Security Operations Center Post-Assessment

Security Operations Center Post-Assessment | CBROPS

You are a Tier 1 SOC Analyst–Triage Specialist performing incidence response functions with your Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleagues. It has just been determined that the zero-day ransomware attack placed the malware on your network three weeks ago. What is the term for this three-week period?

forensic gathering time
vulnerability testing time
incident prevention time

dwell time

Explanation & Hint:

The term for the three-week period during which the malware was on your network before being detected is called “dwell time.” Dwell time refers to the duration that an attacker or malware remains undetected within a network or system, allowing them to carry out their malicious activities without being noticed. Reducing dwell time is a critical objective in cybersecurity to minimize the potential damage caused by cyberattacks.

You are reviewing career opportunities in cybersecurity and have found the following opportunity on an online job board: Are you passionate about cybersecurity? Want to create order from chaos?

Job Description: Leading international MSSP seeking a high-energy individual to monitor, filter, prioritize, and flag security events as possible security incidents or false positives to a senior security analyst through a wide variety of tools and systems. Although this position is entry-level, it requires a considerable breadth of knowledge and a related skill set.
Job Requirements: Self-starting, highly motivated team player with a bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline such as cybersecurity, information technology, computer science, or equivalent industry experience.

This position is referring to which SOC role?

SOC Manager
Tier 1, Triage Specialist
Tier 3, Threat Hunter

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Explanation & Hint:

The job description provided corresponds to the role of a “Tier 1, Triage Specialist” in a Security Operations Center (SOC). This role involves monitoring and analyzing security events, filtering and prioritizing them, and flagging them as possible security incidents or false positives for further investigation by senior security analysts. It is typically an entry-level position in a SOC and requires a broad knowledge of cybersecurity and related skills.

What three items could be a cause of SOC analyst burnout? (Choose three.)

Increased workload resulting from complex data flows originating from hybrid cloud infrastructures
Additional security devices that are placed on the network that increase the number of false positive alerts
Improved collaborative communications between the SOC team members
Lack of automation to reduce the number of false positive alerts

Improved product integrations between various security systems

Explanation & Hint:

The three items that could be a cause of SOC analyst burnout are:

Increased workload resulting from complex data flows originating from hybrid cloud infrastructures: Managing and analyzing security data from hybrid cloud environments can be challenging due to the complexity and volume of data, leading to increased workload and stress on SOC analysts.
Additional security devices that are placed on the network that increase the number of false positive alerts: Adding more security devices without proper tuning and integration can lead to an increase in false positive alerts, which can overwhelm SOC analysts and lead to burnout.
Lack of automation to reduce the number of false positive alerts: Without automation to help filter and reduce false positive alerts, SOC analysts may find themselves manually handling a large number of alerts, leading to burnout due to repetitive and time-consuming tasks.

Improved collaborative communications between SOC team members and improved product integrations between various security systems are not typically causes of burnout; in fact, they are often seen as ways to alleviate stress and improve the efficiency of SOC operations.

During your new-hire orientation, the CISO emphasizes that the primary goal of an MSSP SOC provider is to focus on security operations to ensure business continuity. Which is an example of business continuity provided by the MSSP SOC?

reactively patching an unstable network that costs time and resources to maintain
maintaining the security posture of a customer’s network infrastructure, which provides business revenue and corporate credibility
bringing cybercriminals to legal justice

quarantining a network segment upon ransomware attack

Explanation & Hint:

The example of business continuity provided by the MSSP SOC is:

Maintaining the security posture of a customer’s network infrastructure, which provides business revenue and corporate credibility.

This is aligned with the primary goal of an MSSP SOC, which is to ensure business continuity by safeguarding the customer’s network infrastructure, protecting their data, and maintaining the integrity of their systems. Maintaining a secure environment is crucial for business revenue and maintaining corporate credibility, as it helps to prevent data breaches, downtime, and other disruptions that could negatively impact the business.

You have just been hired as a Triage Specialist at an MSSP, and you are undergoing orientation with the CISO. She impresses upon you that all the work you perform on your own or on behalf of another SOC analyst must adhere to multiple compliance and security standards so they are admitted as evidence in a court of law. The CISO provides you with a booklet documenting these standards and procedures. What aspect of cybersecurity is the CISO addressing with you?

Malware mitigation: Proactively detecting malware that could be released on the network.
Vulnerability testing: Proactively seeking security weaknesses in corporate applications.
Forensics: Following established procedures to support legal proceedings in post-incident response.

Penetration testing: Proactively seeking security weaknesses by attacking the production system.

Explanation & Hint:

The CISO is addressing the aspect of forensics with you. Specifically, she is emphasizing the importance of following established procedures to support legal proceedings in post-incident response. This involves collecting and preserving digital evidence in a way that is compliant with legal and regulatory standards, ensuring that the evidence can be admitted in a court of law if necessary. Cybersecurity forensics is a critical aspect of incident response and investigation, helping to determine the who, what, when, where, and how of security incidents and breaches for potential legal action.

You are reviewing career opportunities in cybersecurity and have discovered the following opportunity on an online job board: Are you a cybersecurity specialist with a passion for stopping threat actors in their tracks?

Job Description: Leading international MSSP seeking experienced cybersecurity professionals to provide proactive threat hunting activities to protect our customer base.
Job Requirements: Cybersecurity professional with at least two years of experience in the industry. You will proactively identify threats, security breaches, and vulnerabilities. Knowledge of vulnerability testing and penetration testing tools a plus. Also, Cisco Secure Malware Analytics (formally, Cisco Threat Grid) and Cisco SecureX platform knowledge are a plus.

This position refers to which SOC job role you learned about?

SOC Manager
Tier 1, Triage Specialist
Tier 3, Threat Hunter

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Explanation & Hint:

The job description provided corresponds to the role of a Tier 3, Threat Hunter in a Security Operations Center (SOC). A Tier 3 Threat Hunter is responsible for proactively identifying and hunting for threats, security breaches, and vulnerabilities. They have an in-depth knowledge of cybersecurity and often use advanced tools and techniques to detect and respond to sophisticated threats. In this role, knowledge of vulnerability testing and penetration testing tools, as well as specific threat analysis tools like Cisco Secure Malware Analytics and Cisco SecureX, are mentioned as pluses, which align with the responsibilities of a Tier 3 Threat Hunter.

Which two of the following are widely known cybercriminal groups? (Choose two.)

organized crime
religious organizations
private hackers disguised as nonprofit organizations
state-affiliated
university students

white hat hackers

Explanation & Hint:

Two widely known categories of cybercriminal groups are:

State-affiliated: These are cybercriminal groups or organizations that are sponsored or supported by nation-states. They often engage in cyber espionage, cyber warfare, or other state-sponsored activities.
Organized crime: These are criminal groups or organizations that engage in cybercrimes for financial gain. They may be involved in activities such as hacking, data theft, fraud, and ransomware attacks.

The other options mentioned, such as religious organizations, private hackers disguised as nonprofit organizations, university students, and white hat hackers, are not typically considered cybercriminal groups. Some individuals or groups within these categories may engage in cyber activities, but they are not inherently associated with cybercrime.

During an incidence response, it is quite possible that not all SOC members will be engaged simultaneously in the activity. What could be the reason for this variation?

The SOC is understaffed on purpose to avoid high staffing costs.
Incidence response is not recognized as a critical SOC activity.
To adhere to internationally recognized procedures and standards

Other attacks may be occurring simultaneously by the same or different bad actors that some SOC members may be assigned to monitor.

Explanation & Hint:

The reason for the variation in SOC members’ engagement during an incident response is:

Other attacks may be occurring simultaneously by the same or different bad actors that some SOC members may be assigned to monitor.

Incident response often involves prioritizing and addressing multiple security incidents, and it’s not uncommon for different SOC members to be assigned to monitor and respond to different incidents simultaneously. This variation in workload is due to the dynamic nature of cybersecurity threats and the need to address multiple incidents as they occur.

What is the most common way for SOC team members to discover an incident?

corporate website
phone call from a user
SOC ticketing system

SIEM alert

Explanation & Hint:

The most common way for SOC (Security Operations Center) team members to discover an incident is through a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) alert. SIEM systems are specifically designed to monitor and analyze security events and incidents across an organization’s network and systems, making them a primary source for incident detection in a SOC.

