. These audits are conducted by external entities and are specifically designed to assess whether a company's practices align with legal and regulatory requirements. Internal self-assessments, attestations, and internal audit committees, while useful for other purposes, do not provide the same level of authoritative assessment against industry regulations that an external regulatory audit does.

Answer 201

Operational Technical Managerial Your answer is correct Physical Overall explanation Stationing security guards at the entrances of a data center is a physical control measure. Physical controls are implemented to prevent unauthorized access to facilities, equipment, and resources, and to protect personnel from harm. They include tangible measures such as locks, fencing, security guards, and surveillance cameras. Unlike technical controls, which involve the use of technology to safeguard data, or managerial controls, which focus on the administrative aspects of security, physical controls are concerned with the physical aspects of security.

Answer 202

Reconnaissance Offensive Correct answer Physical Your answer is incorrect Defensive Overall explanation Physical penetration testing is specifically designed to identify and exploit weaknesses in an organization’s physical barriers (e.g., locks, cameras, access controls) and procedures (e.g., tailgating, social engineering). This type of testing helps ensure that unauthorized individuals cannot physically access sensitive areas or information, unlike offensive, defensive, or reconnaissance penetration testing, which focus more on digital vulnerabilities.

Answer 203

Oauth Correct answer Federation Identity proofing Your answer is incorrect LDAP Overall explanation Federation supports the sharing of authentication data across different systems, organizations, or domains, allowing for a single sign-on experience for users accessing multiple services. This makes it the best choice for implementing SSO in a scenario involving cloud-based services, as it streamlines access without compromising security. OAuth is primarily an authorization framework, not specifically designed for authentication or SSO. LDAP is a protocol for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services, not directly related to SSO across cloud-based services. Identity proofing is a process used to verify the identity of users but does not directly facilitate SSO.

Answer 204

Correct answer To guarantee that critical systems remain operational during various failure modes High availability is only necessary for non-critical systems. To ensure systems are resistant to physical tampering Your answer is incorrect To make sure that system updates can be applied instantly Overall explanation It is important to consider high availability when designing network infrastructure for critical systems to ensure that these systems remain operational during a variety of failure modes. High availability strategies involve implementing redundant components, failover mechanisms, and robust monitoring to minimize downtime and maintain continuous service. This is crucial for critical systems, where even brief outages can have significant negative impacts on business operations, safety, and compliance.

Answer 205

Correct answer Assigning permissions based on the principle of least privilege Setting up multifactor authentication Regularly updating the company's privacy policy Your answer is incorrect Ensuring all user accounts have admin privileges Overall explanation Assigning permissions based on the principle of least privilege ensures that users have only the access rights necessary to perform their job functions, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or lateral movement within the network. While setting up multifactor authentication is a critical security measure, it is not directly related to the provisioning process of determining access levels. Updating the company's privacy policy and providing admin privileges to all user accounts are not related to secure access control and can potentially increase security risks.

Answer 206

To avoid potential legal issues with device manufacturers To prevent network congestion caused by too many devices. Correct answer To reduce the risk of unauthorized access and control. Your answer is incorrect To ensure device compatibility with the network. Overall explanation Changing default device credentials before connecting devices to the network is advisable to reduce the risk of unauthorized access and control. Default credentials are easily found online and can be used by attackers to gain control of devices, making it crucial to replace them with strong, unique passwords.

Answer 207

Correct answer HIPAA Compliance Officer IT Support Specialist Data Processor Your answer is incorrect Data Custodian Overall explanation The HIPAA Compliance Officer plays a crucial role in ensuring that health information is processed, stored, and transmitted in compliance with HIPAA's requirements. This role is specifically focused on understanding HIPAA regulations, implementing policies and procedures to meet those requirements, and ensuring that all parts of the organization comply. While data processors, data custodians, and IT support specialists all have roles in handling and protecting data, the HIPAA Compliance Officer is specifically tasked with oversight and compliance regarding HIPAA regulations.

Answer 208

Biometrics only Security questions Passwords only Your answer is correct 2FA Overall explanation Two-factor authentication (2FA) enhances security by requiring two different forms of identification from the user, typically something they know (like a password) and something they have (like a smartphone for a one-time code). This method significantly increases account security over using passwords, biometrics, or security questions alone because it combines the ease of use with an additional layer of security, making unauthorized access much more challenging without significantly inconveniencing the user.

Answer 209

Risk avoidance Risk mitigation Risk transfer Your answer is correct Risk acceptance Overall explanation This decision is an example of risk acceptance, where the company has acknowledged the presence of a threat but has chosen not to take specific actions to mitigate or transfer it, due to the cost outweighing the potential impact. Avoidance would involve taking steps to ensure the threat cannot affect the company, mitigation would reduce the threat's impact, and transfer would involve shifting the risk to another party.

Answer 210

Correct answer To provide ongoing authorization for routine services and define specific tasks To serve as a formal record of completed work for billing purposes only To act as a binding agreement for a single, one-off project Your answer is incorrect To establish the overall strategic direction of the partnership Overall explanation The role of a Work Order (WO) in managing ongoing vendor services is to provide ongoing authorization for routine services and define specific tasks, deliverables, timelines, and sometimes the payment for those services. WOs are crucial for managing and documenting the specifics of each task or project within the framework of a broader agreement, ensuring clarity and accountability on deliverables. Unlike serving merely as a billing record or a strategic document, WOs focus on the operational aspects of the vendor-client relationship.

Answer 211

Conservative Aggressive Correct answer Neutral Your answer is incorrect Expansionary Overall explanation A company with a neutral risk appetite takes a balanced approach to risk and reward, neither aggressively pursuing high-risk, high-reward projects nor strictly avoiding risk to safeguard stability. Expansionary and aggressive would imply a higher willingness to accept risk for greater rewards, while conservative indicates a preference for lower risk and possibly lower reward opportunities.

Answer 212

Mobile device Firmware Correct answer Zero-day Your answer is incorrect Misconfiguration Overall explanation This situation likely involves a zero-day vulnerability within the smartphone's operating system, which was previously unknown and therefore unpatched by the time of the attack. While it affects a mobile device, the term "mobile device" is too broad and does not specify the nature of the vulnerability; misconfiguration implies incorrect settings by the user; and firmware typically refers to lower-level software, not necessarily the entire operating system. Zero-day vulnerabilities represent a unique category where the exploit occurs before the vulnerability is known to the software developers or the public.

Answer 213

Correct answer Authorization Authentication Accounting Your answer is incorrect Compensating Overall explanation Revoking all access rights to its systems for a former employee immediately following their termination is an example of managing authorization. Authorization involves determining and enforcing what resources a user can access and what actions they can perform within a system or network. When an employee leaves the company, revoking their access rights prevents potential unauthorized access, ensuring that only current, authorized users can access company resources. This process is a critical aspect of maintaining security and is distinct from authentication, which is the process of verifying identity, accounting, which tracks user activities, and compensating controls, which are alternative strategies used to mitigate risk when primary controls are insufficient.

Answer 214

Investment in high-availability solutions Correct answer Regular off-site backups Annual disaster recovery drills Your answer is incorrect Comprehensive insurance coverage Overall explanation Regular off-site backups are essential for minimizing data loss because they ensure that a recent copy of data is available and can be restored after a disaster. While drills, high-availability solutions, and insurance are important aspects of disaster recovery planning, they do not directly minimize data loss like off-site backups can.

Answer 215

Installing multiple antivirus programs on each machine for added security. Correct answer Enabling host-based firewalls on all endpoint devices. Using the same password across all devices for uniformity Your answer is incorrect Keeping all unused ports open for potential future use Overall explanation Enabling host-based firewalls on all endpoint devices provides a layer of protection against unauthorized access and network-based attacks, as it can control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on an applied rule set. Keeping unused ports open, using the same password across devices, and installing multiple antivirus programs can introduce security vulnerabilities and conflicts, making b the best choice for hardening systems.

Answer 216

Operational Correct answer Managerial Technical Your answer is incorrect Physical Overall explanation Security awareness training for employees is categorized under managerial controls. This initiative involves creating and implementing policies and procedures to increase security awareness among employees, which is a strategic approach. Managerial controls are concerned with the management's commitment to and direction of an organization's security program. Unlike technical controls, which use technology to protect information and systems, and operational controls, which are the implementation of physical and technical controls, managerial controls focus on policy, training, and strategy to guide the organization's overall security efforts.

Answer 217

Stakeholders Test results Correct answer Impact analysis Your answer is incorrect Standard operating procedure Overall explanation This assessment is called impact analysis, which is the process of evaluating how proposed changes, such as a major system upgrade, will affect operational workflows, system availability, and data security. Impact analysis is critical for understanding the potential risks and benefits of a change, allowing decision-makers to weigh the consequences before proceeding. This step is essential for maintaining the balance between advancing technology and ensuring the security and efficiency of operations, differentiating it from merely reviewing test results or involving stakeholders in the decision-making process.

Answer 218

Setting up a firewall at the network perimeter Correct answer Conducting a comprehensive security risk assessment Deploying antivirus software on all devices Your answer is incorrect Implementing two-factor authentication for user access Overall explanation Conducting a comprehensive security risk assessment is crucial as it helps identify potential vulnerabilities and risks in the network. This information is foundational for creating effective security measures tailored to the specific needs and threats facing the organization. While deploying antivirus software, setting up a firewall, and implementing two-factor authentication are important security measures, they should be guided by the insights gained from a risk assessment.

Answer 219

Open access with logging to monitor activity Generic accounts that can be used by anyone in the department Shared user accounts with other team members Your answer is correct Individual accounts with permissions set according to a predefined role Overall explanation Individual accounts with permissions set according to predefined roles ensure that access is granted based on the principle of least privilege, enhancing security by ensuring users only have access to the resources necessary for their roles. Shared and generic accounts do not offer individual accountability, making it difficult to trace actions back to a specific user. Open access with logging might provide some level of oversight but fails to restrict unauthorized access initially, making it a less secure option.

Answer 220

To increase the overall speed of the network. To reduce the costs associated with device maintenance. Correct answer To ensure that only authorized devices can update their firmware. Your answer is incorrect To allow easy access for user convenience. Overall explanation Implementing device authentication mechanisms is critical for IoT devices to ensure that only authorized devices can access the network and perform sensitive actions like updating their firmware. Without proper authentication, malicious actors could potentially introduce malware into the network by impersonating legitimate devices, leading to data breaches, service disruptions, or other security incidents. Effective authentication helps in maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the IoT ecosystem.

Answer 221

Installing a third-party app store Enforcing screen lock with biometrics Disabling Bluetooth and NFC. Your answer is correct Implementing a MDM solution. Overall explanation Implementing a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution provides comprehensive control over mobile devices, allowing for the enforcement of security policies, application management, and remote wiping capabilities. While enforcing screen locks with biometrics and disabling Bluetooth and NFC can improve security, these measures are less comprehensive than an MDM solution. Installing a third-party app store could introduce security risks.

Answer 222

Availability Correct answer Non-repudiation Integrity Your answer is incorrect Confidentiality Overall explanation Digital signatures provide non-repudiation by ensuring that once a sender has signed a document or message, they cannot deny having sent it. Non-repudiation is a security concept that prevents an individual or entity from denying the authenticity of their signature on a document or the sending of a message that they originated. This is particularly important in legal, financial, and sensitive communications, ensuring accountability and authenticity. This concept is distinct from confidentiality, which protects data from unauthorized access, integrity, which ensures data remains unchanged and accurate, and availability, which ensures data is accessible when needed.

Answer 223

Correct answer Insider threat Shadow IT Unskilled attacker Your answer is incorrect Hacktivist Overall explanation Insider threats come from individuals within the organization, such as employees, contractors, or business partners, who misuse their access to harm the organization intentionally or unintentionally. Deliberately leaking sensitive information to a competitor is a clear example of an insider threat, where the individual's actions are motivated by personal gain, revenge, or other reasons. Unlike external threats such as hacktivists or unskilled attackers, insider threats already have access to the organization's resources, making them particularly challenging to detect and mitigate.

Answer 224

Smishing Brand impersonation Vishing Your answer is correct Phishing Overall explanation This scenario is indicative of a phishing attack, where fraudulent emails are sent out to lure individuals into clicking on malicious links under the guise of urgency or legitimacy, often pretending to be from a trusted entity. Unlike smishing, which involves SMS, vishing, which uses phone calls, or brand impersonation, which involves assuming the identity of a reputable brand without necessarily involving email deception, phishing specifically refers to the use of deceptive emails to steal information or credentials.

Answer 225

Authentication Correct answer Least privilege Accounting Your answer is incorrect Zero Trust Overall explanation The principle of least privilege is a fundamental security concept applied when configuring systems to ensure that users only have the access necessary to perform their jobs. By implementing this principle, organizations minimize potential attack vectors by ensuring that each user has the minimal level of access required to fulfill their duties. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information and is crucial for effective security management. It is distinct from authentication, which verifies a user’s identity; accounting, which tracks user actions; and Zero Trust, which requires verification for every access request, regardless of the source.

Answer 226

Correct answer Downtime Documentation Version control Your answer is incorrect Restricted activities Overall explanation The immediate technical implication of needing to restart services after applying security patches is downtime. This requirement means that the affected services will be temporarily unavailable, impacting the organization's operations. Planning for this downtime is essential to minimize operational disruptions, making it a critical consideration in the patch management process. This concern is more immediate and impactful than the need for restricted activities, which relates to limiting user actions, documentation, which involves updating related records, or version control, which is about managing changes to documents or software.

Answer 227

Nation-state Correct answer Unskilled attacker Insider threat Your answer is incorrect Organized crime Overall explanation Unskilled attackers, often referred to as "script kiddies," rely on widely available tools and techniques to exploit known vulnerabilities or trick users into compromising security, such as through phishing emails. The scenario described does not necessarily indicate a high level of sophistication or resources, suggesting that the attack could have been carried out by an individual with limited skills. This differentiates unskilled attackers from more sophisticated threats like nation-states or organized crime groups, which typically engage in more complex and targeted attacks.

Answer 228

Standard operating procedure Test results Correct answer Backout plan Your answer is incorrect Maintenance window Overall explanation Quickly reverting to the previous version of the software after an update causes unexpected downtime demonstrates the execution of a backout plan. A backout plan is a contingency measure within change management designed to reverse changes in case they result in unforeseen problems, such as system outages or performance issues. This approach ensures that the organization can maintain operational continuity and security by swiftly restoring the system to its prior state while the underlying issues are addressed, highlighting its importance over analyzing test results or adhering to standard operating procedures in crisis situations.

Answer 229

Correct answer Mitigation through thorough testing Avoidance by not updating Transfer by outsourcing the update process Your answer is incorrect Acceptance with exception Overall explanation Mitigating the risk through thorough testing is the best strategy, as it involves identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities before they can impact the system. This approach ensures the critical update can be applied while minimizing the introduction of new risks. Acceptance with exception might not address the vulnerabilities, avoidance would leave existing vulnerabilities unpatched, and transferring the update process doesn't eliminate the risk of new vulnerabilities.

Answer 230

Tabletop exercises Journaling Correct answer Simulation Your answer is incorrect Failover Overall explanation Simulations use a controlled environment to replicate security breaches, enabling IT professionals to practice responses, which is more interactive and realistic than tabletop exercises that are discussion-based, journaling that involves keeping records of changes, and failover which is a redundancy mechanism.

Answer 231

Version control Correct answer Restricting activities Updating policies/procedures Your answer is incorrect Reducing downtime Overall explanation Implementing allow lists for software applications primarily benefits security by restricting activities on the network to only those that are approved, thereby reducing the risk of malware infections and unauthorized application use. This proactive security measure ensures that only known, trusted applications can operate, significantly enhancing the organization's security posture. This approach is more directly beneficial to improving security than reducing downtime, which is more about operational efficiency, updating policies/procedures, which is an administrative action, or version control, which manages changes in documents or software versions.

Answer 232

UPS Failover Correct answer Parallel processing Your answer is incorrect Redundancy Overall explanation Parallel processing divides tasks among multiple processors to enhance computing efficiency, differing from failover and redundancy, which are about system reliability and backup, and UPS, which provides emergency power during outages.

Answer 233

Correct answer A brute force attack attempting to guess passwords. Routine maintenance by the IT department. A misconfiguration in the server’s firewall settings. Your answer is incorrect An insider threat testing network security Overall explanation The failed login attempts from foreign IP addresses most likely indicate a brute force attack, where an attacker tries numerous password combinations to gain unauthorized access. This pattern is characteristic of brute force attacks aiming to exploit weak passwords, rather than insider actions, firewall misconfigurations, or maintenance activities.

Answer 234

Misconfiguration Mobile device - Side loading Correct answer Mobile device - Jailbreaking Your answer is incorrect Hardware Overall explanation This scenario highlights a jailbreaking vulnerability, where users remove software restrictions on mobile devices, potentially exposing them to security risks. This is different from side loading, which involves installing apps from unofficial sources without bypassing security restrictions, misconfiguration, which involves incorrect settings, or hardware vulnerabilities, which are physical defects or weaknesses.

Answer 235

Gap analysis AAA Correct answer Zero Trust Your answer is incorrect ) Non-repudiation Overall explanation Implementing a security model that requires continuous verification of every access request, regardless of the user's location or device, is indicative of the Zero Trust security concept. Zero Trust operates on the assumption that threats can come from anywhere and that simply being inside the network does not automatically confer trust. This model emphasizes the need for strict identity verification, minimal access rights, and understanding the security posture of devices and networks to prevent unauthorized access. Unlike gap analysis, which assesses the difference between current and desired security states, AAA, which stands for Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting, or non-repudiation, which ensures actions cannot be denied, Zero Trust is a comprehensive approach to securing IT infrastructure by never assuming trust.

Answer 236

It focuses solely on the exchange of services without financial implications It serves as a preliminary discussion document without any commitment It allows for flexible, undefined partnership terms that can evolve over time Your answer is correct It provides a legally binding agreement specifying roles, responsibilities, and financial terms Overall explanation A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) offers the advantage of providing a legally binding agreement that specifies roles, responsibilities, and financial terms. Unlike less formal understandings, an MOA clearly outlines the expectations and obligations of each party, thereby reducing ambiguity and potential disputes. This formal agreement fosters a strong and clear foundation for the partnership, making it a more reliable framework for collaboration.

Answer 237

Correct answer The immutability of transactions can lead to irreversible data breaches. Centralized networks are easier to update with new security measures. They require more energy to operate efficiently. Your answer is incorrect Decentralized networks inherently offer less data privacy. Overall explanation A significant security concern when using decentralized networks, like blockchain, is the immutability of transactions. Once data has been recorded in a decentralized system, it cannot be altered or erased. This feature, while providing transparency and security against tampering, also means that if sensitive data is inadvertently or maliciously entered into the blockchain, it becomes permanently accessible, leading to potential privacy issues and irreversible data breaches.

