CISMP-V9 BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles V9.0 Questions and Answers

The AAA service, which stands for Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting, is essential for managing user access to network resources. When it comes to providing AAA services for both wireless and remote access network services in a non-proprietarymanner, RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) is the most suitable technology.

RADIUS is an open standard protocol widely used for network access authentication and accounting. It is supported by a variety of network vendors and devices, making it a non-proprietary solution that can be easily integrated into different network environments. RADIUS provides a centralized way to authenticate users, authorize their access levels, and keep track of their activity on the network1.

• TACACS+ is a Cisco proprietary protocol and therefore does not meet the requirement of avoiding proprietary solutions.
• OAuth is a framework for authorization and is not typically used for network access control in the same way that RADIUS is.
• MS Access Database is not a network authentication protocol and would not provide the necessary AAA services for network security.

References: The information provided here is based on the principles of AAA services as outlined in the BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles and supported by industry-standard practices for non-proprietary network security solutions.

The main issue with qualitative risk assessments is their inherent subjectivity. Unlike quantitative assessments that use numerical data, qualitative assessments rely on the judgment and experience of the assessors to estimate risks. This can lead to inconsistencies if the criteria for ranking and categorizing risks are not clearly defined and agreed upon by all stakeholders involved in the assessment process. The subjective nature of this method can also influence the prioritization of risks, potentially affecting the decision-making process regarding which security controls to implement.

References: This explanation is consistent with the principles of Information Security Management, which highlight the importance of objectivity and clear criteria in risk assessments to ensure effective risk management. The ISACA Journal also discusses the subjective nature of qualitative risk assessments and the need for agreement on rankings1. Additionally, the qualitative versus quantitative dilemma in information security risk assessment is well-documented in academic literature2.

 In the context of business continuity (BC), the individual tasked with documenting all relevant details during a BC exercise or actual plan activation is known as the Scribe. The Scribe’s role is crucial as they ensure that all actions, decisions, and changes are recorded accurately, which is essential for post-incident reviews and audits. This position supports the BC process by providing a clear and chronological account of events, which is vital for assessing the effectiveness of the BC plan and for making improvements.

References: The information aligns with the knowledge domains covered in the BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles, particularly under the domain of Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Management1.

The reporting of security incidents involving personal data is distinct from other types of incidents primarily due to the legal obligations imposed by data protection legislation. Such laws typically mandate that organizations report certain types of breaches involving personal data to a Supervisory Authority within a specified timeframe. This requirement is in place to ensure prompt and appropriate response to potential privacy risks affecting individuals’ rights and freedoms. Failure to comply can result in significant penalties for the organization. The reporting process also often includes notifying affected individuals, especially if there is a high risk of adverse effects on their rights and freedoms12.

References :=

• The UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 outline the duty of organizations to report certain personal data breaches to the relevant supervisory authority, such as the ICO, within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach1.
• The ICO’s guide on personal data breaches provides detailed instructions on how to recognize a breach, the reporting process, and the importance of having robust breach detection, investigation, and internal reporting procedures12.

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is the current specification for the encryption of electronic data established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). AES is a symmetric block cipher that can encrypt (encipher) and decrypt (decipher) information, converting data to an unintelligible form called ciphertext and back to its original form, plaintext. The AES algorithm is capable of using cryptographic keys of 128, 192, and 256 bits to encrypt and decrypt data in blocks of 128 bits. It was selected by NIST as a Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) to protect electronic data and is widely recognized and used for secure data encryption1.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles outlines the importance of understanding various encryption algorithms, including AES, for protecting electronic data. The NIST publication on AES provides detailed information about the standard and its application1.

 ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a widely recognized framework that offers a comprehensive set of best practices for IT Service Management (ITSM). It assists organizations in aligning IT services with business goals, including security objectives. ITIL provides guidance on the entire service lifecycle, from service strategy and design to service transition, operation, and continual service improvement. By following ITIL’s structured approach, organizations can enhance the quality of IT services, manage risk effectively, improve customer satisfaction, and ensure that IT and business strategies are in sync.

