CISM Certified Information Security Manager Questions and Answers

The greatest concern for an information security manager in this situation would be the security of the data that is being processed by the third-party service provider working from a remote site. This could be a concern because the data may not be adequately protected from unauthorized access, manipulation, or theft. A secure communications protocol should be used to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the data in transit. Additionally, the information security manager should ensure that the third-party service provider has appropriate security controls in place to protect the data, such as access controls, error checking, and malware protection. This information can be found in the ISACA's Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Study Manual, Section 5.2.

Maintaining multiple offline backups is the best way to ensure the capability to restore clean data after a ransomware attack. This is because offline backups are not connected to the network and thus cannot be compromised by the ransomware. Additionally, performing integrity checks on backups will help to ensure that any backups that have been potentially corrupted by the ransomware can be identified and discarded. Encrypting sensitive production data and purchasing cyber insurance can help to protect against a ransomware attack, but are not the best way to ensure the capability to restore clean data after an attack.

An anomaly-based intrusion detection system (IDS) operates by gathering data on normal network behavior and using it as a baseline for measuring abnormal activity. This is important because it allows the IDS to detect any activity that is outside of the normal range of usage for the network, which can help to identify potential malicious activity or security threats. Additionally, the IDS will monitor for any changes in the baseline behavior and alert the administrator if any irregularities are detected. By contrast, signature-based IDSs operate by gathering attack pattern signatures from historical data and comparing them against incoming traffic in order to identify malicious activity.

Security metrics are the most important to include in a report to key stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of an information security program because they provide objective and measurable evidence of security performance and progress. Security metrics can include measures such as the number and severity of security incidents, the level of compliance with security policies and standards, the effectiveness of security controls, and the return on investment (ROI) of security initiatives. The other choices may also be included in a security report, but security metrics are the most important.

An information security program is a set of policies, procedures, standards, guidelines, and tools that aim to protect an organization’s information assets from threats and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. The effectiveness of an information security program depends on various factors, such as the organization’s risk appetite, business objectives, resources, culture, and external environment. Regular reporting to key stakeholders, such as senior management, the board of directors, and business partners, is critical to maintaining their support and buy-in for the program. The report should provide clear and concise information on the program’s status, achievements, challenges, and future plans, and it should be tailored to the audience’s needs and expectations.

A business impact analysis (BIA) is the document that should contain the initial priori-tization of recovery of services. A BIA is a process of identifying and analyzing the po-tential effects of disruptions to critical business functions and processes. A BIA typi-cally includes the following steps1:

•Identifying the critical business functions and processes that support the organization’s mission and objectives.

•Estimating the maximum tolerable downtime (MTD) for each function or process, which is the longest time that the organization can afford to be without that function or process before suffering unacceptable consequences.

•Assessing the potential impacts of disruptions to each function or process, such as finan-cial losses, reputational damage, legal liabilities, regulatory penalties, customer dissatis-faction, etc.

•Prioritizing the recovery of functions or processes based on their MTDs and impacts, and assigning recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs) for each function or process. RTOs are the target times for restoring functions or processes after a disruption, while RPOs are the acceptable amounts of data loss in case of a disruption.

•Identifying the resources and dependencies required for each function or process, such as staff, equipment, software, data, suppliers, customers, etc.

A BIA provides the basis for developing a business continuity plan (BCP), which is a document that outlines the strategies and procedures for ensuring the continuity or re-covery of critical business functions and processes in the event of a disruption2. The other options are not documents that should contain the initial prioritization of recov-ery of services. An IT risk analysis is a process of identifying and evaluating the threats and vulnerabilities that affect the IT systems and assets of an organization. It helps to determine the likelihood and impact of potential IT incidents, and to select and imple-ment appropriate controls to mitigate the risks3. A threat assessment is a process of identifying and analyzing the sources and capabilities of adversaries that may pose a threat to an organization’s security. It helps to determine the level of threat posed by different actors, and to develop countermeasures to prevent or respond to attacks. A business process map is a visual representation of the activities, inputs, outputs, roles, and resources involved in a business process. It helps to understand how a process works, how it can be improved, and how it relates to other processes. References: 1: Business impact analysis (BIA) - Wikipedia 2: Business continuity plan - Wikipedia 3: IT risk management - Wikipedia : Threat assessment - Wikipedia : Business process map-ping - Wikipedia

Automated enforcement of password syntax rules is the best method to ensure compliance with password standards. Password syntax rules define the minimum and maximum length, character types, and construction of passwords. By enforcing these rules automatically, the system can prevent users from creating or using weak or insecure passwords that do not meet the standards. According to NIST, password syntax rules should allow at least 8 characters and up to 64 characters, accept all printable ASCII characters and Unicode characters, and encourage the use of long passphrases1. The other options are not methods to ensure compliance with password standards, but rather methods to verify or improve password security. Implementing password-synchronization software can help users manage multiple passwords across different systems, but it does not ensure that the passwords comply with the standards2. Using password-cracking software can help test the strength of passwords and identify weak or compromised ones, but it does not ensure that users follow the standards3. A user-awareness program can help educate users about the importance of password security and the best practices for creating and using passwords, but it does not ensure that users comply with the standards. References: 1: NIST Password Guidelines and Best Practices for 2020 - Auth0 2: Password synchronization - Wikipedia 3:

The primary objective of a business impact analysis (BIA) is to determine recovery priorities. The BIA is used to identify and analyze the potential effects of an incident on the organization, including the financial impact, operational impact, and reputational impact. The BIA also helps to identify critical resources and processes, determine recovery objectives and strategies, and develop recovery plans. Reference: Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Study Manual, Chapter 4, Business Impact Analysis.