Answer 238

Require manager approval for all access requests Correct answer RBAC Grant all employees administrative access and rely on auditing Your answer is incorrect Use DAC for all resources Overall explanation Implementing role-based access control (RBAC) is the most effective way to ensure that employees have access only to the resources necessary for their job roles because it allows access to be managed based on predefined roles within the organization, streamlining the process and reducing the risk of inappropriate access. While manager approval and auditing are important, they are more reactive and labor-intensive than the proactive, structured approach offered by RBAC. DAC can lead to inconsistent access control decisions.

Answer 239

Implementing a strong password policy Correct answer Installing a HIPS Enforcing two-factor authentication on all devices. Your answer is incorrect Installing antivirus software. Overall explanation A Host-based Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) provides more comprehensive protection than antivirus software alone, as it can detect and prevent a wider range of threats, including those that do not match known virus signatures. While strong passwords and two-factor authentication are important for securing access, they do not provide the same level of threat prevention as a HIPS, which actively monitors and blocks malicious activities and exploits in real-time.

Answer 240

Correct answer To establish a transparent and ethical business relationship To assess the vendor's technological capabilities To ensure competitive pricing Your answer is incorrect To guarantee the vendor has no ties with competing organizations Overall explanation Analyzing any potential conflict of interest when selecting a vendor is crucial to establish a transparent and ethical business relationship. Conflicts of interest can compromise the vendor's ability to deliver services impartially and might lead to biased decisions that are not in the best interest of the hiring organization. Identifying and addressing these issues upfront ensures that both parties can engage in a trustworthy and fair partnership, unlike considerations purely based on pricing, competing ties, or technological capabilities.

Answer 241

DAC ABAC Correct answer RBAC Your answer is incorrect MAC Overall explanation Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is an authorization model where access rights are based on the roles of individual users within an organization. This approach simplifies management of user permissions since access can be controlled based on job roles, making it easier to enforce the principle of least privilege. RBAC is different from Mandatory Access Control (MAC), which is based on policy rules and classifications, Discretionary Access Control (DAC), where the data owner decides on access, and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), which uses policies that evaluate attributes (user, resource, environment) to make decisions.

Answer 242

It eliminates the need for external audits It guarantees the vendor's technological superiority Correct answer It provides assurance of the vendor's commitment to continuous improvement Your answer is incorrect It serves as a marketing tool for the vendor Overall explanation An organization benefits from the inclusion of Evidence of Internal Audits in a vendor's disclosure during the assessment process as it provides assurance of the vendor's commitment to continuous improvement, compliance, and quality control. Internal audits demonstrate the vendor's proactive approach to identifying and rectifying issues within its operations and processes, thereby reducing risks associated with non-compliance, inefficiency, or security vulnerabilities. Unlike serving as a mere marketing tool or indicating technological superiority, internal audit evidence focuses on operational integrity and reliability.

Answer 243

To ensure the vendor’s personnel are adequately trained and certified Correct answer To continuously assess the vendor’s alignment with the organization’s strategic goals To provide a platform for vendors to advertise new products to the organization Your answer is incorrect To facilitate the update of contact information for vendor representatives Overall explanation Questionnaires are an essential tool for vendor monitoring to continuously assess the vendor's alignment with the organization's strategic goals. They allow for regular evaluations of the vendor's performance, compliance with agreements, and adherence to security and quality standards. This ongoing assessment helps in identifying areas of improvement and ensuring the vendor remains a good fit for the organization's needs. While personnel training and contact updates are important, they do not capture the comprehensive purpose of vendor monitoring through questionnaires.

Answer 244

Identification of the breach extent Public relations management Correct answer Isolation of affected systems Your answer is incorrect Notification of law enforcement Overall explanation Isolation of affected systems is the most critical step to contain a security breach effectively because it prevents the spread of the incident to unaffected areas of the network, reducing potential damage and simplifying the remediation process. While identification, law enforcement notification, and public relations are important, they follow containment in terms of immediate priorities.

Answer 245

Service restart Version control Correct answer Application restart Your answer is incorrect Documentation Overall explanation The primary concern for requiring an application restart after a security update is the interruption it causes to the application's availability, potentially leading to operational downtime. Restarting an application to apply security changes is a necessary step to ensure the update is effective, but it can disrupt user access and service continuity. This concern is more directly related to operational impact and security than service restarts in general, the need for documentation updates, or version control practices.

Answer 246

Enhanced control over physical hardware Correct answer The reduction in the attack surface due to the absence of an OS Lower costs due to reduced development time Your answer is incorrect Increased data sovereignty Overall explanation Serverless computing reduces the attack surface because there is no persistent operating system for attackers to target. This contrasts with traditional models where the operating system can be a significant vector for attacks. However, while serverless architectures reduce certain types of risks, they still require proper security practices, especially at the application and data levels.

Answer 247

Access control list Segmentation Correct answer Encryption Your answer is incorrect Patching Overall explanation Encryption secures data in transit by making it unreadable to unauthorized users, effectively protecting it against eavesdropping. This method is more directly relevant to securing data in transit compared to segmentation, patching, or access control lists, which serve different security purposes.

Answer 248

Set up a NGFW Correct answer Deploy a VPN Utilize a SASE solution Your answer is incorrect Implement a WAF Overall explanation Deploying a VPN is the best approach to ensure that internal applications are inaccessible from the public internet but remain available to remote employees. A VPN provides a secure, encrypted tunnel for employees to access internal resources remotely as if they were directly connected to the internal network. While SASE, NGFW, and WAF provide various levels of security, they do not offer the same level of remote access capabilities as a VPN.

Answer 249

Correct answer Increased resilience Reduced cost Enhanced ease of deployment Your answer is incorrect Lower power consumption Overall explanation A redundant system design primarily increases resilience by ensuring that backup components take over in case of a system failure, thus maintaining service availability and reducing downtime. While it may lead to higher costs and complexity, the benefit of enhanced resilience is crucial for critical systems' security and operational continuity.

Answer 250

To assess the application's dependencies for vulnerabilities To evaluate the application’s performance under stress Correct answer To identify vulnerabilities in the code before it is compiled Your answer is incorrect To monitor the behavior of the application in real-time Overall explanation Static analysis aims to identify vulnerabilities and coding errors in application source code before it is compiled, making it a proactive measure against potential security issues. While monitoring application behavior and assessing dependencies are important, they are related to dynamic analysis and package monitoring, respectively. Evaluating performance under stress is unrelated to identifying security vulnerabilities.

Answer 251

SSL VPN TLS IPSec Your answer is correct NAC Overall explanation Network Access Control (NAC) is the best solution for this scenario because it not only allows for authentication and encryption of remote access but also provides device verification and the ability to enforce policies based on user and device identity. While TLS and IPSec provide encryption and SSL VPN allows for secure remote access, none of these solutions offer the comprehensive access control and policy enforcement capabilities provided by NAC.

Answer 252

Correct answer Unauthorized access by an insider or compromised credentials Employees working overtime Automated system updates Your answer is incorrect Faulty access control systems Overall explanation Unusual patterns of out-of-hours access to systems, especially those not aligning with work schedules or known maintenance activities, might indicate unauthorized access, either by an insider abusing their privileges or through the use of compromised credentials. While overtime work, automated updates, and faulty access controls might cause anomalies, the specific nature of these activities—such as data retrieval during odd hours—points more conclusively towards malicious intent or security breaches, underscoring the importance of monitoring and controlling access.

Answer 253

Correct answer An unauthorized access to the network is occurring. A staff member is working late. Automatic updates are being installed on company computers. Your answer is incorrect Scheduled backups are taking place. Overall explanation While scheduled backups and automatic updates can cause spikes in network traffic, and a staff member working late might use network resources, an unusual spike in network traffic during off-hours, when these activities are not typically scheduled or expected, suggests the possibility of unauthorized access. This scenario requires immediate investigation to rule out a security breach, making it a more likely explanation than the other options, which are normal operational activities.

Answer 254

Only apply patches and updates that add new features. Correct answer Test and then apply critical security patches and updates promptly. Avoid updating software to maintain system stability. Your answer is incorrect Apply all patches and updates immediately without testing. Overall explanation Testing and then promptly applying critical security patches and updates is the best approach, as it ensures that the patches do not disrupt system functionality while also addressing known vulnerabilities. Applying updates without testing can lead to system instability, applying only feature-adding updates misses critical security improvements, and avoiding updates altogether leaves systems vulnerable to exploitation.

Answer 255

Correct answer It helps in identifying unauthorized or rogue devices on the network. It ensures that assets can be quickly replaced if they fail. It facilitates the allocation of maintenance resources based on asset usage. Your answer is incorrect It guarantees that hardware will have the latest technological advancements. Overall explanation Regular monitoring and tracking of hardware assets are essential for identifying unauthorized or rogue devices that may have been connected to the network, which poses a significant security risk. Such monitoring allows for the swift detection and remediation of these risks. While quick replacement, technological advancement, and maintenance allocation are beneficial, they do not directly address immediate security threats as effectively as identifying unauthorized devices does.

Answer 256

Reduced scalability Correct answer Increased complexity Lower cost Your answer is incorrect Limited vendor lock-in Overall explanation While multi-cloud systems offer redundancy and resilience by spreading workloads across multiple cloud providers, they also introduce increased complexity in management and integration. This complexity can pose challenges for monitoring, security, and overall system stability. Reduced scalability, lower cost, and limited vendor lock-in are not necessarily disadvantages of multi-cloud systems.

Answer 257

An anonymous tip line for employees to report violations. A yearly manual audit by an external consultant. Correct answer Automated alerts for any non-compliance issues. Your answer is incorrect Quarterly employee satisfaction surveys. Overall explanation Automated alerts for any non-compliance issues offer real-time monitoring and quick response capabilities, making them the most effective feature for ensuring ongoing compliance. This proactive approach allows the company to identify and address compliance issues as they arise, reducing the risk of fines, sanctions, and reputational damage. While yearly audits, an anonymous tip line, and employee surveys can complement a compliance program, they do not provide the same level of immediacy and continuous oversight as automated monitoring.

Answer 258

Processors have the final say in how data is used, making controllers less relevant. Processors are responsible for collecting data, whereas controllers are responsible for storing it. Controllers are solely responsible for data breaches, regardless of processors' actions. Your answer is correct Controllers dictate the purpose and means of processing personal data, while processors act on controllers' behalf. Overall explanation Controllers determine why and how personal data is processed, while processors handle the data on behalf of controllers. This distinction is crucial for assigning responsibilities and liabilities, especially in the context of data breaches and compliance with privacy regulations.

Answer 259

Correct answer They often run on outdated software and hardware, making them vulnerable to attacks. They support high levels of encryption naturally. They are less critical to business operations compared to IT systems. Your answer is incorrect They are typically designed with user convenience as the top priority. Overall explanation The main security challenge with Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems is that they often run on outdated software and hardware. These systems were initially designed for operational continuity and efficiency, not for cybersecurity, and many are still in operation beyond their intended lifespan. As a result, they may lack the necessary security features to protect against modern threats, making them particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Answer 260

Correct answer Service discovery mechanisms Single point of failure Complex data encryption Your answer is incorrect Increased monolithic design Overall explanation In a microservices architecture, service discovery mechanisms can present a key security challenge. As services need to communicate with each other, the discovery process can become a potential attack vector if not properly secured. Ensuring that service discovery and communication are secure is critical to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.

Answer 261

Keylogger Spyware Correct answer Worm Your answer is incorrect Virus Overall explanation Worms are a type of malware that replicate themselves and spread to other computers without user interaction, making them a serious threat to network security. Unlike viruses, which require a host program to spread, or spyware and keyloggers, which are designed to collect user data secretly, worms exploit vulnerabilities in network protocols or software to propagate themselves.

Answer 262

Correct answer RFID cloning Environmental attack Worm attack Your answer is incorrect Brute force Overall explanation RFID cloning involves copying the RFID signal of an authorized tag to gain unauthorized access to secure areas or systems. This physical attack bypasses security mechanisms that rely on RFID for identification and access control, unlike brute force attacks which attempt to guess passwords or keys.

Answer 263

To choose the best wireless network standard (e.g., Wi-Fi 6). Correct answer To determine the optimal locations for access points for uniform signal coverage. To calculate the total cost of ownership of the wireless network. Your answer is incorrect To identify the most aesthetically pleasing locations for access points. Overall explanation Performing a heat map analysis is essential to determine the optimal locations for wireless access points to ensure uniform and comprehensive signal coverage across the desired area. This helps in avoiding dead zones and ensures reliable connectivity for all users. Aesthetics, while important in certain contexts, do not impact network performance directly. The total cost of ownership and choosing the network standard are important considerations but are addressed separately from physical installation planning.

Answer 264

Identifies the critical applications that need to be recovered first Determines the maximum tolerable downtime Correct answer Defines the acceptable amount of data loss in terms of time Your answer is incorrect Specifies the required speed of the recovery process Overall explanation The Recovery Point Objective (RPO) defines the acceptable amount of data loss measured in time, helping organizations understand how frequently they need to perform backups to minimize potential data loss, unlike the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) which determines downtime duration, or specific recovery speeds and prioritization of applications, which are separate considerations.

Answer 265

Encryption Correct answer Overwriting Physical destruction Your answer is incorrect Degaussing Overall explanation Overwriting a hard drive with one or more patterns of data effectively renders the original data unrecoverable, making it a suitable method for decommissioning drives that are to be reused. Degaussing and physical destruction prevent the drive from being reused, making them less suitable for situations where reuse is desired. Encryption does not erase the data but rather makes it unreadable without the decryption key; however, if the encryption key is compromised, the data can still be accessed.

Answer 266

Correct answer To reduce the risk of unauthorized access due to default credentials being widely known. To comply with local data protection laws. To ensure that device performance is optimized. Your answer is incorrect To increase the complexity of network configurations. Overall explanation Changing default passwords is a fundamental security measure to prevent unauthorized access, as default credentials are often well-known and easily exploitable by attackers. This practice directly addresses the risk of intrusion using default credentials, making the network more secure. While compliance with laws and optimization of device performance are important, they do not directly relate to the risk associated with using default passwords.

Answer 267

Improved scalability Decreased operational costs Correct answer Data privacy and control Your answer is incorrect Vendor lock-in Overall explanation When using third-party cloud vendors, a primary security concern is data privacy and control. Entrusting sensitive data to a third party involves risks related to unauthorized access, data leakage, and compliance with privacy regulations. While third-party vendors can offer cost savings and scalability, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data is crucial.

Answer 268

It eliminates the need for manual code reviews. It focuses exclusively on external threats. It provides a comprehensive view of the application's source code. Your answer is correct It can identify vulnerabilities in real-time as the application runs. Overall explanation Dynamic analysis tests applications in real-time, simulating real-world operations and interactions, which allows it to identify vulnerabilities that may not be visible in the static analysis of code. This real-time analysis is crucial for detecting issues that only arise during the execution of the application, providing insights into its behavior under various conditions.

Answer 269

Correct answer Loss of license to operate in critical markets. A mandatory training program for all employees. Temporary suspension of specific services. Your answer is incorrect The cost of implementing compliance measures. Overall explanation The loss of a license to operate in critical markets is a severe consequence of non-compliance with anti-money laundering regulations, as it directly impacts the institution's ability to conduct business. While the cost of implementing compliance measures and a mandatory training program are significant, they do not compare to the existential threat posed by the loss of a license. Temporary suspension of services can also be damaging, but it is typically a less severe and more reversible consequence than losing the ability to operate entirely.

Answer 270

Sandboxing WPA3 Correct answer Code signing Your answer is incorrect Input validation Overall explanation Code signing is the technique that ensures the integrity and authenticity of an application by verifying that the software has not been altered since it was signed by the developer and confirms the developer's identity. This prevents tampering and impersonation attacks. Input validation, WPA3, and sandboxing do not serve the purpose of verifying the integrity and origin of software applications.

Answer 271

Correct answer Cloud-based services with edge computing Centralized server-client model Decentralized peer-to-peer network Your answer is incorrect Traditional grid computing Overall explanation Cloud-based services integrated with edge computing are optimal for responsiveness, as they process data closer to the end-users, reducing latency. While centralized models can provide control and peer-to-peer networks distribute loads, the combination of cloud and edge computing offers the best balance of speed, scalability, and security.

Answer 272

Frequent changing of Wi-Fi access points Disabling Wi-Fi when not in use Using strong passwords Your answer is correct Connecting through a VPN Overall explanation Connecting through a VPN is the most effective method to protect sensitive data transmitted over public Wi-Fi networks. A VPN encrypts the data sent and received by the device, creating a secure "tunnel" through which the data travels, thus shielding it from potential interceptors on the network. This ensures that sensitive information remains private and secure, even on unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks. Using strong passwords, frequently changing Wi-Fi access points, and disabling Wi-Fi when not in use are good security practices but do not offer the same level of protection for data in transit as using a VPN.

Answer 273

WPA3 Correct answer RADIUS SSL/TLS Your answer is incorrect Secure cookies Overall explanation RADIUS is the correct choice because it provides a comprehensive framework for managing authentication, authorization, and accounting for users in a networked environment, facilitating centralized access management. SSL/TLS secures communications, WPA3 is a wireless security protocol, and secure cookies are used to protect web application data, not for remote network authentication and authorization.

Answer 274

Correct answer Physically destroy the SSDs. Rewrite the drives with random data multiple times. Use a standard magnetic data wiping tool. Your answer is incorrect Perform a quick format on all drives. Overall explanation Physically destroying the SSDs is the most effective way to ensure that data cannot be recovered, as solid-state drives may not respond to traditional data wiping methods due to their wear-leveling mechanisms. Magnetic data wiping tools are ineffective on SSDs, quick formatting does not erase data securely, and while rewriting with random data can be effective, it may not cover all areas of an SSD due to the wear-leveling algorithms, making physical destruction the most secure method.

Answer 275

Correct answer SD-WAN SASE WAF Your answer is incorrect Layer 7 Firewall Overall explanation Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) is the most suitable technology for connecting multiple branch offices and remote workers securely to a central network. It enables the use of multiple types of connections, including the internet, to create secure and high-performance networks. While SASE also provides secure connections, it is more about integrating networking and security into a cloud service, which might be more than needed for just connecting offices. Layer 7 Firewalls and WAFs do not specifically address the connectivity and network optimization needs of a hybrid work model.

Answer 276

To comply with environmental regulations To increase the resale value of the media To reduce the physical size of the media Your answer is correct To prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data Overall explanation The primary reason for ensuring proper sanitization of storage media before disposal is to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data, thereby protecting the organization from data breaches, identity theft, and potential legal consequences. While complying with environmental regulations and potentially increasing the resale value of the media are valid considerations, they are secondary to the security imperative of protecting sensitive information. Reducing the physical size of the media is not a relevant concern in the context of data sanitization.

Answer 277

Ensuring that the vendors use the same cloud service provider as the company. Correct answer Vetting the security practices and compliance of third-party vendors. Reducing the frequency of data backups to accommodate third-party data. Your answer is incorrect Prioritizing vendors based on the geographical location of their data centers. Overall explanation A crucial security consideration when integrating third-party vendors into a hybrid cloud environment is vetting the security practices and compliance of these vendors. This is essential because third-party vendors can introduce new vulnerabilities into the environment, especially if they have access to the company's data or systems. Ensuring that vendors adhere to stringent security standards and are compliant with relevant regulations helps mitigate the risk of data breaches and other security incidents.

