Isaca Updated CISM Exam Questions and Answers by deen

 When granting remote access to confidential information to a vendor, the most important security consideration is to ensure that the vendor complies with the organization’s information security policy. The information security policy defines the roles, responsibilities, rules, and standards for accessing, handling, and protecting the organization’s information assets. The vendor must agree to the policy and sign a contract that specifies the terms and conditions of the access, the security controls to be implemented, the monitoring and auditing mechanisms, the incident reporting and response procedures, and the penalties for non-compliance or breach. The policy also establishes the organization’s right to revoke the access at any time if the vendor violates the policy or poses a risk to the organization.

References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, Chapter 1: Information Security Governance, Section: Information Security Policies, page 34; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 10th Edition, Question 44, page 45.

The information security manager should first determine the risk related to noncompliance with the policy, as this will help to understand the impact and likelihood of the policy violation and the potential consequences for the organization. The information security manager can then use the risk assessment results to communicate the importance of the policy to the IT personnel, propose any necessary changes to the policy or the processes, or request an audit of the policy development process, depending on the situation. Conducting user awareness training, updating policies and procedures, or requesting an audit are possible actions that the information security manager can take after determining the risk, but they are not the first step. References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, Chapter 2: Information Risk Management, Section: Risk Assessment, page 86; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 10th Edition, Question 59, page 60.

The greatest benefit of conducting an organization-wide security awareness program is to improve the security behavior of the employees, contractors, partners, and other stakeholders who interact with the organization’s information assets. Security behavior refers to the actions and decisions that affect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information, such as following the security policies and procedures, reporting security incidents, avoiding risky practices, and applying security controls. By improving the security behavior, the organization can reduce the human-related risks and vulnerabilities, enhance the security culture and awareness, and support the security strategy and objectives.

The other options are not as beneficial as improving the security behavior, although they may also be outcomes or objectives of a security awareness program. Promoting the security strategy is important to communicate the vision, mission, and goals of the security function, as well as to align the security activities with the business needs and expectations. However, promoting the security strategy alone is not enough to ensure its implementation and effectiveness, as it also requires the involvement and commitment of the stakeholders, especially the senior management. Reporting fewer security incidents may indicate a lower level of security breaches or threats, but it may also reflect a lack of detection, reporting, or awareness mechanisms. Moreover, reporting fewer security incidents is not a reliable measure of the security performance or maturity, as it does not account for the impact, severity, or root causes of the incidents. Detecting more security incidents may indicate a higher level of security monitoring, alerting, or awareness capabilities, but it may also reflect a higher level of security exposures or attacks. Moreover, detecting more security incidents is not a desirable goal of a security awareness program, as it also implies a higher level of security incidents that need to be responded to and resolved. References =

CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, ISACA, 2022, pp. 201-202, 207-208.

CISM Questions, Answers & Explanations Database, ISACA, 2022, QID 1006.

The Benefits of Information Security and Privacy Awareness Training Programs, ISACA Journal, Volume 1, 2019, 1.

 The most important factor to ensuring information stored by an organization is protected appropriately is assigning information asset ownership. Information asset ownership is the process of identifying and assigning the roles and responsibilities of the individuals or groups who have the authority and accountability for the information assets and their protection. Information asset owners are responsible for defining the business value, classification, and security requirements of the information assets, as well as granting the access rights and privileges to the information users and custodians. Information asset owners are also responsible for monitoring and reviewing the security performance and compliance of the information assets, and reporting and resolving any security issues or incidents. By assigning information asset ownership, the organization can ensure that the information assets are properly identified, categorized, protected, and managed according to their importance, sensitivity, and regulatory obligations.

References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, Chapter 1: Information Security Governance, Section: Data Classification, page 331; CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 10th Edition, Question 62, page 572.