Prior to conducting a forensic examination, an information security manager should create an image of the original data on new media. This is done in order to preserve the evidence, as making changes to the original data could potentially alter or destroy the evidence. Creating an image of the data also helps to ensure that the data remains intact and free from any interference or tampering.

The main purpose of creating and storing an external disk hash value when performing forensic data acquisition from a hard disk is to validate the integrity of the data during the analysis. This is done by comparing the original hash value of the disk to the hash value created during the acquisition process, which can be used to ensure that the data has not been tampered with or corrupted in any way. Additionally, by creating a hash value of the disk, it can be used to quickly verify the integrity of any data that is accessed from the disk in the future.

A BIA is an important part of Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP). It helps identify the impact of a disruption on the organization, including the critical systems and processes that must be recovered in order to minimize that impact. The BIA results are used to prioritize system restoration and determine the resources needed to get the organization back into operation as quickly as possible.

During post-incident reviews, the highest priority should be given to evaluating the effectiveness of the incident response effort. This includes assessing the accuracy of the response to the incident, the timeliness of the response, and the efficiency of the response. It is important to assess the effectiveness of the response in order to identify areas for improvement and ensure that future responses can be more effective. Documenting the actions taken in sufficient detail, updating key risk indicators (KRIs), and evaluating the performance of incident response team members are all important components of a post-incident review, but evaluating incident response effectiveness should be given the highest priority.

According to the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Study Manual, "The primary objective of information security governance is to provide a framework for managing and controlling information security practices and technologies at an enterprise level. Its goal is to manage and reduce risk through a process of identification, assessment, and management of those risks."

While demonstrating senior management commitment, compliance with industry best practices, and ensuring user compliance with policies are all important aspects of information security governance, they are not the primary objective. The primary objective is to manage and reduce risk by establishing a framework for managing and controlling information security practices and technologies at an enterprise level.

The best thing to include in a business case when the return on investment (ROI) for an information security initiative is difficult to calculate is an estimated reduction in risk. Risk reduction is the expected benefit of implementing an information security initiative, as it reduces the likelihood and impact of threats and vulnerabilities that may affect the organization’s information assets and systems. By estimating the reduction in risk, the information security manager can demonstrate the value and benefits of the information security initiative to the organization’s performance, reputation, and competitiveness. The information security manager can also compare the estimated reduction in risk with the estimated cost of the information security initiative to determine its cost-effectiveness and feasibility. The other options are not the best thing to include in a business case, although they may be some inputs or outputs of the risk assessment process. A projected increase in maturity level is a potential outcome of implementing an information security initiative, as it improves the organization’s capabilities and processes for managing information security risks. However, it does not necessarily reflect the actual reduction in risk or the ROI of the information security initiative. A projected cost over time is a component of calculating the ROI of an information security initiative, as it reflects the total cost of ownership and maintenance of the initiative. However, it does not indicate the expected benefit or value of the initiative. An estimated increase in efficiency is a possible benefit of implementing an information security initiative, as it may enhance the organization’s productivity and performance. However, it may not be directly related to the reduction in risk or the ROI of the information security initiative.

The primary objective of performing a post-incident review is to identify the root cause of the incident. This information is used to develop and implement corrective actions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The post-incident review process may also include a re-evaluation of the impact of the incidents, the identification of vulnerabilities, and the identification of control improvements, but the primary objective is to determine the root cause of the incident. By understanding the root cause, the organization can take proactive steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future and improve the overall security posture of the organization.

Deliver an information security awareness campaign is the BEST approach to obtain support for a new organization-wide information security program. An information security awareness campaign is a great way to raise awareness of the importance of information security and the impact it can have on an organization. It helps to ensure that all stakeholders understand the importance of information security and are aware of the risks associated with it. Additionally, an effective awareness campaign can help to ensure that everyone in the organization is aware of the cybersecurity policies, procedures, and best practices that must be followed.

Risk ownership is the most important detail to capture in an organization's risk register. Risk ownership is the responsibility for managing a risk, including taking corrective action, and should be assigned to a specific individual or team. It is important to note that the risk owner is not necessarily the same as the risk acceptor, who is the individual or team who makes the final decision to accept a risk. Capturing risk ownership in the risk register is important to ensure that risks are actively managed and that the responsible parties are held accountable.

Implementing the principle of least privilege primarily requires the identification of job duties. This principle states that users should only be given the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job duties. By identifying the specific job duties of each user, an organization can determine the minimum level of access needed, and restrict access to any unnecessary resources. This helps to minimize the potential damage that can be caused by a malicious or compromised user.