While phone calls from users, a corporate website, and SOC ticketing systems can also be used to report incidents or issues, SIEM alerts are typically the frontline tool for identifying potential security incidents because they continuously monitor and analyze logs and events in real-time to detect anomalies and security threats.

What is the reason why the SOC must work with other departments in their activities?

Corporate governance dictates that the SOC cannot be solely responsible for the cybersecurity effort.
From a costing standpoint, it is simply impossible to finance a SOC so that it can work autonomously.
To adhere to internationally recognized standards and procedures, it is essential to have guidance and participation from other departments during incident investigations.

The SOC is a relatively new corporate entity and, as such, lacks the maturity to work on its own.

Explanation & Hint:

The reason why the SOC must work with other departments in their activities is:

To adhere to internationally recognized standards and procedures, it is essential to have guidance and participation from other departments during incident investigations.

Collaboration with other departments is crucial for effective incident response and cybersecurity efforts. Many internationally recognized standards and procedures, such as those outlined in frameworks like NIST, ISO 27001, and others, emphasize the importance of cross-functional cooperation. Different departments, such as legal, HR, IT, and management, can provide expertise and resources that are essential for a comprehensive and compliant response to security incidents. Moreover, incidents often have business implications that require input and coordination with various stakeholders in the organization.

The incident response phases can be grouped into detect, respond, and recover. Which of the following is not considered a step in any of these three phases?

preparation
lessons learned
retaliation
eradication

containment

Explanation & Hint:

Retaliation is not considered a step in any of the three primary incident response phases (detect, respond, and recover) in a standard incident response framework.

Preparation – This is a proactive phase where an organization prepares for potential incidents, establishes policies, procedures, and response plans.
Detection – In this phase, security teams identify and confirm the occurrence of an incident.
Containment – Once an incident is detected, the goal is to contain it to prevent further damage or spread.
Eradication – After containment, the focus is on completely removing the threat from the affected systems.
Recovery – This phase involves restoring affected systems to normal operations.
Lessons Learned – This is a critical post-incident phase where organizations review the incident, identify areas for improvement, and update their incident response processes based on the experience.

Retaliation, in the context of incident response, is not an appropriate action. Instead, the focus should be on containment, eradication, and recovery to minimize the impact of the incident and prevent future occurrences. Retaliation or offensive actions are typically not recommended and can lead to legal and ethical issues.

An incident response has occurred, and the SOC team is preparing to publish a message discussing the incident to all the employees. Which internal department will the SOC team coordinate their efforts with before sending the message?

finance
engineering
human resources

Explanation & Hint:

The SOC team will typically coordinate their efforts with the human resources (HR) department before sending a message to all employees regarding an incident. HR plays a critical role in internal communications related to incidents for several reasons:

Employee privacy and compliance: HR can provide guidance on how to communicate about the incident in a way that respects employee privacy and complies with relevant laws and regulations.
Support and counseling: In the event of a significant incident, employees may require support and counseling. HR can help coordinate these resources.
Internal policies: HR can ensure that the incident communication aligns with internal company policies and procedures related to incident response and employee notifications.
Employee relations: HR is often responsible for managing employee relations, and they can help manage any concerns or questions that may arise from employees in the wake of an incident.

By working closely with HR, the SOC team can ensure that the message is appropriate, addresses employee concerns, and complies with organizational policies and legal requirements.

The SOC team has just contained a cyber threat. Which two of the following post-incident activities should they perform? (Choose two.)

triage
forensics
eradication
quarantining

creating post-incident reports, such as “lessons learned” from the incident

Explanation & Hint:

Once a cyber threat has been contained, the following two post-incident activities should typically be performed:

Forensics: After containment, it is important to investigate how the breach happened, which systems were affected, and the extent of the damage. Digital forensics involves a detailed analysis to uncover the full scope of the incident and to ensure that no traces of the threat remain. It also helps in collecting evidence if there is a legal aspect to the breach.
Creating post-incident reports, such as “lessons learned” from the incident: This involves documenting the details of the incident, what was done to respond, what worked well, what didn’t, and what could be done better in the future. This report is essential for improving future incident response efforts and security posture.

The other options listed — triage, eradication, and quarantining — are parts of the incident response process but they are not post-incident activities. Triage is the initial phase of assessing and prioritizing incidents, eradication is the process of removing the threat from the environment (which might still be part of the active response rather than post-incident), and quarantining is a containment measure to prevent the spread of the threat, typically done before or during the incident response, not after.

You work in the SOC team and are currently investigating a zero-day attack. The SOC analysts have identified a workstation that is infected with malware that must be quarantined from the network. With what department will you work most closely while performing the quarantine action?

The legal team, as they are responsible for SLAs.
The NOC/IT team, as they are responsible for network-related tasks such as device isolation.
It is unnecessary to notify any internal organization of quarantine actions.

The HR organization must approve all quarantine actions on the network.

Explanation & Hint:

While performing the quarantine action on a workstation infected with malware, the SOC team will work most closely with the NOC (Network Operations Center) or IT (Information Technology) team. The NOC/IT team is responsible for network-related tasks, including device isolation and quarantine procedures. They can help ensure that the affected workstation is disconnected from the network to prevent the malware from spreading further.

In some cases, it may also be necessary to coordinate with the legal team, but their involvement would typically focus on legal and compliance aspects rather than the technical steps of the quarantine process. HR approval is generally not required for network quarantine actions, as it falls under the technical responsibility of the IT or NOC team.

You work as a SOC architect/designer and are obtaining the technical requirements from the customer, a multinational organization with a limited budget that must adhere to multiple security standards. They have dedicated and experienced cybersecurity staff, but they struggle to keep up with threat monitoring and analysis. Which solution is the most secure?

threat-centric
standards-based
operations-based

hybrid

Explanation & Hint:

For a multinational organization with a limited budget that must adhere to multiple security standards and is struggling with threat monitoring and analysis, the most comprehensive and secure solution would be a hybrid SOC. This approach integrates aspects of threat-centric, standards-based, and operations-based SOCs, providing a more balanced and flexible solution.

Here’s why a hybrid SOC could be the most secure solution for this customer:

Threat-centric elements would enhance the organization’s capability to detect and respond to threats, addressing their current struggle with threat monitoring and analysis.
Standards-based elements would ensure that the multinational organization remains compliant with the multiple security standards it needs to adhere to, which is crucial for legal and regulatory reasons.
Operations-based elements would maintain the essential security operations necessary for day-to-day protection of the organization’s infrastructure.

A hybrid SOC can provide a tailored solution that matches the organization’s needs, leveraging their existing experienced cybersecurity staff while providing support and enhancement in areas where they are currently limited. The key to a successful hybrid SOC in this scenario is to ensure that it can be implemented within the limited budget and structured in such a way that it maximizes the efficacy of their in-house team by offloading some of the monitoring and analysis workload. This could potentially be achieved through a mix of in-house operations and outsourcing or partnering with a service provider for certain aspects of the SOC functions.

You review this final cybersecurity posting on the online job board:

Hiring Company Description: Bay State Power & Electric is the state’s largest power utility. Our day-to-day cybersecurity focus is maintaining the security posture of the internal assets on our network. It is critical that we protect our customers’ personal identity information and our own intellectual property.

Job Requirements: Cybersecurity specialist with at least two years’ experience with security platforms, such as firewalls, IPS, and SIEM systems, and in malware analysis and detection signatures.

Which SOC type does this corporation most likely possess?

threat-centric
compliance-based
operations-based

hybrid

Explanation & Hint:

Based on the information provided in the job posting and the focus of the organization, it’s likely that Bay State Power & Electric possesses an operations-based SOC. Their emphasis is on maintaining the security posture of internal assets and protecting sensitive information, which aligns with an operations-centric approach that prioritizes the day-to-day security operations and the protection of assets.

Which SOC type proactively focuses on addressing security across the entire attack continuum: before, during, and after an attack?

compliance-based
threat-centric
operation-based

hybrid

Explanation & Hint:

A threat-centric SOC proactively focuses on addressing security across the entire attack continuum: before, during, and after an attack. Threat-centric SOCs prioritize identifying and responding to threats at all stages of an attack, from threat detection to containment, eradication, and recovery. This approach aims to stay ahead of potential threats and ensure comprehensive protection against various cybersecurity risks.

