Which of the options below presents a minor nonconformity?
Correct Answer: C
This is a minor nonconformity. The backup frequency not adhering to the company's procedure of daily backups but occurring once a month represents a deviation from established processes, yet it might not immediately impact the effectiveness of the information security management system. References: ISO/IEC 27001:2013, Clause A.12.3 (Backup)
Question 72
You are an experienced audit team leader guiding an auditor in training. Your team is currently conducting a third-party surveillance audit of an organisation that stores data on behalf of external clients. The auditor in training has been tasked with reviewing the PEOPLE controls listed in the Statement of Applicability (SoA) and implemented at the site. Select four controls from the following that would you expect the auditor in training to review.
Correct Answer: A,C,D,E
The four controls from the list that the auditor in training should review are: * A . Confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements: This control requires the organisation to ensure that all employees, contractors, and third parties who have access to sensitive information sign appropriate agreements that oblige them to protect the confidentiality and integrity of such information. This is especially important for an organisation that stores data on behalf of external clients, as it demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding their information assets and complying with their contractual obligations. * C . Information security awareness, education and training: This control requires the organisation to provide regular and relevant information security awareness, education and training to all employees, contractors, and third parties who have access to the organisation's information systems and information assets. This is essential for ensuring that they are aware of their roles and responsibilities, the information security policies and procedures, the potential threats and risks, and the best practices for preventing and responding to information security incidents. * D . Remote working arrangements: This control requires the organisation to establish and implement policies and procedures for managing the information security risks associated with remote working arrangements, such as teleworking, mobile working, or working from home. This includes defining the conditions and requirements for remote working, such as the authorised devices, applications, and networks, the encryption and authentication methods, the backup and recovery procedures, and the reporting and monitoring mechanisms. This is important for an organisation that stores data on behalf of external clients, as it ensures that the information security level is maintained regardless of the location of the workers and the devices they use. * E . The conducting of verification checks on personnel: This control requires the organisation to conduct appropriate verification checks on the background, qualifications, and references of all employees, contractors, and third parties who have access to the organisation's information systems and information assets. This is necessary for verifying their identity, suitability, and trustworthiness, and for preventing the hiring of unauthorised or malicious individuals who could compromise the information security of the organisation and its clients.
Question 73
You are carrying out your first third-party ISMS surveillance audit as an Audit Team Leader. You are presently in the auditee's data centre with another member of your audit team. You are currently in a large room that is subdivided into several smaller rooms, each of which has a numeric combination lock and swipe card reader on the door. You notice two external contractors using a swipe card and combination number provided by the centre's reception desk to gain access to a client's suite to carry out authorised electrical repairs. You go to reception and ask to see the door access record for the client's suite. This indicates only one card was swiped. You ask the receptionist and they reply, "yes it's a common problem. We ask everyone to swipe their cards but with contractors especially, one tends to swipe and the rest simply 'tailgate' their way in" but we know who they are from the reception sign-in. Based on the scenario above which one of the following actions would you now take?
Correct Answer: G
According to ISO/IEC 27001:2022, which specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS), control A.7.2 requires an organization to implement appropriate physical entry controls to prevent unauthorized access to secure areas1. The organization should define and document the criteria for granting and revoking access rights to secure areas, and should monitor and record the use of such access rights1. Therefore, when auditing the organization's application of control A.7.2, an ISMS auditor should verify that these aspects are met in accordance with the audit criteria. Based on the scenario above, the auditor should raise a nonconformity against control A.7.2, as the secure area is not adequately protected from unauthorized access. The auditor should provide the following evidence and justification for the nonconformity: * Evidence: The auditor observed two external contractors using a swipe card and combination number provided by the centre's reception desk to gain access to a client's suite to carry out authorized electrical repairs. The auditor checked the door access record for the client's suite and found that only one card was swiped. The auditor asked the receptionist and was told that it was a common problem that contractors tend to swipe one card and tailgate their way in, but they were known from the reception sign-in. * Justification: This evidence indicates that the organization has not implemented appropriate physical entry controls to prevent unauthorized access to secure areas, as required by control A.7.2. The organization has not defined and documented the criteria for granting and revoking access rights to secure areas, as there is no verification or authorization process for providing swipe cards and combination numbers to external contractors. The organization has not monitored and recorded the use of access rights to secure areas, as there is no mechanism to ensure that each individual swipes their card and enters their combination number before entering a secure area. The organization has relied on the reception sign-in as a means of identification, which is not sufficient or reliable for ensuring information security. The other options are not valid actions for auditing control A.7.2, as they are not related to the control or its requirements, or they are not appropriate or effective for addressing the nonconformity. For example: * Take no action: This option is not valid because it implies that the auditor ignores or accepts the nonconformity, which is contrary to the audit principles and objectives of ISO 19011:20182, which provides guidelines for auditing management systems. * Raise a nonconformity against control A.5.20 'addressing information security in supplier relationships' as information security requirements have not been agreed upon with the supplier: This option is not valid because it does not address the root cause of the nonconformity, which is related to physical entry controls, not supplier relationships. Control A.5.20 requires an organization to agree on information security requirements with suppliers that may access, process, store, communicate or provide IT infrastructure components for its information assets1. While this