Answer 278

Correct answer To enhance security and manage traffic flow more effectively. To improve the overall speed of the internet connection. To reduce the cost of network infrastructure. Your answer is incorrect To simplify the network structure for easier maintenance. Overall explanation Segmenting a network with routers and switches enhances security by isolating different parts of the network, limiting the spread of attacks and reducing the attack surface. It also allows for more effective traffic management, preventing congestion and ensuring that sensitive areas of the network can be more closely monitored and controlled. While reducing costs, improving internet speed, and simplifying maintenance might be ancillary benefits or considerations, they are not the primary reasons for network segmentation.

Answer 279

By preventing cross-site scripting attacks Correct answer By isolating web page processes from each other and the operating system By authenticating user sessions securely Your answer is incorrect By encrypting all data stored by the browser Overall explanation Sandboxing in web browsers contributes to security by isolating web page processes from each other and the operating system, preventing malicious code on one page from affecting others or accessing sensitive system resources. This isolation helps mitigate various types of attacks, including but not limited to, malware distribution and data breaches. Encrypting data, preventing cross-site scripting specifically, and authenticating user sessions, while important, are not the primary functions of sandboxing in the context of web browsers.

Answer 280

Platform diversity Geographic dispersion Correct answer Clustering Your answer is incorrect Load balancing Overall explanation Clustering involves replicating resources across multiple servers or nodes to ensure high availability and redundancy. While load balancing distributes traffic, clustering provides failover capabilities by replicating resources. Platform diversity refers to using different platforms for redundancy, and geographic dispersion involves spreading resources across different locations.

Answer 281

Privilege escalation Directory traversal Correct answer Injection Your answer is incorrect Buffer overflow Overall explanation This situation is indicative of an SQL injection attack, where malicious SQL statements are inserted into an entry field for execution. Unlike buffer overflow, privilege escalation, or directory traversal, SQL injection specifically targets the manipulation of database queries.

Answer 282

Compliance Correct answer External Regulatory Audit Independent Third-Party Audit Your answer is incorrect External Assessment Overall explanation This scenario describes an external regulatory audit, where a national financial regulatory body evaluates the bank to ensure it adheres to required operational and security standards. These audits are mandatory and focus on compliance with laws and regulations, distinct from independent third-party audits, compliance efforts initiated internally, or broader external assessments.

Answer 283

Data masking Tokenization Segmentation Your answer is correct Geographic restrictions Overall explanation Geographic restrictions limit access to data based on the geographical location of users or devices, enabling compliance with data sovereignty regulations by ensuring that data remains within specified legal jurisdictions. Tokenization, data masking, and segmentation do not directly address the challenge of ensuring compliance with data sovereignty laws.

Answer 284

Internal Audit Committee Internal Self-Assessment Correct answer Attestation Your answer is incorrect External Examination Overall explanation Attestation audits are ideal when an organization needs a third-party to validate its financial statements and IT controls for stakeholders. This form of audit provides an external and objective examination of the organization's claims regarding its controls and operations, thereby offering stakeholders a higher level of assurance compared to internal reviews or assessments.

Answer 285

Collision attack Correct answer On-Path attack Downgrade attack Your answer is incorrect Replay attack Overall explanation An on-path attack, previously known as a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack, is the likely culprit in this scenario where encrypted web traffic is intercepted and decrypted. In an on-path attack, the attacker has positioned themselves in the data transmission route between the sender and recipient, allowing them to access and potentially alter the data being communicated. This capability makes on-path attacks particularly dangerous for the security of encrypted communications.

Answer 286

Phishing Ransomware Correct answer C&C communication Your answer is incorrect Adware Overall explanation This behavior indicates the malware is attempting to establish a command and control communication with the attacker's server, which allows the attacker to remotely command the malware, receive stolen data, or further infect the system. Unlike adware, phishing, or ransomware, C&C communication is characteristic of malware that maintains ongoing communication with an attacker-controlled server.

Answer 287

Use default security settings for faster deployment Correct answer Apply the principle of least privilege to all cloud users Rely solely on the cloud provider's security measures Your answer is incorrect Focus only on encrypting sensitive data Overall explanation Applying the principle of least privilege, where users are granted only the access necessary to perform their tasks, is a best practice for ensuring data security in any environment, including the cloud. This approach minimizes the risk of unauthorized access and potential damage from compromised accounts, contrasting with relying solely on default settings or the cloud provider's security measures.

Answer 288

Shared storage systems for all VMs to enhance performance. Correct answer Network segmentation and firewalls between VMs on the same host. Disabling all network interfaces to prevent external attacks. Your answer is incorrect Unified threat management systems installed within each guest VM. Overall explanation A key security feature in the realm of virtualization is implementing network segmentation and firewalls between virtual machines (VMs) on the same host. This approach helps to isolate each VM, limiting the spread of malicious software or an attacker's movement within the system. Even though VMs share the same physical hardware, proper segmentation ensures that a compromise in one VM does not necessarily lead to vulnerabilities in others, maintaining a level of security comparable to separate physical systems.

Answer 289

Enable RDP access on all computers. Allow SSH access without a password for convenience. Correct answer Implement VPN access with strong encryption for remote users. Your answer is incorrect Set up a direct public IP address for each workstation. Overall explanation Implementing VPN access with strong encryption provides a secure method for remote users to access the network, as it encrypts data in transit, protecting it from interception or eavesdropping. In contrast, enabling RDP on all computers, allowing password-less SSH access, or assigning direct public IPs can introduce significant security vulnerabilities, making VPN access the most secure option.

Answer 290

It simplifies the process of data backup and recovery. It ensures that all data is treated with the same level of security. Correct answer It allows for tailored security measures that are appropriate for the data's sensitivity. Your answer is incorrect It makes it easier to share data with external partners. Overall explanation Classifying data based on its sensitivity enables the organization to implement tailored security measures that are appropriate for the level of confidentiality, integrity, and availability required for each data class. This approach is more efficient and effective than treating all data the same or simplifying backup processes, as it ensures that sensitive data receives higher levels of protection against unauthorized access or breaches.

Answer 291

Correct selection Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters Correct selection Implement passphrase elements if possible Your selection is correct Include numbers and special characters Your selection is incorrect Use a memorable keyboard pattern, like adjacent keys Correct selection Ensure the password is at least 12 characters long Overall explanation Mixing uppercase and lowercase letters increases the complexity of the password. Including numbers and special characters expands the range of potential combinations, enhancing security. Setting the password length to at least 12 characters helps safeguard against brute force attacks. Using passphrase elements, such as a combination of unrelated words, makes the password secure and memorable. While using a memorable keyboard pattern may seem helpful, it actually decreases password strength because patterns can be predictable and easier for attackers to guess.

Answer 292

Share files via public Wi-Fi as long as they are not confidential. Only work offline when in public spaces to avoid any security risks. Use public Wi-Fi without restrictions since most are secure. Your answer is correct Connect to public Wi-Fi and use a VPN to secure the connection. Overall explanation While working in public spaces, using a VPN is essential for securing the connection over public Wi-Fi, which is inherently insecure and susceptible to eavesdropping and attacks. A VPN encrypts the data traffic, protecting sensitive information and activities from potential interception. Using public Wi-Fi without restrictions exposes the user to significant security risks. Working only offline is impractical and limits productivity, while sharing files over public Wi-Fi, even non-confidential ones, can still pose security risks.

Answer 293

To prioritize software updates and patches based on usage. To ensure that software can be quickly deployed to new users. To enhance the performance of software applications. Your answer is correct To minimize legal and financial risks associated with software licensing. Overall explanation Maintaining a detailed inventory of software usage and assignments helps in minimizing legal and financial risks by ensuring compliance with licensing agreements. This prevents unauthorized use or distribution of software, which could lead to legal issues or financial penalties. Quick deployment, performance enhancement, and prioritization of updates, while beneficial, are secondary to the legal and financial implications of software licensing.

Answer 294

Disable the firewall to ensure uninterrupted service access. Correct answer Only open the necessary ports required for the service to function. Open all ports to avoid service disruption. Your answer is incorrect Use the default port settings for all services for simplicity. Overall explanation The principle of least privilege applies here; by only opening the ports necessary for the service, the organization minimizes potential attack vectors while maintaining necessary functionality. Opening all ports, disabling the firewall, or sticking with default settings could expose the system to unnecessary risk, making option b the most secure and practical approach.

Answer 295

Enforcing password complexity rules Correct answer Deploying application allow lists Increasing network bandwidth Your answer is incorrect Implementing a robust firewall Overall explanation Deploying application allow lists is more effective than the other options because it explicitly permits only authorized software to run on systems, effectively blocking malware or any unauthorized applications from executing, thus directly enhancing security.

Answer 296

It enhances the device's performance. It allows for easier management of app installations. It enables unrestricted access to corporate networks. Your answer is correct It ensures that data remains secure, even if the device is lost or stolen. Overall explanation Mobile device encryption is critical in an MDM strategy because it ensures that data stored on the device is secure and inaccessible to unauthorized users, even if the device is lost or stolen. Encryption converts data into a coded form that can only be accessed with the correct key (e.g., a password or PIN), protecting sensitive information and reducing the risk of data breaches. Enhancing the device's performance, enabling unrestricted access to corporate networks, and easing the management of app installations are not direct benefits of device encryption in terms of security.

Answer 297

Inadequate security awareness among employees The need for immediate software updates Correct answer An effective perimeter defense mechanism Your answer is incorrect Overreliance on firewall technology Overall explanation A web application firewall blocking attempts to exploit known vulnerabilities suggests that the organization has an effective perimeter defense mechanism in place. This demonstrates the WAF's ability to identify and mitigate potential threats before they can exploit weaknesses in the system. While it might also indicate the need for software updates to address these vulnerabilities directly, the primary takeaway is the successful interception of attacks, validating the effectiveness of the WAF rather than pointing to inadequacies in security awareness or an overreliance on technology.

Answer 298

Collision Correct answer Eavesdropping Replay Your answer is incorrect Downgrade Overall explanation This scenario describes eavesdropping (also known as sniffing or snooping), where an attacker intercepts and records messages between two parties without them knowing. This is different from replay, downgrade, or collision attacks, which involve unauthorized retransmission, forced use of lower security standards, and hash function exploitation, respectively.

Answer 299

Authenticating user identities Encrypting data transmissions Isolating applications in a secure environment Your answer is correct Identifying potential security vulnerabilities in code without executing it Overall explanation The main advantage of static code analysis is that it allows developers to identify potential security vulnerabilities within the codebase without the need to execute the program, facilitating early detection and mitigation of security risks. This method does not directly involve encrypting data transmissions, authenticating user identities, or isolating applications, but rather focuses on improving the security of the code itself.

Answer 300

Continuous deployment Single large network to simplify management Correct answer Segmentation Your answer is incorrect Uniform permissions across tiers Overall explanation Segmentation divides the network into smaller, manageable parts, limiting the spread of attacks and reducing the attack surface by isolating different parts of the network. This approach is more effective than having a single large network or uniform permissions, which could lead to wider spread of breaches.

Answer 301

Ransomware Spyware Your answer is incorrect Bloatware Correct answer Adware Overall explanation Adware, often installed without the user's consent, primarily serves to deliver advertisements, which can significantly degrade system performance and user experience. While spyware secretly collects user information and bloatware refers to unnecessary pre-installed software packages, adware's main purpose is to display ads, making it the most likely culprit in this scenario.

Answer 302

Enhanced scalability Correct answer Patch availability Increased power consumption Your answer is incorrect Cost reduction Overall explanation When expanding data processing resources, it's crucial to consider patch availability as a security implication. The ability to apply security patches promptly is vital for maintaining the security of the systems. While increased power consumption and cost are important, they do not directly impact security as much as the ability to patch vulnerabilities.

Answer 303

Correct answer Offer quick restoration points with minimal storage Ensure data encryption They replace the need for full backups Your answer is incorrect Increase data transfer speeds Overall explanation Snapshots offer quick restoration points and require minimal additional storage since they capture only changes since the last full backup or snapshot, making them efficient for both management and recovery, without necessarily replacing the need for full backups, ensuring encryption, or affecting data transfer speeds.

Answer 304

A vulnerability detected as resolved without any intervention. A vulnerability that is detected but is actually part of the system's normal functionality. Correct answer A vulnerability that exists but is not detected by the assessment tool. Your answer is incorrect A vulnerability that does not exist but is reported as a finding. Overall explanation A false negative occurs when a vulnerability assessment tool fails to detect an existing vulnerability. This situation is dangerous because it can lead organizations to believe their systems are secure when, in fact, vulnerabilities remain unaddressed. Conversely, a false positive, where a non-existent vulnerability is reported, may lead to unnecessary work but doesn't directly leave systems exposed. The other options describe scenarios that don't accurately define a false negative.

Answer 305

Correct answer To prevent unauthorized access to user sessions To sandbox untrusted code To authenticate wireless networks Your answer is incorrect To analyze code for vulnerabilities Overall explanation Secure cookies are used in web applications to prevent unauthorized access to user sessions by ensuring that cookies are transmitted securely over HTTPS, and often include attributes that make them inaccessible to client-side scripting, reducing the risk of cross-site scripting and session hijacking attacks. They are not used for authenticating wireless networks, sandboxing code, or analyzing code for vulnerabilities.

Answer 306

By encrypting data files Correct answer By tracking changes to files for easier restoration By compressing data to save storage space Your answer is incorrect By speeding up data transfer rates Overall explanation A journaling file system tracks changes to files, enabling easier and more efficient restoration of data to a known good state after a crash or power failure, offering a significant advantage for data recovery processes, unlike encryption for security, data compression for storage efficiency, or enhancing data transfer rates.

Answer 307

VPN Correct answer SASE NGFW Your answer is incorrect UTM Overall explanation Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is the best solution for providing secure network access to a mobile workforce from any device, anywhere. It combines comprehensive networking and security services, such as SWG, CASB, FWaaS, and ZTNA, into a single, integrated cloud service, ensuring both secure access and a consistent security posture regardless of location or device. While VPNs offer secure access, they do not provide the same level of integrated security features or the scalability and flexibility that SASE offers. UTM and NGFW are more site-centric and less equipped to handle the diverse access requirements of a mobile workforce.

Answer 308

Increased monolithic design Correct answer Service discovery mechanisms Single point of failure Your answer is incorrect Complex data encryption Overall explanation In a microservices architecture, service discovery mechanisms can present a key security challenge. As services need to communicate with each other, the discovery process can become a potential attack vector if not properly secured. Ensuring that service discovery and communication are secure is critical to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.

Answer 309

Use default security settings for faster deployment Rely solely on the cloud provider's security measures Correct answer Apply the principle of least privilege to all cloud users Your answer is incorrect Focus only on encrypting sensitive data Overall explanation Applying the principle of least privilege, where users are granted only the access necessary to perform their tasks, is a best practice for ensuring data security in any environment, including the cloud. This approach minimizes the risk of unauthorized access and potential damage from compromised accounts, contrasting with relying solely on default settings or the cloud provider's security measures.

Answer 310

The cost of the cloud storage service. The color scheme of the cloud service provider's website. The physical location of the cloud servers. Your answer is correct Data sovereignty and compliance with data protection regulations. Overall explanation When using cloud storage services, the primary security concern is data sovereignty and compliance with data protection regulations. This involves understanding where the data is stored, how it is protected, and whether the storage methods comply with applicable laws and regulations. The physical location can be a factor in data sovereignty, but it is the compliance aspect that is critical. The cost of the service and the design of the provider's website are less relevant to security.

Answer 311

Simplifies the backup process Correct answer Minimizes potential data loss Increases data storage requirements Your answer is incorrect Reduces the RTO Overall explanation A higher backup frequency minimizes potential data loss between backups, ensuring more up-to-date recovery points, unlike increasing storage requirements which is a consequence, not a benefit, and while it might slightly complicate the backup process, the trade-off for reduced data loss is considered beneficial.

Answer 312

Injection Buffer overflow Correct answer Directory traversal Your answer is incorrect Privilege escalation Overall explanation A directory traversal attack allows attackers to access restricted files and directories outside of the web server's root directory. This type of attack differs from buffer overflow, injection, and privilege escalation, which involve memory exploitation, malicious data input, and unauthorized access elevation respectively.

Answer 313

Correct answer Performing a factory reset on the device Giving the device without any instruction Updating the device to the latest software version Your answer is incorrect Leaving all data on the device for the new user's convenience Overall explanation Performing a factory reset on the device is the most effective way to ensure the secure transfer of ownership for used computing devices within an organization. This process removes all user data, applications, and settings, returning the device to its original state and ensuring that sensitive information is not accidentally transferred to the new user. While updating the device to the latest software version is a good practice for security, it does not remove personal or sensitive data. Leaving all data on the device or providing the device without any instruction poses a significant risk of data leakage or breach.

Answer 314

Shredding Physical destruction Degaussing Your answer is correct Cryptographic erasure Overall explanation Cryptographic erasure, which involves using encryption to make data inaccessible and then destroying the encryption keys, is an environmentally friendly option as it allows the SSD to be reused. Physical destruction and shredding are effective at making data unrecoverable but are not environmentally friendly as they render the SSD unusable. Degaussing is ineffective on SSDs because they do not store data magnetically.

Answer 315

Offering the highest bounties for bug reports Correct answer Ensuring reported vulnerabilities are promptly addressed Limiting the scope of the program to web applications Your answer is incorrect Publicly disclosing all reported vulnerabilities immediately Overall explanation While offering bounties is an incentive, the prompt and effective remediation of reported vulnerabilities is crucial for the success of a responsible disclosure program. This ensures trust in the program and motivates ethical hackers to participate, knowing their efforts contribute to improving security. Limiting scope and immediate public disclosure are less critical and could, in certain contexts, undermine the program's effectiveness or security.

Answer 316

Encrypts wireless communication Provides dynamic IP addressing Facilitates network device communication Your answer is correct Manages network access policies Overall explanation When AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) is integrated with RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service), its primary role is to manage network access policies. AAA is a framework for intelligently controlling access to computer resources, enforcing policies, auditing usage, and providing the information necessary to bill for services. These services include authentication, which verifies user credentials; authorization, which grants or denies access based on policies; and accounting, which tracks logins and resource usage. RADIUS, as a protocol, facilitates these AAA services by communicating user information to and from the network access server and the AAA server, effectively managing and enforcing access policies within wireless networks.

Answer 317

Ransomware Phishing Your answer is correct C&C communication Adware Overall explanation This behavior indicates the malware is attempting to establish a command and control communication with the attacker's server, which allows the attacker to remotely command the malware, receive stolen data, or further infect the system. Unlike adware, phishing, or ransomware, C&C communication is characteristic of malware that maintains ongoing communication with an attacker-controlled server.

Answer 318

Connecting ICS/SCADA systems directly to the internet for real-time data access. Regularly updating the ICS/SCADA software to the latest version. Using the latest IoT technologies to monitor ICS/SCADA systems. Your answer is correct Implementing strong physical security around the ICS/SCADA devices. Overall explanation Implementing strong physical security around ICS/SCADA devices is crucial to protect against unauthorized access and tampering, which can have severe consequences for critical infrastructure. While regularly updating software is important for addressing vulnerabilities, it must be done with caution due to the specialized nature of these systems. Using IoT technologies for monitoring can introduce additional security risks, and connecting ICS/SCADA systems directly to the internet without proper safeguards can expose them to cyber threats.