You work as a SOC architect/designer and are asked to perform a technical interview for an organization interested in creating a dedicated SOC. Which of the following questions is irrelevant?

Does your company require dedicated SOC monitoring and reporting year-round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
Does your company have the required cybersecurity talent to support a dedicated SOC?
Do you do have offices in countries where state-sponsored attacks have been reported?

Does your risk analysis justify the high cost of a dedicated SOC?

Explanation & Hint:

The question that is irrelevant to the technical interview for creating a dedicated SOC is:

Do you do have offices in countries where state-sponsored attacks have been reported?

The location of the company’s offices in countries with reported state-sponsored attacks may be of interest from a geopolitical threat perspective, but it is not a critical technical consideration when discussing the implementation and design of a dedicated SOC. The focus of a technical interview should be on the technical requirements, resources, and capabilities related to establishing and operating a SOC. The other questions address relevant aspects such as the need for continuous monitoring, available cybersecurity talent, and the cost-benefit analysis of a dedicated SOC.

You continue reviewing career opportunities in cybersecurity and find another opportunity: “Are you a cybersecurity specialist with a passion for stopping bad actors in their tracks?”

Hiring Company Description: National retail chain with over $10 million in annual sales, of which over 70 percent occur online. We are as passionate about our security posture as we are about driving sales. We follow a proactive approach to cybersecurity and follow incident response procedures before, during, and after any breach.

Job Requirements: Cybersecurity professional with at least two years of industry experience. You have previous experience as a SOC team member and are familiar with each phase of incidence response, particularly proactive threat defense and identifying potential security threats on the network before they happen.

Which SOC type does this corporation most likely possess?

threat-centric
compliance-based
operations-based

hybrid

Explanation & Hint:

Based on the information provided in the job posting and the focus of the organization, it’s likely that the National retail chain possesses a threat-centric SOC. Their emphasis on proactive threat defense and their approach of following incident response procedures before, during, and after any breach aligns with a threat-centric approach, which emphasizes identifying and responding to threats at all stages of an attack, including proactive measures to prevent security threats.

You work as a SOC architect/designer and are asked to perform a technical interview for an organization that is interested in using a virtual SOC. Which of the following questions are irrelevant?

What is your budget?
Does your corporate policy allow third-party to have some visibility to the company’s confidential data?
What are your corporate forensic procedures?

Are you comfortable working with a team that is not dedicated only to your data and may produce slower response times than you would have for a dedicated SOC?

Explanation & Hint:

The question that is most likely irrelevant to the technical interview for an organization interested in using a virtual SOC is:

What are your corporate forensic procedures?

While corporate forensic procedures are relevant for incident response and investigations, they are typically more dependent on the organization’s internal processes and policies rather than directly related to the decision of using a virtual SOC. The other questions are more pertinent to assessing the organization’s readiness, requirements, and expectations related to a virtual SOC, including budget constraints, third-party access policies, and comfort with potential response times in a shared SOC environment.

You are reviewing career opportunities in cybersecurity and discover the following opportunity on an online job board: “Are you passionate about cyber security? Want to create order from chaos?”

Hiring Company Description: Leading national financial institution. Our cybersecurity strategy revolves around adherence to federal financial regulations—in particular, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements.

Job Requirements: Self-starting, highly motivated team player with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or the equivalent and familiarity with SOX and its regulatory practices. Experience with additional financial regulations, such as Graham-Leach, is a plus.

Which SOC type does this corporation most likely possess?

threat-centric
standards-based
operations-based

hybrid

Explanation & Hint:

Based on the information provided in the job posting and the focus of the organization, it’s likely that the national financial institution possesses a standards-based SOC. Their emphasis on adherence to federal financial regulations, specifically Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements, suggests that their cybersecurity strategy is centered around aligning with established regulatory standards. A standards-based SOC focuses on adhering to recognized industry standards and regulations, making sure that security practices meet compliance requirements.

What are two benefits of a holistic SOC team, where responsibilities are shared? (Choose two.)

lower organizational CapEx costs
more effective transfer of knowledge throughout the corporate security community
lower organizational OpEx costs
quicker time to incident resolution

decreased staffing needs

Explanation & Hint:

Two benefits of a holistic SOC team, where responsibilities are shared, include:

More effective transfer of knowledge throughout the corporate security community – In a holistic environment, team members share insights and learn from each other’s experiences. This cross-pollination of knowledge can lead to more robust security measures and a better understanding of the threat landscape across the organization.
Quicker time to incident resolution – When a SOC team works holistically, with shared responsibilities and a collaborative approach, the team can leverage the collective expertise to identify, investigate, and resolve incidents more rapidly. Each member can contribute their unique skills and knowledge, leading to faster and more efficient incident handling.

Lower organizational CapEx and OpEx costs could potentially be a benefit as well, as a holistic approach might optimize resource use and reduce redundancies. Decreased staffing needs are not necessarily a direct benefit of a holistic team since such a team does not inherently require fewer staff members; it’s more about the efficacy and efficiency of the team’s operation rather than the number of staff.

Which two of the following responsibilities describe the day-to-day work of the SOC manager? (Choose two.)

communicating necessary information with the CISO or CIO
reporting to the HR Manager.
providing both vulnerability testing and penetration testing.
performing vulnerability testing only.

communicating necessary information to the workforce.

Explanation & Hint:

The two responsibilities that describe the day-to-day work of the SOC manager are:

Communicating necessary information with the CISO or CIO: SOC managers are responsible for communicating security information, incident reports, and the overall status of the SOC to senior management, including the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or Chief Information Officer (CIO). This communication is crucial for making informed decisions and managing the security posture effectively.
Communicating necessary information to the workforce: SOC managers are also responsible for communicating important security information to the broader workforce. This includes providing awareness training, disseminating security policies, and ensuring that employees are informed about security best practices and potential threats. Communication with the workforce is a fundamental aspect of maintaining a strong security culture within the organization.

You work as a SOC analyst. Which option is an element of the security architecture that might report on beaconing activity between an infected host and a botnet command-and-control server?

sandbox
vulnerability scan
IPS

external router with firewall configured

Explanation & Hint:

The element of the security architecture that might report on beaconing activity between an infected host and a botnet command-and-control server is an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS).

IPS is designed to monitor network traffic for malicious activity, including communication patterns between infected hosts and known command-and-control servers. When it detects beaconing or suspicious traffic, it can generate alerts or block the communication, thus providing a layer of defense against botnet activity and other network-based threats.

A breach has occurred, and the SOC team has determined that it is a zero-day attack. Which SOC team member will use sandbox technology to analyze the malware that is associated with the attack in an isolated environment?

triage specialist
CISO
NOC administrator

Tier 2 incident handler

Explanation & Hint:

The SOC team member who will typically use sandbox technology to analyze malware associated with a zero-day attack in an isolated environment is the Tier 2 incident handler.

Tier 2 incident handlers are responsible for deeper analysis of security incidents, including the examination of suspicious files and malware. They often leverage sandbox environments to execute and analyze potentially malicious code in a controlled and isolated setting to understand the behavior of the malware and determine how to respond effectively to the threat.

You work as a Tier 2 incident handler at a large corporation with an extensive network infrastructure. A zero-day attack has occurred, and you must determine how many endpoints have been affected. Who will you contact to assist you in this effort?

the triage specialist, who is already familiar already with the incident
the SOC manager, who is always the first point of case escalation
the Tier 3 incident responder and threat hunter, who is responsible for assisting in this activity and determining how many endpoints have been affected

the CISO, who should be the initial point of contact for every activity elevation in the SOC

Explanation & Hint:

To determine how many endpoints have been affected in a zero-day attack, as a Tier 2 incident handler, you should contact the Tier 3 incident responder and threat hunter. Tier 3 incident responders typically have more advanced skills and tools to conduct in-depth investigations and can assist in this type of activity. They often work closely with Tier 2 analysts in handling complex incidents and providing expertise in threat hunting and response activities.