control may be relevant for ensuring information security in supplier relationships, it does not address the issue of unauthorized access to secure areas by external contractors. * Raise a nonconformity against control A.7.6 'working in secure areas' as security measures for working in secure areas have not been defined: This option is not valid because it does not address the root cause of the nonconformity, which is related to physical entry controls, not working in secure areas. Control A:7.6 requires an organization to define and apply security measures for working in secure areas1. While this control may be relevant for ensuring information security when working in secure areas, it does not address the issue of unauthorized access to secure areas by external contractors. * Determine whether any additional effective arrangements are in place to verify individual access to secure areas e.g. CCTV: This option is not valid because it does not address or resolve the nonconformity, but rather attempts to find alternative or compensating controls that may mitigate its impact or likelihood. While additional arrangements such as CCTV may be useful for verifying individual access to secure areas, they do not replace or substitute the requirement for appropriate physical entry controls as specified by control A.7.2. * Raise an opportunity for improvement that contractors must be accompanied at all times when accessing secure facilities: This option is not valid because it does not address or resolve the nonconformity, but rather suggests a possible improvement action that may prevent or reduce its recurrence or severity. While accompanying contractors at all times when accessing secure facilities may be a good practice for ensuring information security, it does not replace or substitute the requirement for appropriate physical entry controls as specified by control A.7.2. * Raise an opportunity for improvement to have a large sign in reception reminding everyone requiring access must use their swipe card at all times: This option is not valid because it does not address or resolve the nonconformity, but rather suggests a possible improvement action that may increase awareness or compliance with the existing controls. While having a large sign in reception reminding everyone requiring access must use their swipe card at all times may be a helpful reminder for ensuring information security, it does not replace or substitute the requirement for appropriate physical entry controls as specified by control A.7.2. * Tell the organisation they must write to their contractors, reminding them of the need to use access cards appropriately: This option is not valid because it does not address or resolve the nonconformity, but rather instructs the organization to take a corrective action that may not be effective or sufficient for ensuring information security. While writing to contractors, reminding them of the need to use access cards appropriately may be a communication measure for ensuring information security, it does not replace or substitute the requirement for appropriate physical entry controls as specified by control A. 7.2. References: ISO/IEC 27001:2022 - Information technology - Security techniques - Information security management systems - Requirements, ISO 19011:2018 - Guidelines for auditing management systems
Question 74
Objectives, criteria, and scope are critical features of a third-party ISMS audit. Which two issues are audit objectives?
Correct Answer: B,D
Explanation Audit objectives are the specific purposes or goals that the customer or the certification body wants to achieve through the audit. They define what the audit intends to accomplish and provide the basis for planning and conducting the audit. Audit objectives may vary depending on the type, scope, and criteria of the audit, but they should be clear, measurable, and achievable. Some examples of audit objectives for a third-party ISMS audit are: Assess conformity with ISO/IEC 27001 requirements: This objective means that the audit aims to verify that the organisation's ISMS meets the requirements of the ISO/IEC 27001 standard, which specifies the best practices for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an information security management system. The audit will evaluate the organisation's ISMS documentation, processes, controls, and performance against the standard's clauses and annex A controls. Confirm sites operating the ISMS: This objective means that the audit aims to confirm that the organisation's ISMS covers all the relevant sites or locations where the organisation operates or provides its services. The audit will verify that the scope of the ISMS is accurate and consistent with the organisation's context, objectives, and risks. The other phrases are not audit objectives, but rather: Evaluate customer processes and functions: This is not an audit objective, but rather a possible audit criterion or a requirement that the organisation's processes and functions should meet. The audit criterion is the reference against which the audit evidence is compared to determine conformity or nonconformity. The audit criterion may include ISO/IEC 27001 requirements, customer requirements, or other applicable standards or regulations. Fulfil the audit plan: This is not an audit objective, but rather a task or an activity that the auditor performs during the audit. The audit plan is a document that describes the arrangements and details of the audit, such as the objectives, scope, criteria, schedule, roles, and responsibilities. The auditor should follow and fulfil the audit plan to ensure that the audit is conducted effectively and efficiently. Determine the scope of the ISMS: This is not an audit objective, but rather a prerequisite or an input for conducting the audit. The scope of the ISMS is the extent and boundaries of the information security management system within the organisation. It defines what processes, activities, locations, assets, and stakeholders are included or excluded from the ISMS. The scope of the ISMS should be determined by the organisation before applying for certification or undergoing an audit. Review organisation efficiency: This is not an audit objective, but rather a possible outcome or a result of conducting an audit. The organisation efficiency is a measure of how well the organisation uses its resources to achieve its goals and objectives. The audit may help review and improve the organisation efficiency by identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in its information security management system. References: ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Lead Auditor (Information Security Management Systems) objectives and content from Quality.org and PECB ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for auditing management systems [Section 5.3.1]
Question 75
Select the words that best complete the sentence to describe an audit finding.
Correct Answer:
Explanation: "An audit finding is the result of the evaluation of the collected audit evidence against audit criteria." The words that best complete the sentence to describe an audit finding are evaluation and evidence. According to ISO 19011:2022, an audit finding is the result of the evaluation of the collected audit evidence against audit criteria12. The other options are either not related to the definition of an audit finding or do not fit the sentence grammatically. References: 1: ISO 19011:2022, Guidelines for auditing management systems, Clause 3.11 \n2: PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor Exam Preparation Guide, Domain 5: Conducting an ISO/IEC 27001 audit