Answer 319

Correct answer To isolate applications to prevent malware spread To increase the device's processing speed To allow applications to share data freely Your answer is incorrect To reduce battery consumption Overall explanation The main purpose of sandboxing applications in mobile security is to isolate applications from each other and the system, limiting their access to device resources and data. This isolation prevents a compromised app from affecting other applications or the underlying operating system, significantly reducing the risk of malware spread. This security measure is crucial in protecting sensitive corporate data on mobile devices. The other options, such as increasing the device's processing speed, allowing applications to share data freely, and reducing battery consumption, do not directly relate to the security benefits of application sandboxing.

Answer 320

To simplify data management Correct answer To increase data redundancy and availability To decrease recovery time Your answer is incorrect To reduce the cost of storage Overall explanation Data replication increases data redundancy and availability, ensuring that copies of data are readily available in different locations, which is crucial for disaster recovery by allowing quick access to data if the primary source fails, unlike primarily reducing recovery times, storage costs, or simplifying data management, which are different objectives.

Answer 321

Correct answer Malicious code infection DNS poisoning Your answer is incorrect DDoS Reflected attack Wireless intrusion Overall explanation The symptoms described—slow internet speeds, unfamiliar software installations, and increased outbound traffic—strongly suggest a malicious code infection, such as malware or a virus, especially following a recent update that could have been compromised. This scenario does not align with a wireless intrusion, which typically affects wireless network security; a DDoS reflected attack, which involves overwhelming a system with external requests; or DNS poisoning, which redirects web traffic to malicious sites.

Answer 322

Encryption everywhere Correct answer Least privilege Perimeter defense Your answer is incorrect Redundancy Overall explanation The principle of least privilege ensures that users and services are granted only the permissions they need to perform their duties, reducing the risk of malicious or accidental damage. This approach is more targeted and effective at minimizing potential abuse than broad strategies like perimeter defense or encryption.

Answer 323

Run an exploit against the live system. Deploy a patch immediately. Correct answer Use a test environment to replicate the issue. Your answer is incorrect Ignore the vulnerability as a false positive. Overall explanation Using a test environment to replicate a potential vulnerability is the safest and most effective way to confirm its existence without risking the integrity or availability of the operational environment. Deploying a patch immediately or running an exploit against the live system could cause unintended consequences or downtime. Ignoring the vulnerability assumes it's a false positive without verification, which could leave the system exposed to real threats.

Answer 324

Segmentation Hashing Masking Your answer is correct Encryption Overall explanation Encryption scrambles data into an unreadable format, ensuring that even if the server is stolen, the data remains protected and inaccessible without the decryption key. Segmentation, hashing, and masking do not provide the same level of protection against unauthorized access to data in the event of physical theft.

Answer 325

Correct answer Network sniffer Rootkit Keylogger Your answer is incorrect Trojan Overall explanation Network sniffers are tools used to capture and analyze network traffic. When used maliciously, they can monitor and log data passing through the network without detection. Unlike keyloggers that record keystrokes, rootkits that provide hidden access to a system, or Trojans that disguise malicious intent, sniffers specifically target network traffic.

Answer 326

To update security tools and software to the latest versions Correct answer To assess compliance with internal and external security policies To identify unused applications and services for removal Your answer is incorrect To perform an in-depth analysis of network traffic Overall explanation System/process audits are conducted to assess an organization's compliance with established internal and external security policies, regulations, and standards. They are comprehensive evaluations that cover various aspects of security, including policies, procedures, and technical controls, ensuring that practices align with security requirements and identifying areas for improvement.

Answer 327

Higher initial costs Correct answer Reduced control over patch management Increased availability Your answer is incorrect Decreased resilience Overall explanation When moving to cloud-based infrastructure, organizations often face reduced control over patch management since cloud service providers manage the infrastructure. While cloud environments can offer increased availability and resilience, the company relinquishes some control over when and how patches are applied, which can impact security if the service provider does not promptly address vulnerabilities.

Answer 328

Encrypting all files regardless of their sensitivity. Increasing the frequency of employee performance reviews. Regularly changing file names and locations. Your answer is correct Implementing file hashing and regular integrity checks. Overall explanation File hashing and regular integrity checks are effective methods for ensuring the integrity of files. By creating a unique hash value for each file and then periodically checking these values, any unauthorized changes to the files can be detected. Changing file names and locations, increasing performance reviews, and blanket encryption do not directly ensure the integrity of the files themselves.

Answer 329

To occupy more storage space To increase the workload of IT staff To ensure that entertaining content is kept for employee morale Your answer is correct To maintain compliance with legal and regulatory requirements Overall explanation A data retention policy is critical for an organization to maintain compliance with legal and regulatory requirements regarding the storage and protection of data. It helps in defining how long different types of data should be kept and when they should be securely disposed of. This not only ensures that an organization meets legal obligations but also helps in managing storage resources efficiently and protecting sensitive information. Keeping content for entertainment, occupying more storage space, and increasing the workload of IT staff do not align with the primary objectives of a data retention policy.

Answer 330

The focus on physical security controls The use of automated tools The requirement for post-test remediation Your answer is correct The level of information provided to the testers about the target system Overall explanation The key difference between black box and white box penetration testing is the amount of information provided to the testers about the target system. In a black box test, testers have little to no prior knowledge of the internal workings of the system, simulating an external attack. In contrast, white box testing provides testers with complete information, including network maps and credentials, allowing for a thorough assessment of internal security controls.

Answer 331

It automatically patches vulnerabilities. It provides a standardized method for requesting vendor support. Correct answer It offers a universal severity score for vulnerabilities. Your answer is incorrect It classifies vulnerabilities by type and source. Overall explanation The CVSS provides a standardized framework for rating the severity of security vulnerabilities, enabling organizations to prioritize response and remediation efforts based on a universal severity score. This approach helps in assessing the potential impact and urgency of addressing each vulnerability. Automatic patching or classification of vulnerabilities by type and source, while important, are not directly related to the purpose of CVSS scores. Requesting vendor support is also outside the scope of CVSS.

Answer 332

Data masking Correct answer Tokenization Encryption Your answer is incorrect Obfuscation Overall explanation Tokenization replaces sensitive data with unique tokens, preserving data integrity while protecting privacy. This method allows for secure data processing without exposing the original PII, making it suitable for protecting sensitive information like personally identifiable data.

Answer 333

High investment in state-of-the-art data centers Correct answer Extensive use of open-source software Adoption of an all-cloud approach Your answer is incorrect Implementation of thin clients Overall explanation Extensive use of open-source software can help minimize operational costs while still maintaining security, provided that the software is well-maintained and patched regularly. Open-source software can be less costly than proprietary solutions and offers transparency, allowing for community-reviewed security. However, it requires diligent management to ensure it remains secure over time.

Answer 334

Speeds up the recovery process Reduces storage space Ensures data integrity Your answer is correct Protects against unauthorized access Overall explanation Encrypting backup data protects against unauthorized access, ensuring that even if physical security measures fail, the data remains inaccessible without the proper decryption key, unlike data integrity which is about preventing data corruption, and not directly related to encryption, and encryption does not reduce storage space or significantly affect recovery speeds.

Answer 335

Forward the email to the bank's official customer service email. Correct answer Contact the bank using official communication methods. Click the link to reset the password immediately. Your answer is incorrect Delete the email, assuming all unsolicited requests are phishing attempts. Overall explanation The first step a user should take when receiving an email that claims to be from their bank and requests a password reset due to suspicious activity is to contact the bank directly using official communication methods, such as a phone number from the bank's official website. This approach ensures the email’s authenticity without risking exposure to phishing by clicking on potentially malicious links. Direct verification with the bank helps prevent potential security breaches associated with phishing attempts.

Answer 336

Physical isolation Centralized infrastructure Full virtualization Your answer is correct Logical segmentation Overall explanation Logical segmentation is best for reducing the attack surface while maintaining flexibility, as it allows different parts of a network to be separated into zones, reducing the risk of lateral movement by attackers within the network, while still allowing for efficient resource allocation and access control, unlike full virtualization or centralized infrastructure, which may not provide the same level of segmentation.

Answer 337

Trojan attack Correct answer Ransomware attack Worm attack Your answer is incorrect Virus attack Overall explanation Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the victim's files, making them inaccessible, and demands a ransom for the decryption key. This differentiates it from viruses, worms, and Trojans, which may have different objectives such as replication, data theft, or unauthorized system access.

Answer 338

Increased operational costs Reduced system performance Correct answer Vulnerability to exploits Your answer is incorrect Compatibility issues with new software Overall explanation Legacy systems that cannot be patched present a significant security risk as they remain susceptible to known vulnerabilities that cannot be remediated. This leaves them open to exploitation by attackers, compared to newer systems that can be regularly updated to address security flaws.

Answer 339

Nation-state Correct answer Resources/funding Internal/external Your answer is incorrect Level of sophistication/capability Overall explanation Resources and funding are key attributes that differentiate between well-organized, capable groups and individuals with limited capabilities. Groups with substantial resources and funding can sustain prolonged cyber operations and develop sophisticated tools, in contrast to individuals or small teams with limited resources, who may not sustain complex operations or develop advanced capabilities.

Answer 340

NGFW SD-WAN UTM Your answer is correct SASE Overall explanation Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a modern network architecture that combines network security functions such as SWG (Secure Web Gateway), FWaaS (Firewall as a Service), and VPN with WAN capabilities to support the dynamic, secure access needs of organizations. Unlike SD-WAN, which primarily focuses on WAN optimization and does not inherently include security services, SASE provides a comprehensive solution that encompasses both security and network performance. UTM and NGFW provide various security services but do not integrate the wide area networking component that is central to SASE.

Answer 341

Correct answer Version control Dependencies Downtime Your answer is incorrect Documentation Overall explanation Employing a version control system to manage changes in security procedures addresses the aspect of version control within change management. Version control is crucial for tracking modifications to documents and ensuring that personnel are referencing the most current policies, procedures, and guidelines. This practice helps prevent confusion and ensures that security measures are up-to-date and effective, highlighting the importance of version control in maintaining the integrity and relevance of security documentation over concerns related to dependencies, operational downtime, or the broader category of documentation management.

Answer 342

Compliance with data protection laws Data leakage between tenants Correct answer Access control policies Your answer is incorrect Data sovereignty Overall explanation While all provided options are relevant security concerns, the priority in this scenario should be reviewing and strengthening access control policies. The unusual patterns of data access reported by the IT department suggest a potential flaw in how access controls are managed, possibly allowing improper or unauthorized access to sensitive customer data. Strengthening these policies can help ensure that only authorized users have access to the data they are permitted to view and manipulate, addressing the immediate concern highlighted by the IT department’s report. This approach not only prevents potential data leakage but also ensures compliance with data protection laws and maintains the integrity of data sovereignty.

Answer 343

Nation-state Hacktivist Correct answer Insider threat Your answer is incorrect Organized crime Overall explanation Insider threats come from individuals within an organization who misuse their access to commit crimes such as intellectual property theft, often motivated by personal grievances or financial incentives. This distinguishes them from hacktivists, focused on political or social causes; organized crime, which generally targets external entities for financial gain; and nation-states, which pursue espionage for political, military, or economic advantage.

Answer 344

Hacktivist Correct answer Insider threat Unskilled attacker Your answer is incorrect Shadow IT Overall explanation Insider threats are individuals within an organization who may use their legitimate access and knowledge of internal systems to facilitate a data breach, motivated by reasons such as financial gain or personal vendettas. This is in contrast to shadow IT, which involves unauthorized use of technology without necessarily malicious intent, hacktivists, who are motivated by ideological reasons, and unskilled attackers, who lack the access and knowledge to bypass security controls from within an organization.

Answer 345

Service restart Application restart Correct answer Legacy applications Your answer is incorrect Updating diagrams Overall explanation A significant security concern associated with maintaining legacy applications is their incompatibility with new security updates. Legacy applications often cannot be updated to address current vulnerabilities, leaving them and the network on which they run at increased risk of exploitation. This issue surpasses the concerns related to service or application restarts, which are operational in nature, or updating diagrams, which pertains to documentation practices. The security risks of legacy applications highlight the need for a strategy to either update, replace, or securely isolate these applications.

Answer 346

Buffer overflow Downgrade Injection Your answer is correct Forgery Overall explanation This scenario describes a forgery attack, more specifically known as phishing, where attackers masquerade as a trusted entity to deceive victims into providing sensitive information. Unlike injection, buffer overflow, or downgrade attacks, forgery in this context focuses on deception and identity misrepresentation.

Answer 347

Asymmetric encryption for data transmission Key exchange algorithms with algorithms prioritization Your answer is correct Asymmetric encryption for identity verification and key exchange, with symmetric encryption for data transmission Symmetric encryption with key length prioritization Overall explanation The combination of asymmetric encryption for identity verification and key exchange, along with symmetric encryption for data transmission, best meets the requirements for secure data transmission that ensures confidentiality, integrity, and sender verification. Asymmetric encryption allows for secure key exchange and can be used to verify the sender's identity through digital signatures, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the transmitted data. Symmetric encryption is then used for the bulk data transmission due to its efficiency and speed, providing the necessary confidentiality for sensitive client data. This approach leverages the strengths of both encryption types to address all the security requirements effectively.

Answer 348

Disable email encryption to improve performance. Correct answer Enforce the use of digital signatures and encryption for emails. Use a web-based email service without HTTPS. Your answer is incorrect Avoid using email for sensitive communications. Overall explanation Enforcing the use of digital signatures and encryption for emails enhances the security and integrity of email communications by ensuring that messages are from legitimate senders and have not been tampered with, while also protecting the privacy of the message content. Disabling encryption, using unsecured email services, or avoiding email for sensitive communications are less effective strategies for protecting email communications.

Answer 349

Correct answer A DDoS attack attempt Regular traffic spikes An internal system update Your answer is incorrect Scheduled maintenance Overall explanation Repeatedly blocking an IP address due to high volume requests is indicative of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack attempt. In such attacks, attackers try to overwhelm the target's resources, making the service unavailable to legitimate users. This scenario suggests an external threat rather than normal traffic, system updates, or scheduled maintenance activities, which typically do not trigger such security responses.

Answer 350

An upgrade in server hardware Correct answer An indicator of a malware infection Enhanced security measures Your answer is incorrect The implementation of a new, resource-intensive application Overall explanation A significant and unexplained increase in resource consumption without an increase in user traffic is a classic indicator of a malware infection. Malware, such as worms, Trojans, or ransomware, can consume substantial system resources for malicious activities (e.g., spreading across the network, encrypting files for ransom, or facilitating an attacker's control). While new applications, hardware upgrades, and enhanced security measures can also increase resource usage, they typically do so in a planned and manageable manner.

Answer 351

Privilege escalation vulnerability Injection vulnerability Buffer overflow vulnerability Your answer is correct Outdated software vulnerability Overall explanation Using outdated software can expose a system to vulnerabilities for which patches and updates have already been issued, known as outdated software vulnerabilities. This differs from injection, buffer overflow, and privilege escalation vulnerabilities, which relate to specific types of malicious input, memory management issues, and unauthorized access elevation, respectively.

Answer 352

Rootkit Correct answer Logic bomb Keylogger Your answer is incorrect Trojan Overall explanation Logic bombs are a form of malware that remain dormant until specific conditions are triggered, such as a date, time, or the launch of a specific program. Unlike rootkits, which hide their presence, or Trojans and keyloggers that have distinct malicious functions, logic bombs are characterized by their conditional activation mechanism.

Answer 353

Correct answer A ransomware attack Accidental file encryption by an employee A phishing attack Your answer is incorrect The successful backup and disaster recovery procedures Overall explanation Encrypted files along with a demand for payment is a clear indication of a ransomware attack. This type of malware encrypts the victim's files, making them inaccessible, and demands a ransom for the decryption key. While phishing attacks can be a delivery method for ransomware and accidental encryption is possible, the presence of a ransom note specifically points to the malicious intent of a ransomware attack.

Answer 354

Log rotation policies are working as intended The logging system crashed Inadequate storage for logs Your answer is correct An attacker might be covering their tracks by deleting logs Overall explanation Discovering gaps in security logs, especially with periods where no data is recorded, can indicate that an attacker might be covering their tracks by deleting logs. This activity is a common tactic used by attackers to erase evidence of their presence and activities within a network. While log rotation, system crashes, and inadequate storage could potentially cause log issues, the presence of gaps specifically suggests a deliberate act to avoid detection.

Answer 355

Asymmetric encryption for the file transfers Correct answer Symmetric encryption for the file transfers, with key exchange for sharing the encryption key Your answer is incorrect Key exchange encryption for the file transfers Algorithms encryption for the file transfers Overall explanation Employing symmetric encryption for the file transfers, combined with a key exchange mechanism for securely sharing the encryption key, offers the optimal balance of security and efficiency. Symmetric encryption provides the necessary speed and resource efficiency for encrypting large files, while key exchange mechanisms (often utilizing asymmetric encryption) securely share the symmetric key between the server and clients. This approach ensures that the file transfers are protected against interception and tampering, leveraging the strengths of both symmetric encryption for the bulk of the encryption work and asymmetric encryption for the secure initial key exchange.

Answer 356

To ensure all vulnerabilities are treated equally. To comply with government regulations only. To focus on vulnerabilities that cannot be patched. Your answer is correct To allocate resources effectively based on the specific context and impact. Overall explanation Considering environmental variables in the prioritization of vulnerabilities is critical for effective resource allocation and remediation efforts. Environmental variables include the specific conditions and contexts of an organization's network and systems, such as the criticality of assets, the presence of compensating controls, and the potential impact of a vulnerability's exploitation. This approach ensures that resources are focused on addressing vulnerabilities that pose the greatest risk to the organization's operations and objectives, rather than treating all vulnerabilities equally or solely to comply with regulations.

Answer 357

Correct answer It guides the decision-making process on which vulnerabilities to address based on the acceptable level of risk. It determines the technical skills of the security team. It specifies the budget for security investments. Your answer is incorrect It defines how quickly vulnerabilities must be patched. Overall explanation Understanding an organization's risk tolerance is fundamental in vulnerability management because it informs the decision-making process regarding which vulnerabilities to prioritize for remediation. Risk tolerance varies among organizations and dictates the level of risk deemed acceptable. This understanding helps to align security efforts with business objectives, ensuring that resources are allocated to mitigate risks that exceed the organization's tolerance levels. While factors like technical skills, patching speed, and security budgets are important, they are secondary considerations that should be informed by the organization's risk tolerance.

Answer 358

Social engineering Logic bomb Correct answer Spear phishing Your answer is incorrect Ransomware Overall explanation Spear phishing is a targeted email attack where the attacker, posing as a trusted entity, attempts to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information, such as account details. Unlike broad phishing attempts, spear phishing is highly targeted, making it more deceptive and potentially more damaging than other forms of attacks like ransomware or logic bombs, which are types of malware, or general social engineering tactics that may not rely on specific targeting.

