Which statement is NOT a method of securing web applications?
Correct Answer: C
Web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) are a set of standards that aim to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities, such as visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments. While WCAG is a good practice for web development and usability, it is not directly related to web application security. WCAG does not address the common security risks that web applications face, such as injection, broken authentication, misconfiguration, or vulnerable components. Therefore, adhering to WCAG is not a method of securing web applications, unlike the other options. References: * 4: OWASP Top 10, a standard awareness document for web application security, lists the most critical security risks to web applications and provides best practices to prevent or mitigate them. * 5: SANS Institute, a leading provider of cybersecurity training and certification, offers a security checklist for web application technologies (SWAT) that covers best practices for error handling, data protection, configuration, authentication, session management, input and output handling, and access control. * 6: Built In, a platform for tech professionals, provides 13 web application security best practices, such as using a web application firewall, keeping track of APIs, enforcing expected application behaviors, and following the OWASP Top 10.
Question 2
You are updating the inventory of regulations that impact your TPRM program during the company's annual risk assessment. Which statement provides the optimal approach to prioritizing the regulations?
Correct Answer: A
Third-party risk management (TPRM) is the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating the risks associated with outsourcing business activities or functions to external entities. TPRM is influenced by various regulations that aim to protect the interests of customers, stakeholders, and regulators from the potential harm caused by third-party failures or misconduct. These regulations may vary depending on the industry, jurisdiction, and nature of the third-party relationship. Therefore, it is important for organizations to update their inventory of regulations that impact their TPRM program during their annual risk assessment, and prioritize the regulations that are most relevant and critical for their business objectives and risk appetite. The optimal approach to prioritizing the regulations is to identify the applicable regulations that require an extension of specific obligations to service providers. This means that the organization should focus on the regulations that impose certain requirements or expectations on the organization and its third-party partners, such as data protection, security, compliance, reporting, auditing, or performance standards. These regulations may also specify the roles and responsibilities of the organization and the service provider, the scope and frequency of due diligence and monitoring activities, the contractual clauses and terms, and the remediation and termination procedures. By identifying these regulations, the organization can ensure that its TPRM program is aligned with the regulatory expectations and obligations, and that it can effectively manage and mitigate the risks associated with its third-party relationships. Some examples of regulations that require an extension of specific obligations to service providers are: * The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): This is a European Union regulation that governs the collection, processing, and transfer of personal data of individuals in the EU. The GDPR requires organizations to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the personal data, and to only engage with service providers that can provide sufficient guarantees of data protection. The GDPR also requires organizations to enter into written contracts with their service providers that specify the subject matter, duration, nature, and purpose of the data processing, as well as the rights and obligations of both parties. The GDPR also imposes strict notification and reporting requirements in case of data breaches or violations. * The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): This is a US federal law that regulates the privacy and security of health information of individuals. The HIPAA requires covered entities, such as health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses, to safeguard the health information of their patients, and to only disclose or share it with authorized parties. The HIPAA also requires covered entities to enter into business associate agreements with their service providers that handle or access the health information on their behalf. These agreements must specify the permitted and required uses and disclosures of the health information, the safeguards and measures to protect the health information, and the reporting and notification obligations in case of breaches or incidents. * The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX): This is a US federal law that aims to improve the accuracy and reliability of corporate financial reporting and disclosure. The SOX requires public companies to establish and maintain internal controls over their financial reporting processes, and to assess and report on the effectiveness of these controls. The SOX also requires public companies to ensure that their external auditors are independent and qualified, and to disclose any material weaknesses or deficiencies in their internal controls. The SOX also applies to the service providers that perform or support the financial reporting functions of the public companies, such as accounting firms, information technology vendors, or consultants. The SOX requires public companies to evaluate and monitor the internal controls of their service providers, and to include them in their scope of audit and reporting. References: * Third-Party Risk Management and Mitigation | Gartner * Best Practices to Jumpstart Third-Party Risk Management Program * Third-party risk management best practices and why they matter * GDPR and Third-Party Risk Management * HIPAA Compliance for Business Associates and Third-Party Service Providers * SOX Compliance Requirements for Third-Party Service Providers
Question 3
Which statement is NOT an example of the purpose of internal communications and information sharing using TPRM performance metrics?
