SY0-601 CompTIA Security+ Exam 2023 Questions and Answers

Shredding may be the most secure and cost-effective way to destroy electronic data in any media that contain hard drives or solid-state drives and have reached their end-of-life1. Shredding reduces electronic devices to pieces no larger than 2 millimeters2. Therefore, shredding is the most secure but least expensive data destruction method for data that is stored on hard drives.

A phishing campaign is a simulated attack that tests a user's ability to recognize attacks over the organization's email system. Phishing campaigns can be used to train users on how to identify and report suspicious emails.

References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, 4th Edition, Chapter 2: Technologies and Tools, pp. 85-86.

The most likely cause of the enterprise data being compromised from a local database is Shadow IT. Shadow IT is the use of unauthorized applications or devices by employees to access company resources. In this case, the sales director's laptop was stolen, and the attacker was able to use it to access the local database, which was not secured properly, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data. References:

• CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives - Exam SY0-601

When allowing mobile BYOD devices to access network resources, using a captive portal for user authentication and authenticating users using OAuth are both best practices for authentication and infrastructure security. A captive portal requires users to authenticate before accessing the network and can be used to enforce policies and restrictions. OAuth allows users to authenticate using third-party providers, reducing the risk of password reuse and credential theft. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, pages 217-218, 225-226

The test environment is used to assess the execution of component parts of a system at both the hardware and software levels and to measure performance characteristics. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide 601, Chapter 2

Bluesnarfing is a hacking technique that exploits Bluetooth connections to snatch data from a wireless device. An attacker can perform bluesnarfing when the Bluetooth function is on and your device is discoverable by other devices within range. In some cases, attackers can even make calls from their victim’s phone1.

A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system is a tool that collects and analyzes security-related data from various sources to detect and respond to security incidents. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide 601, Chapter 5

To understand the threat and retrieve possible Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) from a phishing email containing a malicious document, a security analyst should install a sandbox to run the malicious payload in a safe environment. References: CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives - 2.5 Given a scenario, analyze potential indicators to determine the type of attack. Study Guide: Chapter 5, page 209.

Hashing is a cryptographic function that produces a unique fixed-size output (i.e., hash value) from an input (i.e., data). The hash value is a digital fingerprint of the data, which means that if the data changes, so too does the hash value. By comparing the hash value of the downloaded file with the hash value provided by the security website, the security analyst can verify that the file has not been altered in transit or corrupted.

A social engineering attack that relies on an executive at a small business visiting a fake banking website where credit card and account details are harvested is known as whaling. Whaling is a type of phishing attack that targets high-profile individuals, such as executives, to steal sensitive information or gain access to their accounts.

To determine the total risk an organization can bear, a technician should review the organization's risk tolerance, which is the amount of risk the organization is willing to accept. This information will help determine the organization's "cloud-first" adoption strategy. References: CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives (SY0-601)

The output of the “netstat -ano” command shows that there are two connections to the same IP address and port number. This indicates that there are two active sessions between the client and server.

The issue of users having to provide their credentials twice to log in is known as a double login prompt issue. This issue can occur due to various reasons such as incorrect configuration of authentication settings, incorrect configuration of web server settings, or issues with the client’s browser.

Based on the output of the “netstat -ano” command, it is difficult to determine the exact cause of the issue. However, it is possible that an attacker is intercepting traffic between the client and server and stealing user credentials. This type of attack is known as C. ARP poisoning.

ARP poisoning is a type of attack where an attacker sends fake ARP messages to associate their MAC address with the IP address of another device on the network. This allows them to intercept traffic between the two devices and steal sensitive information such as user credentials.

To prevent such a breach in the future, the BEST control to use would be Password complexity.

Password complexity is a security measure that requires users to create strong passwords that are difficult to guess or crack. It can help prevent unauthorized access to systems and data by making it more difficult for attackers to guess or crack passwords.

The best control to use to prevent a breach like the one shown in the logs is password complexity. Password complexity requires users to create passwords that are harder to guess, by including a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. In the logs, the attacker was able to guess the user's password using a dictionary attack, which means that the password was not complex enough. References:

• CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives - Exam SY0-601

The attackers are using card skimming to steal shoppers' credit card information, which they use to make online purchases. References:

• CompTIA Security+ Study Guide Exam SY0-601, Chapter 5

The input "admin' or 1=1--" in the username field is an example of SQL injection (SQLi) attack. In this case, the attacker is attempting to bypass authentication by injecting SQL code into the username field that will cause the authentication check to always return true. References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Exam Objectives: 3.1 Given a scenario, use appropriate software tools to assess the security posture of an organization.

A captive portal is a web page that requires visitors to authenticate or agree to an acceptable use policy before allowing access to the network. By capturing visitors' MAC addresses and names, potential malicious activity can be traced back to a specific person.

Intellectual property is a type of data that is proprietary and unique to an organization. It includes trade secrets and other information that the organization does not want to share with third parties or competitors. Employees in the research and development business unit are most likely to use intellectual property in their day-to-day work activities, as they are involved in creating new products, services, or processes for the organization. Intellectual property data requires a high level of security and protection, as it can provide a competitive advantage or disadvantage if leaked or stolen.

Encrypted data is not a type of data, but a state of data. Encryption is a method of transforming data into an unreadable format using a key, so that only authorized parties can access it. Encryption can be applied to any type of data, such as intellectual property, critical data, or data in transit.

Critical data is a type of data that is essential for the operation and continuity of an organization. It includes information such as customer records, financial transactions, employee details, and so on. Critical data may or may not be intellectual property, depending on the nature and source of the data. Critical data also requires a high level of security and protection, as it can affect the reputation, performance, or legal compliance of the organization.

Data in transit is not a type of data, but a state of data. Data in transit refers to data that is moving from one location to another over a network, such as the internet, a LAN, or a WAN. Data in transit can be vulnerable to interception, modification, or theft by malicious actors. Data in transit can also be any type of data, such as intellectual property, critical data, or PII.

Hardware Security Module (HSM) is a network appliance designed to securely store cryptographic keys and perform cryptographic operations. HSMs provide a secure environment for key management and can be used to keep cryptographic keys safe from theft, loss, or unauthorized access. Therefore, an enterprise can achieve the goal of keeping cryptographic keys in a safe manner by using an HSM appliance. References: CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, Exam Domain 2.0: Technologies and Tools, 2.4 Given a scenario, use appropriate tools and techniques to troubleshoot security issues, p. 21

DNS poisoning, also known as DNS spoofing or DNS cache poisoning, is a form of computer security hacking in which corrupt Domain Name System (DNS) data is introduced into the DNS resolver’s cache, causing the name server to return an incorrect result record, such as an IP address. This results in traffic being diverted to the attacker’s computer (or any other malicious destination).

DNS poisoning can be performed by various methods, such as:

• Intercepting and forging DNS responses from legitimate servers
• Compromising DNS servers and altering their records
• Exploiting vulnerabilities in DNS protocols or implementations
• Sending malicious emails or links that trigger DNS queries with poisoned responses

According to CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Exam Objectives 1.4 Given a scenario, analyze potential indicators to determine the type of attack:

“DNS poisoning, also known as DNS spoofing or DNS cache poisoning, is a form of computer security hacking in which corrupt Domain Name System (DNS) data is introduced into the DNS resolver’s cache, causing the name server to return an incorrect result record.”

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/dns-cache-poisoning/

Using static code analysis would be the best approach to scan the source code looking for unsecure practices and weaknesses before the application is deployed in a runtime environment. This method involves analyzing the source code without actually running the software, which can identify security vulnerabilities that may not be detected by other testing methods. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, 4th Edition, Chapter 6: Risk Management, pp. 292-295

Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) is a type of authentication method that sends out a unique password to be used within a specific number of seconds. It uses a combination of a shared secret key and the current time to generate a one-time password. TOTP is commonly used for two-factor authentication (2FA) to provide an additional layer of security beyond just a username and password.

A supply chain attack occurs when a third-party supplier or business partner is compromised, leading to an attacker gaining unauthorized access to the targeted organization's network. In this scenario, the dedicated business partner connection to a vendor was used to exfiltrate customer credit card data, indicating that the vendor's network was breached and used as a supply chain attack vector.

Detailed Explanation: The attack being attempted is directory traversal, which is a web application attack that allows an attacker to access files and directories outside of the web root directory. A WAF can help mitigate this attack by detecting and blocking attempts to access files outside of the web root directory.

References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: Exam SY0-601, Chapter 4: Securing Application Development and Deployment, p. 191

The scenario of receiving an email stating a database will be encrypted unless a payment is made is an example of spear phishing. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide by Emmett Dulaney, Chapter 2: Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities, Social Engineering

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security solution that protects web applications from various types of attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and others. It is typically deployed in front of web servers to inspect incoming traffic and filter out malicious requests.

To protect the company’s website from malicious web requests over SSL, a decryption certificate is needed to decrypt the SSL traffic before it reaches the WAF. This allows the WAF to inspect the traffic and filter out malicious requests.

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security solution that protects web applications from various types of attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and others. It is typically deployed in front of web servers to inspect incoming traffic and filter out malicious requests.

To protect the company’s website from malicious web requests over SSL, a decryption certificate is needed to decrypt the SSL traffic before it reaches the WAF. This allows the WAF to inspect the traffic and filter out malicious requests.

The Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) is responsible for handling incidents and ensuring that the incident response plan is followed. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, Chapter 9

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) providers offer a la carte services, including cloud backups, VM elasticity, and secure networking. With IaaS, businesses can rent infrastructure components such as virtual machines, storage, and networking from a cloud service provider. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, pages 233-234

Vishing is a social engineering attack that uses phone calls or voicemail messages to trick people into divulging sensitive information, such as financial information or login credentials.