References: = The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles acknowledges ITIL as a key framework for ITSM best practices. It is aligned with other standards like ISO/IEC 20000, which reflects ITIL’s best practices within its requirements1234.

The deployment of end-to-end Internet of Things (IoT) solutions significantly increases the attack surface compared to traditional IT systems. This is due to the vast number of connected devices, each potentially introducing new vulnerabilities. The heterogeneity of these devices, often with varying levels of security, can lead to more entry points for cyberattacks. Additionally, the complexity of managing and securing these numerous devices, especially when they use different communication protocols and standards, exacerbates the risk. Therefore, the expansion of the attack surface is considered the greatest risk because it amplifies the potential for unauthorized access and compromises the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of information systems.

References: = This concept is supported by the BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the risks associated with the security of information systems, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like IoT1. Further, industry research and reports highlight the challenges and risks posed by the expanding IoT attack surface23.

The final stage in the information management lifecycle is often disposal. This stage involves the secure deletion or destruction of information that is no longer needed or has reached the end of its retention period. Proper disposal is crucial to prevent unauthorized access or recovery of sensitive data. It ensures compliance with data protection regulations and organizational policies regarding the retention and destruction of data.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles highlights the importance of managing information throughout its lifecycle, including the final stage of disposal. This aligns with industry best practices and standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, which includes requirements for the secure disposal of information1. Additionally, the Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) framework also identifies disposal as a key phase, emphasizing the need for policies and procedures to manage the end-of-life of information assets1.

Security by Design’ in software engineering refers to the practice of integrating security measures into the software development process from the very beginning. This approach ensures that security is not an afterthought but a fundamental component of the system’s architecture and design. It involves continuous testing, authentication safeguards, and adherence to best programming practices to make systems as free of vulnerabilities and impervious to attack as possible1. By incorporating security early in the design process, potential flaws can be identified and mitigated early on, significantly reducing the cost and complexity of addressing security issues later in the development lifecycle23.

References: The concept of ‘Security by Design’ is well-documented in software engineering literature and aligns with the principles outlined in the BCS Information Security Management Principles, which advocate for proactive and integrated security measures throughout the software development process231.

The method used to target senior individuals in an organization for coercing them into actions like misdirected high-value payments is known as a whaling attack. This type of attack is a more targeted version of phishing, aimed specifically at high-ranking executives or important individuals within an organization. The attackers masquerade as a senior player at the organization and use social engineering techniques to trick the target into performing actions such as transferring money or revealing sensitive information. Whaling attacks are highly personalized and often involve extensive research on the target to make the fraudulent requestsseem legitimate and convincing. The term “whaling” is used because it refers to going after the “big fish” or “whales” of an organization, such as CEOs or CFOs, who have access to significant resources and sensitive information. References: Based on the information provided by Kaspersky’s resource center on whaling attacks1.

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a security framework that impacts organizations involved with credit card transactions. It sets the requirements for ensuring the security of cardholder data, which is crucial for businesses that accept credit cards, process credit card transactions, store cardholder data, or transmit it. PCI DSS compliance is mandatory for these entities to help prevent credit card fraud, hacking, and various other security vulnerabilities. The standard requires organizations to maintain a secure network, protect cardholder data, manage vulnerabilities, implement strong access control measures, regularly monitor and test networks, and maintain an information security policy.

References: The importance of PCI DSS in the context of Information Security Management Principles is highlighted by its role in protecting payment-related data and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of financial transactions. It aligns with the domains of Technical Security Controls and Physical and Environmental Security Controls, as it encompasses both digital and physical aspects of data protection123.

Defence in depth is a security concept that involves implementing multiple layers of security controls throughout an information system. The idea is that if one control fails or a vulnerability is exploited, other controls will provide redundancy and continue to protect the system. This approach is analogous to a physical fortress with multiple walls; if an attacker breaches one wall, additional barriers exist to stop them from progressing further. In the context of information security, this could include a combination of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, antivirus software, and strict access controls, among others. Defence in depth is designed to address security vulnerabilities not only in technology but also in processes and people, acknowledging that human error or negligence can often lead to security breaches.

