Free Isaca CISM Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 12

A SIEM system is the best tool for providing an incident response team with the greatest insight into insider threat activity across multiple systems because it can collect, correlate, analyze, and report on security events and logs from various sources, such as network devices, servers, applications, and user activities. A SIEM system can also detect and alert on anomalous or suspicious behaviors, such as unauthorized access, data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or policy violations, that may indicate an insider threat. A SIEM system can also support forensic investigations and incident response actions by providing a centralized and comprehensive view of the security posture and incidents.

References: The CISM Review Manual 2023 defines SIEM as “a technology that provides real-time analysis of security alerts generated by network hardware and applications” and states that “SIEM systems can help identify insider threats by correlating user activity logs with other security events and detecting deviations from normal patterns” (p. 184). The CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual 2023 also provides the following rationale for this answer: “A security information and event management (SIEM) system is the correct answer because it can provide the most insight into insider threat activity across multiple systems by collecting, correlating, analyzing, and reporting on security events and logs from various sources” (p. 95). Additionally, the Detecting and Identifying Insider Threats article from the CISA website states that “threat detection and identification is the process by which persons who might present an insider threat risk due to their observable, concerning behaviors come to the attention of an organization or insider threat team. Detecting and identifying potential insider threats requires both human and technological elements” and that “technological elements include tools such as security information and event management (SIEM) systems, user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) systems, and data loss prevention (DLP) systems, which can monitor, analyze, and alert on user activities and network events” (p. 1)1.

A single point of contact within the organization is the most important element to include when incorporating media communication procedures into the security incident communication plan because it helps to ensure a consistent and accurate message to the public and avoid confusion or misinformation. A single point of contact is a designated person who is authorized and trained to communicate with the media on behalf of the organization during a security incident. The single point of contact should coordinate with the incident response team, senior management, legal counsel, and public relations to prepare and deliver timely and appropriate statements to the media, as well as to respond to any inquiries or requests. A single point of contact also helps to prevent unauthorized or conflicting disclosures from other employees or stakeholders that may harm the organization’s reputation or legal position. Therefore, a single point of contact within the organization is the correct answer.

References:

https://www.lifars.com/2020/09/communication-during-incident-response/

https://ifpo.org/resource-links/articles-and-reports/public-and-media-relations/planning-for-effective-media-relations-during-a-critical-incident/

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/tip/Incident-response-How-to-implement-a-communication-plan.

According to the CISM Review Manual, the most important metric to present to senior management when reporting on the performance of a risk mitigation initiative is the cost and associated risk reduction, as it demonstrates the value and effectiveness of the initiative in terms of reducing the likelihood and impact of the risk. The other metrics may be useful for comparison or analysis, but they do not directly measure the performance of the initiative.

References = CISM Review Manual, 27th Edition, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.2, page 2091.

The most important information for influencing management’s support of information security is an demonstration of alignment with the business strategy because it shows how information security contributes to the achievement of the organization’s goals and objectives, and adds value to the organization’s performance and competitiveness. An identification of the overall threat landscape is not very important because it does not indicate how information security addresses or mitigates the threats or risks. A report of a successful attack on a competitor is not very important because it does not indicate how information security prevents or responds to such attacks. An identification of organizational risks is not very important because it does not indicate how information security manages or reduces the risks. References: https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2016/volume-4/technical-security-standards-for-information-systems https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2017/volume-2/how-to-align-sec urity-initiatives-with-business-goals-and-objectives

The first thing an information security manager should do after identifying suspicious activity on a PC that is not in the organization’s IT asset inventory is to determine why the PC is not included in the inventory. This will help to identify the source and scope of the threat, as well as the potential impact and risk to the organization. The IT asset inventory is a list of all the hardware, software, data, and other resources that are owned, controlled, or used by an organization. It helps to establish accountability, visibility, and control over the IT assets, as well as to support security policies and procedures.

If a PC is not included in the inventory, it may indicate that it has been compromised by an unauthorized user or entity, or that it has been moved or transferred without proper authorization. It may also indicate that there are gaps or errors in the inventory management process, such as missing records, duplicate entries, outdated information, or inaccurate classification. These issues can pose significant challenges for information security management, such as:

Lack of visibility into the IT environment and assets

Difficulty in detecting and responding to incidents

Increased risk of data breaches and cyberattacks

Non-compliance with regulatory requirements and standards

Reduced trust and confidence among stakeholders

Therefore, an information security manager should take immediate steps to investigate why the PC is not included in the inventory and take appropriate actions to remediate the situation.

References = CISM Manual, Chapter 6: Incident Response Planning (IRP), Section 6.2: Inventory Management1

1: https://store.isaca.org/s/store#/store/browse/cat/a2D4w00000Ac6NNEAZ/tiles

An information security governance framework is a set of principles, policies, standards, and processes that guide the development, implementation, and management of an effective information security program that supports the organization’s objectives and strategy. The framework provides direction to meet business goals while balancing risks and controls, as it helps to align the information security activities with the business needs, priorities, and risk appetite, and to ensure that the security resources and investments are optimized and justified.

References = CISM Review Manual 2022, page 321; CISM Exam Content Outline, Domain 1, Knowledge Statement 1.22; CISM domain 1: Information security governance Updated 2022

Level of residual risk is the amount of risk that remains after applying risk treatment options, such as avoidance, mitigation, transfer, or acceptance. The information security manager should compare the level of residual risk with the organization’s risk appetite, which is the amount of risk that the organization is willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives. The comparison will help to determine whether the risk treatment options are sufficient, excessive, or inadequate, and whether further actions are needed to align the risk level with the risk appetite.