You are a Tier 3 threat hunter. You and the rest of the SOC team have identified and quarantined a breach. Which two procedures will you, as a threat hunter, now use to determine whether any other systems have been affected by the breach? (Choose two.)

perform additional research using the MTRE ATT&CK matrix
consult with the NOC team
gather additional threat intelligence information from sources like Cisco Talos
analyze the logs of all external firewalls

perform both vulnerability and penetration scans

Explanation & Hint:

As a Tier 3 threat hunter aiming to determine whether any other systems have been affected by the breach, you should consider the following procedures:

Perform additional research using the MITRE ATT&CK matrix: The MITRE ATT&CK (Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge) matrix is a valuable resource for understanding and tracking adversary tactics and techniques. By conducting additional research using this matrix, you can identify potential indicators of compromise (IOCs) and tactics used by the threat actor, helping you identify other affected systems and potential attack vectors.
Gather additional threat intelligence information from sources like Cisco Talos: Gathering threat intelligence information from reputable sources, such as Cisco Talos, can provide insights into the threat landscape, known threats, and indicators of compromise (IOCs). This information can be used to further assess the scope of the breach and identify any other affected systems or potential threats.

Consulting with the NOC team and analyzing firewall logs can be beneficial for some aspects of incident response but may not be the primary procedures used to identify additional affected systems in the aftermath of a breach. Vulnerability and penetration scans are typically not used at this stage but can be part of a proactive approach to security.

You are an incident handler who is investigating a zero-day attack on an endpoint device. You and the triage specialist have identified the specific endpoint that has been breached and have determined that it must be quarantined. Which internal stakeholder will you notify to perform the endpoint quarantine procedure?

the threat hunter—the most seasoned professional on the SOC team
the SOC manager
the NOC manager because the actual quarantining of the system is typically a collaborative effort with the NOC team

the CISO, who is ultimately responsible for security operations

Explanation & Hint:

In the scenario of quarantining an infected endpoint device after a zero-day attack, the appropriate internal stakeholder to notify for performing the quarantine would typically be:

the NOC manager because the actual quarantining of the system is typically a collaborative effort with the NOC (Network Operations Center) team.

The NOC team often has the necessary access and tools to quickly isolate network devices and is typically responsible for network-related tasks such as adjusting firewall rules, changing VLAN assignments, or updating network access control lists to quarantine a system. It’s important for incident handlers to work closely with the NOC to ensure the infected endpoint is isolated to prevent further spread of the attack.

Which two of the following statements about the SIEM are correct? (Choose two.)

A SIEM is a Cisco proprietary appliance that ingests, normalizes, correlates, and aggregates telemetry data from all Cisco devices to provide cohesive threat information.
Splunk is an example of a widely used SIEM.
A SIEM collects security data from network devices and stores, normalizes, aggregates, and applies analytics to that data to discover trends, detect threats, and enable organizations to investigate any alerts.
A SIEM integrates file behavior analytics and automation for incident response procedures.

A SIEM is a cloud-based product with security functionality including DNS layer security and interactive threat intelligence.

Explanation & Hint:

The two correct statements about the SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) are:

Splunk is an example of a widely used SIEM: Splunk is indeed an example of a widely used SIEM system. It collects, analyzes, and visualizes machine-generated data, making it valuable for security and IT operations.
A SIEM collects security data from network devices and stores, normalizes, aggregates, and applies analytics to that data to discover trends, detect threats, and enable organizations to investigate any alerts: This statement accurately describes the core functions and purpose of a SIEM system. SIEMs collect and analyze security-related data to identify patterns, detect security threats, and facilitate investigations.

The other statements contain inaccuracies or are not generally applicable to all SIEMs. For instance, the first statement incorrectly describes a specific product as a SIEM and is not representative of the broader SIEM category. The third statement is a more accurate description of SIEM functionality. The fourth statement mentions specific additional capabilities, and the fifth statement refers to a specific type of SIEM rather than describing SIEMs in general.

Acme, Inc., has suffered a breach, and the SOC team is preparing forensic data for legal action. Which type of data will be collected for this purpose?

session data
transaction data
full packet capture

external data

Explanation & Hint:

For the purpose of legal action in response to a breach, full packet capture is a type of data that is often collected. Full packet capture includes the complete network traffic data, capturing all packets transmitted between systems. It is valuable for forensic analysis because it provides a comprehensive record of all network activities, allowing investigators to reconstruct and analyze the details of the breach.

As an incident responder and are investigating an incident in which the malware that seems to be targeting a vulnerability has no known signature yet. More specifically, the malware is unknown to the security vendors, who cannot identify it by any existing antivirus or IPS signature. Which tool will a SOC analyst use to analyze behavioral characteristics of this malware?

Security Onion
Splunk
SIEM

Cisco Secure Malware Analytics (formerly Threat Grid)

Explanation & Hint:

To analyze the behavioral characteristics of unknown malware that has no known signature, a SOC (Security Operations Center) analyst would typically use a tool like Cisco Secure Malware Analytics (formerly Threat Grid). Cisco Secure Malware Analytics is designed for malware analysis, sandboxing, and the examination of unknown or potentially malicious files. It allows security analysts to execute and observe the behavior of the malware in a controlled environment to understand its actions, communication patterns, and potential threat indicators. This is essential for identifying and responding to previously unknown malware.

You work as a cybersecurity specialist and provide procurement recommendations. The organization that you are working for would like a package toolset to include at a minimum both intrusion protection and packet capture capabilities. The organization is price-sensitive and is reluctant to purchase any vendor’s proprietary solution. What would be an appropriate solution for your customer?

Security Onion
Splunk
Cisco SecureX

Wireshark

Explanation & Hint:

For an organization that is price-sensitive, reluctant to purchase proprietary solutions, and looking for a package toolset that includes both intrusion protection and packet capture capabilities, an appropriate solution would be Security Onion.

Security Onion is an open-source platform for network security monitoring. It provides intrusion detection (IDS) capabilities, network traffic analysis, and packet capture features. It’s cost-effective, as it’s based on open-source software, and it can be a suitable choice for organizations that need intrusion protection and packet capture while minimizing expenses on proprietary solutions.

Which tool generates data packet captures and is appropriate for both threat hunting and forensic activities?

IPS logs
Wireshark
SIEM

Cisco Secure Malware Analytics

Explanation & Hint:

Wireshark is the tool that generates data packet captures and is appropriate for both threat hunting and forensic activities. Wireshark is a widely-used network protocol analyzer that allows security analysts and incident responders to capture and analyze network traffic in detail. It is a valuable tool for examining network communications, identifying anomalies, and conducting both threat hunting and forensic investigations by analyzing packet-level data.

A possible breach has been reported and Rajiv, the Tier 1 triage specialist, has performed initial processing, including confirming its validity. Which tool will Rajiv and the other SOC analysts use to monitor and manage this incident and all other open incidents?

firewall logs
SIEM alerts
IPS logs

ITSM

Explanation & Hint:

In a Security Operations Center (SOC), the tool commonly used to monitor and manage incidents, including organizing and prioritizing them, is typically an IT Service Management (ITSM) platform. An ITSM tool helps SOC teams track the status of incidents, assign tasks, manage workflows, and document all actions taken for future reference and reporting.

Here’s a brief overview of how the listed tools are generally used:

Firewall Logs: These are used to review the activities passing through the firewall and may help identify unauthorized access or other suspicious activities.

SIEM Alerts: Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems centralize the storage and interpretation of logs and allow for real-time analysis of security alerts generated by network hardware and applications. They are key to identifying incidents but are not typically used for managing the incident response process.

IPS Logs: Logs from an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) are used to identify potential threats that the IPS has identified and taken action on, such as blocking or alerting.

ITSM: IT Service Management platforms are the tools where incident tickets are created, managed, and tracked until closure. Examples include ServiceNow, JIRA Service Desk, and BMC Remedy.

Based on this, Rajiv and the other SOC analysts would most likely use an ITSM system to manage this incident and others.

The SOC team has enabled rule set in the intrusion protection system to stop a network breach. If network data is received that matches this rule set, which type of data will be generated?

alert data
session data
transaction data

external data

Explanation & Hint:

When the SOC team has enabled a rule set in an intrusion protection system (IPS) to stop a network breach, and network data is received that matches this rule set, the type of data generated will typically be an alert data. An alert is triggered by the IPS to notify the SOC team about a potential security threat or violation of the established rules. This alert data contains information about the event, the source, and destination, as well as other relevant details to help security analysts respond to the incident.