Answer 359

Vishing Correct answer Misinformation Business email compromise Your answer is incorrect Pretexting Overall explanation The deliberate spread of false information about the company's products to harm its reputation and sales describes an attack using misinformation. This contrasts with pretexting, which involves fabricating scenarios to deceive individuals directly, business email compromise, which targets companies through deceptive email communication, and vishing, which involves voice-based social engineering.

Answer 360

Correct answer Full-disk File Partition Your answer is incorrect Volume Overall explanation Full-disk encryption is the most appropriate level for securing all data on a laptop's hard drive, as it encrypts the entire disk, including the operating system and all files, making the data inaccessible without the correct decryption key. This level of encryption ensures that if a laptop is lost or stolen, the data remains protected against unauthorized access. Partition, file, and volume encryption can secure parts of a disk or specific files but would not provide comprehensive protection for all data stored on the device.

Answer 361

Correct answer Bloatware Spyware Adware Your answer is incorrect Rootkit Overall explanation Bloatware refers to unwanted software that comes pre-installed with another application or device, often consuming significant system resources and possibly affecting performance. Unlike spyware or adware, which are primarily focused on collecting data or displaying ads, and rootkits, which hide their presence, bloatware is generally not malicious but still unwanted due to its resource consumption.

Answer 362

Apply manual approval processes for all changes Correct answer Version control and continuous monitoring Rely on automatic encryption by the cloud provider Your answer is incorrect Store scripts in a public repository for easier access Overall explanation The best approach to secure Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scripts is to use version control and implement continuous monitoring. Version control helps track changes and maintain the integrity of the code, while continuous monitoring can detect and alert on unauthorized changes or vulnerabilities. This approach ensures that IaC scripts are securely managed and updated, contrasting with less secure methods like public storage or sole reliance on provider encryption.

Answer 363

Hybrid Mesh Correct answer Decentralized Your answer is incorrect Centralized Overall explanation Decentralized networks provide better scalability as they allow for expansion without a single point of failure and can efficiently manage increased loads by distributing them across multiple nodes. However, this can lead to increased costs due to the need for more infrastructure and complex management compared to centralized networks, where resources and management are concentrated.

Answer 364

It simplifies compliance with CVE listings. It increases the organization's risk tolerance. It reduces the need for environmental variable consideration. Your answer is correct It ensures that security teams focus their efforts on actual threats. Overall explanation Confirming false positives and false negatives is vital during vulnerability analysis because it ensures that security teams concentrate their efforts on genuine threats rather than wasting resources on non-issues or overlooking real vulnerabilities. This process helps maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of the security program by accurately identifying and addressing vulnerabilities that pose a real risk to the organization. While risk tolerance, environmental variables, and compliance with CVE are important considerations in vulnerability management, they are not directly impacted by the process of confirming false positives and false negatives.

Answer 365

Rootkit Correct answer Trojan Worm Your answer is incorrect Virus Overall explanation Trojans are malicious programs that may behave differently in sandbox environments to evade detection, often performing benign operations in a sandbox while conducting malicious activities on real systems. This differs from viruses and worms, which are primarily focused on replication and spreading, and rootkits, which aim to hide their presence and provide remote control, but do not typically alter their behavior based on the environment.

Answer 366

Cold Correct answer Warm Hot Your answer is incorrect Geographic dispersion Overall explanation A warm site has operational servers with redundant infrastructure, such as backup power and network connectivity, but may lack real-time data synchronization compared to hot sites. While warm sites offer faster recovery compared to cold sites, they may still require some data synchronization effort before becoming fully operational. Hot sites have fully synchronized redundant infrastructure, enabling immediate failover in the event of a disaster, while cold sites lack operational servers altogether. Geographic dispersion involves spreading resources across different locations for redundancy.

Answer 367

WAF NGFW Correct answer UTM Your answer is incorrect Layer 7 Firewall Overall explanation Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliances integrate various security and networking functions into a single device, making them an ideal solution for organizations looking for an all-in-one security appliance. While NGFW also offers multiple security features, UTM is known for its comprehensive integration, including firewall, antivirus, and intrusion prevention, among others. WAF and Layer 7 firewalls are more specialized and do not offer the broad range of integrated services found in UTMs.

Answer 368

Load balancing Clustering Geographic dispersion Your answer is correct Multi-cloud systems Overall explanation Multi-cloud systems involve using services from multiple cloud providers to spread workloads and mitigate risks associated with relying on a single provider. This approach enhances resilience by reducing the dependency on any single provider and diversifying the risk of service disruptions. Load balancing and clustering are methods for distributing workloads within a single or clustered environment, while geographic dispersion involves spreading resources across different physical locations.

Answer 369

Pretexting Brand impersonation Business email compromise Your answer is correct Typosquatting Overall explanation This refers to the practice of typosquatting, where attackers register domain names that are slight misspellings of legitimate ones to deceive individuals. In this context, it is being used to mimic the company’s domain in an attempt to trick employees. This differs from business email compromise, which specifically targets high-level transactions and decisions, brand impersonation, which involves pretending to be the company rather than just using a similar domain, and pretexting, which involves constructing a fabricated scenario or story.

Answer 370

To provide a temporary measure until a patch is applied To ignore vulnerabilities that cannot be patched Correct answer To document and acknowledge the acceptance of risk for unremediated vulnerabilities Your answer is incorrect To replace the need for implementing compensating controls Overall explanation The role of vulnerability exceptions in a vulnerability management program is to document and acknowledge the acceptance of risk for vulnerabilities that cannot be remediated within the standard timeframe or for which no immediate remediation is available. This process involves a formal risk assessment and approval by appropriate stakeholders, ensuring that the decision to accept the risk is made consciously. This is not a means to ignore vulnerabilities, nor does it replace the need for compensating controls, which should still be considered to reduce risk exposure. Granting an exception is a temporary measure, emphasizing the need for a plan to address the vulnerability in the future.

Answer 371

Request an exception for the vulnerability Purchase insurance for potential breaches Implement network segmentation Your answer is correct Apply the appropriate patch Overall explanation When a critical vulnerability is identified, the immediate step is to mitigate the risk it poses to the organization. Applying the appropriate patch directly addresses the vulnerability, reducing the potential for exploitation. Purchasing insurance, while it may provide financial protection, does not mitigate the vulnerability itself. Implementing network segmentation could help limit the spread of an attack but does not address the underlying vulnerability. Requesting an exception should only be considered if remediation cannot be immediately implemented and is not the preferred immediate response.

Answer 372

Watering hole Impersonation Correct answer Phishing Your answer is incorrect Typosquatting Overall explanation This is a form of phishing, where the user is directed to a fraudulent website that mimics a legitimate one to steal financial or personal information. Unlike a watering hole attack, which targets specific user groups by compromising commonly visited sites, typosquatting, which involves domain name misspelling without direct redirection, or impersonation, which involves an attacker pretending to be another individual, this scenario specifically involves tricking the user into entering sensitive information on a fake platform that they were redirected to.

Answer 373

To apply for exemptions for certain vulnerabilities Correct answer To verify compliance with security policies and the effectiveness of implemented controls To implement network segmentation Your answer is incorrect To purchase insurance for uncovered vulnerabilities Overall explanation The primary purpose of conducting an audit in the context of vulnerability management is to verify compliance with established security policies and the effectiveness of implemented controls. An audit provides a formal evaluation mechanism to ensure that security measures are appropriately protecting the organization's assets and that remediation efforts for identified vulnerabilities have been effective. Purchasing insurance, implementing network segmentation, and applying for exemptions are all management actions that could be influenced by audit findings but are not the primary purpose of an audit itself.

Answer 374

Correct answer Nation-state Organized crime Unskilled attacker Your answer is incorrect Hacktivist Overall explanation Nation-states possess the resources, funding, and level of sophistication required to conduct espionage or cyber operations aimed at disrupting foreign governments. These actors are distinct from unskilled attackers, who lack the capabilities and resources, hacktivists, who are primarily motivated by ideology and typically lack state-level resources, and organized crime groups, which focus on financial gain rather than political objectives.

Answer 375

Insider threat Unskilled attacker Correct answer Hacktivist Your answer is incorrect Nation-state Overall explanation Hacktivists are motivated by political or social causes, seeking to spread their ideology or influence government policy through digital means. Unlike nation-states, which may also engage in politically motivated cyber activities, hacktivists typically lack state-level resources and operate independently or in loose collectives. Unskilled attackers generally lack the sophistication to carry out targeted, ideologically motivated attacks, while insider threats usually act out of personal motivation or grievances rather than broader political or social objectives.

Answer 376

Injection Directory traversal Correct answer Buffer overflow Your answer is incorrect Forgery Overall explanation Buffer overflow vulnerabilities occur when a program attempts to store more data in a buffer or memory area than it was intended to hold. This can allow an attacker to cause a program to crash or potentially inject malicious code, unlike injection, forgery, or directory traversal, which relate to unauthorized input, fake entities, and file path manipulation respectively.

Answer 377

Correct answer Level of sophistication/capability Resources/funding Internal Your answer is incorrect External Overall explanation Nation-state actors are distinguished by their high level of sophistication and capability in cyber attacks, often employing advanced techniques and tools that are not available to other actors. This high level of sophistication allows them to conduct complex cyber espionage, sabotage, or influence operations. In contrast, other actors may lack the resources, funding, or technical expertise to execute attacks of similar complexity and scale, making sophistication and capability key distinguishing factors.

Answer 378

Adware Correct answer Spyware Worm Your answer is incorrect Ransomware Overall explanation Spyware is designed to secretly monitor user activities and transmit the data to third parties without the user's knowledge or consent. Unlike ransomware that encrypts data for a ransom, adware that displays unwanted ads, or worms that replicate and spread across networks, spyware's primary purpose is the covert collection of information.

Answer 379

Correct answer Brute force Buffer overflow Replay Your answer is incorrect Spraying Overall explanation A brute force attack involves trying many passwords or phrases to guess the correct one, distinguishing it from spraying, which uses common passwords against many accounts. Buffer overflow and replay attacks do not directly relate to password guessing but involve memory manipulation and data retransmission, respectively.

Answer 380

Site considerations High availability Continuity of operations Your answer is correct Capacity planning Overall explanation Capacity planning involves estimating future resource requirements, such as computing power, storage, and network bandwidth, to ensure the system can handle expected workloads without over- or under-provisioning. While high availability and continuity of operations are related to resilience, capacity planning specifically addresses the proactive allocation of resources to maintain resilience. Site considerations involve factors like infrastructure readiness and geographical dispersion.

Answer 381

Phishing attack Correct answer Brute force attack DDoS attack Your answer is incorrect Man-in-the-middle attack Overall explanation Brute force attacks involve attempting to guess the password of a service or account by systematically trying every possible combination until the correct one is found. This type of attack targets weaknesses in password security, distinguishing it from DDoS attacks that aim to overwhelm systems with traffic, man-in-the-middle attacks that intercept communications, and phishing attacks that trick users into revealing sensitive information.

Answer 382

It identifies vulnerabilities with the highest CVE scores. It prioritizes vulnerabilities based on the ease of implementation of their patches. Correct answer It considers the specific consequences of a vulnerability within the context of the organization's operations and industry. Your answer is incorrect It focuses solely on vulnerabilities affecting the most critical systems. Overall explanation Analyzing the industry/organizational impact of a vulnerability is crucial for its prioritization because it allows security teams to understand how a vulnerability specifically affects their unique operations, critical assets, and compliance requirements. This tailored approach ensures that vulnerabilities with the most significant potential impact on the organization's objectives, reputation, and regulatory obligations are prioritized for remediation. While CVE scores, system criticality, and patching ease are important factors in vulnerability management, the unique consequences to the organization's operations and industry provide a more relevant basis for prioritization.

Answer 383

Resource inaccessibility due to maintenance An internal configuration error Normal fluctuation in network performance Your answer is correct A security breach causing resource inaccessibility Overall explanation Multiple users being unable to access specific resources they normally have access to could indicate a security breach leading to resource inaccessibility. This scenario suggests that an attacker might have altered permissions, deployed ransomware, or otherwise disrupted access to critical systems. While maintenance, fluctuations, and configuration errors can cause access issues, the broad impact and deviation from the norm point towards a malicious cause.

Answer 384

Encrypting data before processing it. Correct answer Implementing input validation and length checks for all user input. Regularly updating application libraries to the latest version. Your answer is incorrect Using only high-level programming languages. Overall explanation Buffer overflow attacks exploit vulnerabilities that occur when an application writes more data to a buffer than it can hold. By implementing input validation and length checks, developers can ensure that only appropriately sized data is processed, preventing attackers from overloading the buffer and executing malicious code. Regular updates, using high-level languages, and encrypting data, while generally good practices, do not directly address the mechanism through which buffer overflow attacks occur.

Answer 385

Correct answer Purchasing cyber insurance Outsourcing security management to a third party Implementing redundant system design Your answer is incorrect Using proprietary software Overall explanation Purchasing cyber insurance is a form of risk transference where a company shifts potential financial losses due to cyber incidents to an insurance company. While outsourcing security management and implementing redundant designs are ways to mitigate risks, they do not transfer the risk. Using proprietary software is more related to security control rather than risk transference.

Answer 386

Correct answer IPSec SSH TLS Your answer is incorrect SSL Overall explanation IPSec is designed for securing internet communications by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet of a communication session. It is widely used for creating secure VPNs, making it suitable for securing remote communications. While TLS and SSL are also used for secure communications, they typically secure data transfers on the web and are not specifically designed for securing all internet traffic like IPSec. SSH is primarily used for secure remote login and command execution, not for general packet encryption across networks.

Answer 387

Correct answer It allows for the prioritization of vulnerabilities based on their exploitability and impact. It guarantees compliance with all industry standards. It eliminates the need for regular security audits. Your answer is incorrect It simplifies the process of vulnerability scanning. Overall explanation Vulnerability classification plays a crucial role in managing security risks by allowing organizations to prioritize vulnerabilities based on criteria such as their exploitability, impact, and the ease with which they can be remedied. This prioritization ensures that resources are allocated efficiently to address the most critical vulnerabilities first, enhancing the organization's security posture. While regular audits, compliance with standards, and efficient scanning are important, these activities are complemented by, rather than replaced by, effective vulnerability classification.

Answer 388

Version control Correct answer Documentation Application restart Your answer is incorrect Service restart Overall explanation The revision process of security policies and procedures after implementing new security controls highlights the importance of documentation in maintaining an up-to-date security posture. This ensures that all organizational guidelines are aligned with the latest security measures, facilitating compliance and effective security management. This action is crucial for ensuring that the organization's security practices are consistently applied and understood across the board, distinguishing it from the operational concerns of service or application restarts and the management practice of version control.

Answer 389

NGFW TLS Correct answer VPN Your answer is incorrect UTM Overall explanation A VPN is the most suitable solution for securely accessing a corporate network from remote locations as it creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between the user's device and the corporate network. TLS is used mainly for secure communication over the internet, such as securing websites, but does not provide network access. UTM and NGFW are security devices that provide various security functions but are not specifically designed for remote network access.

Answer 390

Correct answer High availability configuration Implementing IoT devices Containerization of applications Your answer is incorrect Using a real-time operating system Overall explanation High availability configuration is the most critical aspect to ensure the security and reliability of a SCADA system, as it ensures that the system remains operational even in the event of component failures, unlike IoT devices or containerization, which do not inherently provide the same level of reliability for industrial control systems.

Answer 391

Tokenization Masking Correct answer Encryption Your answer is incorrect Obfuscation Overall explanation Encryption is the most suitable method for ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive legal documents. It transforms the data into an unreadable format, ensuring that only authorized individuals with the decryption key can access the information. Obfuscation, masking, and tokenization may obscure the data but do not provide the same level of security as encryption.

Answer 392

Directory traversal Correct answer Forgery Buffer overflow Your answer is incorrect Replay Overall explanation Forgery involves creating a fake document, website, or other data to deceive individuals or systems. This is unlike buffer overflow, replay, and directory traversal attacks, which are technical attacks aimed at exploiting system vulnerabilities rather than deceiving users directly.

Answer 393

Database Correct answer Record Volume Your answer is incorrect Full-disk Overall explanation Record-level encryption is the most appropriate choice for encrypting specific records within a database, as it allows for the encryption of individual entries or rows. This approach enables targeted protection of sensitive information, such as customer data, without encrypting the entire database. This selective encryption ensures that critical data is secured, while minimizing the performance impact on database operations. Full-disk, volume, and database encryption offer broader levels of protection but do not provide the granularity needed to secure specific records within a database.

Answer 394

Only when directed by insurance providers Instead of applying any patches Correct answer When a vulnerability cannot be immediately patched and poses significant risk Your answer is incorrect As the first step in any vulnerability response Overall explanation Network segmentation is an appropriate response to a vulnerability when the vulnerability cannot be immediately patched and poses a significant risk to the organization. By segmenting the network, an organization can isolate critical assets or limit the potential spread of an exploit, effectively reducing the overall risk exposure. This approach is particularly useful in controlling the scope of potential impact while a more permanent solution, such as patching or implementing compensating controls, is being prepared. Segmentation is not meant to replace patching but rather to complement it or serve as an interim measure. The decision to segment should be based on risk assessment, not solely on directives from insurance providers.

Answer 395

Segment the network every time a new vulnerability is found Purchase insurance to cover potential losses Correct answer Apply compensating controls to mitigate the risk Your answer is incorrect Ignore the vulnerability until a patch is released Overall explanation When no current patch is available for a vulnerability, the best approach is to apply compensating controls to mitigate the risk associated with the vulnerability. These controls can include additional monitoring, changing configurations to reduce exposure, or implementing stricter access controls. Ignoring the vulnerability leaves the organization exposed to potential exploitation. While purchasing insurance might offer financial protection after a breach, it does not reduce the likelihood of the vulnerability being exploited. Network segmentation is a useful security measure but applying it every time a new vulnerability is found is not practical and does not directly address the specific risk posed by the vulnerability.

Answer 396

Correct answer Encryption Masking Segmentation Your answer is incorrect Tokenization Overall explanation Encryption is the most effective method for protecting critical business data from unauthorized access. It ensures that even if unauthorized parties gain access to the data, they cannot read or interpret it without the decryption key. Masking, tokenization, and segmentation can complement encryption but do not provide the same level of data protection against unauthorized access.

Answer 397

Credential replay attack Wireless intrusion Correct answer DNS tunneling Your answer is incorrect On-path attack Overall explanation DNS tunneling involves sending and receiving information through DNS queries and responses, often to bypass network security measures or to exfiltrate data. Regular, unsolicited DNS requests to unknown domains suggest this type of activity. It's not indicative of a wireless intrusion, which involves unauthorized network access; a credential replay attack, which involves the unauthorized use of valid credentials; or an on-path attack, which involves intercepting communication.

Answer 398

Privilege escalation Spraying Brute force Your answer is correct Replay Overall explanation This situation is indicative of a replay attack, where a valid data transmission is maliciously or fraudulently repeated or delayed. This is distinct from password spraying, brute force attacks, and privilege escalation, which involve common passwords, exhaustive password attempts, and unauthorized access elevation, respectively.

