CISMP-V9 Sample Questions Answers

Anomaly-based intrusion detection systems (IDS) are particularly effective in detecting zero-day attacks because they do not rely on known signatures, which zero-day attacks would not have. Instead, they monitor network behavior for deviations from a baseline of normal activity. This approach can identify suspicious activities that could indicate a novel or unknown threat, such as a zero-day exploit12345. These systems use various methods, including machine learning and deep learning, to detect patterns that could signify an attack, making them a robust solution against the unpredictable nature of zero-day threats12345.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles emphasizes the importance of understanding different types of controls and their characteristics, including technical security controls like IDS, which are essential for managing the security of information systems6. The syllabus also covers the effectiveness of controls, which is relevant when considering the capabilities of anomaly-based IDS in the context of zero-day attack detection7.

 In the context of Information Security Management Principles, risk acceptance is a strategic option where an organization decides to accept the potential cost of a risk without taking any actions to mitigate it. This decision is typically made when the cost ofmitigating the risk exceeds the cost of the risk’s potential impact. Acceptance is part of the risk management process, which also includes risk identification, assessment, and treatment. When accepting a risk, it is crucial to document the decision and the rationale behind it, ensuring that it aligns with the organization’s risk appetite and overall security policy.

References := The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles outlines the need for an understanding of risk management within the scope of information security management. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the various strategic options for dealing with risks, including acceptance12. Additionally, industry standards like ISO 27001 provide guidance on risk treatment options, including acceptance3.

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

References :=

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

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

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

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

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

An organization’s security policy should be a reflection of its own security stance and principles, not tailored to third parties. While it may be informed by third-party requirements, the policy itself should not be amended to suit all third-party contractors. This is because the security policy is meant to establish a clear set of rules and expectations for the organization’s members to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its data. It should be defined, approved by management, and communicated to employees and relevant external parties. Amending the policy to suit all third-party contractors could lead to a dilution of the security standards and potentially compromise the organization’s security posture.

References: The information provided aligns with best practices in security policy development, which emphasize the importance of having a policy that is supported by the Board and Chief Executive, manages information assurance, and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory obligations1234.

Misuse case diagrams are a type of diagram used in application threat modeling that includes malicious users (also known as threat actors) and describes how their potential actions could threaten the system, as well as how the system mitigates those threats. These diagrams are an adaptation of use case diagrams, which are commonly used in software engineering to specify the required usages of a system. Misuse case diagrams, on the other hand, focus on the negative scenarios, illustrating how a system can be used improperly and what measures are in place to prevent or mitigate these actions12.

References: The explanation utilizes the knowledge of misuse case diagrams as a tool in threat modeling to understand and communicate about potential security threats12.

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

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

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

References :=

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

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

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

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

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

RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) is a widely accepted asymmetric encryption algorithm. Unlike symmetric algorithms, which use the same key for both encryption and decryption, asymmetric algorithms use a pair of keys – a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. This method allows for secure key exchange over an insecure channel without the need to share the private key. RSA operates on the principle that it is easy to multiply large prime numbers together to create a product, but it is hard to reverse the process, i.e., to factorize the product back into the original primes. This one-way function underpins the security of RSA.

References: The information provided is based on standard cryptographic principles as outlined in resources like BCS Information Security Management Principles and other cryptography texts12345.

The access control method described is Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). In RBAC, access permissions are based on the roles within an organization, and users are assigned to these roles based on their responsibilities and qualifications. Each role has a defined set of access permissions to perform certain operations. This method simplifies management and ensures that only authorized users can perform actions relevant to their role. For instance, ‘Developers’ can create and update files, ‘Reviewers’ can upload and update files, and ‘Administrators’ have the rights to upload, delete, and update files. This aligns with the RBAC model where permissions are grouped by role rather than by individual user, making it easier to manage and audit.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles provides a framework for understanding the principles of information security management, including access control mechanisms like RBAC12.

Access controls are essential in information security for ensuring that resources are available to authorized users and protected from unauthorized access. The methods of access control can be categorized as follows:

• Detective: These controls are designed to identify and record unauthorized access attempts. They do not prevent access but are useful for auditing and monitoring purposes.
• Physical: Physical controls are tangible measures taken to protect assets, such as locks, fences, and security guards.
• Preventive: Preventive controls are designed to stop unauthorized access before it happens. This includes mechanisms like passwords, biometric scans, and encryption.

