Free WGU Cybersecurity-Architecture-and-Engineering Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 3

The correct first step in responding to a data breach, as emphasized in theWGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488)course material underIncident Responseprocedures, is tonotify affected users. This aligns with theContainment, Eradication, and Recoveryphase of theNIST Incident Response Lifecyclediscussed in the course content. Prompt notification is crucial to empower users to take immediate protective measures such as updating credentials or monitoring for identity theft.

While other actions like implementing access control policies or improving encryption are validpreventive or corrective controls, they are not theinitial response stepafter a breach is identified. Public announcements are typically handledafter internal assessmentsand legal compliance actions are underway.

Reference Extract from Study Guide:

“As soon as a breach affecting personal data is confirmed, organizations are obligated to notify impacted users in accordance with legal and ethical standards. Notification is part of the initial incident response phase and should occur immediately after verification of the breach.”

—WGU KFO1 / D488 Study Guide: Incident Handling and Response

=============================================

The SQL statement provided is:

SELECT*FROMCustomersWHEREState ='Arizona';

SELECT *indicates that all columns from the table should be selected.

FROM Customersspecifies the table from which to retrieve the data.

WHERE State = 'Arizona'filters the results to include only those records where the State column has the value 'Arizona'.

Therefore, the statement returns all records from the Customers table that are located in Arizona.

A system administrator is responsible for managing, installing, and maintaining an organization's computer systems and networks. This role involves configuring new hardware, setting up user accounts, troubleshooting system and network issues, and ensuring the systems run efficiently.

The correct answer is D — Recovery point objective (RPO).

According to WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488), the RPO defines the maximum amount of data loss that is tolerable in terms of time. It sets the backup frequency to ensure that in the event of a disruption, no more than the specified amount of data is lost.

Continuous data protection (A) is a method but not the term for the metric. BIA (B) identifies impacts but does not define backup timing. DR (C) refers to the overall recovery process, not backup frequency.

Reference Extract from Study Guide:

"Recovery point objective (RPO) defines the maximum age of files that must be recovered from backup storage for normal operations to resume after a failure."

— WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488), Disaster Recovery and Recovery Objectives

=============================================

The correct answer is C — Host-based firewall.

According to the WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488) materials, a host-based firewall enforces traffic control policies at the endpoint level. It can allow or deny traffic based on application, port, IP address, and protocol rules, restricting access to only approved services and applications on a system.

Antivirus tools (A) detect malware but do not control network traffic. Two-factor authentication (B) secures user access but does not manage network traffic. HSMs (D) handle encryption keys, not network access control.

Reference Extract from Study Guide:

"Host-based firewalls restrict traffic at the system level, permitting only authorized services and applications, enhancing endpoint security."

— WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488), Endpoint Protection and Firewalls

=============================================

AnIntrusion Prevention System (IPS)detects and blocks malicious activity in real time based on defined policies or behavior patterns. IPS tools can enforcerate limiting,connection attempts, and evenauto-blockingafter repeated failures.

NIST SP 800-94 Rev. 1:

“Intrusion prevention systems not only detect potential incidents but actively prevent attempts such as brute-force attacks on services like SSH.”

Firewalls may filter traffic, but only an IPSactively terminates or blocks behavior-based threats like repeated failed logins.

????WGU Course Alignment:

Domain:Network Security

Topic:Deploy and configure IPS for automated protection against brute-force attacks

The correct answer is A — They act as an initial defense layer for potential threats.

According to WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488), security edge devices such as firewalls, secure web gateways, and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) are placed at the network perimeter to serve as the first layer of defense against external threats.

DDoS protection (B) may be part of a broader security solution but is not the main role of general edge devices. SIEM modules (C) collect and correlate logs, not defend at the perimeter. TPM devices (D) are hardware-based cryptographic modules, not network edge defenses.

Reference Extract from Study Guide:

"Security edge devices provide the first line of defense against external threats by monitoring, filtering, and blocking malicious traffic entering the corporate network."

— WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488), Network Security and Perimeter Defense

The correct answer is C — Implementing local drive encryption on employee laptops.

WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488) explains that encryption protects sensitive data at rest, ensuring that if a laptop is lost or stolen, the data remains unreadable without the decryption key. This control directly addresses the protection of sensitive customer data.

Restricting software installation (A) is a good security practice but does not specifically protect stored sensitive data. Biometric authentication (B) strengthens authentication but does not encrypt data. Awareness training (D) helps users behave securely but does not technically protect the data itself.

Reference Extract from Study Guide:

"Local drive encryption protects sensitive data stored on mobile devices such as laptops, ensuring confidentiality even if the device is lost or stolen."

— WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488), Endpoint Security and Device Hardening

=============================================

The correct answer is C — Implementation of role-based access controls and encryption of all sensitive data.

According to WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488), the combination of role-based access control (RBAC) and encryption protects sensitive health data by ensuring only authorized users can access necessary information, while encryption ensures the data remains secure both at rest and in transit.

Disabling USB ports (A) prevents data exfiltration but does not fulfill broad privacy requirements. Encrypting network traffic (B) protects in-transit data only. Firewalls (D) protect against unauthorized access but do not manage user roles or internal data privacy.

Reference Extract from Study Guide:

"Protecting sensitive health data requires a combination of access control models such as RBAC and encryption, ensuring both authorization and confidentiality."

— WGU Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering (KFO1 / D488), Privacy and Data Protection Strategies

An information system is a coordinated set of components designed to collect, store, and process data, and to deliver information, knowledge, and digital products. Organizations use information systems to support operations, management, and decision-making. This includes both the technical components (hardware, software, databases, and networks) and the human components (people and processes).