Customer Security Programme Assessor Certification(CSPAC) CSP-Assessor Exam Questions with Experts Answers Updated Recently

Application Hardening is a key concept within theSwift Customer Security Controls Framework (CSCF), specifically addressed under security controls related to protecting systems and reducing vulnerabilities. The CSCF outlines principles to secure applications by minimizing risks, particularly in the context of Swift-related systems. Let’s break down the options and verify them against Swift CSP guidelines.

Step 1: Understand Application Hardening in the Context of Swift CSP

Application Hardening refers to the process of securing an application by reducing its attack surface, limiting access, and mitigating potential vulnerabilities. This aligns with Swift CSP’s overarching goal of enhancing the security of the Swift user community, as outlined in theCSCF v2024(and prior versions like CSCF v2023). Relevant controls fall under domains likeControl Objective 2: Protect Critical SystemsandControl Objective 6: Detect Anomalous Activity.

Step 2: Evaluate Each Option Against Swift CSP Principles

A. Least PrivilegesThe principle of least privilege is a core tenet of application hardening. It ensures that applications (and users) only have the minimum permissions necessary to perform their functions, reducing the risk of misuse or exploitation. This is explicitly referenced in theCSCF v2024, underControl 2.1: Operating System Privileged Account Control, which emphasizes restricting privileges to the minimum required. Application Hardening extends this to software processes, ensuring they run with minimal rights.Conclusion: This applies.

B. Access on a need to haveThis principle, often phrased as “need-to-know” or “need-to-have” in security contexts, ensures that access to applications or their components is granted only to entities that require it for their role. In the Swift CSP, this aligns withControl 2.3: System Access Control, which mandates that access to Swift-related systems (including applications) is restricted to authorized users or processes. Application Hardening incorporates this by ensuring that applications only expose interfaces or resources to authorized entities.Conclusion: This applies.

C. Reduced footprint for less potential vulnerabilitiesReducing the attack surface (or “footprint”) of an application is a fundamental hardening technique. This involves disabling unnecessary features, services, or modules that could be exploited. TheCSCF v2024addresses this underControl 2.5A: Application Hardening, which explicitly requires users to minimize the attack surface of Swift-related applications by removing unused components and limiting exposed services. This directly correlates with reducing potential vulnerabilities.Conclusion: This applies.

D. Enhanced Straight Through Processing (STP)Straight Through Processing refers to the automated, end-to-end processing of transactions without manual intervention, a concept often associated with operational efficiency in financial systems. While STP is relevant to Swift’s messaging and transaction workflows, it is not a principle of Application Hardening. The CSCF does not link STP to security hardening practices, which focus on reducing vulnerabilities rather than optimizing transaction flows.Conclusion: This does not apply.

Step 3: Conclusion and Verification

Application Hardening, as per theSwift Customer Security Controls Framework (CSCF), focuses on security principles that minimize risks to applications. The verified principles areLeast Privileges (A),Access on a need to have (B), andReduced footprint for less potential vulnerabilities (C). These align with Swift CSP’s emphasis on securing critical systems and reducing attack surfaces.

References

Swift Customer Security Controls Framework (CSCF) v2024, Control 2.5A: Application Hardening.

Swift Customer Security Programme – Security Best Practices, Section: Application Security.

CSCF v2024, Control 2.1: Operating System Privileged Account Control, and Control 2.3: System Access Control.