CompTIA CS0-003 Practice Test - Questions Answers, Page 37

Comprehensive Detailed

The most effective and economical way to ensure the security of an automated information system is to design it with security in mind from the outset. This is often referred to as 'security by design.' Here's a breakdown of each option and why option A is correct:

A . Originally designed to provide necessary security

Systems designed with security from the beginning integrate secure practices and considerations during the development process. This approach mitigates the need for costly and complex retroactive security implementations, which are common in systems where security was an afterthought.

Cost Efficiency: Security implementations at the design stage can be embedded into the system architecture, reducing the costs associated with later modifications.

Effectiveness: Security-by-design approaches often result in robust systems that are more resilient to vulnerabilities because they address security concerns at each development phase.

B . Subjected to intense security testing

While rigorous security testing (such as penetration testing and vulnerability assessments) is essential, it is reactive. Security testing is more effective when applied to systems already designed with foundational security principles, ensuring that tests identify potential flaws in an inherently secure system.

C . Customized to meet specific security threats

Customizing security to meet specific threats addresses unique risks, but such a targeted approach may miss new or emerging threats not initially considered. It also risks neglecting fundamental security practices that apply universally, leading to potential vulnerabilities.

D . Optimized prior to the addition of security

Optimizing a system before adding security features may enhance performance but does not guarantee security. Security cannot be effectively added onto a system as an afterthought without incurring additional costs or creating potential weaknesses.

NIST SP 800-160: Systems Security Engineering, which emphasizes designing systems with security integrated from the beginning.

OWASP Security by Design Principles: Explores how security considerations are most effective when included early in development.

Comprehensive Detailed

The command output shown indicates that the analyst used a TCP connection test to check if communication on port 443 (usually HTTPS) succeeded. Here's why each option was or was not suitable:

A . nmap: While nmap can scan ports, it does not provide direct feedback on connection success or failure in the manner shown.

B . tnc (Test-NetConnection in PowerShell): This command in PowerShell is specifically designed to test connectivity to a specified port and IP address. The output (TcpTestSucceeded: False) is characteristic of the tnc command.

C . ping: The ping command only tests ICMP echo replies and does not indicate success or failure on specific ports.

D . tracert: tracert traces the path packets take to reach a host but does not provide a direct indication of port availability or success.

Microsoft PowerShell Documentation: Test-NetConnection cmdlet, which details TCP port testing.

NIST SP 800-115: Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment, covering connectivity testing methods.

Comprehensive Detailed

To safely analyze malware while avoiding unintended disclosure of company information, it is best to use a local sandbox in a microsegmented environment. Here's why:

A . Upload the malware to the VirusTotal website

Risk: VirusTotal and similar services are public and may share uploaded files with other security vendors, potentially exposing proprietary or sensitive information.

B . Share the malware with the EDR provider

Limitation: While EDR providers may offer insight, sharing potentially sensitive malware samples externally still introduces risk of disclosure or data leaks.

C . Hire an external consultant to perform the analysis

Cost and Risk: Hiring an external consultant can be costly and may introduce risks related to third-party handling of sensitive data. Although it may provide insights, this is typically not the most efficient initial response.

D . Use a local sandbox in a microsegmented environment

A local sandbox provides a secure, isolated environment for malware analysis without exposing sensitive data outside the organization. Microsegmentation enhances security by further isolating the sandbox from the network, preventing lateral movement if the malware attempts to communicate externally.

NIST SP 800-83: Guide to Malware Incident Prevention and Handling for Desktops and Laptops.

MITRE ATT&CK: Techniques and recommendations for malware analysis in isolated environments.

Comprehensive Detailed

The best approach to address the risk of a zero-day attack is mitigation. Here's an explanation of each option:

A . Avoid

Avoiding risk would mean discontinuing the use of the asset, which is not feasible for high-value assets that are essential to operations.

B . Transfer

Transferring risk would involve outsourcing or obtaining insurance, but this does not directly reduce the threat of a zero-day exploit.

C . Accept

Accepting the risk means acknowledging it without implementing countermeasures, which is not advisable for high-value assets at risk from sophisticated attacks.

D . Mitigate

Mitigation involves implementing technical or administrative controls to reduce the impact of an attack. For zero-day exploits, this could include installing network-based protections, enhancing monitoring, or applying threat intelligence to detect or contain potential exploit attempts.

NIST SP 800-30: Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments.

OWASP Risk Rating Methodology: Techniques for assessing and mitigating security risks.

Comprehensive Detailed

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) defines the expectations, requirements, and metrics for third-party services, including response times and responsibilities during an event. Here's an overview of each option:

A . BIA (Business Impact Analysis)

BIA is used to assess potential impacts of disruptions to business operations, but it does not specify third-party response requirements.

B . DRP (Disaster Recovery Plan)

DRP provides recovery procedures for internal systems and services but does not directly establish third-party obligations.

C . SLA (Service Level Agreement)

SLAs set clear expectations for third-party services, including response times, performance metrics, and specific requirements during incidents. SLAs ensure accountability for external providers during critical events.

D . MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)

An MOU defines general terms and intentions between parties but lacks the specific performance metrics required in an SLA.

NIST SP 800-37: Risk Management Framework, on the role of SLAs in managing third-party risk.

ITIL Service Design: Importance of SLAs for defining service performance and response requirements.

Comprehensive Detailed

To match the mitigation criteria, we analyze each machine's CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) attributes:

Attack Vector (AV): N for network (matches the requirement of network-based attack).

Attack Complexity (AC): L for low (meets the requirement for low complexity).

Privileges Required (PR): N for none (indicating no privileges are needed).

User Interaction (UI): N for none (matches the requirement that no user action is needed).

Confidentiality (C), Integrity (I), and Availability (A): Requires high confidentiality and availability with low integrity.

From these criteria:

Computer1 requires user interaction (UI:R), which disqualifies it.

Computer2 has a local attack vector (AV:L), which disqualifies it for a network-based attack.

Computer3 has a high attack complexity (AC:H), which does not meet the low complexity requirement.

Computer4 meets all criteria: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and appropriate confidentiality, integrity, and availability levels.

Thus, Computer4 is the correct answer.

NIST NVD (National Vulnerability Database): CVSS vector standards.

CVSS 3.1 User Guide: Explanation of each CVSS metric and its application in vulnerability prioritization.

Comprehensive Detailed

SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) solutions are implemented to streamline security operations and improve efficiency. Key benefits include:

C . Reduce repetitive tasks: SOAR solutions automate routine and repetitive tasks, which helps reduce analyst workload and minimize human error.

F . Generate reports and metrics: SOAR platforms can automatically generate comprehensive reports and performance metrics, allowing organizations to track incident response times, analyze trends, and optimize security processes.

Other options are less relevant to the core functions of SOAR:

A . Minimize security attacks: While SOAR can aid in quicker response, it does not directly minimize the occurrence of attacks.

B . Itemize tasks for approval: Task itemization for approval is more relevant to project management tools.

D . Minimize setup complexity: SOAR solutions often require significant setup and integration with existing tools.

E . Define a security strategy: SOAR is more focused on automating response rather than strategy definition.

Gartner's Guide on SOAR Solutions: Discusses automation and reporting features.

NIST SP 800-61: Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, on the value of automation in incident response.