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. The systems analyst can use firewall rules to block connections from the ten IP addresses in question, or from the entire network block in the specific country. This would be a quick and effective way to address the issue of high connections to the web server initiated by these IP addresses.

SMS-based authentication is considered to be the least secure among the given options. This is because SMS messages can be intercepted or redirected by attackers through techniques such as SIM swapping, man-in-the-middle attacks, or exploiting weaknesses in the SS7 protocol used by mobile networks. Additionally, SMS messages can be compromised if a user's phone is lost, stolen, or infected with malware. In contrast, TOTP (Time-based One-Time Password), HOTP (HMAC-based One-Time Password), and token keys are more secure as they rely on cryptographic algorithms or physical devices to generate one-time use codes, which are less susceptible to interception or unauthorized access. Reference: 1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2017). Digital Identity Guidelines: Authentication and Lifecycle Management (NIST SP 800-63B). https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs /SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-63b.pdf

The network analyst should enable Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) to allow users to connect to the wireless access point securely without having to remember passwords. WPS allows users to connect to a wireless network by pressing a button or entering a PIN instead of entering a password.

Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) should be implemented to integrate incident response processes into a workflow with automated decision points and actions based on predefined playbooks. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, Chapter 9

SSH stands for Secure Shell Protocol, which is a cryptographic network protocol that allows secure remote login and command execution on a network device12. SSH can encrypt both the authentication information and the data being exchanged between the client and the server2. SSH can be used to access and manage a NAS device remotely3.

A WAF (Web Application Firewall) and NIDS (Network Intrusion Detection System) are both examples of Layer 7 security controls. A WAF can block attacks at the application layer (Layer 7) of the OSI model by filtering traffic to and from a web server. NIDS can also detect attacks at Layer 7 by monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns and behaviors. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, pages 94-95, 116-118

An identity provider (IdP) is responsible for authenticating users and generating security tokens containing user information. A service provider (SP) is responsible for accepting security tokens and granting access to resources based on the user's identity.

Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) is a deployment model that allows employees to select from a predefined list of devices. It provides employees with flexibility in device preference while allowing the company to maintain control and security over company data and infrastructure. CYOD deployment model provides a compromise between the strict control provided by Corporate-Owned, Personally Enabled (COPE) deployment model and the flexibility provided by Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) deployment model. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Chapter 6: Securing Application, Data, and Host Security, 6.5 Implement Mobile Device Management, pp. 334-335

TACACS+ is a protocol used for remote authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) that can be used to replace shared passwords on routers and switches. It provides a more secure method of authentication that allows for centralized management of access control policies. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, 4th Edition, Chapter 6

The suspicious activity reported by the application owner, combined with the recent compromise of the jump box and the use of NTLM authentication, suggests that an attacker is likely using a pass-the-hash attack to gain unauthorized access to the financial application. This type of attack involves stealing hashed passwords from memory and then using them to authenticate as the compromised user without needing to know the user's plaintext password. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, 4th Edition, Chapter 5

Configuring the guest wireless network on a separate VLAN from the company's internal wireless network will prevent visitors from accessing company resources. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: Exam SY0-601, Chapter 4

Reputation is the perception or opinion that customers, partners, investors, etc., have about a company or its products and services. It can affect the revenue and profitability of a company after a network breach, even if no intellectual property or customer information was stolen, because it can damage the trust and confidence of the stakeholders and reduce their willingness to do business with the company

Jamming is a type of denial-of-service attack that involves interfering with or blocking the wireless signal using a device that emits radio waves at the same frequency as the wireless network. It can cause the wireless network to be down and users to be unable to connect to it, especially if they are working in a building near the parking lot where someone could easily place a jamming device.

The CISO is using the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) to evaluate the environment for the new ERP system. The RMF is a structured process for managing risks that involves categorizing the system, selecting controls, implementing controls, assessing controls, and authorizing the system.

References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, 4th Edition, Chapter 4: Risk Management, pp. 188-191.

MDM solutions emerged to solve problems created by BYOD. With MDM, IT teams can remotely wipe devices clean if they are lost or stolen. MDM also makes the life of an IT administrator a lot easier as it allows them to enforce corporate policies, apply software updates, and even ensure that password protection is used on each device. Containerization and application whitelisting are two features of MDM that can help retain control over company emails residing on the devices and limit data exfiltration that might occur if the devices are lost or stolen.

Containerization is a technique that creates a separate and secure space on the device for work-related data and applications. This way, personal and corporate data are isolated from each other, and IT admins can manage only the work container without affecting the user’s privacy. Containerization also allows IT admins to remotely wipe only the work container if needed, leaving the personal data intact.

Application whitelisting is a technique that allows only authorized applications to run on the device. This way, IT admins can prevent users from installing or using malicious or unapproved applications that might compromise the security of corporate data. Application whitelisting also allows IT admins to control which applications can access corporate resources, such as email servers or cloud storage.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.office1.com/blog/byod-vs-mdm

Defense in depth is a resiliency technique that involves implementing multiple layers of security controls to protect against different types of threats. In this scenario, the NIPS likely provided protection at a different layer than the boundary firewall, demonstrating the effectiveness of defense in depth. References: CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives (SY0-601)

An internet proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between a client and a destination server on the internet. It can restrict web access and monitor the websites that employees visit by filtering the requests and responses based on predefined rules and policies, and logging the traffic and activities for auditing purposes

a backup strategy is a plan that defines how to protect data from loss or corruption by creating and storing copies of data on a different medium or location1. A backup strategy should consider the security and reliability of the backup data and the backup storage234.

Based on these definitions, the best option that is a cost-effective approach to address the security and reliability concerns regarding the on-site backup strategy would be D. Migrate to a cloud backup solution24. A cloud backup solution can provide several benefits, such as:

• Enhanced physical security of the backup data by storing it in a remote location that is protected by multiple layers of security measures.
• Enhanced durability of the backup data by storing it on highly reliable storage devices that are replicated across multiple availability zones or regions.
• Reduced costs of backup storage by paying only for the amount of data stored and transferred, and by using features such as compression, deduplication, encryption, and lifecycle management.
• Increased flexibility and scalability of backup storage by choosing from various storage classes and tiers that match the performance and availability requirements of the backup data.

SSH key is a pair of cryptographic keys that can be used for authentication and encryption when connecting to a remote Linux server via SSH protocol. SSH key authentication does not require a password and is more secure than password-based authentication. SSH key authentication also does not require additional software installation on the client or the server, as SSH is a built-in feature of most Linux distributions. A business partner can generate an SSH key pair on their own computer and send the public key to the company, who can then add it to the authorized_keys file on the Linux server. This way, the business partner can access the Linux server without entering a password or installing any software

Smishing is a type of social engineering technique that involves sending fraudulent or malicious text messages (SMS) to a user’s mobile phone. It can trick the user into providing personal or financial information, clicking on malicious links, downloading malware, etc., by impersonating a legitimate entity or creating a sense of urgency or curiosity.

A SHA 2 signature is a cryptographic hash function that produces a unique and fixed-length output for any given input. It can provide non-repudiation during a forensics investigation by verifying the integrity and authenticity of a drive image and proving that it has not been altered or tampered with since it was created

Credential stuffing is a type of attack that involves using stolen or leaked usernames and passwords from one website or service to gain unauthorized access to other websites or services that use the same credentials. It can exploit the common practice of reusing passwords across multiple accounts. It is the most likely attack that has been used to compromise the manager’s corporate account, given that the manager is using the same password across multiple external websites and the corporate account, and one of the websites recently experienced a data breach.

Data entropy is a measure of the randomness or unpredictability of data. High data entropy means that the data has more variation and less repetition, making it harder to guess or crack. It can increase cryptographic security by making the encryption keys and ciphertext more complex and resistant to brute-force attacks, frequency analysis, etc

OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) is a non-profit organization that provides resources and guidance for improving the security of web applications. It can be the best resource for a software developer who is looking to improve secure coding practices for web applications by offering various tools, frameworks, standards, cheat sheets, testing guides, etc., that cover various aspects of web application security development and testing

Pseudo-anonymization is a technique of replacing sensitive data with artificial identifiers or pseudonyms that preserve some characteristics or attributes of the original data. It can protect employee data while allowing the companies to successfully share this information by removing direct identifiers such as names, addresses, etc., but retaining indirect identifiers such as job roles, pay scales, etc., that are relevant for the comparison.

WAF stands for Web Application Firewall, which is a type of firewall that can monitor, filter and block web traffic to and from web applications. WAF can protect web applications from common attacks such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, directory traversal, buffer overflow and more. WAF can also enforce security policies and rules that can prevent parameter manipulation or tampering by an unknown third party. WAF is the best solution to help protect against the attack on the web API, as it can inspect the HTTP requests and responses and block any malicious or anomalous activity. Verified References:

• Other Application Attacks – SY0-601 CompTIA Security+ : 1.3 https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/other-application-attacks/ (See Web Application Firewall)
• CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Exam Cram https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/comptia-security-sy0-601/9780136798767/ch03.xhtml (See Web Application Firewall)
• Security+ domain #1: Attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities [updated 2021] https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/certification/security-domain-1-threats-attacks-and-vulnerabilities/ (See Web application firewall)

This firewall rule set allows a subnet to only access DHCP, web pages, and SFTP, and specifically blocks FTP by allowing or denying traffic based on the source, destination, and port. The rule set is as follows:

• Allow any source and any destination on port 80 (HTTP)
• Allow any source and any destination on port 443 (HTTPS)
• Allow any source and any destination on port 67 (DHCP server)
• Allow any source and any destination on port 68 (DHCP client)
• Allow any source and any destination on port 22 (SFTP)
• Deny any source and any destination on port 21 (FTP)
• Deny any source and any destination on any other port

Availability zones are the most appropriate cloud feature to address the concern of resiliency in case a cloud provider’s data center or network connection goes down. Availability zones are physically separate locations within an Azure region that have independent power, cooling, and networking. Each availability zone is made up of one or more data centers and houses infrastructure to support highly available, mission-critical applications. Availability zones are connected with high-speed, private fiber-optic networks. Azure services that support availability zones fall into two categories: Zonal services – you pin the resource to a specific zone (for example, virtual machines, managed disks, IP addresses), or Zone-redundant services – platform replicates automatically across zones (for example, zone-redundant storage, SQL Database). To achieve comprehensive business continuity on Azure, build your application architecture using the combination of availability zones with Azure region pairs. You can synchronously replicate your applications and data using availability zones within an Azure region for high-availability and asynchronously replicate across Azure regions for disaster recovery protection.