References: The concept of defence in depth aligns with the Information Security Management Principles as outlined by BCS, particularly under the domains of Technical Security Controls and Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Management. It is alsosupported by various industry sources that describe defence in depth as a strategy that leverages multiple security measures to protect an organization’s assets12345.

 Online retailers are the most at risk for the theft of electronic-based credit card data due to the nature of their business, which involves processing a large volume of transactions over the internet. This exposes them to various cyber threats, including hacking, phishing, and other forms of cyber-attacks that can compromise credit card information. Traditional market traders, mail delivery businesses, and agricultural producers typically do not handle credit card transactions to the same extent or in the same electronic manner as online retailers, making them less likely targets for this specific type of data theft.

The principles of Information Security Management emphasize the importance of protecting sensitive data, such as credit card information, through technical security controls and risk management practices. Online retailers must implement robust security measures, including encryption, secure payment gateways, and regular security audits, to mitigate the risks associated with electronic transactions12.

References :=

• BCS Information Security Management Principles, particularly the sections on Technical Security Controls and Information Risk, provide guidance on protecting electronic data and managing the associated risks1.
• Additional insights can be found in the Information Security Management Principles, 3rd Edition by Andy Taylor, David Alexander, Amanda Finch, David Sutton2.

The use of white noise generation is a countermeasure to protect against the threat of eavesdropping on electromagnetic emanations from computing equipment. This method involves broadcasting random electromagnetic signals, which are referred to as‘white noise’, to mask the genuine signals emitted by electronic devices. This makes it significantly more difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept and decipher the information being processed by the genuine equipment.

A Faraday cage (A) is designed to block external electromagnetic fields but does not specifically broadcast false signals to mask emanations. Unshielded cabling (B) would actually increase the risk of emanation interception rather than protect against it. Copper infused windows © can shield against electromagnetic signals but, like the Faraday cage, do not broadcast false emanations.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles outlines the importance of protecting against the leakage of information through electromagnetic emanations and suggests countermeasures like white noise generation as part of physical security controls1.

Consequential loss in the context of information security refers to secondary or indirect damage that occurs as a result of a primary event or incident. It is not the immediate direct loss, such as theft of money or service disruption, but rather the subsequent impact that may not be immediately apparent. Reputation damage is a prime example of consequential loss because it is a secondary effect that can occur after a security breach or incident. The loss of trust by customers, partners, and stakeholders can have long-term negative effects on a business’s financial health and market position. This type of loss is often more significant and lasting than the immediate direct costs associated with an incident.

References: The understanding of consequential loss aligns with the principles outlined in the BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles, which emphasizes the importance of considering both direct and indirect impacts of security incidents12.

According to the OWASP Top 10 list, Injection Flaws are among the most prolific web application vulnerabilities. This category includes a variety of attacks such as SQL, NoSQL, OS, and LDAP injection where untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query. The attacker’s hostile data can trick the interpreter into executing unintended commands or accessing unauthorized data. Injection flaws are particularly dangerous because they can lead to data breaches, loss of data integrity, and denial of service, among other impacts.

References: The OWASP Top 10 is a widely recognized document that outlines the most critical security risks to web applications. The 2024 edition continues to list Injection Flaws (A03:2021-Injection) as one of the top security risks, emphasizing their prevalence and severity in web applications1.

The field of Information Security is dynamic and evolves rapidly, with new threats and technologies emerging regularly. Continual Professional Development (CPD) is crucial in this sphere to ensure that professionals stay up-to-date with the latest security trends, practices, and technologies. CPD enables information security professionals to maintain and enhance their knowledge and skills, which is vital for effectively protecting organizations against the ever-changing threat landscape. This ongoing learning process is not just about retaining credibility or meeting the requirements of professional bodies; it’s about ensuring that professionals can respond to new challenges and remain effective in their roles.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles emphasizes the importance of CPD, stating that information security management is a critical discipline in modern business that requires practitioners to continually develop their understanding and stay current with industry standards, frameworks, and best practices12.

