OVAL (Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language) is a standard that would be best suited for creating checks for a zero-day vulnerability in an organization’s internally developed software. OVAL is a standard for expressing system configuration information and vulnerabilities in an XML format, allowing interoperability and automation among different security tools and platforms. An engineer can use OVAL to create definitions or tests for specific vulnerabilities or states in the software, and then use OVAL-compatible tools to scan or evaluate the software against those definitions or tests. ARF (Asset Reporting Format) is not a standard for creating checks for vulnerabilities, but a standard forexpressing information about assets and their characteristics in an XML format, allowing interoperability and automation among different security tools and platforms. ISACs (Information Sharing and Analysis Centers) are not standards for creating checks for vulnerabilities, but organizations that collect, analyze, and disseminate information about threats, vulnerabilities, incidents, or best practices among different sectors or communities. Node.js is not a standard for creating checks for vulnerabilities, but a runtime environment that allows executing JavaScript code outside of a web browser, enabling the development of scalable web applications or services. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-oval https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Assuring the integrity of messages is the most important security objective when applying cryptography to control messages that tell an ICS (industrial control system) how much electrical power to output. Integrity is the security objective that ensures the accuracy and completeness of data or information, preventing unauthorized modifications or tampering. Assuring the integrity of messages can prevent malicious or accidental changes to the control messages that could affect the operation or safety of the ICS or the electrical power output. Importing the availability of messages is not a security objective when applying cryptography, but a security objective that ensures the accessibility and usability of data or information, preventing unauthorized denial or disruption of service. Ensuring non-repudiation of messages is not a security objective when applying cryptography, but a security objective that ensures the authenticity and accountability of data or information, preventing unauthorized denial or dispute of actions or transactions. Enforcing protocol conformance for messages is not a security objective when applying cryptography, but a security objective that ensures the compliance and consistency of data or information, preventing unauthorized deviations or violations of rules or standards. VerifiedReferences: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-integrity https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Mobile application management (MAM) is a solution that allows the organization to control and secure the approved collaboration applications and the data within them on personal devices. MAM can prevent unstructured data from being exfiltrated by restricting the ability to move,copy, or share data between applications. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a solution that requires the user to provide more than one piece of evidence to prove their identity when accessing corporate data. MFA can prevent data from being exfiltrated as a result of compromised credentials by adding an extra layer of security. Digital rights management (DRM) is a solution that protects the intellectual property rights of digital content by enforcing policies and permissions on how the content can be used, accessed, or distributed. DRM can prevent sensitive information in emails from being exfiltrated by encrypting the content and limiting the actions that can be performed on it, such as forwarding, printing, or copying. Verified References:

https://www.manageengine.com/data-security/what-is/byod.html

https://www.cimcor.com/blog/7-scariest-byod-security-risks-how-to-mitigate

PAM (Privileged Access Management) is a solution that can increase the security posture of user endpoints by providing more visibility and control over local administrator accounts. By implementing PAM, removing users from the local administrators group, and prompting users for explicit approval when elevated privileges are required, the security engineer can reduce the attack surface, prevent unauthorized access, and enforce the principle of least privilege. Implementing PAM, keeping users in the local administrators group, and enabling local administrator account monitoring may not provide enough control or visibility over local administrator accounts, as users could still abuse or compromise their privileges. Implementing EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) may not provide enough control or visibility over local administrator accounts, as EDR is mainly focused on detecting and responding to threats, not managing privileges. Enabling user behavior analytics may not provide enough control or visibility over local administrator accounts, as user behavior analytics is mainly focused on identifying anomalies or risks in user activity, not managing privileges. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-pam https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Replacing the current antivirus with an EDR (endpoint detection and response) solution is the best solution for addressing several service outages on the endpoints due to new malware. An EDR solution is a technology that provides advanced capabilities for detecting, analyzing, and responding to threats or incidents on endpoints, such as computers, laptops, mobile devices, or servers. An EDR solution can use behavioral analysis, machine learning, threat intelligence, or other methods to identify new or unknown malware that may evade traditional antivirus solutions. An EDR solution can also provide automated or manual remediation actions, such as isolating, blocking, or removing malware from endpoints. Removing the web proxy and installing a UTM (unified threat management) appliance is not a good solution for addressing service outages on endpoints due to new malware, as it could expose endpoints to more threats or attacks by removing a layer of protection that filters web traffic, as well as not provide sufficient detection or response capabilities for endpoint-specific malware. Implementing a deny list feature on endpoints is not a good solution for addressing service outages on endpoints due to new malware, as it could be ineffective or impractical for blocking new or unknown malware that may not be on the deny list, as well as not provide sufficient detection or response capabilities for endpoint-specific malware. Adding a firewall module on the current antivirus solution is not a good solution for addressing service outages on endpoints due to new malware, as it could introduce compatibility or performance issues for endpoints by adding an additional feature that may not be integrated or optimized with the antivirus solution, as well as not provide sufficient detection or response capabilities for endpoint-specific malware. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-edr https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Utilizing code signing by a trusted third party and making the DACL (discretionary access control list) read-only are actions that the developer can perform to maintain integrity to each module of a program and ensure the code cannot be altered by malicious users. Code signing is a technique that uses digital signatures to verify the authenticity and integrity of code, preventing unauthorized modifications or tampering. A trusted third party, such as a certificate authority, can issue and validate digital certificates for code signing. A DACL is an attribute of an object that defines the permissions granted or denied to users or groups for accessing or modifying the object. Making the DACL read-only can prevent unauthorized users or groups from changing the permissions or accessing the code. Implementing certificate-based authentication is not an action that the developer can perform to maintain integrity to each module of a program and ensure the code cannot be altered by malicious users, but a method for verifying the identity of users or devices based on digital certificates, preventing unauthorized access or impersonation. Verifying MD5 hashes is not an action that the developer can perform to maintain integrity to each module of a program and ensure the code cannot be altered by malicious users, but a method for checking the integrity of files based on cryptographic hash functions, detecting accidental or intentional changes or corruption. Compressing the program with a password is not an action that the developer can perform to maintain integrity to each module of a program and ensure the code cannot be altered by malicious users, but a method for reducing the size of files and protecting them with a password, preventing unauthorized access or extraction. Encrypting with 3DES is not an action that the developer can perform to maintain integrity to each module of a program and ensure the code cannot be altered by malicious users, but a method for protecting the confidentiality of data based on symmetric-key encryption algorithms, preventing unauthorized disclosure or interception. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-code-signing https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Implementing decoy files on adjacent hosts is a technique that can entice the adversary to uncover malicious activity, as it can lure them into accessing fake or irrelevant data that can trigger an alert or reveal their presence. Decoy files are also known as honeyfiles or honeypots, and they are part of deception technology. Deploying a SOAR (Security Orchestration Automation and Response) tool may not entice the adversary to uncover malicious activity, as SOAR is mainly focused on automating andstreamlining security operations, not deceiving attackers. Modifying user password history and length requirements may not entice the adversary to uncover malicious activity, as it could affect legitimate users and not reveal the attacker’s actions. Applying new isolation and segmentation schemes may not entice the adversary to uncover malicious activity, as it could limit their access and movement, but not expose their presence. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-deception-technology https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

This is because a risk assessment requires identifying the assets that are valuable to the organization and could be targeted by attackers. A full inventory of information and data assets can help the analyst prioritize the most critical assets and determine their potential exposure to threats. Without knowing what assets are at stake, the analyst cannot effectively assess the risk level or the impact of an attack. Creating an inventory of assets is also a prerequisite for performing other actions, such as following compliance standards, measuring availability, or conducting penetration tests.

Threat emulation is the method that should be used to test an incident response playbook for insider attacks. Threat emulation is a technique that simulates real-world attacks using realistic scenarios, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of threat actors. Threat emulation can help evaluate the effectiveness of an incident response plan by testing how well it can detect, respond to, contain, eradicate, recover from, and learn from an attack.

Remote access services deployed using vendor-diverse redundancy with event response driven by playbooks is the best solution to meet the requirements. Vendor-diverse redundancy means using different vendors or technologies to provide the same service or function, which can increase the availability and resilience of the service. For example, if one vendor’s VPN solution fails due to a zero-day vulnerability, another vendor’s VPN solution can take over without affecting the users. Event response driven by playbooks means using predefined workflows or scripts to automate the actions or decisions that need to be taken in response to certain events or triggers. For example, a playbook can define how to switch between different remote access solutions based on certain criteria or conditions, such as performance, availability, security, or manual input. Playbooks can also be integrated with SOAR platforms to leverage their capabilities for orchestration, automation, and response. Verified References:

https://cyware.com/security-guides/security-orchestration-automation-and-response/what-is-vendor-agnostic-security-orchestration-automation-and-response-soar-40e4

https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-security-playbook

A public key infrastructure (PKI) is a system of certificates and keys that can provide encryption and authentication for APIs (application programming interfaces). A PKI can be used to store customer keys for accessing APIs and segregating customer data sets. A trusted platform module (TPM) is a hardware device that provides cryptographic functions and key storage, but it is not suitable for storing customer keys for APIs. A hardware security module (HSM) is similar to a TPM, but it is used for storing keys for applications, not for APIs. A localized key store is a software component that stores keys locally, but it is not as secure or scalable as a PKI. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-pki https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

The security analyst should remove the cipher TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_RC4_128_SHA to support the business requirements, as it is considered weak and vulnerable to on-path attacks. RC4 is an outdated stream cipher that has been deprecated by major browsers and protocols due to its flaws and weaknesses. The other ciphers are more secure and compliant with secure-by-design principles and PCI DSS. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-cipher https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