Archiving is the process of storing data for long-term preservation. In the context of IT security, archiving logs is the process of collecting and storing log files from devices in a centralized location. This allows organizations to access and analyze log data for troubleshooting, compliance, and security auditing purposes.

Log aggregation is the process of collecting log data from multiple sources and storing it in a single location. This can be done for performance or security reasons. However, log aggregation does not necessarily involve storing the logs in an off-site location.

DLP (Data Loss Prevention) is a set of technologies and processes that are used to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. DLP can be used to prevent data from being exfiltrated from an organization's network, but it does not typically involve storing logs in an off-site location.

SCAP (Security Content Automation Protocol) is a set of standards and tools that are used to automate the assessment and remediation of security vulnerabilities. SCAP can be used to collect log data from devices, but it does not typically involve storing the logs in an off-site location.

Therefore, the best answer to the question is archiving.

CIS benchmarks are best practices and standards for securing various operating systems, applications, cloud environments, etc. They are developed by a community of experts and updated regularly to reflect the latest threats and vulnerabilities. They can be used to update and reconfigure the OS-level security configurations to ensure compliance and reduce risks. 

A wildcard certificate is a type of SSL certificate that can secure multiple subdomains under one domain name by using an asterisk (*) as a placeholder for any subdomain name. For example, *.company.com can secure www.company.com, contactus.company.com, quotes.company.com, etc.  It can work for all the existing applications and any future applications that follow the same naming conventions, such as store.company.com. 

iptables is a command-line tool that allows an administrator to configure firewall rules for a Linux system. The -F option flushes or deletes all the existing rules in the selected chain or in all chains if none is given. It can be used to remove the rules that caused the network to be unresponsive and restore the default firewall behavior. 

A compensating control is a type of security control that is implemented in lieu of a recommended security measure that is deemed too difficult or impractical to implement at the present time. A compensating control must provide equivalent or comparable protection for the system or network and meet the intent and rigor of the original security requirement. An example of a compensating control is using a host-based firewall on a legacy Linux system to allow connections from only specific internal IP addresses, as it can provide a similar level of defense as a network firewall that may not be compatible with the system. References:

• https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/compensating-control
• https://reciprocity.com/resources/whats-the-difference-between-compensating-controls-and-mitigating-controls/

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a cloud model that provides clients with applications and software that are hosted and managed by a cloud provider over the internet. It can move email services to the cloud by allowing clients to access and use email applications without installing or maintaining them on their own devices or servers

Based on the logs, it seems that the host that originated the infection is 192.168.10.22. This host has a suspicious process named svchost.exe running on port 443, which is unusual for a Windows service. It also has a large number of outbound connections to different IP addresses on port 443, indicating that it is part of a botnet.

The firewall log shows that this host has been communicating with 10.10.9.18, which is another infected host on the engineering network. This host also has a suspicious process named svchost.exe running on port 443, and a large number of outbound connections to different IP addresses on port 443.

The other hosts on the R&D network (192.168.10.37 and 192.168.10.41) are clean, as they do not have any suspicious processes or connections.

Credentials are sent in cleartext is the greatest risk associated with using FTP. FTP is an old protocol that does not encrypt the data or the credentials that are transmitted over the network. This means that anyone who can capture the network traffic can see the usernames and passwords of the FTP users, as well as the files they are transferring. This can lead to data breaches, identity theft, and unauthorized access. Private data can be leaked (Option A) is a possible consequence of using FTP, but not the root cause of the risk. FTP is prohibited by internal policy (Option B) is a compliance issue, but not a technical risk. Users can upload personal files (Option C) is a management issue, but not a security risk

https://www.infosectrain.com/blog/comptia-security-sy0-601-domain-5-governance-risk-and-compliance/

This command creates an inbound access list that denies any IP traffic from the source IP address of 10.1.4.9/32 to any destination IP address (0.0.0.0/0). It blocks the originating source of malicious traffic from accessing the organization’s network. 

A business continuity plan is a document or a process that outlines how an organization can continue its critical operations and functions in the event of a disruption or disaster. It can include strategies and procedures for recovering or relocating resources, personnel, data, etc., to ensure minimal downtime and impact. The organization will most likely consult the business continuity plan when setting up offices in a temporary work space after its corporate offices were destroyed due to a natural disaster.

MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) is a method of verifying a user’s identity by requiring two or more factors or attributes that belong to different categories. The categories are something you know (such as a password or a PIN), something you have (such as a token or a smart card), something you are (such as a fingerprint or an iris scan), something you do (such as a gesture or a voice command), and somewhere you are (such as a location or an IP address). In this case, the user enters a password (something you know) and then receives an authentication code (something you have) to log in to a workstation.

A digital certificate is an electronic document that contains the public key and identity information of an entity, such as a person, organization, website, etc. It is issued and signed by a trusted authority called a certificate authority (CA). It can provide non-repudiation by proving the identity and authenticity of the sender and verifying the integrity of the message or data.

SED stands for Self-Encrypting Drive, which is a type of hard drive that automatically encrypts and decrypts data using a built-in hardware encryption engine1. SEDs do not require any additional software or configuration, and they do not affect the performance or usability of the laptop2. SEDs also have a feature called Instant Secure Erase, which allows the user to quickly and securely wipe the data on the drive by deleting the encryption key1.

CMS (Cloud Management System) is a software or platform that allows an organization to manage and monitor multiple cloud services and resources from a single interface or console. It can optimize the incident response time by providing a centralized view and control of the cloud infrastructure and applications, and enabling faster detection, analysis, and remediation of security incidents across different cloud environments. 

laaS (Infrastructure as a Service) is a cloud model that provides clients with servers, storage, and networks but nothing else. It allows clients to have more control and flexibility over the configuration and management of their infrastructure resources, but also requires them to install and maintain their own operating systems, applications, etc.

Network and firewall logs should be analyzed to identify the impacted host in a cybersecurity incident involving a command-and-control server. A command-and-control server is a central server that communicates with and controls malware-infected devices or bots. A command-and-control server can send commands to the bots, such as downloading additional malware, stealing data, or launching attacks. Network logs can help to identify any suspicious or anomalous network traffic, such as connections to unknown or malicious domains, high-volume data transfers, or unusual protocols or ports. Firewall logs can help to identify any blocked or allowed traffic based on the firewall rules, such as connections to or from the command-and-control server, or any attempts to bypass the firewall. References:

• https://cybersecurity.att.com/blogs/security-essentials/command-and-control-server-detection-methods-best-practices
• https://www.howtogeek.com/726136/what-is-a-command-and-control-server-for-malware/

SPIM (Spam over Internet Messaging) is a type of VoIP-associated vulnerability that involves sending unsolicited or fraudulent messages over an internet messaging service, such as Skype or WhatsApp. It can trick users into clicking on malicious links, downloading malware, providing personal or financial information, etc., by impersonating a legitimate entity or creating a sense of urgency or curiosity. Vishing (Voice Phishing) is a type of VoIP-associated vulnerability that involves making unsolicited or fraudulent phone calls over an internet telephony service, such as Google Voice or Vonage. It can trick users into disclosing personal or financial information, following malicious instructions, transferring money, etc., by using voice spoofing, caller ID spoofing, or interactive voice response systems. 

Corrective controls are security measures that are implemented after an incident to repair the damage and restore normal operations. They can include actions such as patching systems, restoring backups, removing malware, etc. An organization that is repairing damage after an incident is implementing corrective controls. 

Capacity planning is the process of determining the resources needed to meet the demand for a service or product. It involves estimating the number of staff members required to sustain the business in the case of a disruption, as well as other factors such as equipment, space, and budget12.

Redundancy, geographic dispersion, and tabletop exercise are not directly related to determining the staff members needed for business continuity. Redundancy is the duplication of critical components or functions to increase reliability and availability2. Geographic dispersion is the distribution of resources across different locations to reduce the impact of a localized disaster2. Tabletop exercise is a simulation of a potential scenario that tests the effectiveness of a business continuity plan

DLP stands for Data Loss Prevention, which is a technology that can monitor, detect and prevent the unauthorized transmission of sensitive data, such as PII (Personally Identifiable Information). DLP can be implemented on endpoints, networks, servers or cloud services to protect data in motion, in use or at rest. DLP can also block or alert on data transfers that violate predefined policies or rules. DLP is the best tool to assist with detecting an employee who has accidentally emailed a file containing a customer’s PII, as it can scan the email content and attachments for any data that matches the criteria of PII and prevent the email from being sent or notify the administrator of the incident. Verified References:

• Data Loss Prevention Guide to Blocking Leaks - CompTIA https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/data-loss-prevention-a-step-by-step-guide-to-blocking-leaks
• Data Loss Prevention – SY0-601 CompTIA Security+ : 2.1 https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/data-loss-prevention-4/
• Data Loss Prevention – CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 – 2.1 https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-501/data-loss-prevention-3/

Salting and hashing are techniques that can improve the security of passwords stored in a database by making them harder to crack or reverse-engineer by hackers who might access the database12.