Answer 399

Geolocation Permission restrictions Correct answer Data sovereignty Your answer is incorrect Obfuscation Overall explanation Data sovereignty refers to the legal jurisdiction under which data is subject. In the context of cross-border data transfers, organizations must consider data sovereignty to ensure compliance with relevant privacy regulations. This involves understanding where data is stored and processed and ensuring that it complies with the laws of each jurisdiction involved.

Answer 400

Impersonation Correct answer Vishing Pretexting Your answer is incorrect Smishing Overall explanation This scenario describes vishing, where the attacker uses voice communication, typically over the phone, to trick the victim into giving away sensitive information, such as passwords. Unlike pretexting, which involves creating a believable but false scenario, smishing, which uses SMS texts, or impersonation, which involves pretending to be someone else but not specifically over the phone, vishing directly leverages the immediacy and persuasive power of voice communication.

Answer 401

Data in use Data in transit Data in motion Your answer is correct Data at rest Overall explanation Confidential financial data stored on servers but not actively being processed or transmitted is considered "data at rest." This data state requires specific security measures, such as encryption or access controls, to protect it from unauthorized access or theft.

Answer 402

Correct answer Secure Enclave Key Management System HSM Your answer is incorrect TPM Overall explanation The Secure Enclave is best suited for storing sensitive information and performing secure transactions on mobile devices. It is a dedicated coprocessor designed to provide hardware-based key storage and cryptographic operations, ensuring that sensitive data, such as fingerprints and payment information, is stored securely within a tamper-resistant area of the processor. Unlike TPMs, which are more commonly found in laptops and desktops, or HSMs, which are external devices used for managing encryption keys at an organizational level, Secure Enclaves are specifically designed for mobile devices, offering a high level of security for mobile payment applications by isolating and protecting sensitive data and processes from the rest of the device.

Answer 403

Correct answer To communicate the findings, actions taken, and status of vulnerabilities to relevant stakeholders To document exceptions as the primary method of handling vulnerabilities To provide a detailed list of all patched vulnerabilities to insurance companies Your answer is incorrect To ensure that all vulnerabilities are ignored until reported Overall explanation Reporting plays a crucial role in vulnerability management by providing a mechanism to communicate the findings, actions taken, and current status of vulnerabilities across the organization and to relevant stakeholders. Effective reporting ensures transparency, enables informed decision-making, and facilitates accountability by documenting the organization's efforts to identify, remediate, and manage vulnerabilities. It's not just about providing information to insurance companies or documenting exceptions, but rather about maintaining a comprehensive view of the organization's security posture and the effectiveness of its vulnerability management program.

Answer 404

Correct answer Cloud-based multi-region deployment Colocated hosting facilities Single-region cloud services Your answer is incorrect Traditional on-premise servers Overall explanation A cloud-based multi-region deployment enhances disaster recovery capabilities as it distributes resources and data across multiple geographical locations, ensuring that if one region is compromised, the application can continue to operate from another region. This model provides better ease of recovery compared to traditional, single-region, or collocated options where resources are more centralized.

Answer 405

Hashing Correct answer Encryption Masking Your answer is incorrect Segmentation Overall explanation Encryption is the most effective method for protecting data during transmission between branches of a financial institution. It ensures that the data remains confidential and secure, even if intercepted by unauthorized parties. Hashing, segmentation, and masking are not suitable for protecting data during transmission and may not provide the necessary level of security.

Answer 406

Asymmetric Correct answer Transport/communication Symmetric Your answer is incorrect Key exchange Overall explanation Transport/communication encryption is commonly used to secure data transmitted over the internet, such as web transactions between a server and a customer's browser. This encryption ensures that data is encrypted in transit, protecting it from interception or eavesdropping. While asymmetric and symmetric encryption may be involved in the process, and key exchange mechanisms facilitate secure communication, "transport/communication" encryption encompasses the overall approach to encrypting data as it travels across a network, making it the best fit for securing online transactions.

Answer 407

Correct answer On-path attack DDoS Amplified attack DNS poisoning Your answer is incorrect Wireless attack Overall explanation An on-path attack, formerly known as a man-in-the-middle attack, involves the attacker intercepting and possibly altering communications between two parties. Capturing data packets as they travel from a computer to the internet is a classic example of this type of attack. It's not a wireless attack, which targets wireless network vulnerabilities; DNS poisoning, which corrupts DNS data; or a DDoS amplified attack, which involves overwhelming a target with external requests.

Answer 408

Purchase additional insurance coverage Correct answer Implement compensating controls Ignore the vulnerability until a patch is available Your answer is incorrect Apply for an exception Overall explanation Implementing compensating controls is the best interim measure when direct patching is not possible. These controls provide alternative security measures that help mitigate the risk associated with the vulnerability, such as additional monitoring, restricting access, or applying additional security layers. Purchasing insurance does not mitigate the risk. Applying for an exception is a procedural step that acknowledges the risk but does not reduce it. Ignoring the vulnerability is never an advisable option as it leaves the system exposed to potential exploitation.

Answer 409

Platform diversity Correct answer Continuity of operations Multi-cloud systems Your answer is incorrect High availability Overall explanation Continuity of operations focuses on the ability to maintain essential functions during and after a disruption. While high availability ensures systems are accessible with minimal downtime, continuity of operations ensures critical functions can continue even when systems are disrupted. Platform diversity and multi-cloud systems provide redundancy but may not directly address the continuity of operations aspect.

Answer 410

Level of sophistication/capability External Correct answer Internal Your answer is incorrect Resources/funding Overall explanation Internal actors are individuals within an organization who may misuse their legitimate access to systems and data to carry out malicious activities. This contrasts with external actors, who are not part of the organization and must breach its defenses to cause harm. While resources/funding and level of sophistication/capability are important attributes of threat actors, they do not specify the actor's position in relation to the target organization.

Answer 411

Amplified DDoS attack Correct answer Reflected DDoS attack DNS poisoning Your answer is incorrect Credential replay attack Overall explanation A reflected DDoS attack involves overwhelming a target with a flood of network traffic originating from multiple compromised systems, reflecting the requests off other network services. The high traffic causing service unavailability, without a corresponding increase in network traffic, suggests a reflection mechanism rather than direct flooding. This differs from an amplified DDoS, where large amounts of traffic are sent directly to the victim, DNS poisoning, which redirects users to malicious sites, and credential replay attacks, which involve unauthorized login attempts.

Answer 412

Conducting regular security audits of the website. Encrypting all data stored in the database. Using CAPTCHA on all input forms. Your answer is correct Employing prepared statements and parameterized queries. Overall explanation SQL injection attacks manipulate backend databases by injecting malicious SQL code through application inputs. Using prepared statements and parameterized queries is the most effective defense, as they separate SQL logic from data, making it impossible for an attacker to alter the structure of an SQL query by injecting malicious code. Encrypting data, using CAPTCHA, and conducting audits are beneficial security measures but do not specifically address the vulnerability exploited by SQL injection attacks.

Answer 413

Bloatware Correct answer Rootkit Spyware Your answer is incorrect Logic bomb Overall explanation Rootkits are tools that provide continued privileged access to a computer while concealing their presence. Unlike spyware, which collects information, or logic bombs and bloatware, which have different purposes and characteristics, rootkits are specifically designed to hide the existence of certain processes or programs from normal methods of detection and give attackers remote control capabilities.

Answer 414

Spraying Injection Correct answer Account lockout Your answer is incorrect Brute force Overall explanation This scenario describes an account lockout attack, which is aimed at overwhelming a system's authentication process by creating a large number of fake login attempts, leading to legitimate user accounts being locked out. Unlike brute force, spraying, or injection attacks, an account lockout specifically targets system access protocols and user account security.

Answer 415

Apply for an insurance claim Correct answer Conduct a rescan of the affected systems Implement compensating controls around the patched system Your answer is incorrect Segment the network to isolate the patched system Overall explanation Conducting a rescan of the affected systems is the most direct and effective method to validate that the vulnerability has been properly addressed by the patch. Rescanning provides tangible evidence that the vulnerability no longer exists in the scanned environment. Applying for an insurance claim is irrelevant to the validation of remediation. While network segmentation and implementing compensating controls can enhance overall security posture, they do not directly validate that a specific vulnerability has been remediated.

Answer 416

Less complex networking Centralized security management Higher computational overhead Your answer is correct Easier to update and patch Overall explanation Microservices architectures offer an advantage in terms of infrastructure security because they are easier to update and patch compared to monolithic architectures. This modularity allows for targeted updates and quicker responses to vulnerabilities within specific services, without needing to redeploy the entire application, enhancing the overall security posture.

Answer 417

Correct answer Business email compromise Impersonation Typosquatting Your answer is incorrect Pretexting Overall explanation This scenario describes a business email compromise (BEC) attack, where an attacker impersonates a high-level executive to deceive the organization into making a financial transaction. The minor alteration in the email address is a common tactic used in BEC to trick the recipient into believing the request is legitimate. Unlike pretexting, which involves creating a fake scenario, typosquatting, which involves registering misspelled domain names, or impersonation, which doesn't necessarily involve financial requests, BEC specifically targets financial transactions based on authority misuse.

Answer 418

Correct answer Containerized microservices Virtualized environment On-premises deployment Your answer is incorrect Centralized cloud services Overall explanation Containerized microservices provide the best combination of scalability and isolation for deploying a new application, as they allow individual components of the application to be deployed independently in lightweight containers, which can be easily scaled and maintained without affecting other services.

Answer 419

Site considerations High availability Continuity of operations Your answer is correct Capacity planning Overall explanation Capacity planning involves forecasting and allocating resources to meet fluctuating demand, ensuring that systems can scale appropriately and maintain performance during peak usage. While high availability focuses on minimizing downtime, capacity planning addresses the proactive allocation of resources to meet demand fluctuations, thereby enhancing resilience. Site considerations involve factors such as infrastructure readiness and geographic dispersion, while continuity of operations focuses on maintaining essential functions during disruptions.

Answer 420

Virtualized servers Correct answer Air-gapped networks Software-defined networking Your answer is incorrect Centralized architecture Overall explanation Air-gapped networks provide the highest level of security through physical separation, as they are completely isolated from other networks, including the internet. This isolation protects them from external cyberattacks, making them more secure compared to centralized architectures, virtualized servers, and software-defined networking, which are all connected in some way to external networks or systems.

Answer 421

A sign of a dedicated employee An efficient use of company resources A potential phishing attack Your answer is correct Impossible travel activity Overall explanation Impossible travel activity refers to an account being used in different geographical locations within a timeframe that is too short for normal travel, suggesting that the same credentials are being used by different individuals or that an attacker has compromised the account and is accessing it from a different location. It's a clear sign of malicious activity, possibly indicating account compromise, rather than a phishing attack, efficient resource use, or a sign of dedication from the employee.

Answer 422

Correct answer WAF UTM Layer 4 Firewall Your answer is incorrect NGFW Overall explanation Web Application Firewalls are specifically designed to protect web applications from internet-based threats like SQL injections and XSS by inspecting HTTP traffic. Unlike UTM or NGFW, which provide a broader range of security functions, WAF is specialized for web applications. Layer 4 firewalls, on the other hand, work on the transport layer and do not have the capability to inspect the web application layer traffic to the extent required for protecting against such specific attacks.

Answer 423

Business email compromise Correct answer Smishing Vishing Your answer is incorrect Watering hole Overall explanation This scenario typifies smishing, where attackers use SMS (text messages) to deceive individuals into clicking malicious links or providing personal information, often by creating a sense of urgency. Unlike vishing, which uses voice calls, business email compromise, which involves hacking or impersonating corporate emails, or watering hole attacks, which target specific user groups by compromising websites they are likely to visit, smishing specifically utilizes SMS as the medium of deception.

Answer 424

Correct answer Warm Geographic dispersion Cold Your answer is incorrect Hot Overall explanation A warm site has operational servers with limited resources and minimal redundancy, making it less costly than a hot site but still requiring some setup time in the event of a disaster. Hot sites have fully equipped operational servers ready for immediate use, while cold sites lack operational servers altogether. Geographic dispersion refers to spreading resources across different locations for redundancy.

Answer 425

Vishing Correct answer Watering hole Business email compromise Your answer is incorrect Impersonation Overall explanation This scenario suggests a watering hole attack, where attackers target a specific group by infecting websites known to be visited by the group members. In this case, the attackers likely compromised the corporate website section frequented by the community forum's members. Unlike vishing, which involves phone-based deception, business email compromise, which deals with fraudulent emails, or impersonation, which involves pretending to be someone else, a watering hole attack specifically targets users through websites they trust.

Answer 426

Key exchange Algorithms Correct answer Symmetric Your answer is incorrect Asymmetric Overall explanation Symmetric encryption is the most efficient type for encrypting large volumes of data at rest. It uses the same key for both encryption and decryption, which makes the process faster and less resource-intensive compared to asymmetric encryption. This efficiency is particularly important for encrypting large files or datasets, where performance and speed are critical. Symmetric encryption ensures a high level of security while maintaining performance, making it ideal for protecting data stored within an organization's network.

Answer 427

Correct answer Decentralized architecture SDN-enabled infrastructure Embedded systems Your answer is incorrect Real-time operating system Overall explanation A decentralized architecture best ensures high availability of services as it distributes resources and services across multiple locations, reducing the impact of a single point of failure, unlike embedded systems or real-time operating systems, which may not directly contribute to the high availability of services across a network.

Answer 428

Technical Operational Managerial Your answer is correct Physical Overall explanation Installing biometric access systems at the entrance of secure facilities is classified as a physical control. Physical controls are concerned with the physical security measures that prevent unauthorized access to facilities, equipment, and resources. Biometric systems, such as fingerprint or iris scanners, provide a tangible layer of security by ensuring that only authorized personnel can enter certain areas. Unlike technical controls, which involve the use of technology to secure data and systems, or managerial controls, which are about policies and strategies, physical controls specifically address the physical aspect of security.

Answer 429

Correct answer Pre-admission endpoint security scanning MAC address filtering Post-admission network behavior analysis Your answer is incorrect Port-based authentication Overall explanation Pre-admission endpoint security scanning is most effective because it ensures devices comply with the organization's security policies before they are allowed to access network resources. This method evaluates the security posture of a device, including software updates, system configurations, and the presence of security software, ensuring that only compliant devices can connect. MAC address filtering and port-based authentication do not evaluate the security posture of devices, and post-admission network behavior analysis only monitors devices after they have accessed the network, which could be too late to prevent access by non-compliant devices.

Answer 430

Containerization IoT devices Real-time operating system Your answer is correct Air-gapped networks Overall explanation Air-gapped networks offer the best security for SCADA systems as they provide physical isolation from the internet and other networks, significantly reducing the likelihood of cyber attacks. Unlike IoT devices, real-time operating systems, or containerization, air-gapped networks ensure that SCADA systems are not accessible via external networks, thereby protecting them from remote hacking attempts.

Answer 431

Multi-cloud systems Platform diversity Correct answer Load balancing Your answer is incorrect Clustering Overall explanation Load balancing distributes incoming network traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server is overwhelmed, thereby enhancing availability. Clustering, while it provides redundancy, doesn't distribute traffic as efficiently as load balancing does, making it a less optimal choice in this scenario. Platform diversity and multi-cloud systems may contribute to resilience but do not directly address traffic distribution.

Answer 432

DMARC and DKIM Correct answer SPF, DKIM, and DMARC SPF and DKIM Your answer is incorrect DMARC and TLS Overall explanation Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC together provides a robust solution for ensuring the authenticity and integrity of emails. SPF allows the receiver to check that incoming mail from a domain comes from a host authorized by that domain's administrators. DKIM provides an encryption key and digital signature that verifies that an email message was not tampered with in transit. DMARC ties SPF and DKIM together with a set of policies, providing instructions to the receiving mail server on how to deal with emails that fail the SPF and DKIM checks, thereby improving the security of email communications.

Answer 433

Hybrid cloud Correct answer IaaS SaaS Your answer is incorrect PaaS Overall explanation In an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model, the cloud provider offers basic infrastructure services such as physical or virtual servers and storage. The customer is responsible for managing aspects including the operating systems, applications, and data. This model requires the company to retain the most control over security compared to PaaS or SaaS, where the provider assumes more responsibility for managing the infrastructure.

Answer 434

Cost of infrastructure Correct answer Misconfiguration of resources Physical server security Your answer is incorrect Speed of deployment Overall explanation In an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) environment, the primary security concern is the potential for misconfiguration of resources. Since infrastructure is provisioned and managed through code, errors in the code can lead to widespread security vulnerabilities. Ensuring that IaC configurations are reviewed and audited regularly helps prevent misconfigurations and enhances security.

Answer 435

Layer 4 Firewall VPN SASE Your answer is correct UTM Overall explanation Unified Threat Management (UTM) is the most comprehensive solution for managing a variety of threats including malware, phishing, and advanced persistent threats (APTs) across all network traffic. UTM devices combine several security features, such as antivirus, anti-spam, firewall, and intrusion prevention systems, into a single appliance, offering a holistic approach to threat management. While SASE includes various security services, it is more focused on integrating network and security functions rather than solely on threat management.

Answer 436

Correct answer Implementing secure erasure software Reformatting the hard drive Using a strong magnetic field Your answer is incorrect Manual deletion of files Overall explanation Implementing secure erasure software ensures that sensitive data is thoroughly overwritten and unrecoverable, allowing the hardware to be reused or disposed of securely. Reformatting the hard drive may not remove all data fragments, making some data potentially recoverable. Using a strong magnetic field (degaussing) is effective but can damage the hard drive, making it unusable, which does not meet the requirement of not destroying the hardware. Manual deletion of files is ineffective as it typically leaves data recoverable through various forensic techniques.

Answer 437

Organized crime Nation-state Shadow IT Your answer is correct Insider threat Overall explanation The unauthorized copying and selling of proprietary software code to a competitor is a clear example of an insider threat. This action likely involves someone within the company who has access to sensitive information and chooses to exploit it for personal gain or to benefit another entity. Unlike organized crime or nation-states, which might target a company for financial or strategic reasons but from an external position, or shadow IT, which involves unauthorized technology use within an organization, this scenario specifically points to the risks posed by those within the organization.

Answer 438

PPTP Correct answer IPSec L2TP Your answer is incorrect SSH Overall explanation IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is widely regarded as the most secure option for establishing a VPN, providing robust encryption for securing internet protocol (IP) communications by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet of a communication session. While SSH (Secure Shell) also provides strong encryption, it is typically used for secure command execution and file transfers rather than VPN connections. PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) and L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) are older and less secure compared to IPSec, making IPSec the preferred choice for secure remote access.

Answer 439

SSL VPN TLS SD-WAN Your answer is correct NAC Overall explanation Network Access Control (NAC) is the best technology to ensure that only authorized devices can access the network and that they comply with the company's security policies. NAC systems can enforce policies for all devices attempting to access network resources, ensuring that they meet the organization's security requirements before access is granted. While SSL VPN, TLS, and SD-WAN provide secure connectivity, they do not offer the same level of device access control and policy compliance verification as NAC.