A VPN (virtual private network) can provide secure connectivity for remote users to access servers hosted by the cloud provider. A CASB (cloud access security broker) can enforce policies and controls for accessing SaaS applications. A secure web gateway can monitor and filter user browser activity to prevent malicious or unauthorized traffic. Verified References:https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-vpn

The process ID 87 can be the starting point for an investigation of a possible buffer overflow attack, as it shows a high percentage of CPU utilization (99.7%) and a suspicious command name (graphic.linux_randomization.prg). A buffer overflow attack is a type of attack that exploits a vulnerability in an application or system that allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated buffer size, potentially overwriting memory segments and executing malicious code. A high CPU utilization could indicate that the process is performing intensive or abnormal operations, such as a buffer overflow attack. A suspicious command name could indicate that the process is trying to disguise itself or evade detection, such as by mimicking a legitimate program or using random characters. The other process IDs do not show signs of a buffer overflow attack, as they have low CPU utilization and normal command names. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-buffer-overflow https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

The output shows a SQL injection attack that is trying to exploit a web application. A WAF (Web Application Firewall) is a security solution that can detect and block malicious web requests, such as SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, etc. Placing a WAF inline would prevent the attack from reaching the web server and database. References: https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/SQL_Injection https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ddos/glossary/web-application-firewall-waf/

DRM (digital rights management) is a technology that can protect intellectual property from theft by restricting the access, use, modification, or distribution of digital content or devices. DRM can use encryption, authentication, licensing, watermarking, or other methods to enforce the rights and permissions granted by the content owner or provider to authorized users or devices. DRM can preventunauthorized copying, sharing, or piracy of digital content, such as software, music, movies, or books. Watermarking is not a technology that can protect intellectual property from theft by itself, but a technique that can embed identifying information or marks in digital content or media, such as images, audio, or video. Watermarking can help prove ownership or origin of digital content, but it does not prevent unauthorized access or use of it. NDA (non-disclosure agreement) is not a technology that can protect intellectual property from theft by itself, but a legal contract that binds parties to keep certain information confidential and not disclose it to unauthorized parties. NDA can help protect sensitive or proprietary information from exposure or misuse, but it does not prevent unauthorized access or use of it. Access logging is not a technology that can protect intellectual property from theft by itself, but a technique that can record the activities or events related to accessing data or resources. Access logging can help monitor or audit access to data or resources, but it does not prevent unauthorized access or use of them. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-drm https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Federation is the best strategy for unifying application access between two companies without merging their internal authentication stores. Federation allows users from different organizations to authenticate and access resources using their existing credentials through trusted third-party identity providers. This enables seamless access without the need to merge or consolidate internal authentication systems. CASP+ emphasizes federation as a key technology for enabling cross-organizational authentication while maintaining the integrity of separate identity stores.

A wildcard certificate is a certificate that can be used for multiple subdomains of a domain, such as *.example.com. This would allow the inspection of the data without multiple certificate deployments, as one wildcard certificate can cover all the subdomains that will be separated out with subdomains. Including all available cipher suites may not help with inspecting the data without multiple certificate deployments, as cipher suites are used for negotiating encryption and authentication algorithms, not for verifying certificates. Using a third-party CA (certificate authority) may not help with inspecting the data without multiple certificate deployments, as a third-party CA is an entity that issues and validates certificates, not a type of certificate. Implementing certificate pinning may not help with inspecting the data without multiple certificate deployments, as certificate pinning is a technique that hardcodes the expected certificate or public key in the application code, not a type of certificate. Verified References:https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-wildcard-certificate https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

We recommend that you encrypt your virtual hard disks (VHDs) to help protect your boot volume and data volumes at rest in storage, along with your encryption keys and secrets. Azure Disk Encryption helps you encrypt your Windows and Linux IaaS virtual machine disks. Azure Disk Encryption uses the industry-standard BitLocker feature of Windows and the DM-Crypt feature of Linux to provide volume encryption for the OS and the data disks. The solution is integrated with Azure Key Vault to help you control and manage the disk-encryption keys and secrets in your key vault subscription. The solution also ensures that all data on the virtual machine disks are encrypted at rest in Azure Storage. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/iaas

Modeling user behavior and monitoring for deviations from normal and continuously monitoring code commits to repositories and generating summary logs are actions that will enable the data feeds needed to detect unauthorized insertions into application development environments and authorized insiders making unauthorized changes to environment configurations. Modeling user behavior and monitoring for deviations from normal is a technique that uses baselines, analytics, machine learning, or other methods to establish normal patterns of user activity and identify anomalies or outliers that could indicate malicious or suspicious behavior. Modeling user behavior and monitoring for deviations from normal can help detect unauthorized insertions into application development environments, as it can alert on unusual or unauthorized access attempts, commands, actions, or transactions by users. Continuously monitoring code commits to repositories and generating summary logs is a technique that uses tools, scripts, automation, or other methods to track and record changes made to code repositories by developers, testers, reviewers, or other parties involved in the software development process. Continuously monitoring code commits to repositories and generating summary logs can help detect authorized insiders making unauthorized changes to environment configurations, as it can audit and verify the source, time, reason, and impact of code changes made by authorized users. Performing static code analysis of committed code and generate summary reports is not an action that will enable the data feeds needed to detect unauthorized insertions into application development environments and authorized insiders making unauthorized changes to environment configurations, but an action that will enable the data feeds needed to detect vulnerabilities, errors, bugs, or quality issues in committed code. Implementing an XML gateway and monitor for policy violations is not an action that will enable the data feeds needed to detect unauthorized insertions into application development environments and authorized insiders makingunauthorized changes to environment configurations, but an action that will enable the data feeds needed to protect XML-based web services from threats or attacks by validating XML messages against predefined policies. Monitoring dependency management tools and report on susceptible third-party libraries is not an action that will enable the data feeds needed to detect unauthorized insertions into application development environments and authorized insiders making unauthorized changes to environment configurations, but an action that will enable the data feeds needed to identify outdated or vulnerable third-party libraries used in software development projects. Installing an IDS (intrusion detection system) on the development subnet and passively monitor for vulnerable services is not an action that will enable the data feeds needed to detect unauthorized insertions into application development environments and authorized insiders making unauthorized changes

Data exposure is a security concern that will most likely need to be addressed during migration of all company data to the cloud, as it could involve sensitive or confidential data being accessed or disclosed by unauthorized parties. Data exposure could occur due to misconfigured cloud services, insecure data transfers, insider threats, or malicious attacks. Data exposure could also result in compliance violations, reputational damage, or legal liabilities. Latency is not a security concern, but a performance concern that could affect the speed or quality of data access or transmission. Data loss is not a security concern, but a availability concern that could affect the integrity or recovery of data. Data dispersion is not a security concern, but a management concern that could affect the visibility or control of data. VerifiedReferences: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-data-exposure https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Least privilege, policy automation, and continuous validation are some of the key elements that need to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. Zero trust architecture is a security model that assumes no implicit trust for any entity or resource, regardless of their location or ownership. Zero trust architecture requires verifying every request and transaction before granting access or allowing data transfer. Zero trust architecture also requires minimizing the attack surface and reducing the risk of lateral movement by attackers.

A. Least privilege is a principle that states that every entity or resource should only have the minimum level of access or permissions necessary to perform its function. Least privilege can help enforce granular and dynamic policies that limit the exposure and impact of potential breaches. Least privilege can also help prevent privilege escalation and abuse by malicious insiders or compromised accounts.

C. Policy automation is a process that enables the creation, enforcement, and management of security policies using automated tools and workflows. Policy automation can help simplify and streamline the implementation of zero trust architecture by reducing human errors, inconsistencies, and delays. Policy automation can also help adapt to changing conditions and requirements by updating and applying policies in real time.

F. Continuous validation is a process that involves verifying the identity, context, and risk level of every request and transaction throughout its lifecycle. Continuous validation can help ensure that only authorized and legitimate requests and transactions are allowed to access or transfer data. Continuous validation can also help detect and respond to anomalies or threats by revoking access or terminating sessions if the risk level changes.

B. VPN is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, which is a technology that creates a secure tunnel between a device and a network over the internet. VPN can provide confidentiality, integrity, and authentication for network communications, but it does not providezero trust security by itself. VPN still relies on network-based perimeters and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

D. PKI is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. PKI stands for Public Key Infrastructure, which is a system that manages the creation, distribution, and verification of certificates. Certificates are digital documents that contain public keys and identity information of their owners. Certificates can be used to prove the identity and authenticity of the certificate holders, as well as to encrypt and sign data. PKI can provide encryption and authentication for data communications, but it does not provide zero trust security by itself. PKI still relies on trusted authorities and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

E. Firewall is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. Firewall is a device or software that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules. Firewall can provide protection against unauthorized or malicious network access, but it does not provide zero trust security by itself. Firewall still relies on network-based perimeters and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

G. Continuous integration is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. Continuous integration is a software development practice that involves merging code changes from multiple developers into a shared repository frequently and automatically. Continuous integration can help improve the quality, reliability, and performance of software products, but it does not provide zero trust security by itself. Continuous integration still relies on code-based quality assurance and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

H. IaaS is not an element that needs to be implemented to achieve the objective of transitioning to a zero trust architecture. IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service, which is a cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS can provide scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency for IT infrastructure, but it does not provide zero trust security by itself. IaaS still relies on cloud-based security controls and does not verify every request or transaction at a granular level.

