Pass the Isaca Cybersecurity Audit CCOA Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

The most effective way tominimize the impact of a control failureis to employDefense in Depth, which involves:

Layered Security Controls:Implementing multiple, overlapping security measures to protect assets.

Redundancy:If one control fails (e.g., a firewall), others (like IDS, endpoint protection, and network monitoring) continue to provide protection.

Minimizing Single Points of Failure:By diversifying security measures, no single failure will compromise the entire system.

Adaptive Security Posture:Layered defenses allow quick adjustments and contain threats.

Other options analysis:

A. Business continuity plan (BCP):Focuses on maintaining operations after an incident, not directly on minimizing control failures.

B. Business impact analysis (BIA):Identifies potential impacts but does not reduce failure impact directly.

D. Information security policy:Guides security practices but does not provide practical mitigation during a failure.

CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition References:

Chapter 7: Defense in Depth Strategies:Emphasizes the importance of layering controls to reduce failure impacts.

Chapter 9: Incident Response and Mitigation:Explains how defense in depth supports resilience.

Privilege escalationin the context of kernel security refers to:

Kernel Exploits:Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in the kernel to gainelevated privileges.

Root Access:A successful attack often results in root or system-level access.

Bypassing Security:Kernel-level exploitation bypasses user-mode security controls, leading to complete system compromise.

Common Methods:Exploiting buffer overflows, kernel vulnerabilities, or using rootkits.

Incorrect Options:

A. Unauthorized access to user data:More related to data leakage, not privilege escalation.

B. Buffer overflow vulnerabilities:A method of exploitation, not the result itself.

C. Injecting malware:An attack vector, but not specifically privilege escalation.

Exact Extract from CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition:

Refer to Chapter 4, Section "Kernel Security," Subsection "Privilege Escalation Techniques" - Attackers exploit kernel vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized elevated access.

Middlewareserves as an intermediary tofacilitate communicationanddata exchangebetween different applications:

Integration:Connects disparate applications and services, allowing them to function as a cohesive system.

Functionality:Provides messaging, data translation, and API management between software components.

Examples:Message-oriented middleware (MOM), database middleware, and API gateways.

Use Case:An ERP system communicating with a CRM application through middleware.

Incorrect Options:

B. Providing security:Security features might be embedded, but it is not the primary function.

C. Storing data:Middleware typically facilitates data flow, not storage.

D. Creating user interfaces:Middleware operates at the backend, not the user interface layer.

Exact Extract from CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition:

Refer to Chapter 7, Section "Middleware Functions," Subsection "Application Integration" - Middleware primarily enables communication between heterogeneous applications.

TheInternet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)is used forerror reporting and diagnosticsin IP networks.

Control Messages:ICMP messages inform the sender about network issues, such as:

Destination Unreachable:Indicates that the packet could not reach the intended destination.

Echo Request/Reply:Used inpingto test connectivity.

Time Exceeded:Indicates that a packet'sTTL (Time to Live)has expired.

Common Usage:Troubleshooting network issues (e.g.,pingandtraceroute).

Other options analysis:

A. TLS protocol version unsupported:Related to SSL/TLS, not ICMP.

C. 404 not found:An HTTP status code, unrelated to ICMP.

D. Webserver is available:A general statement, not an ICMP message.

CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition References:

Chapter 4: Network Protocols and ICMP:Discusses ICMP control messages.

Chapter 7: Network Troubleshooting Techniques:Explains ICMP’s role in diagnostics.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)significantly mitigates risks associated withcompromised credentialsby requiring multiple verification factors, such as:

Something you know (password)

Something you have (authenticator app or token)

Something you are (biometric data)

Even if attackers obtain the password, they would still need additional factors, making unauthorized access far more challenging.

Incorrect Options:

B. Social engineering:MFA does not directly protect against sophisticated social engineering attacks where users are tricked into giving away all factors.

C. Malware:MFA does not prevent malware infections on the device.

D. Ransomware:Ransomware attacks typically bypass authentication mechanisms.

Exact Extract from CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition:

Refer to Chapter 4, Section "Identity and Access Management," Subsection "Multi-Factor Authentication" - MFA specifically addresses the risk of compromised credentials.