You work in a SOC, and your organization has just suffered a data breach. Which internal stakeholder will provide guidance on the interpretation of laws and regulations during forensic procedures?

human resources
public affairs and media relations
information technology

legal

Explanation & Hint:

In the event of a data breach, the internal stakeholder who will provide guidance on the interpretation of laws and regulations during forensic procedures is legal. The organization’s legal department is responsible for ensuring that the organization complies with relevant laws and regulations, particularly in the context of a data breach. Legal experts can provide guidance on handling the breach, including the legal implications, disclosure requirements, and any potential legal actions that may be taken in response to the breach. They can also ensure that forensic procedures are conducted in a manner consistent with legal and regulatory requirements.

You work in an organization’s SOC as a threat hunter. A new day-zero attack is “in the wild” and is now compromising systems on the internet beyond the research labs. You have proactively consulted the Cisco threat intelligence site, Talos, and have obtained information about the new attack. However, you would like to speak with industry peers who have experience with this threat. Which external stakeholder will you contact?

media relations
local law enforcement
other (peer) incident response teams

members of your own SOC

Explanation & Hint:

In the scenario described, as a threat hunter, you would want to contact other (peer) incident response teams among external stakeholders. Peer incident response teams in other organizations, especially those with experience or insights into the same or similar threat, can be valuable sources of information and knowledge sharing. Collaborating with peers in the industry can help you gain a better understanding of the new day-zero attack, share threat intelligence, and collectively work on mitigating the threat’s impact on the broader cybersecurity community.

You are a SOC analyst, and your supervisor has asked you to investigate suspicious activity. The team’s threat hunter discovered this activity on a server that stores personal identity information (PII).

Which stakeholder in the organization will you most likely interact with if you need more information about the nature of the PII?

governance, risk, and compliance
human resources
legal

public affairs

Explanation & Hint:

When dealing with personal identity information (PII) and the nature of that data, the most relevant stakeholder to interact with is typically the governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) team or department within an organization. The GRC team is usually responsible for understanding the specific requirements and regulations related to PII, assessing the risks associated with its management, and ensuring the organization is in compliance with relevant laws and standards.

Here’s why the other options are less likely:

Human Resources (HR): While HR does handle PII with respect to employee information, they may not be the primary point of contact for PII stored for other purposes, such as customer data.
Legal: The legal department may become involved if there are legal implications or potential breaches of legislation, but for understanding the nature of PII and its handling procedures, GRC is typically more directly involved.
Public Affairs: This department would be more concerned with the communication aspects in case of a data breach or if there is a need to manage the organization’s image or public messaging. They would not typically manage the details of PII storage or processing.

US-CERT is a large scale, incident reporting agency that provides up-to-date information about high-impact security incidents affecting the critical infrastructure of the United States. Federal, state, and local government agencies will report a high volume of incidents to the US-CERT with the purpose of collaborating with the community at large. What advantage does a large-scale incident reporting agency have over a smaller one?

They are more efficient than smaller ones and they pass on the savings to their customers.
They are better able to identify trends and indicators by applying the attack information from their large and diverse number of sources.
They have no real advantage except that they are better known.

They have more resources at their disposal due to their size.

Explanation & Hint:

The advantage that a large-scale incident reporting agency has over a smaller one is:

They are better able to identify trends and indicators by applying the attack information from their large and diverse number of sources.

Larger incident reporting agencies typically have access to a broader and more diverse range of incident data, coming from various sources, organizations, and sectors. This extensive dataset allows them to identify trends, attack patterns, and indicators of compromise more effectively. They can also provide more comprehensive threat intelligence and collaborate with a larger community, resulting in a better understanding of evolving threats and more effective incident response.

Which internal stakeholder will the SOC team work with to maintain the organization’s security posture of its intellectual property?

network operations center
human resources
governance, risk, and compliance

media

Explanation & Hint:

To maintain the organization’s security posture of its intellectual property, the SOC (Security Operations Center) team will work closely with the governance, risk, and compliance department. This department is responsible for overseeing and ensuring that the organization’s intellectual property is adequately protected, complies with relevant regulations, and is managed in a way that minimizes risks. Collaboration between the SOC and governance, risk, and compliance teams helps align security measures with the protection of intellectual property and adherence to applicable laws and regulations.

You work in the SOC of a U.S. federal agency where a data breach has just occurred. Multiple entities might need to be alerted, based on federal incident notification guidelines. However, which external stakeholder must you notify if the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the system has been compromised?

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT)

local district attorney’s office

Explanation & Hint:

If the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of a U.S. federal agency’s system has been compromised, you must notify the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT). US-CERT is the primary federal agency responsible for coordinating responses to cybersecurity incidents in the United States, including those affecting federal agencies. They can provide guidance and assistance in managing and responding to such incidents.

While law enforcement agencies like the FBI may be involved in certain cases, US-CERT is the designated authority for reporting and handling cybersecurity incidents affecting federal agencies. It’s essential to follow the federal incident notification guidelines, and US-CERT plays a central role in that process.

You identified the point of contact, or POC, within your organization that is the liaison to one or more external stakeholders. Why must the POC consult with the appropriate internal stakeholder (legal, media relations, HR, and others) before speaking with the external stakeholder?

The internal stakeholder is ultimately responsible for security breaches.
The internal stakeholder can provide guidance on releasing sensitive information to the external stakeholder.
The POC cannot identify external stakeholders or their responsibilities.

The POC must speak only with an external stakeholder.

Explanation & Hint:

The reason the POC must consult with the appropriate internal stakeholder (such as legal, media relations, HR, and others) before speaking with an external stakeholder is that:

The internal stakeholder can provide guidance on releasing sensitive information to the external stakeholder.

Internal stakeholders, particularly legal, media relations, and HR, can offer expertise and guidance on how to handle communications with external stakeholders, including what information can or should be disclosed, how to frame the message, and what legal or regulatory considerations need to be taken into account. They help ensure that the organization’s communication is consistent, compliant, and protective of its interests.

Which security appliance acts like the glue between the various security controls in an organization to provide real-time reporting and analysis of security events?

SIEM
firewall
IPS
identity access and management
syslog server

proxy server

Explanation & Hint:

The security appliance that acts like the glue between the various security controls in an organization to provide real-time reporting and analysis of security events is a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system. A SIEM system collects and correlates data from multiple security controls, including firewalls, IPS, and various other devices, to provide comprehensive security event monitoring, reporting, and analysis. It centralizes the data, enables real-time alerts, and helps security professionals gain insights into security events and threats across the organization’s infrastructure.

Which two items affect the success of deploying a SIEM project? (Choose two.)

form factor of a SIEM appliance
engineering specifications of the SIEM
business requirements

SIEM vendor

Explanation & Hint:

The two items that affect the success of deploying a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) project are:

Business requirements: Understanding the organization’s specific business and security requirements is crucial for the success of a SIEM project. These requirements drive the selection of use cases, data sources, and the customization of the SIEM system to meet the organization’s needs effectively.
SIEM vendor: The choice of the SIEM vendor and their solution is a critical factor in the success of a SIEM project. Different vendors offer varying features, capabilities, and support, and selecting the right vendor that aligns with the organization’s requirements and budget is essential for a successful deployment.

The form factor of a SIEM appliance and the engineering specifications are important technical considerations but are typically not as influential as the business requirements and the choice of the SIEM vendor when it comes to overall project success.

Match the elements to create complete and accurate statements:

uses advanced analytics to detect and investigate threats with great speed, accuracy, and focus ==> A SIEM
can reduce the time that is needed to detect and contain threats ==> An effective threat-centric SOC
should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely ==> The metrics that are used to measure a SOC

should produce minimal amounts of false negative events ==> An effective security control

Explanation & Hint:

A SIEM uses advanced analytics to detect and investigate threats with great speed, accuracy, and focus.

An effective threat-centric SOC can reduce the time that is needed to detect and contain threats.

The metrics that are used to measure a SOC should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely.