Reviewing video from IP cameras within the facility would be the most likely process to expose an attacker who has compromised an air-gapped system. Since air-gapped systems are isolated from external networks, an attacker would need physical access to the system or use some covert channel to communicate with it. Video surveillance could reveal any unauthorized or suspicious activity within the facility that could be related to the attack. Verified References:

https://www.welivesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/eset_jumping_the_air_gap_wp.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-Gap_Malware

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/essentialguide/How-air-gap-attacks-challenge-the-notion-of-secure-networks

The organization’s new email system should provide e-discovery functionality. E-discovery stands for electronic discovery, which is the process of identifying, preserving, collecting, processing, reviewing, analyzing, and producing electronically stored information (ESI) that is relevant to a legal matter. E-discovery can help the organization comply with legal holds, which are orders or notices to preserve relevant ESI when litigation is anticipated or ongoing. E-discovery can also help the organization reduce the costs and risks of litigation, as well as improve the efficiency and accuracy of the discovery process. Verified References:

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/electronic-discovery

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/legal-hold

https://www.ibm.com/topics/electronic-discovery

A source code escrow is a legal agreement that involves a third party holding the source code of a software application on behalf of the software vendor and the software licensee. The source code escrow ensures that the licensee can access the source code in case the vendor goes out of business, fails to provide maintenance or support, or breaches the contract terms.

A source code escrow would have prevented the risk of having an old application that is not covered for maintenance anymore because the software company is no longer in business, because it would:

Allow the licensee to obtain the source code and continue to update, fix, or modify the application according to their needs.

Protect the vendor’s intellectual property rights and prevent unauthorized disclosure or use of the source code.

Provide a legal framework and a trusted mediator for resolving any disputes or issues between the vendor and the licensee.

Configuring user settings in Group Policy is the best way for an administrator to implement the decision to restrict PowerShell access to only administrators. Group Policy is a feature of Windows that allows administrators to manage and enforce settings for users and computers in a domain. By using Group Policy, an administrator can create a policy that blocks or disables PowerShell for all users except for a particular group, such as administrators. This policy can be applied to all computers in the domain or to specific organizational units. This method is more effective and manageable than uninstalling PowerShell, monitoring event logs, providing user education, or blocking PowerShell via HIDS. Verified References:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-powershell-windows-10

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/195218/how-to-restrict-powershell-for-all-users-except-fo

https://windowsloop.com/block-disable-powershell/

A MSA stands for master service agreement, which is a document that covers the general terms and conditions of a contractual relationship between two parties. It usually includes paymentterms, limitation of liability, intellectual property rights, dispute resolution, and other clauses that apply to all services provided by one party to another. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/training/books/casp-cas-004-study-guide , https://www.upcounsel.com/master-service-agreement

Steganography is the practice of hiding a secret message within another object, in such a way that others cannot discern the presence or contents of the hidden message. It is often used for watermarkingto embed a covert sign of ownership in a proprietary document without adding any visible identifying attributes.

A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is a set of policies and procedures that outline how an organization should respond to and recover from disruptions [1]. It is designed to ensure that critical operations and services can be quickly restored and maintained, and should include steps to identify risks, developplans to mitigate those risks, and detail the procedures to be followed in the event of a disruption. Resources:

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Study Guide, Chapter 4: “Business Continuity Planning,” Wiley, 2018. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/CompTIA+Advanced+Security+Practitioner+CASP%2B+Study+Guide%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9781119396582

The methods that can be used to protect user internet privacy, to ensure the connection is encrypted, and to keep user activity hidden are proxy and MAC address randomization. A proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between a user and the internet, hiding the user’s IP address and location from websites and other online services. A proxy can also encrypt the connection between the user and the proxy server, preventing anyone from snooping on the user’s traffic. MAC address randomization is a feature that changes the MAC address of a mobile device periodically or when connecting to different networks. A MAC address is a unique identifier of a network interface that can be used to track the device’s location and activity. MAC address randomization can help protect the user’s privacy by making it harder for third parties to link the device to a specific user or network. Verified References:

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/proxy-server

https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/MAC-address-randomization

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/MAC-address-Media-Access-Control-address

The company should implement OCSP stapling and HSTS to improve TLS performance and enforce HTTPS. OCSP stapling is a technique that allows a server to provide a signed proof of the validity of its certificate along with the TLS handshake, instead of relying on the client to contact the certificate authority (CA) for verification. This can reduce the latency and bandwidth of the TLS handshake, as well as improve the privacy and security of the certificate status. HSTS stands for HTTP Strict Transport Security, which is a mechanism that instructs browsers to only use HTTPS when connecting to a website, and to reject any unencrypted or invalid connections. This can prevent downgrade attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, and mixed content errors, as well as improve the performance of HTTPS connections by avoiding unnecessary redirects. Verified References:

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/OCSP-stapling

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/HTTP-Strict-Transport-Security

https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/what-is-hsts/

The three metric groups that are needed to calculate CVSS scores are Base, Temporal, and Environmental. The Base metrics represent the intrinsic characteristics of a vulnerability that are constant over time and across user environments. The Temporal metrics represent the characteristics of a vulnerability that may change over time but not across user environments. The Environmental metrics represent the characteristics of a vulnerability that are relevant and unique to a particular user’s environment. Verified References:

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln-metrics/cvss

https://www.first.org/cvss/specification-document

The company should use HMAC SHA256 as a cryptographic technique to ensure that packets received between two parties have not been tampered with and the connection remains private. HMAC stands for hash-based message authentication code, which is a method of generating a message authentication code using a cryptographic hash function and a secret key. HMAC can provide both integrity and authenticity of the packets, as well as resistance to replay attacks. SHA256 is a specific hash function that produces a 256-bit output. SHA256 is considered secure and widely used in various cryptographic applications. Verified References:

https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2021/7/cryptography-and-privacy-protecting-private-data

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cryptography/special_issues/Preserve_Enhance_Privacy

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11432-021-3393-x

 DLP, or data loss prevention, and CASB, or cloud access security broker, are the solutions that when installed and configured would best meet the CSO’s requirements. DLP is a technology that monitorsand prevents unauthorized or accidental data leakage or exfiltration from an organization’s network or devices. DLP can use document attributes, such as metadata, keywords, or fingerprints, to identify and classify sensitive data and enforce policies on how they can be accessed, transferred, or shared. CASB is a technology that acts as a proxy or intermediary between an organization’s cloud services and its users. CASB can provide visibility, compliance, threat protection, and data security for cloud-based applications and data. CASB can also prevent on-site staff from accessing personal SaaS solutions that are not authorized by the organization.

The developer would most likely implement a Root CA in the autonomous vehicle’s software. A Root CA is the top-level authority in a PKI that issues and validates certificates for subordinate CAs or end entities. A Root CA can be self-signed and embedded in the vehicle’s software, which would reduce the need for external communication and verification. A Root CA would also enable the vehicle to use digital signatures and encryption for secure communication with other vehicles or infrastructure. Verified References:

https://cse.iitkgp.ac.in/~abhij/publications/PKI++.pdf

https://www.digicert.com/blog/connected-cars-need-security-use-pki

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9822667/

Execute never is a technology that can be enabled on the ARM architecture to prevent malware from inserting itself in another process’ memory location. Execute never (also known as XN or NX) is a feature that marks certain memory regions as non-executable, meaning that they cannot be used to run code. This prevents malware from exploiting buffer overflows or other memory corruption vulnerabilities to inject malicious code into another process’ memory space.

The company should use an additional layer of encryption to secure the data from theft when moving to a CSP. Encryption is a process of transforming data into an unreadable format using a secret key. Encryption can protect the data from unauthorized access or modification during transit and at rest. Encryption can be applied at different levels, such as disk, file, or application. An additional layer of encryption can provide an extra security measure on top of the encryption provided by the CSP. Verified References:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/transition-seat-based-services

https://cloud.google.com/architecture/patterns-for-connecting-other-csps-with-gcp

A risk associated with SDN is the expanded attack surface that it introduces. SDN is a network architecture that decouples the control plane from the data plane, allowing centralized and programmable management of network devices and traffic. However, this also exposes new attack vectors and vulnerabilities that can compromise the security and performance of the network. For example, an attacker can target the SDN controller, which is the core component that communicates with and controls the network devices. A successful attack on the SDN controller can result in denial of service, unauthorized access, data leakage, or network hijacking. An attacker can also exploit the communication channels between the SDN controller and the network devices, such as the OpenFlow protocol, to intercept, modify, or inject malicious messages or commands. Additionally, an attacker can leverage malicious or compromised applications that run on top of the SDN controller to manipulate or disrupt the network behavior. Verified References:

https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2016/volume-4/benefits-and-the-security-risk-of-software-defined-networking

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40860-022-00171-8

Containerization is a technology that allows applications to run in isolated and portable environments called containers. Containers are lightweight and self-contained units that include all the dependencies, libraries, and configuration files needed for an application to run. Containers can be deployed on any platform that supports the container runtime engine, such as Docker or Kubernetes.

Containerization would allow the company to refactor a monolithic application to take advantage of cloud native services and service microsegmentation to secure sensitive application components, because containerization would:

Enable the application to be split into smaller and independent components (microservices) that can communicate with each other through APIs or message queues.

Allow the application to leverage cloud native services, such as load balancers, databases, or serverless functions, that can be integrated with containers through configuration files or environment variables.

Enhance the security of the application by isolating each container from other containers and the host system, and applying fine-grained access control policies and network rules to each container or group of containers.

Ensure the portability of the application by enabling it to run on any cloud provider or platform that supports containers, without requiring any changes to the application code or configuration.