Answer 440

Honeytoken Honeypot Correct answer Honeyfile Your answer is incorrect Honeynet Overall explanation A honeyfile is a decoy document or file intentionally placed within a system's file structure to alert security teams to unauthorized access or insider threats. When someone accesses the honeyfile, it triggers an alert, indicating a potential security breach or malicious activity within the organization. Unlike a honeypot, which simulates a vulnerable system or server; a honeynet, which is a network of honeypots; or honeytokens, which are specific data elements or tokens designed to act as decoys within legitimate files or databases, a honeyfile specifically serves as a trap to detect unauthorized file access.

Answer 441

Physical isolation Correct answer Logical segmentation Centralized architecture Your answer is incorrect Virtualization Overall explanation Logical segmentation is the best approach to ensure secure and efficient access for remote employees, as it allows the company to create secure, isolated sections of the network that can be accessed remotely without compromising the security of the entire network, unlike virtualization or centralized architecture which may not provide the same level of segmented access control.

Answer 442

Capacity planning High availability Platform diversity Your answer is correct Geographic dispersion Overall explanation Geographic dispersion involves spreading resources across different geographical locations to minimize the impact of a localized disaster. While high availability and capacity planning are important components of resilience, geographic dispersion specifically addresses the geographical spread of resources. Platform diversity refers to using different types of platforms or technologies for redundancy, not necessarily across different locations.

Answer 443

To focus the scan on internal threats To ensure compliance with legal requirements To reduce the time required for the scan Your answer is correct To increase the accuracy of vulnerability detection Overall explanation Integrating updated threat feeds into a vulnerability scanning tool is crucial for increasing the accuracy of vulnerability detection. Threat feeds provide real-time information about the latest vulnerabilities, exploits, and threat vectors, enabling the scanning tool to identify new and emerging threats more effectively. This integration ensures that the organization is aware of and can respond to the most current security threats, rather than solely focusing on known issues or internal threats.

Answer 444

Symmetric Correct answer Asymmetric Your answer is incorrect Transport/communication Key exchange Overall explanation Asymmetric encryption is best suited for securely sharing large datasets among researchers in different locations. This method uses two keys: a public key for encrypting data and a private key for decrypting it. Each researcher can share their public key with others to encrypt data intended for them, while only the holder of the corresponding private key can decrypt the data. This ensures that only the intended recipient can access the shared files. Symmetric encryption, while efficient, would pose challenges in securely sharing the encryption key among multiple parties. Key exchange mechanisms facilitate secure key sharing but are not encryption methods themselves. Transport/communication encryption secures data in transit but is not specifically designed for file sharing scenarios.

Answer 445

Infrastructure Technology People Your answer is correct Compliance Overall explanation Capacity planning typically considers factors related to people, technology, and infrastructure to ensure resources are appropriately allocated for resilience. Compliance, while important for regulatory adherence, is not directly related to capacity planning for resilience. People, technology, and infrastructure directly impact an organization's ability to handle fluctuations in demand and maintain operations during disruptions.

Answer 446

Network controls Hardware maintenance Correct answer Application layer security Your answer is incorrect Physical security Overall explanation In both Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) models, the customer is usually responsible for application layer security. This includes ensuring that applications are developed securely and are free from vulnerabilities. Physical security, network controls, and hardware maintenance are typically the responsibility of the cloud service provider, especially in a SaaS model.

Answer 447

Correct answer The presence of microwave ovens and cordless phones that can cause interference. The color scheme of the environment to match the wireless access points. The aesthetic placement of access points to blend with the environment. Your answer is incorrect The type of wallpaper used, as some materials can block wireless signals. Overall explanation The presence of microwave ovens and cordless phones is crucial to consider as these devices can cause interference with wireless signals, affecting both performance and security by potentially creating dead zones or unreliable connections. While the aesthetic placement of access points and the environment's color scheme might be considered for other reasons, they do not directly impact the wireless network's performance and security. The material of the wallpaper can affect signal strength but is less critical than avoiding interference sources.

Answer 448

Correct answer Reporting and monitoring Phishing campaigns User guidance and training Your answer is incorrect Anomalous behavior recognition Overall explanation This policy focuses on the reporting and monitoring aspect of security awareness, ensuring that any lost or stolen devices are quickly reported to mitigate potential security breaches. By setting a specific timeframe for reporting, the company can take swift action to protect data and possibly recover the device. While user guidance and training is involved in educating employees about the policy, the primary purpose is to establish a clear reporting procedure for incidents, distinguishing it from the other options, which deal with recognizing security threats and behaviors.

Answer 449

Insider threat Correct answer Hacktivist Unskilled attacker Your answer is incorrect Organized crime Overall explanation Website defacement to protest against a corporation's policies is characteristic of hacktivist activities. Hacktivists use cyber attacks to promote political agendas or social change, often targeting entities that they view as opposing their causes. This type of attack is less about financial gain, which is the main motivator for organized crime, or the personal grievances that might drive an insider threat. Unskilled attackers typically lack the motivation or capability to carry out such ideologically driven attacks, making hacktivists the most likely perpetrators.

Answer 450

Correct answer Directive Preventive Deterrent Your answer is incorrect Compensating Overall explanation Security awareness training is a directive control. Directive controls aim to guide individuals' actions toward compliance with the organization's policies and procedures through instructions or guidelines. By educating employees about security threats and the necessity of adhering to company policies, the organization directs behavior to reduce the risk of security incidents. This form of control is distinct from preventive or deterrent controls, which either stop incidents before they happen or dissuade attackers, and from detective or compensating controls, which identify incidents after they occur or provide alternative measures to deal with security vulnerabilities.

Answer 451

Correct answer Certifying the destruction of all storage media containing sensitive data. Upgrading the storage media for use in future projects. Quickly relocating the data center's resources to a new location. Your answer is incorrect Conducting a thorough audit of the decommissioning process. Overall explanation Certifying the destruction of all storage media containing sensitive data ensures that no unauthorized individuals can recover or access the sensitive information, maintaining data confidentiality. While audits, resource relocation, and media upgrades are important aspects of data center management and security, they do not directly ensure that sensitive data cannot be recovered after decommissioning.

Answer 452

SaaS Correct answer IaaS PaaS Your answer is incorrect Hybrid cloud Overall explanation In an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model, the cloud provider offers basic infrastructure services such as physical or virtual servers and storage. The customer is responsible for managing aspects including the operating systems, applications, and data. This model requires the company to retain the most control over security compared to PaaS or SaaS, where the provider assumes more responsibility for managing the infrastructure.

Answer 453

Key stretching Digital signatures Correct answer Salting Your answer is incorrect Hashing Overall explanation Salting enhances password security by appending a unique value to each password before it is hashed, ensuring that the resulting hash values are unique even if users have identical passwords. This technique prevents attackers from using precomputed tables (rainbow tables) to reverse engineer the hash back to the password. Unlike digital signatures, which are used to verify the authenticity and integrity of a message, or key stretching, which makes brute force attacks more difficult by increasing the time required to hash passwords, salting directly addresses the issue of making stored passwords unique, significantly improving security against certain types of attacks.

Answer 454

It prioritizes vulnerabilities based on their exploitation in the wild. It legally obligates researchers to report vulnerabilities. It guarantees the anonymity of the reporter. Your answer is correct It provides a structured platform for vulnerability reporting and rewards. Overall explanation A bug bounty program is considered effective because it provides a structured and incentivized platform for ethical hackers and researchers to report vulnerabilities. By offering rewards for reporting vulnerabilities, it encourages the security community to actively search for and disclose vulnerabilities in a responsible manner, contributing to the overall security posture of the organization. This structure ensures that vulnerabilities are reported through a formal process, allowing for proper tracking, remediation, and recognition of the reporter's efforts.

Answer 455

Requiring manual approval for every change in the cloud environment Correct answer Enforcing specific security configurations for all new cloud instances Automatically allowing all outbound traffic to any destination Your answer is incorrect Disabling logging and monitoring to streamline operations Overall explanation Enforcing specific security configurations for all new cloud instances through automation exemplifies the concept of guard rails. This approach ensures that every new instance adheres to organizational security policies by default, promoting a secure baseline configuration across the infrastructure. Allowing all outbound traffic, requiring manual approvals for every change, and disabling logging do not provide the proactive, automated security posture that guard rails are designed to establish.

Answer 456

Dual verification process Biometric security Two-factor authentication Your answer is correct Enhanced password policy Overall explanation This security strategy, requiring both a password and a one-time code sent to a mobile phone, exemplifies two-factor authentication. It incorporates two distinct forms of verification: something the user knows (the password) and something the user possesses (the mobile phone to receive the code). This dual-layer security significantly strengthens defenses against unauthorized access, as it complicates potential breaches by requiring attackers to compromise more than just a single piece of user information.

Answer 457

It involves physically destroying the storage media. It ensures data is backed up before deletion. Correct answer It removes the data in a way that makes recovery impossible. Your answer is incorrect It encrypts data so that it cannot be accessed without a key. Overall explanation Data sanitization is considered more secure than merely deleting files because it removes the data in such a manner that it cannot be recovered, even with advanced data recovery tools. This method is essential for protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access after the disposal of storage media. While physical destruction and encryption are methods of securing data, sanitization specifically refers to the process of making data irrecoverable, offering a distinct advantage over simple deletion or backup strategies.

Answer 458

Cost reduction Simplification of user access Increased storage capacity Your answer is correct Compliance with data sovereignty laws Overall explanation When adopting a hybrid cloud environment, a primary security consideration is compliance with data sovereignty laws, which dictate how and where data should be stored and transferred. While hybrid clouds offer flexibility and scalability, ensuring data is handled according to jurisdictional regulations is critical to avoid legal and security issues.

Answer 459

Operational Technical Physical Your answer is correct Managerial Overall explanation Implementing access control policies is a managerial control. Managerial controls involve the establishment of policies, standards, procedures, and guidelines that direct the organization's overall approach to security. Access control policies are part of the strategic framework that defines how access to information and systems is managed and controlled, specifying who can access what information and under what circumstances. Unlike technical controls, which would be the actual systems and technologies enforcing these policies, or operational controls, which are the day-to-day actions taken to adhere to these policies, managerial controls are about the overarching strategy and policy setting.

Answer 460

Less complex networking Correct answer Easier to update and patch Centralized security management Your answer is incorrect Higher computational overhead Overall explanation Microservices architectures offer an advantage in terms of infrastructure security because they are easier to update and patch compared to monolithic architectures. This modularity allows for targeted updates and quicker responses to vulnerabilities within specific services, without needing to redeploy the entire application, enhancing the overall security posture.

Answer 461

Correct answer Phishing attacks SQL injection attacks Buffer overflow attacks Your answer is incorrect DDoS attacks Overall explanation DNS filtering is most effective in mitigating phishing attacks. By preventing users from accessing malicious websites known for phishing, DNS filtering plays a crucial role in blocking attempts to steal sensitive information such as login credentials and financial data. DDoS attacks target the availability of services and are not mitigated by DNS filtering. SQL injection and buffer overflow attacks exploit vulnerabilities in web applications and are unrelated to DNS filtering's primary function.

Answer 462

The use of a single administrator account for ease of tracking Correct answer Password vaulting combined with multi-factor authentication Encouraging the use of easy-to-remember passwords Your answer is incorrect Mandatory password changes every 30 days Overall explanation Combining password vaulting with multi-factor authentication (MFA) provides a robust security solution by securely storing privileged credentials and requiring multiple forms of verification before access is granted. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access through compromised credentials, as attackers would need to bypass multiple security measures. Mandatory password changes, using a single administrator account, and encouraging easy-to-remember passwords do not address the multifaceted threats associated with privilege escalation and may, in some cases, weaken security by simplifying credential theft or mismanagement.

Answer 463

Physical security Hardware maintenance Correct answer Application layer security Your answer is incorrect Network controls Overall explanation In both Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) models, the customer is usually responsible for application layer security. This includes ensuring that applications are developed securely and are free from vulnerabilities. Physical security, network controls, and hardware maintenance are typically the responsibility of the cloud service provider, especially in a SaaS model.

Answer 464

Cost reduction Simplification of user access Increased storage capacity Your answer is correct Compliance with data sovereignty laws Overall explanation When adopting a hybrid cloud environment, a primary security consideration is compliance with data sovereignty laws, which dictate how and where data should be stored and transferred. While hybrid clouds offer flexibility and scalability, ensuring data is handled according to jurisdictional regulations is critical to avoid legal and security issues.

Answer 465

Correct answer Directory traversal Buffer overflow Replay Your answer is incorrect Injection Overall explanation Directory traversal is an attack method that allows attackers to access restricted directories and execute commands outside of the server's root directory. Unlike injection, buffer overflow, or replay, directory traversal specifically targets the file system layout.

Answer 466

Operational Physical Correct answer Technical Your answer is incorrect Managerial Overall explanation Encryption of data, both in transit and at rest, is considered a technical control. Technical controls use technology to protect information and to control access to resources. Encryption involves converting data into a coded form that can only be accessed and deciphered by individuals who possess the correct decryption key, thereby protecting the data from unauthorized access. Unlike managerial controls, which involve policy and governance, or operational controls, which are about implementing those policies, technical controls rely on specific technologies to safeguard data.

Answer 467

Containers eliminate the need for backup and disaster recovery plans. Containers provide unlimited storage capacity. Correct answer Containers offer rapid, consistent deployment and isolation between applications. Your answer is incorrect Containers enhance physical security of the data center. Overall explanation The most significant security advantage of using containerization is the rapid, consistent deployment combined with isolation between applications. Containers encapsulate an application and its dependencies into a single, portable unit, which can be isolated from other containers. This isolation helps in limiting the impact of malicious exploits. If one container is compromised, the malicious code is less likely to spread to others or the host system, compared to traditional virtual machines where applications might share more resources.

Answer 468

Ownership Correct answer Maintenance window Stakeholders Your answer is incorrect Approval process Overall explanation A maintenance window is a scheduled time frame during which system updates, upgrades, or maintenance are performed. This is strategically planned during periods of low network usage to minimize impact on business operations and user experience. Opting for a maintenance window over the approval process or discussing ownership and stakeholders is advantageous because it focuses on the practical aspect of implementing changes in a manner that is least disruptive to the organization's operations.

Answer 469

Air-gapped networks Physical isolation Centralized architecture Your answer is correct SDN Overall explanation Software-defined networking (SDN) would be the most beneficial to implement for improving scalability and manageability, as it allows for centralized control over network resources, making it easier to adjust and manage network behavior dynamically compared to physical isolation, air-gapped networks, or a strictly centralized architecture.

Answer 470

It enables real-time detection of network intrusions. It simplifies the process of code obfuscation. It automates the generation of compliance reports. Your answer is correct It identifies vulnerabilities within third-party dependencies. Overall explanation Package monitoring is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities within third-party dependencies and libraries that an application uses. These external components can introduce security risks if they contain vulnerabilities that are not known or addressed. By monitoring these packages, organizations can be alerted to newly discovered vulnerabilities in their dependencies, enabling them to take timely action to mitigate potential security risks.

Answer 471

Signature-based detection. Trend analysis. Heuristic analysis. Your answer is correct Anomaly-based detection. Overall explanation Anomaly-based detection is effective against zero-day exploits because it identifies malicious activity based on deviations from normal network or system behavior, rather than relying on known signatures or trends, which would not yet exist for a zero-day threat. Heuristic analysis can also be effective but is more prone to false positives and typically relies on somewhat known behaviors, making anomaly-based detection the superior choice in this scenario.

Answer 472

Scheduling regular password change reminders Correct answer Automatically escalating suspicious activities to the security team Scripting the backup process for critical data Your answer is incorrect Automating the generation of monthly compliance reports Overall explanation Automatically escalating suspicious activities ensures that potential threats are promptly reviewed by the security team, significantly reducing the window of opportunity for attackers. This proactive approach improves the organization's ability to respond quickly to incidents. While automating compliance reports, backup processes, and password change reminders are beneficial for operational efficiency and security hygiene, they do not directly contribute to quicker reaction times for handling security incidents.

Answer 473

Using freeware tools for data wiping Assigning the task to untrained employees to save costs Correct answer Implementing a certified data destruction process Your answer is incorrect Following manufacturer’s recommendations for device destruction Overall explanation Implementing a certified data destruction process ensures that data is destroyed in compliance with legal, regulatory, and organizational standards. This process typically involves specific methods and verification steps to ensure that data cannot be recovered. Assigning the task to untrained employees or using freeware tools may not guarantee compliance or effectiveness. While following the manufacturer's recommendations can be helpful, it may not meet the specific compliance requirements of the organization or industry.

Answer 474

Layer 4 Firewall UTM WAF Your answer is correct NGFW Overall explanation Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW) are designed to inspect data leaving the network more deeply than traditional firewalls, including the capability to perform SSL/TLS inspection, application-level inspection, and integrated intrusion prevention. They are better suited for identifying and encrypting sensitive information in comparison to Layer 4 Firewalls, which operate at a lower level and do not provide deep packet inspection. While UTMs offer a range of security features, NGFWs are more focused on advanced inspection capabilities and threat prevention.

Answer 475

Maintaining a shared account for all IT staff for ease of access and management Encouraging the use of personal passwords for work accounts to improve memory retention Allowing developers continuous access to live financial databases for troubleshooting Your answer is correct Implementing password vaulting with stringent access controls and auditing Overall explanation Implementing password vaulting with stringent access controls and auditing provides a secure framework for managing privileged access to sensitive financial data. This approach ensures that access to critical systems is granted only to authorized personnel and that all access is tracked, providing accountability and reducing the risk of data breaches. Continuous access, using personal passwords for work, and shared accounts significantly increase the risk of unauthorized access and compromise the integrity and confidentiality of financial data.

Answer 476

On-premises hardware upgrades Decentralized systems Correct answer Containerization Your answer is incorrect Real-time operating system updates Overall explanation Containerization provides the best balance between modernization and security for aging infrastructure as it allows legacy applications to be encapsulated in containers, making them portable, more secure, and easier to manage without the need for immediate, extensive hardware upgrades or the complexities of decentralized systems.

Answer 477

Correct answer Implementing SSO with MFA Using shared accounts with strong passwords Password-only authentication for all users Your answer is incorrect Enabling anonymous access for easier user management Overall explanation Implementing SSO with MFA strikes the optimal balance between security and convenience. SSO simplifies the user experience by reducing the number of passwords they need to remember, while MFA adds an additional layer of security by requiring more than one form of verification. Password-only authentication is weak due to the prevalence of password-based attacks. Shared accounts make accountability and auditing difficult. Anonymous access would significantly compromise security by not controlling who accesses the system.

Answer 478

Correct answer Operational security Social engineering Password management Your answer is incorrect Phishing Overall explanation Using personal devices to access work-related resources violates operational security policies designed to protect corporate data. This behavior risks exposing sensitive information to potential security threats due to the varying levels of security between corporate and personal devices. While password management and social engineering are important security awareness topics, they do not directly relate to the misuse of personal devices for work purposes. Phishing is a specific type of security threat that, while important, is not the focus of this scenario.