Correct Answer: C
The purpose of internal communications and information sharing using TPRM performance metrics is to inform and align the organization's stakeholders on the status, progress, and outcomes of the TPRM program. This includes communicating the results of vendor assessments, the compliance level of the organization's policies and procedures, and the periodic reporting to management and other relevant parties. However, documenting the corrective action plan between external parties is not an internal communication, but rather an external one. This is because the corrective action plan is a formal agreement between the organization and the vendor to address and resolve the issues identified in the assessment. Therefore, this statement is not an example of the purpose of internal communications and information sharing using TPRM performance metrics. References: * 15 KPIs & Metrics to Measure the Success of Your TPRM Program * Third-party risk management metrics: Best practices to enhance your program * 3 Best Third-Party Risk Management Software Solutions (2024)
Question 4
Which statement is FALSE regarding the risk factors an organization may include when defining TPRM compliance requirements?
Correct Answer: B
TPRM compliance requirements are the rules and expectations that an organization must follow when engaging with third parties, such as vendors, suppliers, partners, or contractors. These requirements are derived from various sources, such as laws, regulations, standards, frameworks, contracts, policies, and best practices. However, relying solely on regulatory mandates to define and structure TPRM compliance requirements is a false statement, because123: * Regulatory mandates are not the only source of TPRM compliance requirements. Organizations may also need to consider other factors, such as industry benchmarks, customer expectations, stakeholder interests, ethical principles, and social responsibility. * Regulatory mandates are not always comprehensive, clear, or consistent. Organizations may face different or conflicting regulations across jurisdictions, sectors, or domains. Organizations may also need to interpret and apply the regulations to their specific context and risk profile, which may require additional guidance or expertise. * Regulatory mandates are not always sufficient, effective, or efficient. Organizations may need to go beyond the minimum requirements of the regulations to achieve their business objectives, mitigate their risks, or enhance their performance. Organizations may also need to adopt more flexible, scalable, and innovative approaches to TPRM compliance, rather than following a rigid, one-size-fits-all, or check-the-box model. Therefore, the correct answer is B. Organizations rely on regulatory mandates to define and structure TPRM compliance requirements, as this is a false statement regarding the risk factors an organization may include when defining TPRM compliance requirements. References: * 1: Understanding TPRM Compliance: A Comprehensive Guide | Prevalent * 2: What Is Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM)? 2024 Guide | UpGuard * 3: Third-Party Risk Management and ISO Requirements for 2022 | Reciprocity
Question 5
Which of the following factors is MOST important when assessing the risk of shadow IT in organizational security?
Correct Answer: A
Shadow IT is the use and management of any IT technologies, solutions, services, projects, and infrastructure without formal approval and support of internal IT departments. Shadow IT can pose significant security risks to the organization, such as data breaches, compliance violations, malware infections, or network disruptions. Therefore, assessing and mitigating the risk of shadow IT is an essential part of organizational security. One of the most important factors when assessing the risk of shadow IT is whether the organization maintains adequate policies and procedures that communicate required controls for security functions. Policies and procedures are the documents that define the organization's security objectives, standards, roles, responsibilities, and processes. They provide guidance and direction for the organization's security activities, such as risk assessment, vendor management, incident response, data protection, access control, etc. They also establish the expectations and requirements for the organization's employees, vendors, and other stakeholders regarding the use and management of IT resources. By maintaining adequate policies and procedures that communicate required controls for security functions, the organization can: * Educate and inform its employees about the security risks and implications of shadow IT, and the benefits and advantages of using authorized and supported IT resources. * Establish and enforce clear and consistent rules and boundaries for the use and management of IT resources, and the consequences and penalties for violating them. * Monitor and audit the compliance and performance of its employees, vendors, and other stakeholders regarding the use and management of IT resources, and identify and address any deviations or issues. * Review and update its policies and procedures regularly, and communicate any changes or updates to its employees, vendors, and other stakeholders. By doing so, the organization can reduce the likelihood and impact of shadow IT, and increase the visibility and accountability of its IT environment. The organization can also foster a culture of security awareness and responsibility among its employees, vendors, and other stakeholders, and encourage them to report and resolve any shadow IT incidents or problems. The other factors, such as the organization's security training and certification, staffing levels, and resources and investment, are also relevant for assessing the risk of shadow IT, but they are not as important as the organization's policies and procedures. Security training and certification can help the organization's security personnel to acquire and maintain the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with shadow IT, but they do not address the root causes or motivations of shadow IT. Staffing levels can affect the organization's ability to detect and respond to shadow IT, but they do not prevent or deter shadow IT from occurring. Resources and investment can enable the organization to provide adequate and appropriate IT resources to its employees, vendors, and other stakeholders, but they do not guarantee the satisfaction or compliance of those parties. References: * : Shadow IT Explained: Risks & Opportunities - BMC Software * : What is Shadow IT? | IBM * : Shadow IT: What Are the Risks and How Can You Mitigate Them? - Ekran System * : Policies and Procedures - Shared Assessments