The process that involves searching and collecting evidence during an investigation or lawsuit is e-discovery. E-discovery stands for electronic discovery, which is the process of identifying, preserving, collecting, processing, reviewing, analyzing, and producing electronically stored information (ESI) that is relevant to a legal matter. E-discovery can be used for civil litigation, criminal prosecution, regulatory compliance, internal investigations, and other purposes. E-discovery can help parties obtain evidence from various sources, such as emails, documents, databases, social media, cloud services, mobile devices, and others. Verified References:

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/electronic-discovery

https://www.edrm.net/frameworks-and-standards/edrm-model/

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/electronic_discovery_(federal)

The organization is implementing homomorphic encryption. Homomorphic encryption is a type of encryption that allows computations to be performed on encrypted data without decrypting it first. This means that the organization can analyze the customers’ data and deliver analysis results without being able to see the raw data, preserving the privacy and confidentiality of the customers. Homomorphic encryption can enable various applications, such as cloud computing, machine learning, and data analytics, that require processing sensitive data without compromising security. Verified References:

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/homomorphic-encryption

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/encryption-at-rest

https://www.ibm.com/topics/homomorphic-encryption

SaaS, or software as a service, is the solution that can best fulfill the requirements of having the lowest RTO possible, the least shared responsibility possible, and patching as a responsibility of the CSP. SaaS is a cloud service model that provides users with access to software applications hosted and managed by the CSP over the internet. SaaS has the lowest RTO (recovery time objective), which is the maximum acceptable time for restoring a system or service after a disruption, because it does not require any installation, configuration, or maintenance by the users. SaaS also has the least shared responsibility possible because most of the security aspects are handled by the CSP, such as patching, updating, backup, encryption, authentication, etc.

The administrator should use SAN certificates to support multiple domain names while minimizing the amount of certificates needed. SAN stands for Subject Alternative Name, which is an extension of a certificate that allows it to include multiple fully-qualified domain names (FQDNs) within the same certificate. For example, a SAN certificate can secure www.example.com, www.example.net, and mail.example.org with one certificate. SANcertificates can reduce the cost and complexity of managing multiple certificates for different domains. SAN certificates can also support wildcard domains, such as *.example.com, which can cover any subdomain under that domain. Verified References:

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/Subject-Alternative-Name

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/wildcard-certificate

https://www.nexcess.net/help/what-is-a-multi-domain-ssl-certificate/

The most likely cause of the signature failing is that the certificate is set for the wrong key usage. Key usage is an extension of a certificate that defines the purpose and functionality of the public key contained in the certificate. Key usage can include digital signature, key encipherment, dataencipherment, certificate signing, and others. If the certificate is set for a different key usage than digital signature, it will not be able to sign the applications properly. The administrator should check the key usage extension of the certificate and make sure it matches the intended purpose. Verified References:

https://www.wintips.org/how-to-fix-windows-cannot-verify-the-digital-signature-for-this-file-error-in-windows-8-7-vista/

https://softwaretested.com/mac/how-to-fix-a-digital-signature-error-on-windows-10/

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/digital-signatures-and-certificates-8186cd15-e7ac-4a16-8597-22bd163e8e96

OCSP stapling is a solution that allows the web server to provide a time-stamped OCSP response signed by the CA along with the certificate during the TLS handshake, eliminating the need for the client to contact the CA separately to validate the certificate. OCSP stapling can reduce thedelay caused by the certificate validation process by saving a round-trip between the client and the CA. It can also improve the security and privacy of the certificate validation by preventing potential attacks or tracking by malicious third parties. Verified References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCSP_stapling

https://www.digicert.com/knowledgebase/ssl-certificates/ssl-general-topics/what-is-ocsp-stapling.html

https://www.entrust.com/knowledgebase/ssl/online-certificate-status-protocol-ocsp-stapling

 Disabling file exchange can help to minimize data leakage by preventing users from sharing sensitive documents or data through the videoconferencing platform. Enabling watermarking can help to maintain customer trust and ensure non-repudiation by adding a visible or invisible mark to the video stream that identifies the source or owner of the content. Enabling the user authentication requirement can help to secure the videoconferencing sessions by verifying the identity of the participants and preventing unauthorized access. Verified References:

https://www.rev.com/blog/marketing/follow-these-7-video-conferencing-security-best-practices

https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2020/04/network-video-conferencing-security/

https://www.megameeting.com/news/best-practices-secure-video-conferencing/

The root cause of this issue is that the iOS keychain imported only the client public and private keys, but not the CA certificate. A PKCS#12 file (.p12 or .pfx) is a file format that contains a certificate and its private key, optionally protected by a password. A PKCS#12 file can also contain intermediate certificates or root certificates that are needed to verify the certificate chain. However, when importing a PKCS#12 file into the iOS keychain, only the certificate and its private key are imported, not the CA certificate. This means that the iOS device cannot verify the authenticity of the certificate, and displays the error message “mbedTLS: ca certificate undefined”. To fix this issue, the CA certificate needs to be imported separately into the iOS keychain, either manually or using a configuration profile. Verified References:

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/certificatepkcs12

https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/distribute-certificates-depcdc9a6a3f/web

https://openvpn.net/faq/how-do-i-use-a-client-certificate-and-private-key-from-the-ios-keychain/

The indicator that shows when a company might not be viable after a disaster is the maximum tolerable downtime (MTD). MTD is the maximum amount of time that a business process or function can be disrupted without causing unacceptable consequences for the organization. MTD is a key metric for business continuity planning and disaster recovery, as it helps determine the recovery time objective (RTO) and the recovery point objective (RPO) for each process or function. If the actual downtime exceeds the MTD, the organization may face severe losses, reputational damage, regulatory penalties, or even bankruptcy. Verified References:

https://www.techtarget.com/searchdisasterrecovery/definition/maximum-tolerable-downtime

https://www.techtarget.com/searchdisasterrecovery/definition/recovery-time-objective

https://www.techtarget.com/searchdisasterrecovery/definition/recovery-point-objective

Order of volatility is a procedure that a computer forensics examiner must follow during evidence collection. It refers to the order in which digital evidence is collected, starting with the most volatile and moving to the least volatile. Volatile data is data that is not permanent and is easily lost, such as data in memory when you turn off a computer. The security analyst should have followed the order of volatility to preserve the most fragile evidence first, such as the malicious script running as a background process, before turning off the infected machine. Verified References:

https://www.computer-forensics-recruiter.com/order-of-volatility/

https://www.sans.org/blog/best-practices-in-digital-evidence-collection/

https://blogs.getcertifiedgetahead.com/order-of-volatility/

Input validation is a technique that checks the user input for any errors, malicious data, or unexpected values before processing it by the application. Input validation can prevent many common web application attacks, such as:

SQL injection, which exploits a vulnerability in the application’s database query to execute malicious SQL commands.

Cross-site scripting (XSS), which injects malicious JavaScript code into the application’s web page to execute on the client-side browser.

Directory traversal, which accesses files or directories outside of the intended scope by manipulating the file path.

In this case, the security engineer should recommend input validation as the best mitigation technique, because it would:

Prevent the exfiltration of a company report by validating the file parameter in the URL and ensuring that it matches a predefined list of allowed files or formats.

Enhance the security of the web application by filtering out any malicious or invalid input from users or attackers.

Be more effective and efficient than other techniques, such as firewall, WAF (Web Application Firewall), or DLP (Data Loss Prevention), which may not be able to detect or block all types of web application attacks.

The EDR output shows the process tree of the ransomware infection. The root node is NO-AV.exe, which is a malicious executable that disables antivirus software and downloads the DearCry ransomware. The NO-AV.exe process was launched on cpt-ws026 by a user named John. The DearCry.exe process was then launched on cpt-ws026 by NO-AV.exe and propagated to other devices via SMB. Therefore, the ransomware originated from cpt-ws026 and NO-AV.exe. Verified References:

https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/03/12/analyzing-dearcry-ransomware-the-first-attack-to-exploit-exchange-server-vulnerabilities/

https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/dearcry-ransomware-analysis/

When a security researcher identifies a vulnerability, especially one involving remote code execution, they must navigate a process that protects them legally and ethically. The best advice here is to consult with legal professionals to understand any liabilities, such as potential violations of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or intellectual property concerns. Legal consultation ensures that the researcherfollows responsible disclosure practices and avoids legal repercussions, which aligns with CASP+ guidance on managing vulnerabilities and the responsible handling of sensitive security information. CompTIA CASP+ emphasizes the importance of adhering to legal and regulatory frameworks when reporting vulnerabilities, especially when dealing with former employers or clients.

If the asymmetric private key defined in the write-once read-many (WORM) portion of the System on Chip (SoC) is compromised, the IoT device manufacturer cannot simply replace or update the key through software changes due to the nature of WORM memory. The compromised key would necessitate the production of a new IoT device with a redesigned SoC that includes a new, secure private key. This is because the integrity of the encryption module is fundamental to the device's security, and a compromised key cannot be allowed to persist in the hardware.

The network administrator is noticing a web attack that attempts to access the /etc/shadow file on a Linux web server. The /etc/shadow file contains the encrypted passwords of all users on the system and is a common target for attackers. The attack uses a technique called directory traversal, which exploits a vulnerability in the web application that allows an attacker to access files or directories outside of the intended scope by manipulating the file path.

Validating the server input and appending the input to the base directory path would be the best action for the network administrator to take to defend against this type of web attack, because it would:

Check the user input for any errors, malicious data, or unexpected values before processing it by the web application.

Prevent directory traversal by ensuring that the user input is always relative to the base directory path of the web application, and not absolute to the root directory of the web server.

Deny access to any files or directories that are not part of the web application’s scope or functionality.

SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a technology that allows organizations to use multiple, low-cost Internet connections to create a secure and dynamic WAN. SD-WAN can provide benefits such as lower costs, higher performance, and easier management compared to traditional WAN technologies, such as MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching).

However, SD-WAN also introduces some potential risks, such as:

The reliability and security of the Internet connections, which may vary depending on the location, provider, and traffic conditions.

The compatibility and interoperability of the SD-WAN hardware and software, which may come from different vendors or use different standards.

The availability and quality of the SD-WAN provider’s support, which may depend on the provider’s size, reputation, and outsourcing practices.

In this case, the CISO would most likely identify the risk that the SD-WAN provider uses a third party for support, because this could:

Affect the organization’s ability to resolve issues or request changes in a timely and effective manner.

Expose the organization’s network data and configuration to unauthorized or malicious parties.

Increase the complexity and uncertainty of the SD-WAN service level agreement (SLA) and contract terms.

Remote file inclusion (RFI) is a web vulnerability that allows an attacker to include malicious external files that are later run by the website or web application12. This can lead to code execution, data theft, defacement, or other malicious actions. RFI typically occurs when a web application dynamically references external scripts using user-supplied input without proper validation or sanitization23.

In this case, the website allows users to specify a country parameter in the URL that is used to include a file from another domain. For example, an attacker could craft a URL like this:

https://mycompany.com/main.php?Country=https://malicious.com/evil.php

This would cause the website to include and execute the evil.php file from the malicious domain, which could contain any arbitrary code3.

WPA3-Personal is a simple, secure solution for a small business with a single access point. It uses a new security protocol called Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE), which replaces the Pre-Shared Key (PSK) exchange with a more secure way to do initial key exchange. SAE also provides forward secrecy, which means that even if the password is compromised, the attacker cannot decrypt past or future data. WPA3-Personal also uses AES-128 in CCM mode as the minimum encryption algorithm, which is resistant to offline password attacks. WPA3-Personal requires low administrative overhead and supports a single SSID with no guest access. Verified References:

https://www.diffen.com/difference/WPA2_vs_WPA3

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/wpa3-personal-enterprise-wi-fi-encryption

https://www.teldat.com/blog/wpa3-wi-fi-network-security-wpa3-personal-wpa3-enterprise/

The consultant should use the customer-provided VDI solution to perform work on the customer’s environment. VDI stands for virtual desktop infrastructure, which is a technology that allows users to access a virtual desktop hosted on a remote server. VDI can help meet the customer’s requirements by ensuring that all customer data remains under the customer’s control at all times, that third-party access to the customer environment is controlled by the customer, and that authentication credentials and access control are under the customer’s control. Verified References:

https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/how-to-avoid-social-engineering-attacks

https://www.eccouncil.org/cybersecurity-exchange/ethical-hacking/understanding-preventing-social-engineering-attacks/

https://www.indusface.com/blog/10-ways-businesses-can-prevent-social-engineering-attacks/

Delivering an updated threat signature throughout the endpoint detection and response (EDR) system is the best way to take advantage of the security solution that uses a sandbox environment to execute zero-day software and collect indicators of compromise. An EDR system is a solution that monitors and analyzes the activities and behaviors of endpoints, such as computers, mobile devices, or servers, and detects and responds to potential threats. An EDR system can use threat signatures, which are patterns or characteristics of known malicious software or attacks, to identify and block malicious activities on endpoints. By delivering an updated threat signature based on the indicators ofcompromise collected from the sandbox environment, the organization can enhance its EDR system’s ability to detect and prevent zero-day attacks that exploit unknown vulnerabilities. Verified References:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/what-is-endpoint-detection-response.html

https://www.crowdstrike.com/epp-101/what-is-a-sandbox/

Certificate Authority Authorization (CAA) is not listed directly in the provided options, but it is a relevant mechanism in the context of managing certificates and preventing issues similar to the one described. However, based on the available choices, the Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) comes closest to providing a viable solution. OCSP allows for real-time validation of a certificate's revocation status, which could mitigate the issue of users being locked out due to key pinning policies. It is a more modern and efficient alternative to Certificate Revocation Lists (CRLs), offering faster and more reliable certificate status checks. By implementing OCSP, the technician could ensure that clients receive timely updates on the revocation status of certificates, potentially avoiding the downtime caused by the key-pinning policy awaiting expiration​​.

The best approach to reduce the company's risk is to segregate the enterprise IT servers and supervisory industrial systems. Creating a new network segment and using a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) to enforce a strict segmentation policy will help to isolate the systems and protect against potential attacks. Additionally, implementing a Wireless Intrusion Detection System (WIDS) can help monitor the spectrum for unauthorized devices or interference.

Comprehensive and Detailed in-Depth Explanation:

Why the Correct Answer is C (A CDN with the origin set to its data center):

AContent Delivery Network (CDN)is specifically designed to address the requirements presented:

Low Latency for Global Users:

A CDN caches static and dynamic content onedge serversdistributed across the globe.

This minimizes latency forremote geographic locationsas content is served from thenearest edge serverrather than the centralized New York data center.

SSL Offloading:

Many CDNs offerSSL terminationat the edge, offloading theSSL/TLS handshake processfrom the origin server.

This improvesweb server performanceby reducing the computational load.

Protection Against DoS and DDoS Attacks:

CDNs are equipped withbuilt-in DDoS protection, absorbing andmitigating attacksat the edge rather than letting them hit the origin server.

This capability ensures that the application remainsavailableeven during attack attempts.

High Availability:

CDNs are designed forresiliency and redundancy.

Even if the origin data center goes down, cached content can still be served frommultiple edge locations, enhancing availability.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. A cache server farm in its data center:

While it improves performancelocally, it does not reducelatency for global users.

It lacksDDoS protectionand high availability across regions.

B. A load-balanced group of reverse proxy servers with SSL acceleration:

This approach improvesSSL performanceandavailabilitywithin the data center but does not addressglobal latency.

It also does not inherently provideDDoS mitigation.

D. Dual gigabit-speed internet connections with managed DDoS prevention:

This solution addressesDDoS protection and availabilitybut notlow latency for remote users.

Thebottleneck remainsat the single data center location, leading tohigh latencyfor global users.

Real-World Scenario:

A social media application similar toInstagram or TikTokmust ensurefast content deliveryandresilient performanceworldwide. ACDNenables content to be deliveredcloser to the user, significantly reducingloading times. Furthermore, theSSL offloading and DDoS mitigationcapabilities protect both user data and service availability.

Extract from CompTIA SecurityX CAS-005 Study Guide:

TheCompTIA SecurityX CAS-005 Official Study Guidehighlights thatCDNsare essential for applications with aglobal user base. CDNs providelow latency, enhanced security (including DDoS protection), and increased availabilityby distributing content throughedge locations. This aligns perfectly with the organizational requirements outlined.

Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) is a feature of certain key agreement protocols that ensures a session key derived from a set of long-term keys cannot be compromised if one of the long-term keys is compromised in the future. In the context of a VPN, PFS ensures that each session has a unique encryption key, and even if a key is compromised, it will not compromise past or future VPN sessions.

When an EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) system flags legitimate software as malicious, it is a false positive. This occurs when the EDR incorrectly identifies normal, non-malicious activity as a threat. The scenario described indicates that the development software was blocked even though there were no changes to the software, which suggests a false positive by the EDR system.

Theddtool creates a bit-for-bit copy of a hard drive, preserving its contents exactly as they are. This is essential for forensic analysis, as it ensures the integrity of evidence. This aligns with CASP+ objective 5.2, which emphasizes forensic tools and techniques for preserving and analyzing digital evidence.

Option A (Origin assurance):Digital signatures ensure that the code originates from a trusted source.

Option B (Integrity verification):Digital signatures verify that the code has not been tampered with since it was signed.

Option C (Confidentiality):Digital signatures do not provide encryption or confidentiality.

Option D (DRMs):Digital signatures are not specifically related to Digital Rights Management.

Option E (Recipient verification):Digital signatures validate the sender, not the recipient.

Option F (Free of malware):While digital signatures verify integrity, they cannot guarantee that the code is free of malware.

In the event of a fire at the main data center, the immediate action should be to review and engage the disaster recovery plan. This is to ensure the continuity of business operations. The CIO should coordinate with IT leaders from both companies to ensure a unified response. Assessing the damage and planning for recovery are crucial, and leveraging the expertise from both companies can help streamline the process.

Due care refers to the effort made by an ordinarily prudent or reasonable party to avoid harm to another party. By not reporting the gaps in the inventory system, the assessor is neglecting their responsibility and not exercising the due care that is expected of them, which could lead to legal ramifications for non-compliance or other security breaches.

The command depicted is indicative of a reverse shell, which is a type of shell where the target system initiates an outgoing connection to a remote host, and then standard input and output of the command line interface on the target system is redirected through this connection to the remote host. This is typically used by an attacker after exploitation to open a remote command line interface to control the compromised machine.

The scan output in line 06 indicates that OCSP Must-Staple is not supported. This vulnerability exposes the application to attacks where an attacker can exploit the trust relationship between the client and the server by forging certificate revocation statuses. When OCSP stapling is not enforced, a client cannot reliably check if a certificate has been revoked, potentially allowing attackers to exploit this gap. CASP+ discusses the importance of certificate validation mechanisms such as OCSP (Online Certificate Status Protocol) to prevent man-in-the-middle and trust-exploiting attacks.

Deploying a web application firewall (WAF) signature is a way to detect and block attempts to exploit the Heartbleed vulnerability on the web server. A WAF signature is a pattern that matches a known attack vector, such as a malicious heartbeat request. By deploying a WAF signature, the company can protect its web application from Heartbleed attacks until the underlying vulnerability is fixed.