Salting is the process of adding a unique, random string of characters known only to the site to each password before it is hashed2. Hashing is the process of converting a password into a fixed-length string of characters, which cannot be reversed3. Salting and hashing ensure that the encryption process results in a different hash value, even when two passwords are the same1. This makes it more difficult for an attacker to use pre-computed tables or dictionaries to guess the passwords, or to exploit duplicate hashes in the database4.

An intrusion prevention system (IPS) is the best solution to implement on the company’s network to detect and prevent suspicious attempts to access company resources. An IPS is a network security technology that continuously monitors network traffic for malicious or anomalous activity and takes automated actions to block or mitigate it. An IPS can also alert the system administrators of any potential threats and provide detailed logs and reports of the incidents. An IPS can help the company to improve its security posture and prevent data breaches, unauthorized access, or denial-of-service attacks. References:

• https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-an-intrusion-prevention-system-ips
• https://www.forcepoint.com/cyber-edu/intrusion-prevention-system-ips

A false positive is a type of alert that indicates a security incident when there is none. It can be caused by misconfigured or overly sensitive security tools or systems that generate false or irrelevant alerts. In this case, the alert from the company’s SIEM that Mimikatz attempted to run on the remote systems was a false positive because it was triggered by a legitimate vulnerability scanning tool that uses Mimikatz as part of its functionality.

Isolating the infected attachment is the best course of action for the analyst to take to prevent further spread of the worm. A worm is a type of malware that can self-replicate and infect other devices without human interaction. By isolating the infected attachment, the analyst can prevent the worm from spreading to other devices or networks via email, file-sharing, or other means. Isolating the infected attachment can also help the analyst to analyze the worm and determine its source, behavior, and impact. References:

• https://www.security.org/antivirus/computer-worm/
• https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/resources/worm_mitigation_whitepaper.html

Jailbreaking is a process of bypassing or removing the manufacturer-imposed restrictions on a mobile device’s operating system, allowing users to install unauthorized applications, modify settings, etc. It is a primary security concern for setting up a BYOD program because it can expose the device and its data to malware, vulnerabilities, unauthorized access, etc. 

Virtual machines are software-based simulations of physical computers that run on a host system and share its resources. They can provide resiliency for legacy information systems that cannot be migrated to a newer OS due to software compatibility issues by allowing OS patches to be installed in a non-production environment without affecting the production environment. They can also create backups of the systems for recovery by taking snapshots or copies of the virtual machine files.

A corrective control is a type of security control that is designed to mitigate the damage caused by a security incident or to restore the normal operations after an incident. A corrective control can include actions such as restoring from backups, applying patches, isolating infected systems, or implementing new policies and procedures. A corrective control is different from a preventive control, which aims to stop an incident from happening, or a detective control, which aims to identify and record an incident. References:

• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/security-controls-3/
• https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/comptia-security-all-in-one/9781260464016/ch31.xhtml
• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-501/security-controls-2/

OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) is a non-profit organization that provides resources and guidance for improving the security of web applications. It publishes a list of the most common web application vulnerabilities, such as injection, broken authentication, cross-site scripting, etc., and provides recommendations and best practices for preventing and mitigating them

SSH stands for Secure Shell, which is a protocol that can be used to securely transfer files over the internet. SSH uses encryption and authentication to protect the data in transit and ensure the identity of the sender and receiver. SSH can also support compression, tunneling, and port forwarding. SSH can be used to send files to a business partner by using a command-line tool such as scp or sftp, or by using a graphical user interface (GUI) tool such as FileZilla or WinSCP. SSH can also be used to remotely access and manage servers or devices over the internet. References:

• https://www.globalscape.com/solutions/secure-file-transfer
• https://www.jscape.com/blog/how-to-securely-transfer-large-files-over-the-internet

MDM stands for Mobile Device Management, which is a software solution that can manage and secure smartphones, laptops, tablets and other mobile devices across heterogeneous platforms. MDM can enforce security features such as encryption, password policies, remote wipe, device tracking, app control and more. MDM can also monitor and update the devices remotely and provide reports and alerts on their status. MDM is the most effective solution to implement security features across heterogeneous platforms, as it can provide centralized and consistent management of various types of devices. Verified References:

• Security+ (Plus) Certification | CompTIA IT Certifications https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security (See Domain 3: Architecture and Design, Objective 3.4: Given a scenario, implement secure systems design.)
• CompTIA Security+ 601 - Infosec https://www.infosecinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CompTIA-Security-eBook.pdf (See Security+: 5 in-demand cybersecurity skills, Implementation)
• Certification Security+ | CompTIA https://www.comptia.org/landing/securityplus/index.html (See Exam Objectives)

Push notifications are a type of technology that allows an application or a service to send messages or alerts to a user’s device without requiring the user to open the application or the service. They can be used for multi-factor authentication (MFA) by sending a prompt or a code to the user’s device that the user has to approve or enter to verify their identity. They can be non-disruptive and user friendly because they do not require the user to remember or type anything, and they can be delivered instantly and securely.

A single point of failure is a component or element of a system that, if it fails, will cause the entire system to fail or stop functioning. It can pose a high risk and impact for business continuity and availability. A high availability pair is a configuration that involves two identical devices or systems that operate in parallel and provide redundancy and failover capabilities. It can remove the single point of failure by ensuring that if one device or system fails, the other one can take over its functions without interruption or downtime. 

The SIEM log shows that the user opened an email attachment named “Invoice.xlsx” and then executed a PowerShell script that downloaded and ran a malicious file from a remote server. This indicates that the attacker was able to bypass the application approve list by emailing a spreadsheet attachment with an embedded PowerShell in the file. This is a common technique used by malware authors to evade detection and deliver their payloads1.

Impossible travel time is an anomaly detection that indicates a possible compromise of a user account. It occurs when the same user connects from two different countries and the time between those connections is shorter than the time it would take to travel from the first location to the second by conventional means. This suggests that a different user is using the same credentials or that a proxy or VPN is being used to mask the true location. The log activity shows that the user connected from two different IP addresses in different countries (US and Brazil) within a span of 37 minutes, which is impossible to achieve by normal travel. References: Detecting and Remediating Impossible Travel - Microsoft Community Hub; Anomaly detection policies - Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps; Understanding Microsoft 365 Impossible Travel Rules | Blumira

An air gap is a security measure that physically isolates a section of the network from any other network or device that could compromise its security. An air gap prevents any unauthorized access, data leakage, or malware infection through network connections, such as Ethernet cables, wireless signals, or Bluetooth devices. An air gap can be used to protect sensitive or critical systems and data from external threats, such as hackers, spies, or cyberattacks.

Utilizing split tunneling so only traffic for corporate resources is encrypted would best maintain high-quality videoconferencing while minimizing latency when connected to the VPN. Split tunneling is a technique that allows a VPN user to access both the public internet and the private network simultaneously, without routing all traffic through the VPN. This can improve the performance and quality of videoconferencing applications that rely on low latency and high bandwidth, as well as reduce the load on the VPN server.

The security engineer is an example of a data custodian. A data custodian is a person who is responsible for implementing and maintaining the security controls for the data, such as encryption, backup, access control, etc. A data custodian acts on behalf of the data owner, who is the person who has the authority and accountability for the data. A data controller is a person who determines the purposes and means of processing the data, such as a company or an organization. A data processor is a person who processes the data on behalf of the data controller, such as a service provider or a vendor1.

EDR stands for Endpoint Detection and Response, which is a technology that monitors, detects, and responds to cyber threats on endpoint devices, such as laptops, desktops, servers, or mobile devices. EDR collects and analyzes data from endpoints to identify suspicious or malicious activities, such as malware installation, file modification, registry changes, network connections, or user actions. EDR also provides tools and capabilities to respond to threats, such as isolating infected devices, blocking malicious processes, removing malware, or restoring files.

Historically, a company has had issues with users plugging in personally owned removable media devices into corporate computers. As a result, the threat of malware incidents is almost constant. EDR would best help prevent the malware from being installed on the computers by detecting the insertion of removable media devices and scanning them for any malicious code or files. EDR would also alert the security team of any potential infection and enable them to take immediate action to contain and remediate the threat.

A smart card is a physical device that contains an embedded integrated circuit chip that can store and process data. A smart card can be used as a second authentication factor, in addition to a password, to verify the identity of a user who wants to log in to company-owned devices. A smart card requires a smart card reader to access the data on the chip, which adds an extra layer of security. A smart card meets the requirements of the company because it does not involve a smartphone or any other device that is not allowed at the desks

The log files show that the attacker was able to access files and directories that were not intended to be accessible by web users, such as “/etc/passwd” and “/var/log”. This indicates that the attacker was able to exploit a vulnerability in the web server or application that allowed them to manipulate the file path and access arbitrary files on the server. This is a type of attack known as directory traversal, which can lead to information disclosure, privilege escalation, or remote code execution3.

An insider threat is a threat to an organization that comes from negligent or malicious insiders, such as employees, former employees, contractors, third-party vendors, or business partners, who have inside information about cybersecurity practices, sensitive data, and computer systems. The action described in the question is an example of a malicious insider threat, where an employee intentionally misused their authorized access to harm the organization by stealing customer records and diverting funds to their personal bank account. References: What Is an Insider Threat? Definition, Types, and Prevention - Fortinet; What are insider threats? | IBM; What Is an Insider Threat? Definition, Examples, and Mitigations; Insider Threat Mitigation | Cybersecurity and Infrastructure … - CISA

Monitoring outbound traffic is a technique that can detect the behavior of malware that allows the unauthorized movement of data from a system. Outbound traffic refers to the data that leaves a system or network and goes to an external destination, such as another network, server, or website. Monitoring outbound traffic can help identify any suspicious or anomalous patterns, such as large volumes of data being sent to unknown or malicious destinations, which could indicate a malware infection or a data exfiltration attempt. Monitoring outbound traffic can also help prevent malware from communicating with command-and-control servers or downloading additional payloads101112 References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 11: Explaining Digital Forensics Concepts, page 496; Outbound Traffic Monitoring: Why It’s Important for Your Network | SolarWinds MSP; How to Monitor Outbound Traffic on Your Network | NetFort Blog; Why You Should Monitor Outbound Traffic on Your Network | CSO Online

Submitting the application to QA before releasing it would best help the team ensure the application is ready to be released to production. QA stands for quality assurance, which is a process of testing and verifying that a software product meets the specified requirements and standards. QA can help identify and fix any bugs, errors, vulnerabilities, or performance issues before the software is deployed to the end users. QA can also ensure that the software meets the security objectives and complies with the best practices and regulations.

