Isaca Updated CRISC Exam Questions and Answers by ellen

 The best key performance indicator (KPI) of the effectiveness of the policy requiring staff members to take a minimum of five consecutive days leave per year to mitigate the risk ofmalicious insider activities is the percentage of staff members taking leave according to the policy. A KPI is a quantifiable measure that evaluates the performance of a process, activity, or outcome against a predefined target or objective. The percentage of staff members taking leave according to the policy is the best KPI, because it directly measures the compliance and adherence of the staff members to the policy, which is the main objective of the policy. The policy aims to reduce the risk of malicious insider activities by forcing the staff members to take a break from their work, which can help to deter, detect, or prevent any fraudulent or unauthorized actions, such as data theft, sabotage, or manipulation12. The percentage of staffmembers taking leave according to the policy can also help to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the policy implementation and enforcement, and to identify and address any gaps or issues in the policy design or execution. The other options are not the best KPI, although they may be related or influential to the policy effectiveness. The number of malicious activities occurring during staff members’ leave is a measure of the occurrence and impact of the risk events that the policy aims to mitigate, but it is not a direct measure of the policy performance or compliance. The number of malicious activities occurring during staff members’ leave may also be affected by other factors or controls, such as the security systems, the audit procedures, or the external threats, which may not reflect the policy effectiveness. The percentage of staff members seeking exception to the policy is a measure of the resistance or dissatisfaction of the staff members to the policy, but it is not a direct measure of the policy performance or compliance. The percentage of staff members seeking exception to the policy may also be influenced by other factors or circumstances, such as the workload, the personal preferences, or the organizational culture, which may not indicate the policy effectiveness. The financial loss incurred due to malicious activities during staff members’ leave is a measure of the consequence and severity of the risk events that the policy aims to mitigate, but it is not a direct measure of the policy performance or compliance. The financial loss incurred due to malicious activities during staff members’ leave may also vary depending on the type, scale, or frequency of the malicious activities, or the recovery or compensation actions, which may not represent the policy effectiveness. References = How To Measure Risk Management KPI & Metrics - ERM Software, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): The Ultimate Guide - ClearPoint Strategy

IoT devices often lack strong built-in security, and CRISC stresses that the most serious risk is insufficient network isolation, because it exposes the entire enterprise network. If IoT devices are placed on the same network as business systems, an attacker who compromises an IoT device can move laterally to critical assets. This significantly increases the risk of a major security incident. Insecure transmission protocols are a concern but can be mitigated with encryption layers. Sensor interoperability and performance issues are operational problems but do not pose major security threats. Proper segmentation, isolation, and VLAN separation are the most critical controls for IoT risk reduction.

Risk tolerance refers to the acceptable level of variation in outcomes related to specific risks that an organization is willing to withstand. It defines the boundaries within which the organization can operate safely and is often set by senior leadership to guide decision-making processes. In the context of integrating a new acquisition, allowing for variation in the level of risk-taking directly pertains to the organization's risk tolerance.

The principle of least privilege is a key concept in information security that aims to provide users with the minimum level of access—or permissions—necessary to perform their job functions. Byensuring that users only have the access they need, organizations can significantly reduce the risk associated with excessive access by authorized users.

Understanding Least Privilege

The principle of least privilege restricts access rights for users to the bare minimum permissions they need to perform their work. This minimizes the potential damage from accidents or malicious activities.

Least privilege should be applied to all user accounts, including administrative and service accounts.

Implementation

Implementing least privilege involves a detailed analysis of job functions and the necessary access required for each role.

Regularly review and update access permissions to ensure they remain aligned with current job responsibilities and organizational needs.

Mitigating Risk

By limiting access to only what is necessary, organizations can prevent users from having permissions that could be exploited, intentionally or unintentionally, to cause harm.

This also includes revoking unnecessary privileges when users change roles or no longer need access.

Comparison with Other Options

A. Monitoring user activity using security logs: While monitoring can detect inappropriate activity, it does not prevent it.

B. Revoking access for users changing roles: This is a necessary practice but does not address the initial allocation of excessive privileges.

D. Conducting periodic reviews of authorizations granted: Periodic reviews are important but are reactive rather than proactive.

References

Sybex-CISSP-Official-Study-Guide-9-Edition.pdf, p. 641, discussing the principle of least privilege and its implementation​​.