The combination of detective, physical, and preventive controls provides a robust framework for managing access to sensitive information and systems. Reactive controls are not typically classified as access controls since they deal with responding to incidents after they occur, and virtual controls are not a recognized category in this context.

References: The answer is based on the principles outlined in the BCS Information Security Management Principles, which include various access control methods to protect information integrity, confidentiality, and availability123.

When establishing objectives for physical security environments, the primary goal is to prevent unauthorized access or damage to physical assets. The functional control that should occur first is ‘Deter’. Deterrence is about discouraging potential intruders from attempting to breach the physical security perimeter or engage in unauthorized activities. It is achieved through visible security measures such as signage, barriers, lighting, and the presence of security personnel. These measures are designed to make potential intruders aware of the risks and consequences of their actions, thereby reducing the likelihood of an attempt.

‘Delay’, ‘Drop’, and ‘Deny’ are subsequent controls that come into play if deterrence fails. ‘Delay’ involves slowing down the intruder, ‘Drop’ could mean removing the intruder’s access or privileges, and ‘Deny’ involves outright prevention of access. However, without initial deterrence, the effectiveness of these subsequent controls may be compromised.

References: This explanation utilizes the knowledge of Information Security Management Principles as outlined in the BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles, which includes the categorization, operation, and effectiveness of different types of controls12.

 Single sign-on (SSO) is an access control policy that allows users to authenticate with multiple applications and services by logging in only once. This approach improves security by reducing the number of credentials users must manage, which in turn decreases the likelihood of users writing down passwords. When users have to remember multiple complex passwords, they are more likely to write them down, use simple passwords, or repeat the same password across different services, all of which are security risks. SSO simplifies the login process, which can lead to stronger, unique passwords and reduce the risk of password-related breaches.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles provides a comprehensive overview of information security management, including the effectiveness of different types of controls, which supports the understanding of how SSO can enhance an organization’s security posture1.

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

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

Dumpster diving refers to the practice of sifting through commercial or residential waste to find items that have been discarded but can still be of value, particularly information. In the context of information security, dumpster diving is a significant threat because it can lead to the recovery of sensitive documents, storage devices, or other materials that contain confidential data. When disposing of such items, it’s crucial to ensure they are destroyed or sanitized in a manner that prevents data reconstruction or retrieval. This aligns with the BCS Information Security Management Principles, which emphasize the importance of secure disposal methods to protect against unauthorized access to or recovery of sensitive information1234.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles outlines the need for proper disposal procedures to mitigate the risks associated with data recovery from discarded materials1. Additionally, industry best practices and guidelines, such as those from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), provide detailed methods for the secure sanitization and disposal of electronic media4.

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

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

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is the most beneficial technology for ensuring consistent security settings across an organization’s devices, especially in a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or mobile computing environment. MDM allows for the central management of security policies,the enforcement of strong authentication measures, and the protection of corporate data on personal devices. It provides the necessary tools to configure devices remotely, enforce security policies, manage applications, and protect against unauthorized access. This aligns with the Information Security Management Principles, particularly under the domains of Technical Security Controls and Procedural/People Security Controls, as it encompasses both the technology and the policies that govern its use by people within the organization123. References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles outlines the importance of understanding the concepts relating to information security management, which includes the knowledge of controls and characteristics that are essential for managing the security of information systems4. Additionally, the benefits of MDM in securing mobile and BYOD environments are well-documented, further supporting its selection as the most appropriate technology for Geoff’s requirements123.

The concept of a security culture within an organization emphasizes that security is not solely a technical issue but also a behavioral one. Appropriate behaviors are essential because they embody the organization’s values and beliefs about security. These behaviors ensure that all members of the organization understand and adhere to security policies and procedures, thereby reducing risk and reinforcing the security regime. This includes following the ‘need to know’ principle, verifying IDs, and implementing access denial measures, but it is the appropriate behaviors that integrate these actions into a coherent and effective security culture.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles provides a comprehensive understanding of information security management, including the importance of fostering a security culture through appropriate behaviors12.