Hacktivists are hackers who use their skills to promote a political or social cause, such as human rights, environmentalism, anti-censorship, etc. Hacktivists may target organizations or individuals who oppose their views or agendas, and launch cyberattacks such as defacement, denial-of-service, data theft, or sabotage. In this case, the security manager should consider hacktivists as a potential threat actor who may launch cyberattacks in response to the CEO’s controversial opinion article.

Dynamic resource allocation is a technique that allows cloud providers to adjust the amount and distribution of computing resources according to the changing demand and capacity of the cloud environment1. Dynamic resource allocation can improve the efficiency and utilization of available computing power, as well as reduce the cost and energy consumption of the cloud infrastructure1. Dynamic resource allocation can also enhance the system availability and reliability by avoiding potential denial-of-service situations caused by overloading or under-provisioning of resources1.

A cold aisle and a hot aisle are design strategies for data centers that aim to improve the cooling efficiency and reduce the energy consumption. They involve lining up server racks in alternating rows with cold air intakes facing one side (the cold aisle) and hot air exhausts facing the other side (the hot aisle). This prevents the mixing of hot and cold air and creates a more uniform temperature distribution. The cold aisles receive cold air from the cooling units, while the hot aisles return hot air to the cooling units. This improves the performance and reliability of the IT equipment and lowers the cooling costs. References: Hot and Cold-Aisle Containment - Advantages & Disadvantages - AKCP; Hot Aisle Containment vs. Cold Aisle Containment: Which is Better for the Data Center? - Upsite; Aisle Containment Systems FAQ for Hot & Cold Aisle Solutions - Cool Shield; Hot and Cold Aisle Containment Differences - AKCP Monitoring; What is Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle? - Definition from Techopedia

The GPS location would be part of the images if all the metadata is still intact. Metadata is data that describes other data, such as file name, size, date, author, etc. Some metadata can also contain information about the device, software, or location that created or modified the data. For example, some digital cameras and smartphones can embed GPS coordinates into the metadata of photos, which can reveal the location where the photos were taken. This can be useful for forensic analysis, but also pose privacy risks.

An on-path attack is an attack that took place when an attacker was eavesdropping on a user who was shopping online and was able to spoof the IP address associated with the shopping site. An on-path attack is a type of network attack that involves intercepting or modifying traffic between two parties by placing oneself in the communication path. An on-path attack can also be called a man-in-the-middle attack or a session hijacking attack. An on-path attacker can steal sensitive information, such as credit card details, or redirect the user to a malicious website. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-man-in-the-middle-attack https://www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objectives-1.0.pdf

The concept of connecting a user account across the systems of multiple enterprises is best known as federation. Federation is a process that allows users to authenticate once and access multiple resources or services across different domains or organizations. For example, a user can use their Google account to sign in to various websites or applications that support federation, without creating separate accounts or passwords for each one. Federation can improve user convenience and security, as well as reduce administrative overhead.

Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) is used to validate a certificate when it is presented to a user. OCSP is a protocol that allows a client or browser to query the status of a certificate from an OCSP responder, which is a server that maintains and provides the revocation status of certificates issued by a certificate authority (CA). OCSP can help to verify the authenticity and validity of a certificate and prevent the use of revoked or expired certificates. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-ocsp https://www.c ertblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objectives-1.0.pdf

A dynamic code analysis tool is a security tool that can improve vulnerability detection on this environment by testing and analyzing the software during runtime. Dynamic code analysis can identify potential vulnerabilities, errors, or performance issues that may not be visible in the source code or during static analysis, such as memory leaks, buffer overflows, or input validation errors. Dynamic code analysis can also simulate real-world scenarios and user inputs to evaluate the behavior and functionality of the software

A tabletop exercise is a type of simulation exercise that involves discussing hypothetical scenarios and testing the incident response plan in a low-stress environment. A tabletop exercise can help the CSO to validate the business’s involvement in the incident response plan by involving key stakeholders, such as senior management, business units, legal department, etc., in the discussion and evaluation of the plan.

A threat actor who used a sophisticated attack to breach a well-known ride-sharing company and posted on social media that this action was in response to the company’s treatment of its drivers is most likely a hacktivist. A hacktivist is a person who uses hacking skills to promote a social or political cause, such as human rights, environmentalism, or anti-corporatism5.

Username lockout is a security feature that prevents an attacker from brute-forcing user credentials by locking out an account after a certain number of failed login attempts. This can prevent the attacker from harvesting user credentials on a client’s website. The logon screen message that reveals the username does not exist is a security weakness that can help the attacker to guess valid usernames. A better message would be “Invalid username or password”.

Impossible travel time is a security metric that detects anomalous login attempts based on the time and distance between two locations. Impossible travel time can help prevent email account compromises by flagging login attempts that occur within a short time span from locations that are far apart, such as France and Brazil. Impossible travel time can indicate that an attacker has stolen or guessed the user’s credentials and is trying to access their email account from another location.

Documenting the collection and requiring a sign-off when possession changes are essential steps for maintaining chain of custody during an investigation. Chain of custody is the process of documenting and preserving the integrity and authenticity of evidence from the time it is collected until it is presented in court. Documenting the collection involves recording information such as date, time, location, description, serial number, etc., of the evidence. Requiring a sign-off when possession changes involves obtaining signatures from every person who handles or transfers the evidence.

The ability of code to target a hypervisor from inside a guest OS is known as VM escape. This is a serious security threat that can compromise the entire virtualized environment and allow an attacker to access other guest OSes or the host OS. VM escape can be achieved by exploiting vulnerabilities in the hypervisor software, the guest OS, or the virtual hardware devices4.

A RAT (Remote Access Trojan) is a type of malware that allows an attacker to remotely access and control a compromised system without the user’s knowledge or consent. A RAT can perform various malicious activities on the system, such as stealing data, installing other malware, deleting files, modifying settings, capturing keystrokes, recording audio or video, etc. In this case, the attacker most likely used a RAT to gain administrative access to the network through a file downloaded from a social media site and subsequently installed it without the user’s knowledge

A replay attack is a type of network attack where an attacker captures and retransmits a valid data transmission, such as a login request, to gain unauthorized access or impersonate a legitimate user. In this case, the attacker may have captured the credentials of the app admin test account and used them to log in to the application. The application log shows multiple failed login attempts from different IP addresses, which indicates a replay attack.

 NDA stands for non-disclosure agreement, which is a legally binding contract that establishes a confidential relationship between two or more parties. An NDA can be used to prevent intellectual property theft by employees who leave the organization by prohibiting them from disclosing or using any sensitive information they may have obtained during their employment. An NDA can protect trade secrets, business plans, customer data, and other proprietary information from being leaked or exploited by competitors or other parties789 References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 10: Summarizing Risk Management Concepts, page 452; Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Explained, With Pros and Cons - Investopedia; Free Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Template | PDF & Word; Non-disclosure agreement - Wikipedia

A web application firewall (WAF) is a security solution that monitors and filters the traffic between a web application and the internet. It can prevent code injection attacks by blocking malicious requests that contain code snippets or commands that could compromise the web application. A WAF can also enforce input validation rules and sanitize user inputs to prevent code injection. References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 4: Implementing Secure Network Designs, page 194; 5 ways to prevent code injection in JavaScript and Node.js

Organized crime is a term that describes groups of criminals who operate in a coordinated and systematic manner to pursue illicit activities for profit. Organized crime groups often use sophisticated tools and techniques to evade law enforcement and exploit vulnerabilities in various sectors, such as finance, transportation, or healthcare. Organized crime groups may also collaborate with other criminal groups or actors to share resources, information, or expertise.

Ransomware as a service (RaaS) is an example of a business model used by organized crime groups to conduct ransomware and extortion attacks. RaaS is an arrangement between an operator, who develops and maintains the tools to power extortion operations, and an affiliate, who deploys the ransomware payload. When the affiliate conducts a successful ransomware and extortion attack, both parties profit. The RaaS model lowers the barrier to entry for attackers who may not have the skill or technical wherewithal to develop their own tools but can manage ready-made penetration testing and sysadmin tools to perform attacks12.

Insider threat is a term that describes individuals who have legitimate access to an organization’s systems or data and use it for malicious purposes, such as theft, sabotage, or espionage. Insider threats may be motivated by various factors, such as greed, revenge, ideology, or coercion. Insider threats may also be unintentional, such as when an employee falls victim to phishing or social engineering.

Hacktivist is a term that describes individuals or groups who use hacking or cyberattacks to promote a political or social cause. Hacktivists may target governments, corporations, or other entities that they perceive as oppressive, corrupt, or unethical. Hacktivists may also use cyberattacks to expose information, disrupt services, or deface websites.

