CISM Exam Dumps - Certified Information Security Manager

The primary goal of the eradication phase in an incident response process is to remove the threat and restore affected systems because it eliminates any traces or remnants of malicious activity or compromise from the systems or network, and returns them to their normal or secure state. Maintaining a strict chain of custody is not a goal of the eradication phase, but rather a requirement for preserving and documenting digital evidence throughout the incident response process. Providing effective triage and containment of the incident is not a goal of the eradication phase, but rather a goal of the containment phase, which isolates and stops the spread of malicious activity or compromise. Obtaining forensic evidence from the affected system is not a goal of the eradication phase, but rather a goal of the identification phase, which collects and analyzes data or artifacts related to malicious activity or compromise. References: https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2017/volume-5/incident-response-lessons-learned https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2018/volume-3/incident-response-lessons-learned

The most important outcome of effective risk treatment is the implementation of corrective actions that address the root causes of the risk and reduce its likelihood and/or impact to an acceptable level. Effective risk treatment does not necessarily eliminate the risk, but rather brings it within the organization’s risk appetite and tolerance. Timely reporting of incidents and reduced cost of acquiring controls are desirable benefits of effective risk treatment, but they are not the primary outcome.

A single point of contact within the organization is the most important element to include when incorporating media communication procedures into the security incident communication plan because it helps to ensure a consistent and accurate message to the public and avoid confusion or misinformation. A single point of contact is a designated person who is authorized and trained to communicate with the media on behalf of the organization during a security incident. The single point of contact should coordinate with the incident response team, senior management, legal counsel, and public relations to prepare and deliver timely and appropriate statements to the media, as well as to respond to any inquiries or requests. A single point of contact also helps to prevent unauthorized or conflicting disclosures from other employees or stakeholders that may harm the organization’s reputation or legal position. Therefore, a single point of contact within the organization is the correct answer.

 The effectiveness of an incident response team will be greatest when the incident response process is updated based on lessons learned. This ensures that the team can continuously improve its performance and capabilities, and address any gaps or weaknesses identified during previous incidents. Updating the incident response process based on lessons learned also helps to align the process with the changing business and security environment, and to incorporate best practices and standards. Meeting on a regular basis to review log files, having trained security personnel as team members, and using a security information and event monitoring (SIEM) system are all important factors for an incident response team, but they are not sufficient to ensure the effectiveness of the team. Reviewing log files may help to detect and analyze incidents, but it does not guarantee that the team can respond appropriately and efficiently. Having trained security personnel may enhance the skills and knowledge of the team, but it does not ensure that the team can work collaboratively and communicate effectively. Using a SIEM system may facilitate the identification and prioritization of incidents, but it does not ensure that the team can follow the established procedures and protocols. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, page 1361; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 10th Edition, page 1492

The best course of action for an information security manager when a threat intelligence report indicates a large number of ransomware attacks targeting the industry is to assess the risk to the organization. This means evaluating the likelihood and impact of a potential ransomware attack on the organization’s assets, operations, and reputation, based on the current threat landscape, the organization’s security posture, and the effectiveness of the existing security controls. A risk assessment can help the information security manager prioritize the most critical assets and processes, identify the gaps and weaknesses in the security architecture, and determine the appropriate risk response strategies, such as avoidance, mitigation, transfer, or acceptance. A risk assessment can also provide a business case for requesting additional resources or support from senior management to improve the organization’s security resilience and readiness. The other options are not the best course of action because they are either too reactive or too narrow in scope. Increasing the frequency of system backups (A) is a good practice to ensure data availability and recovery in case of a ransomware attack, but it does not address the prevention or detection of the attack, nor does it consider the potential data breach or extortion that may accompany the attack. Reviewing the mitigating security controls (B) is a part of the risk assessment process, but it is not sufficient by itself. The information security manager should also consider the threat sources, the vulnerabilities, the impact, and the risk appetite of the organization. Notifying staff members of the threat © is a useful awareness and education measure, but it should be done after the risk assessment and in conjunction with other security policies and procedures. Staff members should be informed of the potential risks, the indicators of compromise, the reporting mechanisms, and the best practices to avoid or respond to a ransomware attack. References = CISM Review Manual 2022, pages 77-78, 81-82, 316; CISM Item Development Guide 2022, page 9; #StopRansomware Guide | CISA; [The Human Consequences of Ransomware Attacks - ISACA]; [Ransomware Response, Safeguards and Countermeasures - ISACA]

The best way to determine corrective actions after a major information security incident is to conduct a postmortem assessment, which is a systematic and structured review of the incident, its causes, its impacts, and its lessons learned. A postmortem assessment can help to identify the root causes of the incident, the strengths and weaknesses of the incident response process, the gaps and deficiencies in the security controls, and the opportunities for improvement and remediation. A postmortem assessment can also help to document the recommendations and action plans for preventing or minimizing the recurrence of similar incidents in the future.

References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition eBook1, Chapter 4: Information Security Incident Management, Section: Incident Response, Subsection: Postincident Activities, Page 211.

Business strategy is the overarching driver for any organizational initiative, including security. Information security policies must align with the strategic goals of the organization to ensure relevance, support, and effectiveness.

Security policies that do not consider the business context may hinder operations or fail to protect key objectives. Business-driven policies are more likely to gain executive support and compliance from stakeholders, creating a strong foundation for governance.

“Information security policies must be aligned with business goals and objectives to ensure that they support the overall mission and are embraced by stakeholders.”

— CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, Chapter 1: Information Security Governance, Section: Strategy Alignment*

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems are designed to collect, analyze, and correlate data from multiple sources, making them the BEST choice for identifying and correlating intrusion attempt alerts.

A. Threat analytics software: While this can provide insights, it is not specialized for real-time correlation and alerting across various platforms.

B. Host intrusion detection system (HIDS): HIDS monitors individual hosts and detects intrusions, but it does not correlate alerts from multiple sources.

C. SIEM: This is the BEST answer because SIEM integrates logs from diverse systems, applies correlation rules, and provides actionable insights into intrusion attempts.

D. Network intrusion detection system (NIDS): While NIDS detects network-level anomalies, it does not correlate alerts from other systems.