The ISO/IEC 27000 series, particularly ISO/IEC 27001, provides a framework for information security management systems (ISMS) that helps organizations secure their information assets. This series covers various aspects of information security, including the protection of organizational records and data protection & privacy, which are legal compliance requirements in many jurisdictions. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are also considered within the scope of information security as they pertain to the protection of proprietary information and assets. Forensic recovery of data and data deduplication are technical and operational considerations but are not directly addressed as compliance legal requirements within the ISO/IEC 27000 series.

References: The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard outlines the requirements for an ISMS, including the need to address legal, physical, and technical controls to protect information assets12. The Advisera guide on ISO 27001 further explains the standard’s requirements for documented information, which would include organizational records and policies related to data protection and privacy3.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are a threat to any organization that maintains an online presence. This is because DDoS attacks are designed to overwhelm an organization’s network with traffic, rendering it inaccessible to legitimate users. While cloud service providers, financial sector organizations, and online retail companies can be attractive targets due to their high-profile nature and the critical nature of their services, the reality is that any organization with an online presence can be targeted.This includes small businesses, educational institutions, government agencies, and non-profits. The motivation behind such attacks can vary from financial gain, to disruption of service, to political statements. Therefore, it’s crucial for all organizations to implement robust security measures to mitigate the risk of DDoS attacks.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles provides a comprehensive understanding of information security management, including the categorization, operation, and effectiveness of controls of different types and characteristics, which would encompass those necessary to defend against DDoS attacks1.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are legal contracts that are designed to protect sensitive information. They are a critical part of an employee’s contract of employment to ensure that confidential data is not released to unauthorized third parties. NDAs are specifically intended to prevent the disclosure of confidential information both during the period of employment and after the employee has left the organization. This is essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of proprietary information which could include trade secrets, client data, and other types of sensitive information.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles outlines the importance of legal and contractual mechanisms, such as NDAs, in protecting information security within an organization1. Additionally, the syllabus for the certification provides a framework for understanding how different types of controls, including legal ones like NDAs, contribute to the overall security posture of an organization2.

In a virtualized cloud environment, the hypervisor, also known as the virtual machine monitor (VMM), is the software, firmware, or hardware that creates and runs virtual machines. It is responsible for managing the system’s hardware resources so they are distributed efficiently among multiple virtual environments. The hypervisor provides the secure separation between guest machines by ensuring that each guest machine operates independently and is unaware of the other guests’ existence. This isolation prevents one guest from accessing or interfering with another guest’s resources, which is crucial for maintaining security in a multi-tenant environment where multiple virtual machines are hosted on a single physical server.

References: = The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles provides a comprehensive understanding of information security management, including the role of the hypervisor in ensuring secure separation between guest machines in a virtualized environment12.

 The effectiveness of a security awareness program can be measured through various methods that assess both the knowledge and behavior of employees regarding security practices.

• Online multiple choice exam on security principles: This method evaluates the employees’ understanding of the security principles they have been taught. It’s a direct measure of their knowledge and retention.
• Testing with social engineering techniques by an approved penetration tester: This practical approach tests employees’ reactions to real-life security threats, such as phishing or pretexting, which can indicate the effectiveness of the training in changing behavior.
• Open source intelligence gathering on staff social media profiles: This method can reveal whether employees are adhering to security policies by not disclosing sensitive information publicly.

Option 3 is not a direct measure of a security awareness program’s effectiveness, as practicing ethical hacking techniques is more about skills development rather than assessing awareness. Option 4, while important, does not directly measure the effectiveness of the security awareness program but rather the overall security posture of the organization.

References: These answers are based on the principles outlined in the BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles, which covers the domains of knowledge necessary to understand and manage information security risks effectively.

