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A digital envelope combines the strengths of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography. The message itself is encrypted using a fast symmetric algorithm. The session key used for symmetric encryption is then encrypted using the recipient’s public key. This ensures efficiency (large data encrypted quickly with symmetric keys) and security (session key securely transmitted using asymmetric encryption). Options A, C, and D describe other cryptographic processes (compression, hashing, or digital signatures) but do not correctly represent a digital envelope. ISACA training materials and CISA manuals highlight this hybrid approach as the standard method for secure data transmission.

References (ISACA): CISA Review Manual – Cryptography Concepts; ISACA Glossary.

Periodic review of scheduled jobs is crucial to prevent unauthorized or outdated jobs from running, which could lead to security risks, data inconsistencies, or compliance issues. If the inventory of scheduled jobs is not reviewed periodically (A), it could result in jobs running with incorrect parameters, unauthorized transfers, or failure to decommission obsolete processes.

Other options:

Automated support ticket creation (B) is beneficial but is not as critical as ensuring the overall accuracy and security of job execution.

Restricting access to scheduling changes (C) is a security control, but its absence is not the most pressing concern compared to unreviewed jobs.

Notification alerts to a support group (D) is a good practice but does not replace the need for a formal review process.

The success rate of social engineering attacks directly measures the behavioral changes resulting from an information security awareness program. Employees who are aware and informed are better equipped to identify and thwart such attacks.

Reduction in Reported Incidents (Option A):This may indicate underreporting rather than program effectiveness.

Reduction in Cost of Maintaining the Program (Option C):This reflects cost efficiency, not program effectiveness.

Reduction in Number of Attacks (Option D):The number of attacks is beyond the control of awareness programs and does not reflect their impact.

Defining clear, comprehensive, and testable requirements is critical before selecting and implementing a software product. Without well-documented requirements, the risk of choosing a solution that does not align with business needs increases significantly. A support contract (C) is important for long-term use, and escrow (D) may protect against vendor insolvency, but neither ensures that the product fits the organization’s objectives. A post-implementation review (B) only evaluates success after implementation, which may be too late to correct fundamental misalignment. ISACA’s COBIT framework (BAI03 and BAI05) stresses the importance of requirements gathering as the foundation for effective solution acquisition and development.

References (ISACA): COBIT® 2019, BAI03 Managed Solutions Identification and Build; BAI05 Managed Organizational Change.

The business impact analysis (BIA) is a critical component of an organization's business continuity planning (BCP) process. The most concerning issue is when system criticality information is provided only by the IT manager (Option B). This presents a risk of bias or incomplete analysis, as business units must also provide input to ensure a comprehensive assessment.

ISACA CISA Reference: According to ISACA’s BCP and DRP guidelines, BIA should involve input from multiple business functions, including finance, operations, and risk management, rather than relying solely on IT.

Risk Implication: Without broader business input, the criticality of systems may be misclassified, leading to incorrect recovery priorities and potential business disruption.

Alternative Choices:

Option A: While a risk assessment is important, a BIA can still be completed without it and later validated.

Option C: The use of questionnaires is a valid method if responses are verified.

Option D: Lack of executive sign-off is concerning but does not directly impact the accuracy of system criticality assessment.

Risk management techniques should be included in an IS development methodology. An IS development methodology is a set of guidelines, standards, and procedures that provide a structured and consistent approach to developinginformation systems. A good IS development methodology should cover all the phases of the system development life cycle (SDLC), from planning and analysis to design, implementation, testing, and maintenance1.

Risk management techniques are an essential part of an IS development methodology, as they help to identify, assess, prioritize, mitigate, monitor, and communicate the risks that may affect the success of the system development project. Risk management techniques can also help to ensure that the system meets the requirements and expectations of the stakeholders, complies with the relevant laws and regulations, and delivers value to the organization2.

The other options are not as relevant or appropriate as risk management techniques for an IS development methodology. Value-added activity analysis is a technique for evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes, but it is not specific to IS development3. Access control rules are policies and mechanisms for restricting or granting access to information systems and resources, but they are more related to security management than IS development4. Incident management techniques are methods for handling and resolving incidents that disrupt the normal operation of information systems and services, but they are more related to service management than IS development5.

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

To ensure that aservice vendor maintains required control levels, direct verification throughonsite assessmentsis the most effective approach.