Updating the OpenSSL library is the ultimate way to fix and mitigate the Heartbleed vulnerability. The OpenSSL project released version 1.0.1g on April 7, 2014, which patched the bug by adding a bounds check to the heartbeat function. By updating the OpenSSL library on the web server, the company can eliminate the vulnerability and prevent any future exploitation.

B. Fixing the PHP code is not a way to resolve or mitigate the Heartbleed vulnerability, because the vulnerability is not in the PHP code, but in the OpenSSL library that handles the SSL/TLS encryption for the web server.

C. Changing the web server from HTTPS to HTTP is not a way to resolve or mitigate the Heartbleed vulnerability, because it would expose all the web traffic to eavesdropping and tampering by attackers. HTTPS provides confidentiality, integrity, and authentication for web communications, and should not be disabled for security reasons.

D. Using SSLv3 is not a way to resolve or mitigate the Heartbleed vulnerability, because SSLv3 is an outdated and insecure protocol that has been deprecated and replaced by TLS. SSLv3 does not support modern cipher suites, encryption algorithms, or security features, and is vulnerable to various attacks, such as POODLE.

E. Changing the code from PHP to ColdFusion is not a way to resolve or mitigate the Heartbleed vulnerability, because the vulnerability is not related to the programming language of the web application, but to the OpenSSL library that handles the SSL/TLS encryption for the web server.

https://owasp.org/www-community/vulnerabilities/Heartbleed_Bug

https://heartbleed.com/

The browser is the application that the security analyst should patch first, given that all the applications have equally high CVSS scores. CVSS stands for Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which is a method for measuring the severity of vulnerabilities based on various factors,such as access conditions, impact, and exploitability. CVSS scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating higher severity. However, CVSS scores alone are not sufficient to determine the patching priority, asthey do not account for other factors, such as the likelihood of exploitation, the exposure of the system, or the criticality of the data. Therefore, the security analyst should also consider the context and the risk of each application when deciding which one to patch first. In this case, the browser is likely to be the most exposed and frequently used application by the network administrator, and also the most likely entry point for an attacker to compromise the system or access the SSO web portal. Therefore, patching the browser first can reduce the risk of a successful attack and protect the system and the data from further damage. Verified References:

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln-metrics/cvss

https://www.darkreading.com/risk/vulnerability-severity-scores-make-for-poor-patching-priority-researchers-find

Wireless network auto joining is the mobile configuration setting that the mobile administrator is verifying by reviewing the mobile device DHCP logs. Wireless network auto joining is a feature that allows mobile devices to automatically connect to a predefined wireless network without requiring user intervention or authentication. This can be useful for corporate or trusted networks that need frequent access by mobile devices. The DHCP logs show that the mobile devices are assigned IP addresses from the wireless network with SSID “CorpWiFi”, which indicates that they are auto joining this network.

An ISA, or interconnection security agreement, is a document that should be required to set up a dedicated VPN between two entities that provide specialized help desk services. An ISA defines the technical and security requirements for establishing, operating, and maintaining a secure connection between two or more organizations. An ISA also specifies the roles and responsibilities of each party, the security controls and policies to be implemented, the data types and classifications to be exchanged, and the incident response procedures to be followed.

Public keys on both endpoints are required for implementing PKI-based mutual authentication. PKI stands for Public Key Infrastructure, which is a system that manages the creation, distribution, and verification of certificates. Certificates are digital documents that contain public keys and identity information of their owners. Certificates are issued by trusted authorities called Certificate Authorities (CAs), and can be used to prove the identity and authenticity of the certificate holders. Mutual authentication is a process in which two parties authenticate each other at the same time using certificates. Mutual authentication can provide stronger security and privacy than one-way authentication, where only one party is authenticated. In PKI-based mutual authentication, each party has a certificate that contains its public key and identity information, and a private key that corresponds to its public key. The private key is kept secret and nevershared with anyone, while the public key is shared and used to verify the identity and signature of the certificate holder. The basic steps of PKI-based mutual authentication are as follows:

Party A sends its certificate to Party B.

Party B verifies Party A’s certificate by checking its validity, signature, and trust chain. If the certificate is valid and trusted, Party B extracts Party A’s public key from the certificate.

Party B generates a random challenge (such as a nonce or a timestamp) and encrypts it with Party A’s public key. Party B sends the encrypted challenge to Party A.

Party A decrypts the challenge with its private key and sends it back to Party B.

Party B compares the received challenge with the original one. If they match, Party B confirms that Party A is the legitimate owner of the certificate and has possession of the private key.

The same steps are repeated in reverse, with Party A verifying Party B’s certificate and sending a challenge encrypted with Party B’s public key.

A. Perfect forward secrecy on both endpoints is not required for implementing PKI-based mutual authentication. Perfect forward secrecy (PFS) is a property of encryption protocols that ensures that the compromise of a long-term secret key (such as a private key) does not affect the security of past or future session keys (such as symmetric keys). PFS can enhance the security and privacy of encrypted communications, but it does not provide authentication by itself.

B. Shared secret for both endpoints is not required for implementing PKI-based mutual authentication. Shared secret is a method of authentication that relies on a pre-shared piece of information (such as a password or a passphrase) that is known only to both parties. Shared secret can provide simple and fast authentication, but it does not provide non-repudiation or identity verification.

D. A common public key on each endpoint is not required for implementing PKI-based mutual authentication. A common public key on each endpoint would imply that both parties share the same certificate and private key, which would defeat the purpose of PKI-based mutual authentication. Each party should have its own unique certificate and private key that proves its identity and authenticity.

E. A common private key on each endpoint is not required for implementing PKI-based mutual authentication. A common private key on each endpoint would imply that both parties share the same certificate and public key, which would defeat the purpose of PKI-based mutual authentication. Each party should have its own unique certificate and private key that proves its identity and authenticity.

Executing the files in the sandbox on the web proxy is the best solution to reduce the risk of employees downloading and opening malicious files from the internet. A sandbox is a secure and isolated environment that can run untrusted or potentially harmful code without affecting the rest of the system. By executing the files in the sandbox, the web proxy can analyze their behavior and detect any malicious activity before allowing them to reach the corporate workstations.

The best way to achieve the objective of discovering SaaS applications and blocking access to unapproved or identified as risky ones is to implement cloud infrastructure to proxy all user web traffic and control access according to centralized policy (C). This solution would allow the security architect to inspect all web traffic and enforce access control policies centrally. This solution also allows the security architect to detect and block risky SaaS applications.

A DLP system is the best option for the company to mitigate the risk of losing its proprietary enhancements to competitors. DLP stands for data loss prevention, which is a set of tools and policies that aim to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or exfiltration of sensitive data. DLP can monitor, filter, encrypt, or block data transfers based on predefined rules and criteria, such as content, source, destination, etc. DLP can help protect the company’s intellectual property andtrade secrets from being compromised by malicious actors or accidental leaks. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/training/books/casp-cas-004-study-guide , https://www.csoonline.com/article/3245746/what-is-dlp-data-loss-prevention-and-how-does-it-work.html

Based on the output in the image, which shows weak cipher suites and vulnerabilities related to encryption padding, the padding oracle attack is the most likely. This type of attack exploits the way padding errors are handled during decryption, potentially allowing an attacker to decrypt sensitive information. The weak cipher suites and lack of forward secrecy further increase the likelihood of such an attack succeeding. CASP+ highlights padding oracle attacks as critical vulnerabilities, particularly in environments where weak encryption protocols are used.

The Statement of Work is a document that outlines the scope of the penetration test and defines the objectives, tools, methodology, and targets of the test. It also outlines the security controls that will be impacted by the test and what the expected outcomes are. Additionally, the Statement of Work should include any legal requirements and other considerations that should be taken into account during the penetration test.

An EDR and whitelist should protect from this attack.

TheCompTIA SecurityX CAS-005 Official Study Guidespecifies thatALEis a critical risk management metric used to understand the financial impact of a recurring loss. By accurately calculating theSingle Loss Expectancy (SLE)and considering theAnnual Rate of Occurrence (ARO), companies can make informed decisions about budgeting for potential losses.

The inability to select AES-256 encryption will most likely be a limiting factor when selecting mobile device managers for the company. AES-256 is a symmetric encryption algorithm that uses a 256-bit key to encrypt and decrypt data. It is considered one of the strongest encryption methods available and is widely used for securing sensitive data. Mobile device managers are software applications that allow administrators to remotely manage and secure mobile devices used by employees. However, not all mobile device managers may support AES-256 encryption or allow the company to enforce it as a policy on all mobile devices. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/training/books/casp-cas-004-study-guide , https://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/mobile-device-management

Comprehensive and Detailed in-Depth Explanation:

Context:

The forensic analyst needs to identifycredit card datain compromised files.

The most common credit card formats include:

Visa:Starts with4, followed by12 to 16 digits.

MasterCard:Starts with51 to 55, followed by16 digits.

Discover:Starts with6011, followed by16 digits.

American Express (AMEX):Starts with34 or 37, followed by15 digits.

In this case, the question focuses on detectingVisa credit card numbers.

Breakdown of the Correct Command (Answer B):

Command:

grep '^4[0-9]{12}(?:[0-9]{3})?$' file

^4: Matches strings thatstart with the number 4(indicating a Visa card).

[0-9]{12}: Matchesexactly 12 digitsafter the starting 4.

(?:[0-9]{3})?: Matchesan optional group of 3 additional digits(making it15 or 16 digitstotal).

$: Matches theend of the line.

grep:Searches for patterns in the specifiedfile.