Developers should undergo Awareness Training to understand the security of the code they have written and how it can improve security defense while being attacked. This type of training educates developers on the importance of security considerations throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). It covers best practices for secure coding, common vulnerabilities and how to avoid them, and the impact of code security on the overall security posture of an application. By being aware of security principles and the potential threats, developers can write more secure code, which is crucial for defending against attacks.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the need for information security and the methods to implement it. Specifically, it emphasizes the importance of training and awareness for all staff, including developers, as a key procedural/people security control1. Additionally, specialized training programs likethose offered by SANS Security Awareness for developers focus on building a secure culture and mitigating vulnerabilities in critical web applications, which aligns with the principles of secure coding and awareness2.

Security controls are measures taken to safeguard an information system from attacks or to mitigate the impact of a breach. They are commonly classified into three main categories: preventive, detective, and corrective. Preventive controls aim to prevent incidents before they occur, detective controls are designed to discover and detect security events, and corrective controls are intended to restore systems to normal operation after an incident. The term “nominative” is not recognized as a standard classification of security controls within the principles of information security management. Instead, the accepted classifications align with the objectives of protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles outlines the categorization, operation, and effectiveness of controls of different types and characteristics, which does not include “nominative” as a classification1.

The standard that deals specifically with the implementation of business continuity is ISO 22301, which is internationally recognized. It outlines the requirements for a business continuity management system (BCMS), which provides a framework for organizations to update, control, and deploy an effective BCMS that helps them to be prepared and respond effectively to disruptions. ISO/IEC 27001 is related to information security management systems (ISMS) and while it includes aspects of business continuity, it is not solely focused on it. COBIT is a framework for developing, implementing, monitoring, and improving IT governance and management practices, and BS5750 is a standard for quality management systems, now superseded by ISO 9000 series.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles aligns with international standards like ISO/IEC 27001 and covers a broad range of topics including business continuity, which is closely associated with ISO 223011.

The ports discovered during the port scan are indicative of the services that are likely running on the device. Here’s a breakdown of what each port typically signifies:

• TCP port 22: This is commonly used for Secure Shell (SSH) which is used for secure logins, file transfers (scp, sftp) and port forwarding.
• TCP port 80: This port is used for Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), which is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web; essentially, it’s the standard port for web traffic.
• TCP port 443: This is used for HTTP Secure (HTTPS). It’s the protocol for secure communication over a computer network within a web browser, providing a secure version of HTTP.
• TCP port 3306: This is the default port for the MySQL database, which is often used in conjunction with web applications.
• TCP port 8080: This is an alternative to port 80 and is used for web traffic, particularly for proxy and caching.

Given this information, the most likely type of device is a Web server, as it uses these ports for web traffic, secure communication, and potentially for a database that supports web applications.

References: The information provided here is based on common networking standards and practices, which are part of the foundational knowledge of Information Security Management Principles as outlined by BCS and other information security frameworks12.

In a shared server environment, such as cloud services, it’s crucial to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of client data. The most effective way to prevent one client from accessing another’s data is through data isolation and logical storage segregation. This approach aligns with the Information Security Management Principles, specifically under the domain of Technical Security Controls. Data isolation ensures that each client’s data is processed and stored separately, while logical storage segregation uses software controls to keep data separate even when stored on the same physical server. This method is part of a broader set of security controls that include encryption, access controls, and regular audits to ensure compliance with security policies.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles outlines the importance of understanding security controls and their operation within the technical environment1. The recommended reading list and syllabus for the certification provide further details on these principles2.

which appears to be a typographical error for ISO 15489. ISO 15489 is the international standard that deals with the management of records, including their retention. It provides a framework for creating, capturing, and managing records of any format or structure, in all types of business and technological environments, over time. This standard emphasizes the importance of records management for organizational efficiency and accountability, and it outlines the principles and practices to ensure that records are properly maintained and retained according to legal, regulatory, and operational requirements12.

References :=

• ISO 15489-1:2016 Information and documentation — Records management — Part 1: Concepts and principles1.
• ISO committee website for ISO 15489 Records management2.