An effective security control should produce minimal amounts of false negative events.

Who is responsible for finding the appropriate model to measure and report the effectiveness of the SOC to the organization?

Tier 1 analyst
CSO
SOC manager
senior analyst

network manager

Explanation & Hint:

The responsibility for finding the appropriate model to measure and report the effectiveness of the SOC (Security Operations Center) to the organization typically falls on the SOC manager. The SOC manager is responsible for overseeing the SOC’s operations, which includes performance measurement, metrics, and reporting on the effectiveness of the SOC to the organization. This involves selecting and implementing the right metrics and models to assess the SOC’s performance and its contribution to the organization’s security objectives.

Match the security control term to its definition.

The security control did not detect actual malicious activity. ==> false negative
The security control acted when it detected benign (nonmalicious) activity. ==> false positive
The security control did not act because there was no malicious activity. ==> true negative

The security control acted when it detected malicious activity. ==> true positive

Explanation & Hint:

Certainly, let’s explain the terms:

False Negative: A false negative occurs when a security control fails to detect actual malicious activity. In this case, a real security threat or malicious event goes undetected, which is a failure of the security control.
False Positive: A false positive occurs when a security control wrongly acts when it detects benign (nonmalicious) activity. This can result in unnecessary alerts or actions taken in response to non-threats.
True Negative: A true negative happens when a security control correctly does not act because there was no malicious activity. In this case, the control recognizes that no actual threat is present and doesn’t generate false alarms.
True Positive: A true positive occurs when a security control correctly acts when it detects malicious activity. This is an accurate detection and response to a real security threat.

These terms are essential in evaluating the effectiveness and accuracy of security controls and their ability to identify and respond to security incidents.

Which statement about the dwell time is correct?

It is the same as the time to detection.
It is the same as the time to containment.
It is the same as the time to mitigation.

It is the same as the time to triage.

Explanation & Hint:

The correct statement about the dwell time is:

It is the same as the time to detection.

Dwell time refers to the period during which a security threat or malware has been present in a network or system before it is detected. It is the time that elapses from the initial intrusion or compromise until the threat is discovered. Therefore, dwell time is essentially the same as the time to detection. The goal in cybersecurity is to minimize dwell time by detecting and responding to threats as quickly as possible to reduce potential damage and data loss.

When implementing a SIEM solution, why is it important to have a good estimate of the rate of events per second that are coming into the SIEM and the historical events storage requirements?

determine the form factor of the SIEM
determine the API requirements between the SIEM and the other security devices that are feeding events into the SIEM
establish the analyst workflow requirements

estimate the disk size of the back-end events storage

Explanation & Hint:

When implementing a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solution, it is important to have a good estimate of the rate of events per second coming into the SIEM and the historical events storage requirements in order to:

Estimate the disk size of the back-end events storage.

Understanding the rate of incoming events and the historical storage requirements is crucial for determining the storage capacity needed to retain and analyze event data effectively. This estimation helps in planning for the necessary storage infrastructure and capacity to accommodate the volume of events generated over time. Accurate storage capacity planning is essential for the SIEM to function efficiently and retain historical data for compliance, investigations, and analysis.

Which three processes and workflows often fall under the responsibilities of a SOC? (Choose three.)

cybersecurity incident management
threat intelligence and hunting
governance and compliance management
end-user passwords change management

business applications software life-cycle management

Explanation & Hint:

The three processes and workflows that often fall under the responsibilities of a SOC (Security Operations Center) are:

Cybersecurity incident management: SOC is responsible for detecting, triaging, investigating, and responding to security incidents within an organization. This includes handling incidents such as data breaches, malware infections, and other security threats.
Threat intelligence and hunting: SOC teams actively gather and analyze threat intelligence to proactively identify and hunt for potential security threats. They seek to uncover threats that may not be detected by traditional security controls.
Governance and compliance management: SOC plays a role in ensuring that an organization adheres to governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) requirements. They monitor and report on security compliance and help maintain a strong security posture to meet regulatory and industry standards.

The other options, such as end-user passwords change management and business applications software life-cycle management, are typically outside the direct scope of the SOC’s responsibilities. These may be managed by other IT or security teams within the organization.

What is a typical task for the SOC Tier 1 analyst?

Advise on what remediation is to be performed.
Continuously monitor the alert queue.
Perform forensics on the exploited endpoint.

Perform IPS and SIEM tuning.

Explanation & Hint:

A typical task for the SOC Tier 1 analyst is:

Continuously monitor the alert queue.

SOC Tier 1 analysts are responsible for monitoring the security alerts and events generated by various security monitoring tools and systems. They review these alerts, perform initial triage, and escalate or handle them as appropriate based on predefined procedures. Tier 1 analysts are often the first line of defense in identifying potential security incidents and determining their severity. They play a crucial role in the early stages of incident detection and response. The other tasks mentioned (advising on remediation, performing forensics, and tuning IPS and SIEM) are typically performed by higher-tier SOC analysts with more specialized skills.

Which industry term describes security WMS vendors?

SOAR
SWMS
SIEM

CTI

Explanation & Hint:

The industry term that describes security Workflow Management System (WMS) vendors, which often encompasses the capabilities of security orchestration, automation, and response, is SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response).

Which two systems are typically integrated with the SOC WMS in order to improve the efficiency of SOC operations? (Choose two.)

SIEM
password management system
ticketing system

enterprise resource planning system

Explanation & Hint:

The two systems that are typically integrated with the SOC (Security Operations Center) WMS (Workflow Management System) to improve the efficiency of SOC operations are:

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management): Integration with SIEM allows the SOC to correlate and analyze security events and incidents effectively. It provides valuable data for decision-making, incident response, and investigation.
Ticketing system: Integration with a ticketing system is important for managing and tracking security incidents and tasks within the SOC. It helps in organizing workflows, assigning responsibilities, and ensuring that incidents are properly documented and resolved.

What is a free and open transport mechanism that standardizes the automated exchange of cyber threat information?

RESTful
TAXII
VERIS
NetFlow

TLP

Explanation & Hint:

A free and open transport mechanism that standardizes the automated exchange of cyber threat information is TAXII (Trusted Automated Exchange of Indicator Information). TAXII is a protocol and a set of specifications that enable organizations to share cyber threat information in a structured and standardized way, promoting interoperability and information sharing within the cybersecurity community. It facilitates the exchange of indicators of compromise (IOCs) and other threat intelligence data between different entities in a standardized format.

Which two functions are offered by a security WMS, but may not be offered by a SIEM? (Choose two.)

workflow automation
events correlation
events normalization
logs management

playbook management

Explanation & Hint:

The two functions offered by a security WMS (Workflow Management System) but may not be offered by a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system are:

Workflow automation: A security WMS is specifically designed to automate and manage security workflows and processes. It streamlines and automates various security tasks, such as incident response, threat hunting, and other security operations. This level of workflow automation is typically more specialized in a WMS than in a SIEM.

Playbook management: A security WMS often provides the capability to define and manage security playbooks or standard operating procedures (SOPs) that guide the response to specific security incidents. Playbooks help standardize and automate incident response procedures, ensuring consistent and efficient responses to security events.

While SIEM systems excel at events correlation, normalization, and logs management, their primary focus is on collecting, analyzing, and correlating security events and logs. Workflow automation and playbook management are more specialized functions typically associated with security workflow management systems.

Which type of workflow is flow-based, progresses from one stage to the next, and does not step backward?

sequential
state machine
rules-driven
object-based

process-based

Explanation & Hint:

The type of workflow that is flow-based, progresses from one stage to the next, and does not step backward is typically referred to as a sequential workflow. In a sequential workflow, tasks or steps are executed in a predefined order, and progression is linear, with each step leading to the next. Once a step is completed, the workflow moves forward to the next step, and there is no need to revisit previous steps. This type of workflow is often used for processes that have a fixed and unidirectional order of execution.

You work for a small organization whose cybersecurity assets include a single firewall that is currently performing well. However, corporate policy dictates minimum resiliency for all cybersecurity elements. What is an example of how you can meet this requirement?