The command specifically looks forVisa card numberswith the format:

13 digits:4XXXXXXXXXXXX

16 digits:4XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. grep -v '^4[0-9]{12}(?:[0-9]{3})?$' file'

The -v option in grepinverts the match, meaning it would display all linesnot matchingthe pattern.

This isnot usefulfor finding credit card numbers, as it would list irrelevant data.

C. grep '^6(?:011|5[0-9]{2})[0-9]{12}?' file'

This pattern matchesDiscover card numbersstarting with6011orMasterCard numbersstarting with5, both of which are not the target as the question clearly indicates a Visa card pattern.

D. grep -v '^6(?:011|5[0-9]{2})[0-9]{12}?' file'

This also uses the-vflag to invert the search, excludingDiscover and MasterCard numbersrather thanVisa.

Again, not relevant to finding the specific pattern of interest.

Real-World Use Case:

When conductingforensic analysisafter a data breach, it’s crucial to search forpatterns that match sensitive informationsuch as credit card numbers. Using preciseregular expressions (regex)ensures that the analyst accurately detects potential data leakage.

Extract from CompTIA SecurityX CAS-005 Study Guide:

According to theCompTIA SecurityX CAS-005 Official Study Guide, forensic analysts should usepattern matching tools like grepto identify leaked sensitive data efficiently. The guide emphasizes usingappropriate regex patternsto detectcredit card numbers, specifically mentioning the importance of correctly identifying the number format to avoid false positives.

Modifying the ACLs (access control lists) is the most likely solution to avoid the intermittent access issues with the new cloud application. ACLs are used to define permissions for different users and groups to access resources on a network. The problem may be caused by incorrect or missing ACLs for the marketing department that prevent them from accessing the cloud application or its data sources. The other options are either irrelevant or less effective for the given scenario

SELinux contexts are typically made up of several components, including the user identity, role, type (also known as domain or type), and MLS (Multi-Level Security) level. The context format is user:role:type:level. In the given output sys:secret:sec_t:s0, 'sys' represents the user identity, 'secret' is the role, 'sec_t' is the type, and 's0' is the MLS level. Understanding SELinux contexts is critical for managing Mandatory Access Control (MAC) in GNU/Linux systems to protect against unauthorized access.

Soft delete allows blobs to be deleted, but the data remains accessible for a period of time before it is permanently deleted. This allows the company to delete blobs as needed, while still affording enough time for the backup process to complete. After the backup process is complete, the blobs can be permanently deleted.

To protect DNS from on-path attacks and ensure that zone transfers are mutually authenticated and secure, the security architect should configure DNSSEC and Public keys. DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) provides protection against DNS spoofing by digitally signing DNS data to ensure its integrity. Public keys are crucial for mutual authentication during zone transfers, ensuring that only authorized parties can exchange DNS zone data. Together, these options help meet both the requirements of securing DNS queries and authenticating zone transfers with cryptographic integrity.

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is the document used to specify due dates for the remediation of high- and critical-priority findings. SLAs outline the responsibilities of the service provider, including time frames for addressing issues or vulnerabilities, based on their severity. By setting clear timelines for remediation, SLAs ensure that critical security vulnerabilities are addressed in a timely manner. CASP+ emphasizes the importance of SLAs in maintaining accountability for security operations and ensuring compliance with organizational security policies.

Comprehensive and Detailed Step by Step Explanation:

SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language)is a standard for single sign-on (SSO) that provides centralized authentication and authorization, ensuring SaaS access is governed by organizational policies.

SLDAP (Secure LDAP)focuses on directory services but does not centralize SaaS product access.

VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)is unrelated to SaaS authentication.

TACACS (Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System)is more suited for network devices.

Encrypt all data and files at rest, in transit, and in use:Comprehensive encryption ensures data confidentiality is maintained throughout its lifecycle, meeting the requirement for secure data handling.

Configure SOAR to monitor and intercept files and data leaving the network:A SOAR system provides automated response capabilities to detect and mitigate data exfiltration attempts dynamically.

This aligns with CASP+ objectives 4.2 and 4.3, which emphasize securing data and using advanced monitoring tools to mitigate risks in sensitive environments.

Having developers use the company's VPN can provide them with secure access to the network while still allowing the company to block normal internet traffic from the other country. A jump box serves as a secure entry point for administrators or in this case, developers, to connect before launching any administrative tasks or accessing further areas of the network. This setup maintains security while still providing necessary access.

Comprehensive and Detailed Step by Step Explanation:

The issue stems from Web Server C's new IP (10.2.0.92) not being included in thefirewall rules.

To resolve the issue,modify the firewall rules to include the new IP range(e.g., 10.2.0.0/26) rather than adding a specific host rule, ensuring scalability and simplicity.

Changing inbound or outbound security group rules would still miss the underlying issue of omitted IPs.

Reconfiguring the IP is unnecessary when updating firewall rules is sufficient.

The first step in reducing the attack surface of vulnerable, end-of-support systems is to apply hardening recommendations. Hardening involves applying security configurations, such as disabling unnecessary services, enforcing strong authentication, and tightening access controls to mitigate vulnerabilities on systems that can no longer receive patches or support. While patching and deploying security tools like IPS/IDS and antivirus are important, hardening addresses the fundamental weakness of these legacy systems by reducing their exposure to threats. CASP+ recommends hardening as a crucial measure in environments where patching or upgrading may not be feasible, particularly for unsupported systems.

A content delivery network (CDN) is a distributed system of servers that delivers web content to users based on their geographic location, the origin of the content, and the performance of thenetwork. A CDN can help improve the availability and performance of web applications by caching content closer to the users, reducing latency and bandwidth consumption. A CDN can also help mitigate distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks by absorbing or filtering malicious traffic before it reaches the origin servers, reducing the impact on the application availability. Supporting heterogeneous architecture means using different types of hardware, software, or platforms in an IT environment. This can help improve resilience by reducing single points of failure and increasing compatibility, but it does not directly prevent DDoS attacks. Ensuring cloud autoscaling is in place means using cloud services that automatically adjust the amount of resources allocated to an application based on the demand or load. This can help improve scalability and performance by providing more resources when needed, but it does not directly prevent DDoS attacks. Scaling horizontally means adding more servers or nodes to an IT environment to increase its capacity or throughput. This can help improve scalability and performance by distributing the load across multiple servers, but it does not directly prevent DDoSattacks. References: [CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 2: Enterprise Security Architecture, Objective 2.4: Select controls based on systems security evaluation models

When conducting a risk assessment for a vendor that provides multiple products, it is important to perform the assessment at the individual product level. Each product might have different risk factors, security requirements, and vulnerabilities, so assessing each one ensures a comprehensive understanding of the risks involved. Assessing randomly or only major products could leave gaps in understanding the risks for smaller but still critical products. CASP+ emphasizes that risk assessments should be detailed and product-specific for a thorough evaluation.

The Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a method for using specific standards to enable automated vulnerability management, measurement, and policy compliance evaluation. Using SCAP can help to identify vulnerabilities, including those without standard definitions, and ensure they are tracked and managed effectively.

In the context of a private cryptographic key suspected to be exposed, the best immediate action is to revoke the certificate associated with that key. Revoking the certificate ensures that it cannot be used toestablish new secure sessions, which prevents attackers from using the potentially compromised key to impersonate or decrypt communications. The revocation process typically involves updating the Certificate Revocation List (CRL) or leveraging the Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP), both of which are used by clients to check the validity of certificates.

“In forensic analysis on Unix‐like systems, the file utility examines the magic number and header information of a file to determine its true type, regardless of its filename or extension. This makes it invaluable when an adversary has renamed or stripped extensions from files to evade detection.”

— CompTIA CASP+ Official Study Guide, Third Edition, Chapter 7: Forensics and Incident Response, p. 485

“Use the file command as part of your forensic toolkit to validate image files (e.g., ISO, E01) by their internal signatures. This approach is more reliable than relying on extensions or filenames alone.”

— CompTIA CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives (v7.1), Section 5.2: Forensic Analysis Techniques, p. 33

By leveraging the file utility’s signature‐based detection, the investigator can accurately identify ISO images even when their extensions have been altered or removed.

The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) should highlight social engineering as an area of increased vulnerability due to the lack of completion of security awareness training by employees. Social engineering attacks exploit human behavior, and employees who are not adequately trained are more likely to fall victim to phishing, pretexting, and other types of social engineering tactics. Increasing awareness and training helps employees recognize and respond appropriately to these threats.

Before determining which data should be deleted during a data cleanup project, it is critical to first review retention schedules. Retention schedules specify how long data must be retained to comply with legal, regulatory, or business requirements. Deleting data prematurely could result in non-compliance or the loss of important information. By consulting retention schedules, the security administrator ensures that data is deleted in a compliant and controlled manner, based on its retention policy. CASP+ highlights data retention management as a key element in data governance and security.

Step by Step Explanation:

RPO (Recovery Point Objective): Specifies the maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time. If data loss of more than one hour is unacceptable, the RPO should be set to less than or equal to one hour.

RTO (Recovery Time Objective): Refers to the acceptable duration of system downtime, which is not relevant to the question.

The BCP, DRP, and SLA do not directly address data loss.

Software Composition Analysis (SCA) is a process that identifies the open-source components used in software development to manage the risks associated with third-party components. Implementing SCA into the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) can help identify outdated third-party packages and ensure they are replaced or updated before the software is distributed.

A spam campaign is a mass distribution of unsolicited or fraudulent emails that may contain malicious links, attachments, or requests. Spam campaigns are often used by attackers to deliver ransomware, which is a type of malware that encrypts the victim’s data and demands a ransom for its decryption.

