Isaca Updated CISM Exam Questions and Answers by deen

According to the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Study Manual, a mature information security culture is one in which staff members regularly consider risk in their decisions. This means that they are aware of the risks associated with their actions and take preventative steps to reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes. Other indicators of a mature information security culture include mandatory information security training for all staff, documented and communicated information security policies, and regular interaction between the CISO and the board.

Maintaining an information security governance framework enables an organization to identify, assess, and manage its information security risks. By establishing policies, procedures, and controls that are aligned with the organization's objectives and risk tolerance, an information security governance framework helps ensure that information security risks are managed to an acceptable level.

According to the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Study Manual, "Information security governance provides a framework for managing and controlling information security practices and technologies at an enterprise level. Its primary objective is to manage and reduce risk through a process of identification, assessment, and management of those risks."

While the other options listed (prioritizing resources, communicating guidelines, and remaining compliant with regulations) are also important benefits of maintaining an information security governance framework, they are all secondary to the primary benefit of managing business risks to an acceptable level.

A disaster recovery plan (DRP) test is a simulation of a disaster scenario to evaluate the effectiveness and readiness of the DRP. The greatest inherent risk when performing a DRP test is the disruption to the production environment, which could cause operational issues, data loss, or system damage. Therefore, it is essential to plan and execute the DRP test carefully, with proper backup, isolation, and rollback procedures. Poor documentation, lack of communication, and lack of coordination are also potential risks, but they are not as severe as disrupting the production environment. References = CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 253; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Database - 12 Month Subscription, QID 224.

The greatest inherent risk when performing a disaster recovery plan (DRP) test is disruption to the production environment. A DRP test involves simulating a disaster scenario to ensure that the organization's plans are effective and that it is able to recover from an incident. However, this involves running tests on the production environment, which has the potential to disrupt the normal operations of the organization. This inherent risk can be mitigated by running tests on a non-production environment or by running tests at times when disruption will be minimized.

The technical capabilities of the provider are the MOST important thing for an information security manager to verify when selecting a third-party forensics provider because they determine the quality, reliability, and validity of the forensic services and results that the provider can deliver. The technical capabilities of the provider include the skills, experience, and qualifications of the forensic staff, the methods, tools, and standards that the forensic staff use, and the facilities, equipment, and resources that the forensic staff have. The information security manager should verify that the technical capabilities of the provider match the forensic needs and expectations of the organization, such as the type, scope, and complexity of the forensic investigation, the legal and regulatory requirements, and the time and cost constraints12. The existence of a right-to-audit clause (A) is an important thing for an information security manager to verify when selecting a third-party forensics provider, but it is not the MOST important thing. A right-to-audit clause is a contractual provision that grants the organization the right to audit or review the performance, compliance, and security of the provider. A right-to-audit clause can help to ensure the accountability, transparency, and quality of the provider, as well as to identify and resolve any issues or disputes that may arise during or after the forensic service. However, a right-to-audit clause does not guarantee that the provider has the technical capabilities to conduct the forensic service effectively and efficiently12. The results of the provider’s business continuity tests (B) are an important thing for an information security manager to verify when selecting a third-party forensics provider, but they are not the MOST important thing. The results of the provider’s business continuity tests can indicate the ability and readiness of the provider to continue or resume the forensic service in the event of a disruption, disaster, or emergency. The results of the provider’s business continuity tests can help to assess the availability, resilience, and recovery of the provider, as well as to mitigate the risks of losing or compromising the forensic evidence or data. However, the results of the provider’s business continuity tests do not ensure that the provider has the technical capabilities to perform the forensic service accurately and professionally12. The existence of the provider’s incident response plan (D) is an important thing for an information security manager to verify when selecting a third-party forensics provider, but it is not the MOST important thing. The existence of the provider’s incident response plan can demonstrate the preparedness and capability of the provider to detect, report, and respond to any security incidents that may affect the forensic service or the organization. The existence of the provider’s incident response plan can help to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the forensic evidence or data, as well as to comply with the legal and contractual obligations. However, the existence of the provider’s incident response plan does not confirm that the provider has the technical capabilities to execute the forensic service competently and ethically12. References = 1: CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 310-3111; 2: A Risk-Based Management Approach to Third-Party Data Security, Risk and Compliance - ISACA2

Inherent risk is the risk that exists before any controls are applied. It is influenced by factors such as the nature, value, sensitivity, and exposure of the information asset. Business criticality is one of the most important factors that affect the inherent risk of an information asset, as it reflects how essential the asset is for the organization’s operations and objectives. The higher the business criticality, the higher the inherent risk. Risk tolerance, NPV, and ROI are not directly related to the inherent risk of an information asset, as they are more relevant for the risk assessment and risk treatment processes. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, page 971Business criticality is the degree to which an asset is essential to the success of the business and the extent to which its loss or compromise could have a significant impact on the business. Business criticality is one of the main factors that help to determine the inherent risk of an asset, as assets that are more critical to the business tend to have a higher inherent risk.