Replace the existing firewall with a newer, larger-sized model and modify the configuration so that twice as many requests can be simultaneously serviced.
Purchase an additional firewall and configure a highly available firewall two-member cluster so that the two firewalls will function as a single logical firewall, but failure of either member will not leave the organization vulnerable to attacks.
Allow external access for teleworkers by providing VPN services.

Resiliency is impossible in this scenario.

Explanation & Hint:

To meet the requirement for minimum resiliency for cybersecurity elements in a small organization with a single firewall, a practical approach would be:

Purchase an additional firewall and configure a highly available firewall two-member cluster so that the two firewalls will function as a single logical firewall, but failure of either member will not leave the organization vulnerable to attacks.

Setting up a highly available firewall cluster ensures redundancy and resiliency in case one firewall fails. This approach helps maintain network security and availability even when one firewall is down, reducing the risk of potential vulnerabilities and attacks. It’s a cost-effective way to enhance the resiliency of the organization’s cybersecurity assets without the need to replace the existing firewall.

Which three phases are associated with vulnerability testing? (Choose three.)

asset discovery
vulnerability assessment
compromise system
vulnerability remediation

exploit vulnerability

Explanation & Hint:

The three phases associated with vulnerability testing are:

Asset discovery: This phase involves identifying and cataloging all the assets and resources within an organization’s network, including devices, servers, applications, and other elements.

Vulnerability assessment: In this phase, the identified assets are scanned and tested for vulnerabilities. This involves using various tools and techniques to identify security weaknesses, misconfigurations, and potential entry points for attackers.

Vulnerability remediation: After vulnerabilities are identified in the assessment phase, the organization needs to address and remediate these vulnerabilities. This typically involves applying patches, making configuration changes, and taking other measures to mitigate security risks.

The phases “compromise system” and “exploit vulnerability” are not typically associated with vulnerability testing. They are related to post-exploitation or attack phases rather than the vulnerability testing process itself.

You work as a cybersecurity consultant for an organization that is building out its cybersecurity infrastructure. You have identified and implemented all critical elements, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and endpoint detection and response systems.

Which tool would you now recommend that will normalize incoming data from various types of flows and logs and will serve as a cornerstone for threat hunting?

border router with security firewall enabled
DDoS appliance
SIEM or SOAR

threat intelligence platform, such as Cisco SecureX with Cisco Talos

Explanation & Hint:

To serve as a cornerstone for threat hunting and normalize incoming data from various types of flows and logs in a cybersecurity infrastructure that includes firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and endpoint detection and response systems, I would recommend implementing a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) or SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) platform.

SIEM and SOAR systems are designed to collect, normalize, correlate, and analyze security event data from various sources, including logs and network flows. They provide a centralized platform for threat detection, incident response, and threat hunting. These platforms offer the ability to create custom queries, alerts, and reports for in-depth analysis and proactive threat hunting. They are essential tools for normalizing and aggregating security data from diverse sources, helping security teams identify and respond to threats effectively.

While a threat intelligence platform, like Cisco SecureX with Cisco Talos, is valuable for accessing threat intelligence feeds, it may not provide the comprehensive normalization and analysis capabilities required for threat hunting across a variety of data sources.

Which two statements are true regarding vulnerability assessments and threat hunting? (Choose two.)

Threat hunting is an attempt to take advantage of the organization’s attack surface and breach a system, thereby demonstrating the cybersecurity threats that exist.
Vulnerability assessments use a list of known vulnerabilities to identify security weaknesses.
Threat hunting uses insights from threat intelligence sources to proactively discover evidence of adversaries.
Vulnerability assessments use threat intelligence to identify security weaknesses.

Threat hunting uses insights from threat intelligence and cybersecurity components (such as a SIEM) to proactively discover evidence of adversaries.

Explanation & Hint:

The two statements that are true regarding vulnerability assessments and threat hunting are:

Vulnerability assessments use a list of known vulnerabilities to identify security weaknesses: Vulnerability assessments typically rely on databases of known vulnerabilities to identify security weaknesses in an organization’s systems, applications, and infrastructure. They are designed to pinpoint vulnerabilities based on existing knowledge of security flaws.
Threat hunting uses insights from threat intelligence and cybersecurity components (such as a SIEM) to proactively discover evidence of adversaries: Threat hunting involves the proactive exploration of an organization’s network and systems to uncover evidence of potential adversaries or security threats. It often leverages insights from threat intelligence sources and may use cybersecurity components like a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system to assist in the hunt for suspicious or malicious activity.

The other statements are not accurate. Threat hunting is not an attempt to breach a system but rather a proactive effort to uncover existing threats, and vulnerability assessments typically do not use threat intelligence to identify security weaknesses; they focus on known vulnerabilities.

You work as a security specialist and are contracted by an organization to provide a security assessment. The organization’s corporate governance dictates that the assessment must be nonintrusive and must avoid placing the organization’s security controls out of service for any amount of time.

Which assessment method will likely be the best fit for this organization?

interview
examinations
remote

test

Explanation & Hint:

Examination: This involves a detailed review of the current security policies, procedures, and configurations which can be conducted without any intrusion into the organization’s systems or operations.

What is the fundamental element of a corporation’s security posture, upon which other elements are based?

policies
security device configurations (firewalls, others)
incident response

corporate planning

Explanation & Hint:

The fundamental element of a corporation’s security posture, upon which other elements are based, is policies. Security policies serve as the foundation for an organization’s cybersecurity framework. These policies define the overarching principles, rules, and guidelines that govern how security is implemented and managed within the organization. They set the tone for security expectations, standards, and procedures.

Other elements of a corporation’s security posture, such as security device configurations, incident response plans, and corporate planning, are built upon the framework established by security policies. Security device configurations, for example, are aligned with the policies to enforce security measures. Incident response plans are created based on policy-driven guidelines for addressing security incidents. Corporate planning incorporates security considerations that are guided by security policies to ensure the organization’s security goals are met.

An organization is planning a penetration test strategy and has asked for your advice.

They have recently modified their network significantly and want the penetration testing to focus on this upgrade, but they also require the solution to be as brief as possible. Also, they want their IT team to be involved in the testing.

Which penetration testing strategy should you recommend?

double-blind test strategy
internal test strategy
untargeted test strategy

external test strategy

Explanation & Hint:

In this scenario, where the organization has recently modified its network significantly and wants the penetration testing to focus on this upgrade while involving its IT team and keeping the test as brief as possible, the most suitable penetration testing strategy to recommend is an internal test strategy.

Here’s why:

Internal Test Strategy: Internal penetration testing is conducted by the organization’s internal IT team or a third-party team, typically with prior knowledge of the network and systems. This approach is less time-consuming and can be focused on specific areas of interest, such as the recent network upgrade. Since the IT team is involved, it can collaborate closely with the penetration testing team to ensure that the test is conducted efficiently and aligns with the organization’s objectives.

The other strategies mentioned, such as double-blind (also known as black-box) and external tests, involve external entities without prior knowledge of the network and are typically more comprehensive but may take more time. In this case, where the organization wants a brief, focused test with IT team involvement, an internal test strategy is the most suitable option.

Which two statements are true about penetration tests and vulnerability assessments? (Choose two.)

A penetration test is an intrusive test that attempts to exploit vulnerabilities.
A vulnerability assessment is a nonintrusive test that attempts to exploit vulnerabilities.
A penetration test is a passive test that attempts to discover vulnerabilities.
A vulnerability assessment is a passive test that attempts to discover vulnerabilities.

No permission is required before conducting a vulnerability assessment and penetration test.

Explanation & Hint:

The two statements that are true about penetration tests and vulnerability assessments are:

A penetration test is an intrusive test that attempts to exploit vulnerabilities: Penetration tests are active and intrusive assessments designed to simulate real-world attacks by actively attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in a controlled manner.
A vulnerability assessment is a nonintrusive test that attempts to discover vulnerabilities: Vulnerability assessments are nonintrusive and passive tests that focus on identifying vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and weaknesses without actively attempting to exploit or compromise systems.

The statement “No permission is required before conducting a vulnerability assessment and penetration test” is not true. Permission and proper authorization are crucial before conducting both vulnerability assessments and penetration tests to ensure the organization is aware of and consents to the testing, and to avoid any potential legal or operational issues. Unauthorized testing can lead to disruptions and legal consequences.