Simulating a spam campaign would allow the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to evaluate whether the training has been successful in reducing the number of successful ransomware attacks that have hit the company, because it would:

Test the employees’ ability to recognize and avoid clicking on fake or malicious emails, which is one of the main vectors for ransomware infection.

Measure the effectiveness of the training by comparing the click-through rate and the infection rate before and after the training.

Provide feedback and reinforcement to the employees by informing them of their performance and reminding them of the best practices for email security.

Even though the company uses a cloud service provider (CSP) that is PCI compliant, the customer must still ensure that in-scope systems related to their new payment system offering are also PCI compliant. PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) applies to any system that processes, stores, or transmits credit card data, and this includes customer-owned systems, services, or applications integrated into the solution. The responsibility is shared between the CSP and the customer, and compliance is not automatically inherited just because the CSP is compliant. CASP+ emphasizes that organizations must ensure all components within their control are also PCI compliant.

DLP (data loss prevention) is a solution that can meet the following requirements: identify sensitive data in the provider’s network, maintain compliance with company and regulatory guidelines, detect and respond to insider threats, privileged user threats, and compromised accounts, and enforce data-centric security, such as encryption, tokenization, and access control. DLP can monitor, classify, and protect data in motion, at rest, or in use, and prevent unauthorized disclosure or exfiltration. WAF (web application firewall) is a solution that can protect web applications from common attacks, such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting, but it does not address the requirements listed. CASB (cloud access security broker) is a solution that can enforce policies and controls for accessing cloud services and applications, but it does not address the requirements listed. SWG (secure web gateway) is a solution that can monitor and filter web traffic to prevent malicious or unauthorized access, but it does not address the requirements listed. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-data-loss-prevention https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guid

 Execute never is a technology that can be enabled on the ARM architecture to prevent malware from inserting itself in another process memory location and executing code. Execute never is a feature that allows each memory region to be tagged as not containing executable code by setting the execute never (XN) bit in the translation table entry. If the XN bit is set to 1, then any attempt to execute an instruction in that region results in a permission fault. If the XN bit is cleared to 0, then code can execute from that memory region. Execute never also prevents speculativeinstruction fetches from memory regions that are marked as non-executable, which can avoid undesirable side-effects or vulnerabilities. By enabling execute never, the developer can protect the process memory from being hijacked by malware. Verified References:

https://developer.arm.com/documentation/ddi0360/f/memory-management-unit/memory-access-control/execute-never-bits

https://developer.arm.com/documentation/den0013/d/The-Memory-Management-Unit/Memory-attributes/Execute-Never

https://developer.arm.com/documentation/ddi0406/c/System-Level-Architecture/Virtual-Memory-System-Architecture–VMSA-/Memory-access-control/Execute-never-restrictions-on-instruction-fetching

SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) vertical heterogeneity is a technique that can help preserve network bandwidth and increase speed to both internal and external resources while not sacrificing threat visibility. SD-WAN vertical heterogeneity involves using different types of network links (such as broadband, cellular, or satellite) for different types of traffic (such as voice, video, or data) based on their performance and security requirements. This can optimize the network efficiency and reliability, as well as provide granular visibility and control over traffic flows. Distributed connection allocation is not a technique for preserving network bandwidth and increasing speed, but a method for distributing network connections among multiple servers or devices. Local caching is not a technique for preserving network bandwidth and increasing speed, but a method for storing frequently accessed data locally to reduce latency or load times. Content delivery network is not a technique for preserving network bandwidth and increasing speed, but a system of distributed servers that deliver web content to users based on their geographic location. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-sd-wan https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Remotely wiping the device is the best way to secure the data on the lost device, as it would erase all the data and prevent unauthorized access. Requiring a VPN to be active to access company data may not protect the data on the device itself, as it could be stored locally or cached. Setting up different profiles based on the person’s risk may not prevent data loss or theft, as it depends on the level of access and encryption. Requiring MFA to access company applications may not protect the data on the device itself, as it could be stored locally or cached. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-byod https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Utilizing a source code escrow will reduce the operational risk to the company if the third party stops supporting the application, as it will provide access to the latest version of the source code to continue development. A source code escrow is an agreement between a software developer and a client that involves depositing the source code of a software product with a third-party escrow agent. The escrow agent can release the source code to the client under certain conditions specified in the agreement, such as bankruptcy, termination, or breach of contract by thedeveloper. The company will not be able to force the third-party developer to continue support, manage their development process, or pay them to hire a new development team by utilizing a source code escrow. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-source-code-escrow https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

A TPM (trusted platform module) is a hardware device that can provide boot loader protection by storing cryptographic keys and verifying the integrity of the boot process. An HSM (hardware security module) is similar to a TPM, but it is used for storing keys for applications, not for booting. A PKI (public key infrastructure) is a system of certificates and keys that can provide encryption and authentication, but not boot loader protection. UEFI/BIOS are firmware interfaces that control the boot process, but they do not provide protection by themselves. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-tpm-trusted-platform-module https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Utilizing HMAC (hash-based message authentication code) for the keys is the best option for securing the REST API connection to the database while preventing the use of a hard-coded string in the request string. HMAC is a technique that uses a secret key and a hash function to generate a code that can verify the authenticity and integrity of a message, preventing unauthorized modifications or tampering. Utilizing HMAC for the keys can prevent the use of a hard-coded string in the request string, as it can dynamically generate a unique code for each request based on the secret key and the message content, making it difficult to forge or replay. Implementing a VPN (virtual private network) for all APIs is not a good option for securing the REST API connection to the database, as it could introduce latency or performance issues for API requests, as well as not prevent the use of a hard-coded string in the request string. Signingthe key with DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm) is not a good option for securing the REST API connection to the database, as it could be vulnerable to attacks or forgery if the key is compromised or weak, as well as not prevent the use of a hard-coded string in the request string. Deploying MFA (multi-factor authentication) for the service accounts is not a good option for securing the REST API connection to the database, as it could affect the usability or functionality of API requests, as well as not prevent the use of a hard-coded string in the request string. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-hmac https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Implementing cloud-based content filtering with sandboxing capabilities is the best solution for preventing malicious software installation on the employee’s laptop due to opening an email attachment that appeared to be a claim form. Cloud-based content filtering is a technique that uses acloud service to filter or block web traffic based on predefined rules or policies, preventing unauthorized or malicious access to web resources or services. Cloud-based content filtering canprevent malicious software installation on the employee’s laptop due to opening an email attachment that appeared to be a claim form, as it can scan or analyze email attachments before they reach the mailbox and block or quarantine them if they are malicious. Sandboxing is a technique that uses an isolated or virtualized environment to execute or test suspicious or untrusted code or applications, preventing them from affecting the host system or network. Sandboxing can prevent malicious software installation on the employee’s laptop due to opening an email attachment that appeared to be a claim form, as it can run or detonate email attachments in a safe environment and observe their behavior or impact before allowing them to reach the mailbox. Implementing application whitelisting and adding only the email client to the whitelist for laptops in the claims processing department is not a good solution for preventing malicious software installation on the employee’s laptop due to opening an email attachment that appeared to be a claim form, as it could affect the usability or functionality of other applications on the laptops that may be needed for work purposes, as well as not prevent malicious software from running within the email client. Requiring all laptops to connect to the VPN (virtual private network) before accessing email is not a good solution for preventing malicious software installation on the employee’s laptop due to opening an email attachment that appeared to be a claim form, as it could introduce latency or performance issues for accessing email, as well as not prevent malicious software from reaching or executing on the laptops. Installing a mail gateway to scan incoming messages and strip attachments before they reach the mailbox is not a good solution for preventing malicious software installation on the employee’s laptop due to opening an email attachment that appeared to be a claim form, as it could affect the normal operations or functionality of email communication, as well as not prevent legitimate attachments from reaching the mailbox. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-cloud-based-content-filtering https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

Isolating the servers is the best immediate action to take after reporting the incident to the management team, as it can limit the damage and contain the ransomware infection. Paying the ransom is not advisable, as it does not guarantee the recovery of the data and may encourage further attacks. Notifying law enforcement is a possible step, but not the next one after reporting. Requesting that theaffected servers be restored immediately may not be feasible or effective, as it depends on the availability and integrity of backups, and it does not address the root cause of the attack. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-ransomware-and-how-to-protect-yourself https://www.comptia.org/certifications/comptia-advanced-security-practitioner

Steganography is a technique that can hide data within other files or media, such as images, audio, or video. This can provide a low-cost approach to theft detection for the audio recordings produced and sold by the small business, as it can embed identifying information or watermarks in the audio files that can reveal their origin or ownership. Performing deep-packet inspection of all digital audio files may not be feasible or effective for theft detection, as it could consume a lot of bandwidth and resources, and it may not detect hidden data within encrypted packets. Adding identifying filesystem metadata tothe digital audio files may not provide enough protection for theft detection, as filesystem metadata can be easily modified or removed by unauthorized parties. Purchasing and installing a DRM (digital rights management) suite may not be a low-cost approach for theft detection, as it could involve licensing fees and hardware requirements. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-steganography https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/casp-content-guide

This is because the homegrown identity management system is not consistent with best practices and leaves the institution vulnerable, which means it needs to be replaced with a more secure and reliable solution. A new IAM system/vendor should be able to provide features such as role-based access control, two-factor authentication, auditing, and compliance that can enhance the security andefficiency of the identity management process. A requirements document can helpdefine the scope, objectives, and criteria for selecting a suitable IAM system/vendor that meets the needs of the institution.