Answer 479

The manual process of code review makes IaC impractical. Correct answer IaC scripts can contain vulnerabilities or misconfigurations that lead to security weaknesses. IaC eliminates the need for security audits and compliance checks. Your answer is incorrect IaC can significantly increase the cost of cloud resources. Overall explanation The primary security concern with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is that the scripts used to manage and provision cloud infrastructure can contain vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. If these scripts are executed without proper security checks, they can lead to significant security weaknesses, such as exposing sensitive data, granting excessive permissions, or creating unintended public access points. Therefore, it's crucial to incorporate security reviews and testing into the IaC lifecycle to prevent these issues.

Answer 480

Stakeholders Correct answer Backout plan Standard operating procedure Your answer is incorrect Maintenance window Overall explanation A backout plan is a predefined strategy for reverting changes in the event that the new configuration leads to unforeseen issues or degrades system performance. This part of the change management process is critical for quickly restoring operations to their former state without causing additional disruptions. It is preferred over discussing the roles of stakeholders or standard operating procedures because it directly addresses the immediate need to reverse a problematic change, ensuring business continuity and maintaining security integrity.

Answer 481

Correct answer TLS SASE WAF Your answer is incorrect UTM Overall explanation Transport Layer Security (TLS) is the best option to ensure that data in transit is protected from eavesdropping and interception over untrusted networks. TLS encrypts the data transmitted between client and server, ensuring that it remains confidential and intact. While SASE and UTM provide broad security solutions, they do not specifically focus on the encryption of data in transit like TLS does. A WAF is primarily concerned with protecting web applications from attacks and does not deal directly with the encryption of data in transit.

Answer 482

File Partition Volume Your answer is correct Full-disk Overall explanation Full-disk encryption is the level of encryption that ensures the entire contents of USB drives are protected. This type of encryption secures all data on the drive, including files, folders, and system files, making it inaccessible without the correct decryption key. This approach is ideal for removable media like USB drives, as it provides comprehensive protection against unauthorized access, regardless of the device the drive is connected to. Partition, file, and volume encryption offer varying levels of granularity and might not secure the entire drive as effectively as full-disk encryption.

Answer 483

Focusing solely on financial audits to minimize costs. Limiting the report to positive outcomes and improvements only. Reporting only to internal stakeholders to avoid external scrutiny. Your answer is correct Covering all aspects of compliance, including privacy, security, and financial regulations. Overall explanation For external compliance reporting, it's crucial to cover all relevant areas of compliance, including privacy, security, and financial regulations. This comprehensive approach ensures that the company meets the expectations and requirements of external regulators and stakeholders, minimizing the risk of fines, sanctions, or reputational damage. Focusing solely on financial audits ignores other critical aspects of compliance. Limiting reports to positive outcomes could be seen as lacking transparency, while reporting only to internal stakeholders fails to fulfill the requirements of external reporting.

Answer 484

Correct answer Hard authentication tokens Security keys Soft authentication tokens Your answer is incorrect Biometrics Overall explanation Hard authentication tokens, physical devices used to gain access to a network or service, combined with a username and password, provide a form of multifactor authentication, enhancing security by requiring something you have (the token) in addition to something you know (the password).

Answer 485

Apply manual approval processes for all changes Correct answer Version control and continuous monitoring Store scripts in a public repository for easier access Your answer is incorrect Rely on automatic encryption by the cloud provider Overall explanation The best approach to secure Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scripts is to use version control and implement continuous monitoring. Version control helps track changes and maintain the integrity of the code, while continuous monitoring can detect and alert on unauthorized changes or vulnerabilities. This approach ensures that IaC scripts are securely managed and updated, contrasting with less secure methods like public storage or sole reliance on provider encryption.

Answer 486

Reducing the frequency of data backup Increasing data storage capacity Limiting employee access to sensitive data Your answer is correct Regular audits of data usage and storage Overall explanation Regular audits of data usage and storage are essential when revising a data retention policy to ensure compliance with global privacy regulations. These audits help identify and rectify any practices that may not align with legal requirements, ensuring that data is only kept as long as necessary and used appropriately. This approach not only supports compliance but also enhances data governance and security by providing ongoing oversight of how data is managed within the company.

Answer 487

To facilitate faster internet speeds To enhance the aesthetic of the workspace To calculate the total weight of devices for shipping Your answer is correct To ensure devices are efficiently utilized Overall explanation Maintaining an updated inventory of all hardware devices is crucial for ensuring that devices are efficiently utilized and to prevent unauthorized access or theft, which could lead to data breaches. An accurate inventory helps in asset management by tracking the status, location, and configuration of hardware devices, facilitating security audits and compliance checks. Faster internet speeds, the aesthetic of the workspace, and calculating the total weight of devices for shipping, while potentially relevant to operations, do not directly impact security and asset management in the same way.

Answer 488

Correct answer The duration for which data is retained The cost of storage media The color coding of files for easy retrieval Your answer is incorrect The geographic location of data storage Overall explanation The duration for which data is retained is crucial for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, as laws often specify minimum or maximum retention periods for certain types of data. The cost of storage media, geographic location of data storage, and color coding of files are operational considerations that, while important, do not directly impact legal compliance in the context of data retention.

Answer 489

Distribute printed brochures about the dangers of phishing. Correct answer Send a test phishing email to employees to gauge their ability to identify phishing attempts. Post warnings about phishing on the company intranet. Your answer is incorrect Hold a one-time seminar on the importance of cybersecurity. Overall explanation Sending a test phishing email provides a practical, hands-on experience that can effectively educate employees on recognizing phishing attempts. This method directly engages employees, allowing them to apply their knowledge in a real-world scenario and learn from the experience. Printed brochures (A), while informative, may not be as engaging or memorable. A one-time seminar (C) can provide valuable information but lacks the interactive component that reinforces learning. Posting warnings (D) is a passive approach and may not capture employees' attention or lead to significant behavioral changes.

Answer 490

Expected remote work behavior An insider threat Correct answer Anomalous behavior indicating a potential security threat Your answer is incorrect Routine maintenance activity Overall explanation Login attempts from an unauthorized country, especially outside of normal business hours, represent anomalous behavior that could indicate a potential security threat, such as an attempted breach. This scenario is inconsistent with expected remote work behavior and routine maintenance activities, which are usually scheduled and known to the IT department. While it could potentially indicate an insider threat, the external origin suggests it is more likely an external actor attempting unauthorized access, making it imperative to investigate further to prevent a potential breach.

Answer 491

Cost of infrastructure Physical server security Speed of deployment Your answer is correct Misconfiguration of resources Overall explanation In an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) environment, the primary security concern is the potential for misconfiguration of resources. Since infrastructure is provisioned and managed through code, errors in the code can lead to widespread security vulnerabilities. Ensuring that IaC configurations are reviewed and audited regularly helps prevent misconfigurations and enhances security.

Answer 492

Correct answer Installing fingerprint scanners for access control. Implementing voice recognition software. Requiring physical keys for computer access. Your answer is incorrect Using complex passwords for all systems. Overall explanation Installing fingerprint scanners offers a good balance between security and usability. Biometrics such as fingerprints provide a high level of security due to their uniqueness to each individual, and they are generally more user-friendly than remembering complex passwords or carrying physical keys. While voice recognition adds convenience, it may not offer the same level of security due to potential inaccuracies and the ability to be spoofed.

Answer 493

Correct answer A specific department is designated as responsible for maintaining the integrity of customer data. Data encryption is used for all communications within the organization. Employees are encouraged to use cloud storage solutions for work-related documents. Your answer is incorrect All users have equal access to the company's internal network. Overall explanation Designating a specific department as responsible for the integrity of customer data exemplifies the principle of ownership by clearly assigning the accountability and stewardship of specific data sets. This ensures that there are defined roles and responsibilities for managing and protecting data, which is crucial for maintaining its confidentiality, integrity, and availability. While cloud storage, equal access, and data encryption are important, they do not directly address the concept of ownership and responsibility for data management.

Answer 494

Layer 4 Firewall WAF Correct answer NGFW Your answer is incorrect UTM Overall explanation A Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is the best solution for an organization that needs to filter out malicious internet traffic while also providing detailed reporting and analysis for compliance purposes. NGFWs go beyond traditional firewalls by incorporating advanced features such as application awareness, integrated intrusion prevention, and enhanced threat intelligence. They offer more in-depth inspection of traffic and better control over data, which helps in compliance reporting and threat analysis. While UTM devices offer similar features, NGFWs are typically more focused on advanced security and reporting capabilities.

Answer 495

Corrective Detective Preventive Your answer is correct Deterrent Overall explanation Displaying warning signs about surveillance camera usage is a deterrent control. Deterrent controls are designed to discourage potential attackers by increasing the perceived risk of detection or punishment. By advertising the presence of surveillance cameras, the organization aims to deter unauthorized access or malicious activities by making potential perpetrators aware that their actions are likely to be monitored and recorded. This approach relies on the psychological effect of deterrence, contrasting with preventive controls, which physically or technically stop actions, and detective controls, which identify incidents after they have occurred.

Answer 496

Security guard Bollards Correct answer Access badge Your answer is incorrect Sensors Overall explanation An access badge system is a physical security measure that controls access to certain areas within a building by requiring something the person has, namely, an access badge. This method authenticates individuals based on possession of the badge, which is programmed with the necessary access permissions. Unlike bollards, which are focused on vehicle access control; security guards, who provide physical security presence; or sensors, which detect and alert to breaches, access badges specifically manage and control individual access to secure areas.

Answer 497

Sensors Correct answer Access control vestibule Fencing Your answer is incorrect Bollards Overall explanation An access control vestibule is designed to manage the flow of people entering or exiting a secure area, allowing one person to enter at a time after proper authentication. This effectively prevents tailgating and piggybacking, where unauthorized individuals might try to follow authorized personnel into restricted areas. Unlike bollards, which are aimed at stopping vehicles, fencing, which creates a physical barrier around a perimeter, or sensors, which detect and alert to various types of physical breaches, access control vestibules specifically control and monitor human access to secure environments.

Answer 498

Ensuring secure wireless communication between devices Filtering and blocking malicious web content Correct answer Identifying potential insider threats based on anomalies in user activity Your answer is incorrect Encrypting data both at rest and in transit Overall explanation User Behavior Analytics (UBA) enhances enterprise security by monitoring user activities and applying analytics to identify behavior that deviates from established patterns, potentially indicating malicious intent or compromised accounts. This capability makes UBA particularly effective in identifying insider threats, where legitimate credentials might be used for unauthorized purposes. Unlike web content filtering, data encryption, or securing wireless communication, UBA focuses on the human element, providing insights into user actions that could threaten security.

Answer 499

Hashing Key stretching Correct answer Certificates Your answer is incorrect Salting Overall explanation Certificates, specifically SSL/TLS certificates, should be implemented to secure communications between the web server and clients' browsers. These certificates encrypt the data in transit, ensuring that any information transmitted is only decipherable by the intended recipient. This method prevents third parties from intercepting and reading the data, thereby protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the communication. Unlike hashing, salting, or key stretching, which are primarily used for securing stored data or passwords, certificates are designed to secure data in transit, making them the appropriate choice for this scenario.

Answer 500

Shadow IT Correct answer Insider threat Hacktivist Your answer is incorrect Organized crime Overall explanation The unauthorized use of company devices to mine cryptocurrency often indicates an insider threat, where an employee or someone with internal access exploits company resources for personal gain. This scenario does not fit the typical motivations of hacktivists, who are driven by political or social causes, nor does it align with the characteristics of shadow IT, which involves using unauthorized software or services rather than exploiting existing resources for malicious purposes. Organized crime typically targets financial gain through more direct means, such as data breaches or fraud, making an insider threat the most likely source in this scenario.

Answer 501

Selecting devices based purely on the lowest cost. Focusing on devices that offer the most user-friendly experience. Choosing devices with the highest specifications available. Your answer is correct Ensuring devices come from reputable vendors with secure supply chains. Overall explanation Choosing devices from reputable vendors with secure supply chains is crucial because it minimizes the risk of introducing compromised hardware into the company's network, which could include pre-installed malware or vulnerabilities. While high specifications, cost, and user experience are important considerations, they do not directly impact network security as much as the assurance of a secure supply chain does.

Answer 502

Physical isolation Correct answer SDN Air-gapped networks Your answer is incorrect Centralized architecture Overall explanation Software-defined networking (SDN) would be the most beneficial to implement for improving scalability and manageability, as it allows for centralized control over network resources, making it easier to adjust and manage network behavior dynamically compared to physical isolation, air-gapped networks, or a strictly centralized architecture.

Answer 503

Digital signatures Correct answer Blockchain Key stretching Your answer is incorrect Hashing Overall explanation Blockchain technology is most suitable for implementing a decentralized database that ensures data integrity and transparency without the need for a central authority. Blockchain's structure of linked blocks allows data to be stored in a tamper-evident manner across a network of participants. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, creating a secure and immutable record of transactions. This technology supports transparency and integrity, making it ideal for applications where multiple parties need to trust shared data. Unlike hashing, which is a method used within blockchain but does not provide a decentralized structure by itself, or digital signatures and key stretching, which are security measures for data integrity and password protection respectively, blockchain offers a comprehensive solution for decentralized data management.

Answer 504

Hot Warm Geographic dispersion Your answer is correct Cold Overall explanation A cold site is a location with infrastructure like power and cooling in place but no operational servers. It's a cost-effective option for organizations needing quick recovery without continuous operation. Hot and warm sites both involve operational servers, with hot sites being fully equipped for immediate use and warm sites requiring some setup time. Geographic dispersion refers to spreading resources across different locations for redundancy.

Answer 505

Key stretching Salting Correct answer Digital signatures Your answer is incorrect Hashing Overall explanation Digital signatures are the ideal technology for ensuring the integrity and authenticity of software updates. By signing the updates with a private key, the company can guarantee that any modifications to the software after it has been signed will invalidate the signature. Users can then use the company's public key to verify the signature, confirming that the update has not been tampered with and that it indeed comes from the company. Unlike hashing or salting, which ensure data integrity but not authenticity, or key stretching, which is used for password security, digital signatures provide a secure method to verify both the integrity and the source of the data.

Answer 506

Traditional networks are inherently more secure due to their physical nature. SDN requires no human intervention, thus eliminating human error. SDN technology is newer and therefore more secure by design. Your answer is correct SDN allows for centralized network management and control, enabling quicker response to threats. Overall explanation A primary security benefit of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) compared to traditional network management is the centralized control it provides. This centralization allows network administrators to quickly and efficiently respond to changing network conditions and threats. For instance, in case of a detected vulnerability or ongoing attack, security policies can be updated across the entire network from a central point, unlike traditional networks where changes might need to be applied device by device.

Answer 507

HTTP over port 80 FTP over port 21 SMTP over port 25 Your answer is correct SFTP over port 22 Overall explanation SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) over port 22 is the best choice for securely transferring files between servers over the internet. SFTP provides a secure channel with encryption, ensuring that both authentication information and data are protected during transmission. FTP over port 21 does not encrypt data, making it vulnerable to interception. HTTP over port 80 is also not secure as it transmits data in plaintext. SMTP over port 25 is intended for email transmission, not file transfer, making it unsuitable for this purpose.

Answer 508

Correct answer Preventive Detective Corrective Your answer is incorrect Deterrent Overall explanation The implementation of a firewall is a preventive control measure. Preventive controls are designed to stop unauthorized actions or events from occurring by setting up barriers or safeguards. A firewall actively prevents unauthorized access to a network by filtering traffic based on established security rules, thereby blocking potentially harmful traffic before it can penetrate the network. This approach is proactive, aiming to mitigate risks by preventing security breaches ahead of time, distinguishing it from other controls that may detect, deter, correct, or compensate for security incidents after they occur.

Answer 509

WAF VPN Correct answer TLS Your answer is incorrect SASE Overall explanation Transport Layer Security (TLS) is the best option for securing email communications as it provides encryption for the data in transit, ensuring confidentiality and integrity. While VPNs can secure network traffic, they are not specifically designed for email. SASE is an overarching network architecture and is not specifically tailored to secure email communications. A WAF is intended to protect web applications and does not apply to email security.

Answer 510

Correct answer Reducing the dependency on human resources for routine tasks Making the user provisioning process more complex and time-consuming Eliminating the need for any form of access control Your answer is incorrect Ensuring that all users have admin rights for convenience Overall explanation Automating user provisioning reduces the dependency on human resources for routine, repetitive tasks. This not only improves efficiency and saves time but also allows the IT staff to focus on more strategic, value-added activities. It enhances security by ensuring consistent application of access controls and reduces the potential for human error. Eliminating access control, providing universal admin rights, and adding complexity are counterproductive and would likely compromise security and efficiency.

Answer 511

Anomaly-based detection. Heuristic analysis. Behavioral analysis. Your answer is correct Signature-based detection. Overall explanation Signature-based detection is ideal for identifying and mitigating known malware and attack vectors because it relies on a database of known threat signatures for detection. This method offers high accuracy for known threats, unlike anomaly-based, heuristic, or behavioral analysis, which are better suited for detecting unknown or emerging threats but may result in higher false positives when dealing with known issues.

Answer 512

Keep all customer data indefinitely for potential future audits. Store customer data in a country of the customer's choosing. Correct answer Erase personal data upon a customer's request, provided there are no legal grounds to retain it. Your answer is incorrect Transfer all customer data to another company upon the customer's request. Overall explanation The right to be forgotten gives individuals the power to have their personal data erased by a company upon request, assuming there are no overriding legal reasons for the company to retain that data. This right is particularly relevant for companies handling sensitive financial information, as it directly impacts data privacy and protection.

Answer 513

It accelerates the computer's performance. Correct answer It ensures that data remains secure even if the device is physically stolen. It prevents unauthorized users from accessing the network. Your answer is incorrect It automatically updates the operating system to the latest version. Overall explanation Enabling full disk encryption ensures that data stored on the device is inaccessible without the correct encryption key, offering protection against data breaches in case the device is lost or stolen. While it does not directly prevent unauthorized network access or accelerate computer performance, and it is not related to operating system updates, encryption protects the confidentiality and integrity of the data on the device itself.

Answer 514

Correct answer Implementing strict IAM controls. Ensuring physical security of the cloud servers. Conducting frequent off-site backups. Your answer is incorrect Regularly changing CSP passwords. Overall explanation Implementing strict Identity and Access Management (IAM) controls is essential for maintaining cloud infrastructure security. It enables the management of user access and privileges, ensuring that only authorized users can access specific resources. While regularly changing passwords and conducting off-site backups are good security practices, they do not directly address access control and resource permissions as effectively as IAM does. Ensuring the physical security of cloud servers is primarily the responsibility of the CSP, not the cloud user.

Answer 515

IDS Firewalls Correct answer FIM Your answer is incorrect Antivirus software Overall explanation File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) is specifically designed for continuously monitoring and detecting changes in files, ensuring the integrity of critical system files and configurations. It alerts administrators to unauthorized modifications, which could indicate a security breach or non-compliance with policies. While firewalls and antivirus software are essential for a comprehensive security posture, they serve different purposes, such as blocking unauthorized access and detecting malware, respectively. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) monitor network or system activities for malicious actions but are not specifically focused on file integrity.

Sec - U - A Flashcards

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