Nation-state is a term that describes a sovereign state that has a centralized government and a defined territory. Nation-state actors are individuals or groups who conduct cyberattacks on behalf of or with the support of a nation-state. Nation-state actors may target other states, organizations, or individuals for various reasons, such as espionage, sabotage, influence, or retaliation.

chmod is a Linux command that can be used to change or modify the permissions of files and directories. The /etc/shadow file is a system file that stores the encrypted passwords of user accounts in Linux. The /etc/shadow file should have restricted permissions to prevent unauthorized access or modification of the passwords. The recommended permissions for the /etc/shadow file are read/write for root user only (600). If the systems administrator observes that the /etc/shadow file has permissions beyond the baseline recommendation, they can use the chmod command to resolve this issue by setting the appropriate permissions for the file. For example, chmod 600 /etc/shadow would set the permissions of the /etc/shadow file to read/write for root user only. 181920 References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 9: Implementing Identity and Access Management Controls, page 404; chmod - Wikipedia; Linux /etc/shadow file - nixCraft; How to Change File Permissions in Linux - Linuxize

A cloud access security broker (CASB) is a security solution that enforces access policies for cloud resources and applications, providing visibility, data control and analytics. A CASB can meet the requirements of the company by offering the following benefits:

• Visibility into how teams are using cloud-based services, such as shadow IT assessment and management, granular cloud usage control, and risk visibility.
• Ability to identify when data related to payment cards is being sent to the cloud, such as data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities that can protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized sharing.
• Data availability regardless of the end user’s geographic location, such as inter-Region peering encryption on the AWS global private network or other cloud platforms.
• Single pane-of-glass view into traffic and trends, such as central policy engine, continuous monitoring, and threat prevention. References: What Is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)? | Microsoft; Top 10 Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Solutions for 2023; Definition of Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) - Gartner

A DNS sinkhole would be most effective to contain a rapidly spreading attack that is affecting a large number of organizations. A DNS sinkhole is a technique that involves redirecting malicious or unwanted domain names to an alternative IP address, such as a black hole, a honeypot, or a warning page. A DNS sinkhole can help to prevent or disrupt the communication between infected systems and command-and-control servers, malware distribution sites, phishing sites, or botnets. A DNS sinkhole can also help to identify and isolate infected systems by monitoring the traffic to the sinkhole IP address. References: https://w ww.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-dns-sinkhole https://www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objecti ves-1.0.pdf

A false positive is a result that indicates a problem when there is no actual problem. In this case, the vulnerability scan flagged the domain controller with a critical vulnerability, but the domain controller does not run the application that is vulnerable. Therefore, the scan result is inaccurate and should be documented as a false positive.

A. Ensure the scan engine is configured correctly. This is not the next step, because the scan engine may be configured correctly and still produce false positives due to various factors, such as outdated signatures, network latency, or misconfigured devices.

B. Apply a patch to the domain controller. This is not the next step, because applying a patch to a system that does not have the vulnerability may cause unnecessary problems or conflicts.

C. Research the CVE. This is not the next step, because the systems administrator already researched the vulnerability and discovered that it does not affect the domain controller.

D. Document this as a false positive. This is the correct answer, because documenting false positives helps to improve the accuracy and efficiency of future scans and audits.

Compensating controls are alternative or additional controls that are implemented when the primary or preferred controls are not feasible or effective. Compensating controls can provide a similar level of protection or reduce the risk to an acceptable level until a proper fix is released. For example, if a vulnerability exists in a web server that allows remote code execution, a compensating control could be to restrict access to the web server by using a firewall or an IPS.

A clean desk policy is a set of rules that require employees to clear their desks of any documents, papers, or devices that contain sensitive or confidential information when they leave their workstations. This policy helps to prevent unauthorized access, theft, or disclosure of proprietary information during facility tours or other situations where outsiders may visit the premises.

A. Clean desk policy. This is the correct answer, because a clean desk policy is a simple and effective way to mitigate the risk of exposing proprietary information during facility tours.

Email is one of the most common and effective threat vectors used by malicious actors to impersonate a company and conduct phishing or spear phishing attacks. Phishing is a type of social engineering attack where an attacker sends fraudulent emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a company, a bank, a government agency, etc., and tries to trick the recipients into clicking on malicious links, opening malicious attachments, or providing sensitive information. Email can appear to be more legitimate than other threat vectors because it can use spoofed sender addresses, logos, signatures, or domain names that resemble the real ones.

Visitor logs are records of who enters and exits a facility, when, and for what purpose. They can help hold staff accountable while escorting unauthorized personnel by providing evidence of their identity, authorization, and activities. Visitor logs can also help with auditing, incident response, and compliance.

A service level agreement (SLA) defines response time, escalation points, and performance metrics. An SLA is a contract between a service provider and a customer that specifies the level and quality of service that will be delivered. An SLA typically includes metrics such as availability, reliability, throughput, latency, security, etc., as well as penalties or remedies for failing to meet them. An SLA also defines how issues will be reported and resolved, how often reviews will be conducted, and how changes will be communicated.

Scanning is the activity of checking for vulnerabilities across the network, systems, or applications. It can be done manually or automatically using tools such as vulnerability scanners, port scanners, or network mappers. Scanning can help identify and remediate potential security issues before they are exploited.

A secure configuration guide is a document that provides an overview of the security features and best practices for a specific product, system, or application. A secure configuration guide helps to reduce unnecessary cyber vulnerabilities and enhance overall security by applying consistent and standardized settings and policies. A security analyst can create baselines for the server team to follow when hardening new devices for deployment based on a secure configuration guide.

A. Change management procedure. This is not the correct answer, because a change management procedure is a document that describes the steps and processes for implementing, reviewing, and approving changes to an IT system or environment. A change management procedure helps to minimize the risks and impacts of changes on the system performance, availability, and security.

B. Information security policy. This is not the correct answer, because an information security policy is a document that defines the rules and principles for protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets within an organization. An information security policy helps to establish the roles and responsibilities of employees, managers, and stakeholders regarding information security.

C. Cybersecurity framework. This is not the correct answer, because a cybersecurity framework is a document that provides a set of standards, guidelines, and best practices for managing cybersecurity risks and improving resilience. A cybersecurity framework helps to align the business objectives and priorities with the security requirements and capabilities.

D. Secure configuration guide. This is the correct answer, because a secure configuration guide is a document that provides an overview of the security features and best practices for a specific product, system, or application. A secure configuration guide helps to reduce unnecessary cyber vulnerabilities and enhance overall security by applying consistent and standardized settings and policies.

A security control objective cannot be met through a technical change, so the company implements a policy to train users on a more secure method of operation best describes a risk reduction technique. Risk reduction is a strategy that aims to lower the likelihood or impact of a risk by implementing controls or mitigations. For example, if a technical control is not feasible or cost-effective, a company can reduce the risk by educating users on how to avoid or handle the threat, such as using strong passwords, avoiding phishing emails, or reporting incidents.

A transit gateway is a network transit hub that can be used to interconnect virtual private clouds (VPCs) and on-premises networks. A transit gateway can consolidate and forward inbound internet traffic to multiple cloud environments through a single firewall by offering the following features:

• Attachments that can connect one or more VPCs, a Connect SD-WAN/third-party network appliance, an AWS Direct Connect gateway, a peering connection with another transit gateway, or a VPN connection to a transit gateway.
• Transit gateway route table that can include dynamic and static routes that decide the next hop based on the destination IP address of the packet.
• Associations and route propagation that can link each attachment with a route table and dynamically propagate routes to or from a transit gateway route table. References: What is a transit gateway? - Amazon VPC; Network Gateway – AWS Transit Gateway – Amazon Web Services; Configure VPN gateway transit for virtual network peering; AWS — Difference between VPC Peering and Transit Gateway

This is an attempt to redirect traffic to an attacking host by sending an ARP packet that contains the forged address of the next hop router. The attacker tricks the victim into believing that it is the legitimate router by sending a spoofed ARP reply with its own MAC address. This causes the victim to send all its traffic to the attacker instead of the router. The attacker can then intercept, modify, or drop the packets as they please.

Password hash is a method of storing a user’s credentials without the need to store the actual sensitive data. A password hash is a one-way function that transforms the user’s password into a fixed-length string of characters that cannot be reversed. The authentication application can then compare the password hash with the stored hash to validate the user’s credentials without revealing the original password. References: 1 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 15, Domain 3.0: Implementation, Objective 3.5: Implement secure authentication mechanisms 2 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 16, Domain 3.0: Implementation, Objective 3.6: Implement identity and account management best practices 3 https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-password-hashing

After the root cause of a security incident has been identified, it is important to take the time to analyze what went wrong and how it could have been prevented. This process is known as “lessons learned” and allows organizations to identify potential improvements to their security processes and protocols. Lessons learned typically involve a review of the incident and the steps taken to address it, a review of the security systems and procedures in place, and an analysis of any potential changes that can be made to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The security engineer should select a Host Intrusion Detection System (HIDS) to address the concern. HIDS monitors and analyzes the internals of a computing system, such as key files and network traffic, for any suspicious activity. Unlike antivirus software (AV), which relies on known signatures of malware, HIDS can detect anomalies, policy violations, and previously undefined attacks by monitoring system behavior and the network traffic of the device.