A desk-top exercise is a form of testing for a continuity plan that involves a structured discussion around a written scenario. This scenario is used as the basis for simulation, without the activation of actual resources. It typically involves key personnel discussing the steps they would take in response to a particular set of circumstances, as outlined in the scenario. This type of exercise is designed to validate the theoretical aspects of a plan and ensure that those involved understand their roles and responsibilities. It can also highlight any gaps or issues within the plan that need to be addressed.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles provides a framework for understanding the various aspects of information security management, including business continuity management and the different types of testing and exercises that can be used to ensure plans are effective and up-to-date1.

Loading bays are areas of a facility where goods are loaded and unloaded, which can be busy and potentially hazardous. They are considered vulnerable points for security breaches due to the high volume of goods movement and external access. Using them as staff entrances increases the risk of unauthorized access and potential security incidents. By restricting access to loading bays and directing staff to use dedicated entrances, an organization can better control entry points, monitor traffic, and maintain security protocols. This principle is part of the Physical and Environmental Security Controls domain, which emphasizes the importance of securing physical access to protect information assets1.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles provides guidance on the importance of physical security controls in protecting information assets and suggests that access to different areas within a facility should be controlled and managed appropriately2.

 Botnets are typically used by attackers for a variety of malicious activities, most commonly for:

• Generating and distributing spam messages: Botnets can send out large volumes of spam emails to promote products or services, or to distribute malware.
• Conducting DDoS attacks: Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are often carried out using botnets to overwhelm a target’s servers with traffic.
• Scanning for system & application vulnerabilities: Botnets can be used to scan a large number of systems for vulnerabilities that can be exploited in further attacks.

However, vishing attacks, which involve voice phishing through phone calls, are not commonly associated with the use of botnets. Vishing typically involves direct voice communication to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information and does not leverage the distributed computing power of botnets, which is central to their usual applications such as spam distribution, DDoS attacks, and vulnerability scanning123.

References: The answer is informed by the common uses of botnets as outlined in various cybersecurity resources, including the BCS Information Security Management Principles, which emphasize the importance of understanding botnet capabilities in the context of information security management12

Quantitative risk assessment is the process of objectively measuring risk by assigning numerical values to the probability of an event occurring and its potential impact. This method is most likely to provide objective support for a security Return on Investment (ROI) case because it allows for the calculation of potential losses in monetary terms, which can be directly compared to the cost of implementing security measures. By quantifying risks and their financial implications, organizations can make informed decisions about where to allocate resources and how to prioritize security investments to maximize ROI. This approach is particularly useful when making a business case to stakeholders who require clear, financial justification for security expenditures.

References: The use of quantitative risk assessment for supporting security ROI is consistent with the principles of Information Security Management, as it provides a structured and measurable method to evaluate and manage risks. It aligns with the Information Risk and Security Lifecycle domains, which emphasize the importance of understanding and addressing risks in a quantifiable manner12345.

SIEM, which stands for Security Information and Event Management, is the correct acronym that covers the real-time analysis of security alerts generated by applications and network hardware. SIEM systems aggregate and analyze activity data from various resources across the IT infrastructure, such as network devices, servers, and domain controllers. They operate on rules-based and statistical correlation algorithms to establish relationships between log entries, providing reports on security-related incidents and events, and sending alerts if the analysis indicates a potential security issue. This enables organizations to gain insights into their security posture, identify trends, and detect threats or anomalies that could indicate a security incident1.

References: = The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles acknowledges the role of SIEM in monitoring and analyzing security events in real-time as part of an effective information security framework1.

After data creation, the typical next step in the standard information lifecycle is data storage. This phase involves securing the data in a storage solution where it can be accessed, managed, and protected effectively. Proper data storage ensures that data remains intact and available for future processing and analysis. It is a critical step before data can be used for any operational or analytical purposes, and precedes other stages such as archiving or deletion, which occur later in the lifecycle123.

References := The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles includes the understanding of the information lifecycle as part of its syllabus, emphasizing the importance of each stage, including data storage4. This is supported by industry practices and standards that outline the data lifecycle stages, as found in resources like the Harvard Business School Online’s insights on the data lifecycle1, and other data management guides23.