Option A (Correct):Onsite assessmentsallow auditors todirectly reviewcontrols, procedures, and evidence of compliancein real time, ensuring that service levels are being met.

Option B (Incorrect):Unannounced vulnerability assessments may violatecontractual agreementsand ethical considerations.

Option C (Incorrect):Reviewing theSLAensures agreement terms are clear but doesnot verify actual compliance.

Option D (Incorrect):AControl Self-Assessment (CSA)is useful but relies onvendor-provided information, which may be biased or incomplete.

End-to-end encryption ensures that email content is encrypted during transmission and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient. This approach provides robust protection against interception and unauthorized access.

Encryption of Corporate Network Traffic (Option A):This does not address email confidentiality once the email leaves the corporate network.

Complex User Passwords (Option B):Enhances account security but does not ensure email confidentiality in transit.

Digital Signatures (Option D):Ensures authenticity and integrity but does not encrypt the email content.

Unauthorized data modifications during conversion (D) are the most critical concern because they compromise data integrity, leading to inaccurate or corrupted information in the new system. Data migration should be performed with strict controls, including validation, reconciliation, and audit trails.

Other options:

Lack of online backups (A) is a risk but not as severe as compromised data integrity. Offline backups may still exist.

Undocumented change management (B) is a process deficiency but does not directly affect data accuracy.

Manual data conversion (C) increases risk but does not automatically indicate unauthorized changes.

Quantum algorithms, such as Shor’s algorithm, can factor large prime numbers exponentially faster than classical computers, threatening the security of RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography. Similarly, Grover’s algorithm reduces the effective strength of symmetric key algorithms by half, requiring larger key sizes. While post-quantum cryptography is being developed, current algorithms may become obsolete once practical quantum computers exist. Options B, C, and D are incorrect because quantum does not inherently improve encryption, nor is training the key issue—it is the fundamental breakage of cryptographic assumptions.

References (ISACA): ISACA Journal – Cryptographic Risks and Quantum Computing; CISA Review Manual, Cryptography.

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Theprimary roleof an internalIS audit functionis to provideindependent assuranceonrisk management, internal controls, and governance processes.

Option A (Incorrect):While audits may identifycontrol improvements, they donot initiate changes; management is responsible for implementation.

Option B (Incorrect):Compliance audits arepartof IS auditing, but the main focus isassurance on risk and controls, not just compliance.

Option C (Incorrect):Best practices and standards reviews are useful, but theydo not definethecore objectiveof an internal audit.

Option D (Correct):The internal audit function'smain goalis toassess and assurethe effectiveness of an organization’srisk management and internal controls.

The IS auditor should be most concerned if completeness testing has not been performed on the log data, as this could indicate that some logs are missing, corrupted, or tampered with, and that the log aggregation system is not reliable or accurate12. Completeness testing is a process of verifying that all the logs generated by the source systems are successfully collected, transferred, and stored by the log aggregation system, and that there are no gaps or inconsistencies in the log data34. Completeness testing is essential for ensuring the integrity and validity of the log data, and for supporting the risk management practices of the organization.

References

1: Log Aggregation: How it Works, Methods, and Tools - Exabeam2 2: Log Aggregation & Monitoring Relation in Cybersecurity4 3: Log Aggregation: What It Is & How It Works | Datadog3 4: Data Flow Testing - GeeksforGeeks1

When a program release needs to be backed out of production, the changes introduced by that release must be removed from the source code to ensure the system returns to its prior state. This approach ensures that the source code reflects the stable version without the problematic changes.

References

ISACA CISA Review Manual 27th Edition, Page 244-245 (Change Management)

If SoD cannot be fully implemented, an independent review of changes after deployment provides assurance that inappropriate or unauthorized code has not been introduced. Other options either weaken controls or fail to provide adequate oversight.

References (ISACA): COBIT® BAI06 (Managed IT Changes).

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

AChange Approval Board (CAB)ensures thatall necessary testing and rollback planshave been reviewed before deployment.

Option A (Correct):ACABensures thatchanges are reviewed, tested, and approved, minimizing risks before an application is deployed. This includes confirming thatrollback plans are in place.

Option B (Incorrect):Standardized change requestsare important but donot guarantee review and approvalby management and stakeholders.

Option C (Incorrect):Third-party approvalmay be useful, but internalgovernance and control via a CABis more comprehensive.

Option D (Incorrect):Secure code reviewshelp identify vulnerabilities, but they donot confirm proper deployment and rollback procedures.