References:

1. CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives (SY0-601): https://www.comptia.jp/pdf/Security%2B%20SY0-601%20Exam%20Objectives.pdf

2. Scarfone, K., & Mell, P. (2007). Guide to Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS): Recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Special Publication 800-94. https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nistspecialpublication800-94.pdf

Memory contents including files and malware are lost when the power is turned off. This is because memory is a volatile storage device that requires constant power to retain data. If a system has been compromised and is being used to exfiltrate data to a competitor, the CSIRT may want to preserve the memory contents for forensic analysis and evidence collection. Therefore, the CSIRT may tell the engineer to immediately disconnect the network cable and not do anything else to prevent further data loss or tampering.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/topic/memory-acquisition-and-analysis/

Non-PII stands for non-personally identifiable information, which is any data that does not directly identify a specific individual. Non-PII can include information such as job title, business phone number, location, first initial with last name, and race. Non-PII can be used for various purposes, such as statistical analysis, marketing, or research. However, non-PII may still pose some privacy risks if it is combined or linked with other data that can reveal an individual’s identity.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/non-personally-identifiable-information-npii.asp

A privileged access management (PAM) system is a solution that helps protect organizations against cyberthreats by monitoring, detecting, and preventing unauthorized privileged access to critical resources12. A PAM system can meet the requirements of the project by providing features such as:

• Check-in/checkout of credentials: A PAM system can store and manage privileged credentials in a secure vault, and allow authorized users to check out credentials when needed and check them back in when done. This reduces the risk of credential theft, misuse, or sharing23.
• The ability to use but not know the password: A PAM system can enable users to access privileged accounts or resources without revealing the actual password, using methods such as password injection, session proxy, or single sign-on23. This prevents users from copying, changing, or sharing passwords2.
• Automated password changes: A PAM system can automatically rotate and update passwords for privileged accounts according to predefined policies, such as frequency, complexity, and uniqueness23. This ensures that passwords are always strong and unpredictable, and reduces the risk of password reuse or compromise2.
• Logging of access to credentials: A PAM system can record and audit all activities related to privileged access, such as who accessed what credentials, when, why, and what they did with them23. This provides visibility and accountability for privileged access, and enables detection and investigation of anomalies or incidents2.

A PAM system is different from OAuth 2.0, which is an authorization framework that enables third-party applications to obtain limited access to an HTTP service on behalf of a resource owner4. OAuth 2.0 does not provide the same level of control and security over privileged access as a PAM system does.

A PAM system is also different from a secure enclave, which is a hardware-based security feature that creates an isolated execution environment within a processor to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access or modification5. A secure enclave does not provide the same functionality as a PAM system for managing privileged credentials and access.

A PAM system is also different from an OpenID Connect authentication system, which is an identity layer on top of OAuth 2.0 that enables users to verify their identity across multiple websites using a single login6. OpenID Connect does not provide the same scope and granularity as a PAM system for controlling and monitoring privileged access.

IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a technology that provides secure communication over the internet by encrypting traffic and authenticating it at both the sender and receiver. It can be used to create secure tunnels between two or more devices, allowing users to access resources securely and privately.

SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network) is a type of VPN that uses an SSL/TLS connection to encrypt traffic between two or more devices. It is a secure and reliable solution for providing remote access, as all traffic is encrypted and authenticated. Additionally, SSL VPNs can also be used to restrict access to certain websites and services, making them a secure and robust solution for remote access.

TheHarvester is a reconnaissance tool that is used to gather information about a target organization, such as email addresses, subdomains, and IP addresses. It can also be used to gather information about a target individual, such as email addresses, phone numbers, and social media profiles. TheHarvester is specifically designed for OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) and it can be used to discover publicly available information about a target organization or individual.

Bollards are posts designed to prevent vehicles from entering an area. They are usually made of steel or concrete and are placed close together to make it difficult for vehicles to pass through. In addition to preventing vehicles from entering an area, bollards can also be used to protect buildings and pedestrians from ramming attacks. They are an effective and cost-efficient way to protect buildings and pedestrians from unauthorized access.

IPSec is a protocol suite that provides secure communication over IP networks. It uses encryption, authentication, and integrity mechanisms to protect data from unauthorized access or modification. IPSec can operate in two modes: transport mode and tunnel mode. In tunnel mode, IPSec can create a virtual private network (VPN) between two endpoints, such as external partners and internal networks. To establish a VPN connection, IPSec requires a pre-shared key (PSK) or other parameters to negotiate the security association. References: https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/what-is-vpn

A business continuity plan (BCP) is a document that outlines how an organization will continue its critical functions during and after a disruptive event, such as a natural disaster, pandemic, cyberattack, or power outage. A BCP typically covers topics such as business impact analysis, risk assessment, recovery strategies, roles and responsibilities, communication plan, testing and training, and maintenance and review. A BCP can help the organization’s executives determine their next course of action by providing them with a clear framework and guidance for managing the crisis and resuming normal operations.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.ready.gov/business-continuity-plan

Approved list is a list of applications or programs that are allowed to run on a system or network. An approved list can prevent unauthorized or malicious software from running and compromising the security of the system or network. An approved list can also help with patch management and compatibility issues. If the security engineer updated an application on the company workstations, the application may need to be added or updated on the approved list to be able to launch successfully. References: 1 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 10, Domain 2.0: Architecture and Design, Objective 2.4: Explain the importance of embedded and specialized systems security 2 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 12, Domain 3.0: Implementation, Objective 3.1: Implement secure network architecture concepts 3 https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-application-whitelisting

the cat command displays the contents of a file, the head command displays the first lines of a file, and the tail command displays the last lines of a file. To display a specific number of lines from a file, you can use a minus sign followed by a number as an option for head or tail. For example, head -10 will display the first 10 lines of a file.

To obtain the next 500 lines starting from line 4,600, you need to use both head and tail commands.

https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/s y0-601/sy0-601-video/file-manipulation-tools/

Three-factor authentication combines three types of authentication methods: something you know (password), something you have (physical token), and something you are (fingerprint scan). Option C satisfies these requirements, as it uses a password (something you know), a physical token (something you have), and a fingerprint scan (something you are) for authentication.

In Firewall 1, HTTP inbound Action should be DENY. As shown below

In Firewall 2, Management Service should be DNS, As shown below.

In Firewall 3, HTTP Inbound Action should be DENY, as shown below

ARP poisoning is a type of attack that exploits the ARP protocol to associate a malicious MAC address with a legitimate IP address on a network1. This allows the attacker to intercept, modify or drop traffic between the victim and other hosts on the same network. In this case, the ARP table of the access switch shows that the same MAC address (00-0c-29-58-35-3b) is associated with two different IP addresses (192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.101) on port Fa0/12. This indicates that an attacker has poisoned the ARP table to redirect traffic intended for 192.168.1.100 to their own device with MAC address 00-0c-29-58-35-3b. The other options are not related to this scenario. DDoS is a type of attack that overwhelms a target with excessive traffic from multiple sources3. MAC flooding is a type of attack that floods a switch with fake MAC addresses to exhaust its MAC table and force it to operate as a hub4. DNS poisoning is a type of attack that corrupts the DNS cache with fake entries to redirect users to malicious websites.

References: 1: https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/arp-spoofing/  2: https://community.cisco.com/t5/networking-knowledge-base/network-tables-mac-routing-arp/ta- p/4184148 3: https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/ddos-att ack/ 4: https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/mac-flooding/ : https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/dns-spoofing-poisoning/

SIEM stands for Security Information and Event Management, which is a technology that collects, analyzes, and correlates data from multiple sources, such as firewall logs, IDS/IPS alerts, network devices, applications, and endpoints. SIEM provides real-time monitoring and alerting of security events, as well as historical analysis and reporting for compliance and forensic purposes.

A SIEM technology would be best to correlate the activities between the different endpoints that are beaconing to a malicious domain. A SIEM can detect the malicious domain by comparing it with threat intelligence feeds or known indicators of compromise (IOCs). A SIEM can also identify the endpoints that are communicating with the malicious domain by analyzing the firewall logs and other network traffic data. A SIEM can alert the security team of the potential compromise and provide them with relevant information for investigation and remediation.

Access control vestibules are physical security controls that consist of two sets of doors or gates that create a small enclosed space between them. Only one door or gate can be opened at a time, and only one person can enter or exit the vestibule at a time. Access control vestibules can prevent multiple people from using a unique card swipe and being admitted to a secure entrance, as they require each person to authenticate individually and prevent tailgating or piggybacking.

The total loss expected per year due to a threat targeting an asset can be calculated using the Single Loss Expectancy (SLE) multiplied by the Annualized Rate of Occurrence (ARO). SLE is the monetary loss expected from a single event, while ARO is the estimated frequency of that event occurring in a year. Reference: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: Exam SY0-501, 7th Edition, by Emmett Dulaney and Chuck Easttom, Chapter 9: Risk Management, page 414.

 DLP stands for data loss prevention, which is a set of tools and processes that aim to prevent unauthorized access, use, or transfer of sensitive data. DLP can help mitigate the risk of data exfiltration by disgruntled employees or external attackers by monitoring and controlling data flows across endpoints, networks, and cloud services. DLP can also detect and block attempts to copy, transfer, or upload sensitive data to a USB drive or other removable media based on predefined policies and rules.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/security-101/what-is-data-loss-prevention-dlp

Hoaxing is a type of social engineering attack that involves sending false or misleading information via email or other means to trick recipients into believing something that is not true. Hoaxing emails often contain a request or an incentive for the recipients to forward the email to others, such as a warning of a virus, a promise of a reward, or a petition for a cause. The goal of hoaxing is to spread misinformation, cause panic, waste resources, or damage reputations.

A hoaxing email is primarily intended to mislead recipients into forwarding the email to others, which can increase the reach and impact of the hoax.

AUP or Acceptable Use Policy is a document that defines the rules and guidelines for using a company’s IT resources, such as devices, networks, internet, email, etc. It usually includes language prohibiting end users from accessing personal email from a company device, as well as other activities that may compromise security or productivity1.

https://www.thesecuritybuddy.com/governance-risk-and-compliance/what-are-sla-mou-bpa-and-nda/  3: https://www .professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-501/agreement-types/ 1: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2471/acceptable-use-policy-aup

A DLP solution in monitoring mode is a good first step to deploy for data loss prevention. It allows the IT team to observe and analyze the data flows and activities without blocking or interfering with them. It helps to identify the sources and destinations of sensitive data, the types and volumes of data involved, and the potential risks and violations. It also helps to fine-tune the DLP policies and rules before switching to blocking mode, which can disrupt business operations if not configured properly.