References =

CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, ISACA, 2020, p. 49: “Residual risk is the risk that remains after risk treatment.”

CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, ISACA, 2020, p. 43: “Risk appetite is the amount of risk, on a broad level, that an entity is willing to accept in pursuit of value.”

CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, ISACA, 2020, p. 50: “The information security manager should compare the residual risk with the risk appetite and determine whether the risk treatment options are sufficient, excessive, or inadequate.”

The most effective course of action when employees are using free cloud storage services to store company data through their mobile devices is to assess the business need to provide a secure solution, such as a corporate-approved cloud service or a virtual desktop environment. Assessing the business need can help understand why employees are using free cloud storage services, what kind of data they are storing, and what are the security risks and requirements. Based on the assessment, the security manager can propose a secure solution that meets the business needs and complies with the BYOD policy. The other options, such as allowing the practice to continue, disabling remote access, or initiating remote wipe, may not address the underlying business need or may cause disruption or data loss. References:

https://www.digitalguardian.com/blog/byod-security-expert-tips-policy-mitigating-risks-preventing-breach

https://news.microsoft.com/en-xm/2021/03/18/how-to-have-secure-remote-working-with-a-byod-policy/

https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cybercrime-and-digital-threats/-infosec-guide-bring-your-own-device-byod

Senior management support is essential to ensuring effective incident response because it provides the necessary authority, resources, and guidance for the information security team to perform their roles and responsibilities. Senior management support also helps to establish the goals, scope, policies, and procedures for the incident response plan (IRP), as well as to ensure its alignment with the business objectives and strategy. Senior management support also fosters a culture of security awareness, accountability, and collaboration among all stakeholders involved in the incident response process.

The other options are not essential to ensuring effective incident response, although they may be helpful or beneficial. A business continuity plan (BCP) is a document that outlines the actions and arrangements to ensure the continuity of critical business functions in the event of a disruption or disaster. A cost-benefit analysis is a method of comparing the costs and benefits of different alternatives or solutions to a problem. A classification scheme is a system of categorizing information assets based on their sensitivity, value, and criticality.

References = CISM Manual1, Chapter 6: Incident Response Planning (IRP), Section 6.1: Incident Response Plan2

1: https://store.isaca.org/s/store#/store/browse/cat/a2D4w00000Ac6NNEAZ/tiles 2: 4

Lessons learned analysis is the best way to enable an organization to enhance its incident response plan processes and procedures because it helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current plan, capture the feedback and recommendations from the incident responders and stakeholders, and implement the necessary improvements and corrective actions for future incidents. Security risk assessments are not directly related to enhancing the incident response plan, but rather to identifying and evaluating the security risks and controls of the organization. Information security audits are not directly related to enhancing the incident response plan, but rather to verifying and validating the compliance and effectiveness of the security policies and standards of the organization. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are not directly related to enhancing the incident response plan, but rather to measuring and reporting the performance and progress of the security objectives and initiatives of the organization. References: https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2017/volume-5/incident-response-lessons-learned https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2017/volume-1/security-risk-assessment-for-a-cloud-based-enterprise-resource-planning-system https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2016/volume-6/how-to-measure-the-effectiveness-of-information-security-using-iso-27004 https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2017/volume-3/how-to-measure-the-effectiveness-of-your-information-security-management-system

An email digital signature will verify to recipient the integrity of an email message because it ensures that the message has not been altered or tampered with during transit, and confirms that the message originated from the sender and not an imposter. An email digital signature will not protect the confidentiality of an email message because it does not encrypt or hide the message content from unauthorized parties. An email digital signature will not automatically correct unauthorized modification of an email message because it does not change or restore the message content if it has been altered or tampered with. An email digital signature will not prevent unauthorized modification of an email message because it does not block or stop any attempts to alter or tamper with the message content. References: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/secure-messages-by-using-a-digital-signature-549ca2f1-a68f-4366-85fa-b3f4b5856fc6 https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/digital -signature

Assigning ownership is the best way to enable an effective information asset classification process, as it establishes the authority and responsibility for the information asset and its protection. The owner of the information asset should be involved in the classification process, as they have the best knowledge of the value, sensitivity, and criticality of the asset, as well as the impact of its loss or compromise. The owner should also ensure that the asset is properly labeled, handled, and secured according to its classification level. (From CISM Review Manual 15th Edition)

References: CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 64, section 2.2.1.2; Information Asset and Security Classification Procedure1, section 3.1.

When integrating security risk management into an organization, it is most important to ensure that the risk management methodology follows an established framework, such as ISO 31000, NIST SP 800-30, or COBIT. This is because a framework provides a consistent and structured approach to identify, assess, treat, and monitor risks, and to align the risk management process with the organization’s objectives, culture, and governance. A framework also helps to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations, and to facilitate communication and reporting of risks to stakeholders.

References: The CISM Review Manual 2023 states that “the risk management methodology should follow an established framework that provides a consistent and structured approach to risk management” and that “the framework should be aligned with the enterprise’s objectives, culture, and governance, and should comply with applicable standards and regulations” (p. 94). The CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual 2023 also provides the following rationale for this answer: “The risk management methodology follows an established framework is the correct answer because it is the most important factor to ensure the successful integration of security risk management into an organization, as it provides a common language and process for managing risks across the organization” (p. 29). Additionally, the article Integrating Risk Management into Business Processes from the ISACA Journal 2018 states that “a risk management framework provides a systematic and comprehensive approach to risk management that covers the entire risk management cycle, from risk identification to risk monitoring and reporting” and that “a risk management framework should be aligned with the organization’s strategy, culture, and governance, and should follow recognized standards and best practices, such as ISO 31000, NIST SP 800-30, or COBIT” (p. 1)