The act of moving apayment card system to a separate network locationis an example ofnetwork segmentationbecause:

Isolation for Security:Segregates sensitive systems from less secure parts of the network.

PCI DSS Compliance:Payment card data must be isolated to reduce thescope of compliance.

Minimized Attack Surface:Limits exposure in case other parts of the network are compromised.

Enhanced Control:Allows for tailored security measures specific to payment systems.

Other options analysis:

A. Redundancy:Involves having backup systems, not isolating networks.

C. Encryption:Protects data but does not involve network separation.

D. Centricity:Not a recognized concept in network security.

CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition References:

Chapter 7: Network Segmentation and Isolation:Emphasizes segmentation for protecting sensitive data.

Chapter 9: PCI Compliance Best Practices:Discusses network segmentation to secure payment card environments.

Compliance requirements are imposed on organizations to ensure that they meetminimum standards for protecting public interests.

Regulatory Mandates:Many compliance frameworks (like GDPR or HIPAA) mandate minimum data protection and privacy measures.

Public Safety and Trust:Ensuring that organizations follow industry standards to maintain data integrity and confidentiality.

Baseline Security Posture:Establishes a minimum set of controls to protect sensitive information and critical systems.

Incorrect Options:

A. System vulnerabilities are mitigated:Compliance does not directly ensure vulnerability management.

B. Security teams understand critical capabilities:This is a secondary benefit but not the primary purpose.

C. Rapidly changing threats are addressed:Compliance often lags behind new threats; it’s more about maintaining baseline security.

Exact Extract from CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition:

Refer to Chapter 9, Section "Compliance and Legal Considerations," Subsection "Purpose of Compliance" - Compliance frameworks aim to ensure that organizations implement minimum protective measures for public safety and data protection.

Theprimary output from the development of a cyber risk management strategyis thedefinition of mitigation activitiesbecause:

Risk Identification:After assessing risks, the strategy outlines specific actions to mitigate identified threats.

Actionable Plans:Clearly defineshow to reduce risk exposure, including implementing controls, patching vulnerabilities, or conducting training.

Strategic Guidance:Aligns mitigation efforts with organizational goals and risk tolerance.

Continuous Improvement:Provides a structured approach to regularly update and enhance mitigation practices.

Other options analysis:

A. Accepted processes are identified:Important, but the primary focus is on defining how to mitigate risks.

B. Business goals are communicated:The strategy should align with goals, but the key output is actionable mitigation.

C. Compliance implementation is optimized:Compliance is a factor but not the main result of risk management strategy.

CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition References:

Chapter 5: Risk Management and Mitigation:Highlights the importance of defining mitigation measures.

Chapter 9: Strategic Cyber Risk Planning:Discusses creating a roadmap for mitigation.

Operational Technology (OT)systems are particularly vulnerable due to theirage, complexity, and long upgrade cycles.

Legacy Systems:Often outdated, running on old hardware and software with limited update capabilities.

Complexity:Integrates various control systems like SCADA, PLCs, and DCS, making consistent security challenging.

Lack of Patching:Industrial environments often avoid updates due to fear of system disruptions.

Protocols:Many OT devices use insecure communication protocols that lack modern encryption.

Incorrect Options:

A. Ethernet:A network protocol, not a system prone to aging or complexity issues.

B. Mainframe technology:While old, these systems are typically better maintained and secured.

D. Wireless:While vulnerable, it’s not primarily due to age or inherent complexity.

Exact Extract from CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition:

Refer to Chapter 7, Section "Securing Legacy Systems," Subsection "Challenges in OT Security" - OT environments often face security challenges due to outdated and complex infrastructure.

Apasswordfalls under the authentication factor of"something you know":

Knowledge-Based Authentication:The user must remember and enter a secret (password or PIN) to gain access.

Common Factor:Widely used in traditional login systems.

Security Concerns:Prone to theft, phishing, and brute-force attacks if not combined with additional factors (like MFA).

Incorrect Options:

A. Something you do:Refers to behavioral biometrics, like typing patterns.

C. Something you are:Refers to biometric data, such as fingerprints or iris scans.

D. Something you have:Refers to physical tokens or devices, like a smart card.

Exact Extract from CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition:

Refer to Chapter 4, Section "Authentication Factors," Subsection "Knowledge-Based Methods" - Passwords are considered "something you know" in authentication.