Firmware is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware devices, such as network routers, switches, or firewalls. Firmware updates can fix bugs, improve performance, and enhance security features. Without firmware updates, the devices you connect to your network might not work properly or might be vulnerable to attacks1. You can have Windows automatically download recommended drivers and firmware updates for your hardware devices1, or you can use a network monitoring software to keep track of the firmware status of your devices2. You should also follow the best practices for keeping devices and software up to date, such as enforcing automatic updates, monitoring update status, and testing updates before deploying them

Cuckoo is a sandbox that is specifically written to run programs inside and identify any malware. A sandbox is a virtualized environment that isolates the program from the rest of the system and monitors its behavior. Cuckoo can analyze files of various types, such as executables, documents, URLs, and more. Cuckoo can provide a report of the files’ activity against known threats, such as network traffic, file operations, registry changes, API calls, and so on.

A security operations center can implement Cuckoo to execute files to test for malicious activity and generate a report of the analysis. Cuckoo can help the security operations center to detect and prevent malware infections, investigate incidents, and perform threat intelligence.

EAP-TLS (Extensible Authentication Protocol - Transport Layer Security) is an authentication protocol that uses certificates to provide mutual authentication between the client and the authentication server. It also allows for the encryption of user credentials, making EAP-TLS a secure and reliable authentication protocol. According to the CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Official Text Book, EAP-TLS is well-suited for wireless networks due to its mutual authentication capabilities and its ability to securely store credentials. It is also the preferred authentication protocol for 802.1X wireless networks.

A host-based firewall is a software application that runs on each individual host and controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on a set of rules. A host-based firewall can be used to block or allow specific ports, protocols, IP addresses, or applications.

An engineer can use a host-based firewall to accomplish the task of disabling all web-server ports except 443 on a group of 100 web servers in a cloud environment. The engineer can configure the firewall rules on each web server to allow only HTTPS traffic on port 443 and deny any other traffic. Alternatively, the engineer can use a centralized management tool to deploy and enforce the firewall rules across all web servers.

Invest in secure coding training and application security guidelines is the most effective approach for the manager to use to address the issue of common vulnerabilities in the applications developed by the team. Secure coding training can help the developers learn how to write code that follows security best practices and avoids common mistakes or flaws that can introduce vulnerabilities. Application security guidelines can provide a set of standards and rules for developing secure applications that meet the company’s security requirements and policies. By investing in secure coding training and application security guidelines, the manager can improve the security awareness and skills of the development team and reduce the number of vulnerabilities in their applications. References: 1 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 9, Domain 2.0: Architecture and Design, Objective 2.3: Summarize secure application development, deployment, and automation concepts 2 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 10, Domain 2.0: Architecture and Design, Objective 2.4: Explain the importance of embedded and specialized systems security 3 https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-secure-coding

A server farm’s logs are records of events that occur on a group of servers that provide the same service or function. Logs can contain information such as date, time, source, destination, message, error code, and severity level. Logs can help administrators monitor the performance, security, and availability of the servers and troubleshoot any issues.

To determine the sequence of a server farm’s logs, the administrator should consider the following factors:

• Time stamps: Time stamps are indicators of when an event occurred on a server. Time stamps can help administrators sort and correlate events across different servers based on chronological order. However, time stamps alone may not be sufficient to determine the sequence of events if the servers have different time zones or clock settings.
• Time offset: Time offset is the difference between the local time of a server and a reference time, such as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Time offset can help administrators adjust and synchronize the time stamps of different servers to a common reference time and eliminate any discrepancies caused by time zones or clock settings.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/server-manager/view-event-logs

the measure that calculates the average time that equipment will operate before it breaks is MTBF12. MTBF stands for Mean Time Between Failures and it is a metric that represents the average time between two failures occurring in a given period12. MTBF is used to measure the reliability and availability of a product or system12. The higher the MTBF, the more reliable and available the product or system is12.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies are used to identify and protect sensitive data, and often include a list of exceptions that allow certain types of data to be uploaded or shared. By modifying the exception list on the DLP, the security analyst can allow the tax document to be uploaded without compromising the security of the system. (Reference: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Official Textbook, page 479-480)

Mitigating controls are designed to reduce the impact or severity of an event that has occurred or is likely to occur. They do not prevent or detect the event, but rather limit the damage or consequences of it. For example, a backup system is a mitigating control that can help restore data after a loss or corruption.

In this case, the company is focused on reducing risks from removable media threats, which are threats that can compromise data security, introduce malware infections, or cause media failure123. Removable media threats can be used to bypass network defenses and target industrial/OT environments2. The company cannot prohibit removable media entirely because of certain primary applications that require them, so it implements mitigating controls to lessen the potential harm from these threats.

Some examples of mitigating controls for removable media threats are:

• Encrypting data on removable media
• Scanning removable media for malware before use
• Restricting access to removable media ports
• Implementing policies and procedures for removable media usage and disposal
• Educating users on the risks and best practices of removable media

Uninterruptible power supplies with battery backup would be the most cost-effective solution for the data center to implement to prevent under-voltage events following electrical grid maintenance outside the facility. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that provides emergency power to a load when the main power source fails or drops below an acceptable level. A UPS with battery backup can help prevent under-voltage events by switching to battery power when it detects a voltage drop or outage in the main power source. A UPS with battery backup can also protect the data center equipment from power surges or spikes.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.apc.com/us/en/faqs/FA158852/

 User-agent spoofing is a technique that allows an attacker to modify the user-agent header of an HTTP request to impersonate another browser or device12. User-agent spoofing can be used to bypass security controls that rely on user-agent filtering or validation12. In this case, the attacker spoofed the user-agent header to match the company’s mobile application, which was allowed to access the back-end server’s API2.

SaaS stands for software as a service, which is a cloud computing model that provides ready-to-use applications over the internet. SaaS applications are hosted and managed by a cloud provider who also handles software updates, maintenance, security, and scalability. SaaS users can access the applications through a web browser or a mobile app without installing any software on their devices. SaaS applications are typically offered on a subscription or pay-per-use basis. Examples of SaaS applications include email services, online office suites, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and video conferencing platforms.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/software-as-a-service

 ARO stands for annualized rate of occurrence, which is a metric that estimates how often a threat event will occur within a year. ARO can help an IT manager estimate the mobile device budget for the upcoming year by multiplying the number of devices replaced in the previous year by the percentage increase of replacement over the last five years. For example, if 100 devices were replaced in the previous year and the replacement rate increased by 10% each year for the last five years, then the estimated number of devices to be replaced next year is 100 x (1 + 0.1)^5 = 161.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24866/annualized-rate-of-occurrence-aro

A VPN (virtual private network) is a secure tunnel used to encrypt traffic and prevent unauthorized access to the internal network. It is a secure way to extend a private network across public networks, such as the Internet, and can be used to allow remote users to securely access resources on the internal network. Additionally, a VPN can be used to prevent malicious traffic from entering the internal network.

A vulnerability scanner is a tool that can scan devices and systems for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance issues. By loading the current baselines into the scanner, the organization can compare the actual state of the new laptops with the desired state and identify any deviations or weaknesses. This is a quick and automated way to assess the hardening of the new laptops.

Shoulder surfing is a social engineering technique that involves looking over someone’s shoulder to see what they are typing, writing, or viewing on their screen. It can be used to steal passwords, PINs, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information. In this scenario, the contractor used shoulder surfing to overhear the customer’s credit card number during a phone call.

Containers are a type of virtualization technology that allow applications to run in a secure, isolated environment on a single host. They can be quickly scaled up or down as needed, making them an ideal solution for unpredictable loads. Additionally, containers are designed to be lightweight and portable, so they can easily be moved from one host to another. Reference: CompTIA Security+ Sy0-601 official Text book, page 863.

Patch management is a process that involves applying updates or fixes to software to address bugs, vulnerabilities, or performance issues. Patch management is classified under corrective control type, which is a type of control that aims to restore normal operations after an incident or event has occurred. Corrective controls can help mitigate the impact or damage caused by an incident or event and prevent it from happening again.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.csoonline.com/article/2124681/why-third-party-security-is-your-security.html

A private cloud model would best suit the company's priorities of control and security over cost and ease of management. In a private cloud, the infrastructure is dedicated to a single organization, providing greater control over the environment and the ability to implement strict security measures. This is in contrast to public, community, or hybrid cloud models, where resources are shared among multiple organizations, potentially compromising control and security. While private clouds can be more expensive and more difficult to manage, they the highest level of control and security for the company.

Anonymizing the data is the process of removing personally identifiable information (PII) from data sets, so that the people whom the data describe remain anonymous12. Anonymizing the data can safeguard the PHI records without impeding the testing process, because it can protect the privacy of the patients while preserving the data integrity and statistical accuracy for the application development team12. Anonymizing the data can be done by using techniques such as data masking, pseudonymization, generalization, data swapping, or data perturbation12.

Implementing a content filter is not the best way to safeguard the information, because it is a technique that blocks or allows access to certain types of content based on predefined rules or policies3. A content filter does not remove or encrypt PII from data sets, and it may not prevent unauthorized access or leakage of PHI records.

Deploying DLP tools is not the best way to safeguard the information, because it is a technique that monitors and prevents data exfiltration or transfer to unauthorized destinations or users. DLP tools do not remove or encrypt PII from data sets, and they may not be sufficient to protect PHI records from internal misuse or negligence.

Installing a FIM on the application server is not the best way to safeguard the information, because it is a technique that detects and alerts changes to files or directories on a system. FIM does not remove or encrypt PII from data sets, and it may not prevent unauthorized access or modification of PHI records.

An evil twin attack is when an attacker sets up a fake Wi-Fi network that looks like a legitimate network, but is designed to capture user data that is sent over the network. In this case, the user's laptop is constantly disconnecting and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network, indicating that it is connecting to the fake network instead of the legitimate one. Once the user connects to the fake network, they are unable to access shared folders or other network resources, as those are only available on the legitimate network.