Which of the following does an organization use to identify security gaps in the most complete manner?

incident response reporting
SIEM logs showing illegal log-in attempts
security audits

IPS logs showing endpoint attempts to contact external command and control servers

Explanation & Hint:

Among the options provided, security audits are typically used by organizations to identify security gaps in the most complete manner.

Here’s why:

Incident Response Reporting: While incident response reporting is essential for addressing and documenting security incidents, it primarily focuses on post-incident activities and may not comprehensively identify all security gaps.
SIEM Logs Showing Illegal Log-In Attempts: SIEM logs showing illegal log-in attempts are valuable for monitoring and detecting potential security breaches, but they may not necessarily identify all security gaps, especially those that are not associated with log-in attempts.
IPS Logs Showing Endpoint Attempts to Contact External Command and Control Servers: These logs are useful for detecting and responding to potential malware or intrusion attempts but may not cover all security gaps in an organization’s infrastructure.
Security Audits: Security audits involve a comprehensive and systematic examination of an organization’s security controls, policies, procedures, and configurations. They aim to identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and gaps in security practices across the entire organization. Security audits are proactive in nature and can help an organization discover security gaps in the most complete manner, allowing for remediation before incidents occur.

While the other options play important roles in security monitoring and incident response, security audits are specifically designed to comprehensively assess an organization’s security posture and identify potential gaps.

Which statement best describes the differences between the blue team and red team roles and responsibilities?

The red team works in a reactionary manner to thwart attacks, the blue team in a proactive manner.
The red team works in a proactive manner to thwart attacks, the blue team in a reactive manner.
The blue team members are the defenders and they perform detection and prevention activities. The red team members are the attackers and they use whatever method is necessary to compromise a system.

The blue and red teams have the same objectives: fortify the security posture of the organization.

Explanation & Hint:

The statement that best describes the differences between the blue team and red team roles and responsibilities is:

The blue team members are the defenders and they perform detection and prevention activities. The red team members are the attackers and they use whatever method is necessary to compromise a system.

This description accurately highlights the primary roles and responsibilities of both teams in a cybersecurity context. The blue team is responsible for defending and securing the organization’s systems and networks, which includes activities such as detection, prevention, and incident response. The red team, on the other hand, simulates attackers and conducts offensive operations to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the organization’s security controls. Their objective is to test the organization’s defenses and improve security by identifying areas for enhancement.

Sanija works in the forensics group of a CSIRT team. Which two of the following are primary outputs for which she is responsible? (Choose two.)

threat assessment report
bit-by-bit copy of the compromised system’s hard drive
vulnerability assessment report
chain-of-custody report

SIEM log report

Explanation & Hint:

The two primary outputs for which Sanija, working in the forensics group of a CSIRT team, is responsible are:

Bit-by-bit copy of the compromised system’s hard drive: This is a critical output in digital forensics, where a forensic analyst creates an exact duplicate (forensic image) of the compromised system’s hard drive to preserve the original data for investigation without altering it.
Chain-of-custody report: This report is essential for documenting the handling, custody, and control of digital evidence throughout the forensic investigation process. It ensures the integrity and admissibility of evidence in legal proceedings.

The other options, such as the threat assessment report, vulnerability assessment report, and SIEM log report, are relevant to different aspects of cybersecurity but are not typically primary outputs of the forensics group in a CSIRT team.

Which two statements are true about primary and secondary teams? (Choose two.)

Primary teams represent the cornerstone of the security teams. They are interdependent.
Secondary teams are composed of primary team personnel and are created to promote collaboration between primary teams.
Secondary teams consist of unique members and are created to address deficiencies in primary teams.
Primary teams represent the cornerstone of the security teams. They are independent of one another.

Both primary and secondary teams carry out the same basic tasks. However, they differ greatly in their respective skill sets.

Explanation & Hint:

In the context of security teams within an organization, primary and secondary teams have distinct functions and characteristics. Here are two statements that are true about primary and secondary teams:

Primary teams represent the cornerstone of the security teams. They are independent of one another.

Primary teams typically focus on their specific areas of responsibility and expertise. For example, the network security team, the incident response team, and the application security team may all operate as primary teams with specific, independent functions within the overall security strategy of an organization.

Secondary teams consist of unique members and are created to address deficiencies in primary teams.

Secondary teams often arise to address specialized needs that aren’t fully covered by the primary teams. These teams may consist of members from various primary teams or might include new personnel with specialized skills. The purpose of secondary teams is to support and enhance the capabilities of the primary teams, often focusing on cross-functional security challenges that require a collaborative approach.

The other statements have inaccuracies:

Secondary teams are not necessarily composed of primary team personnel nor are they created simply to promote collaboration; they may have specific operational functions that complement the primary teams.
Both primary and secondary teams might carry out tasks that are related to the organization’s security posture, but they do not always perform the same basic tasks. Their skill sets are often aligned with their specialized functions within the organization’s overall security framework.

Carlos has many years of experience working in a CSIRT and currently works as a threat hunter. Of the following, what is his primary resource?

threat intelligence
log files from cybersecurity components such as SIEM, firewall, and IPS
vulnerability scan reports

risk assessment reports

Explanation & Hint:

Carlos, as a threat hunter, would typically rely on threat intelligence as his primary resource. Threat intelligence provides valuable information about current and emerging threats, including details about attack techniques, indicators of compromise, and known threat actors. Threat hunters use this intelligence to proactively seek out potential threats within an organization’s network and systems. While log files, vulnerability scan reports, and risk assessment reports are essential components of threat hunting, threat intelligence is the foundational resource for identifying and understanding potential security threats.

Which two statements are true about red teams and blue teams? (Choose two.)

In addition to using penentration tests, a red team can use vulnerability tests to perform their work.
A CSIRT is the typical organizational unit of the blue team.
A red team’s primary responsibility is to make systems fail.
Because the nature of its responsibilities, a blue team can consist of only internal members.

The blue team is responsible for implementing red team findings and yellow team recommendations.

Explanation & Hint:

A red team’s primary responsibility is to make systems fail:

This answer suggests that the red team’s job is to test the resilience of the organization’s security by actively trying to exploit vulnerabilities, which could lead to system failures. The intent behind this statement might be to convey that red teams simulate real-world attacks to discover how well systems can withstand an intrusion or breach. However, the phrasing “make systems fail” is somewhat misleading. The red team’s goal is not to cause failure but to uncover vulnerabilities in a controlled manner so they can be addressed before a malicious actor exploits them.

The blue team is responsible for implementing red team findings and yellow team recommendations:

This answer recognizes the blue team’s role in taking the output from red team operations (such as penetration tests) and using it to strengthen the organization’s defenses. If we incorporate the less commonly mentioned “yellow team,” which could be responsible for the organization’s security architecture and infrastructure, their recommendations would also be crucial for the blue team. The blue team would use these insights to ensure that the organization’s security measures are robust and that any gaps identified are closed.

In practical terms, red team exercises provide a test for blue team defenses, and the blue team must then react to these tests by improving security measures. The potential inclusion of a “yellow team” implies a broader approach where architectural and infrastructural recommendations are also considered critical inputs for the blue team’s security enhancement activities.

You are a SOC manager who is interviewing a candidate for a position in one of your SOC teams. The candidate has only basic cybersecurity development knowledge but is highly skilled in application development. The candidate’s previous work was in optimizing customer experience with a focus on software requirements and back-end performance.

Which team would be the best fit for this candidate?

white team
blue team
purple team

yellow team

Explanation & Hint:

In a Security Operations Center (SOC), the roles are typically categorized by color-coded teams that have distinct functions:

Blue Team: Focuses on defense, identifying security threats, and responding to incidents. They manage and maintain the security posture of the organization.
Red Team: Acts as the offense, simulating adversaries to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by real attackers.
Purple Team: Works to ensure and enhance the effectiveness of the Blue and Red teams by facilitating information and tactics exchange between them.
White Team: Typically oversees and manages the entire process, often setting the rules for engagements, arbitrating between the Red and Blue teams during exercises, and ensuring that objectives are met.
Yellow Team: This is less commonly mentioned in standard cybersecurity team colors. However, in some contexts, the Yellow team might be involved with system architecture and could potentially be responsible for developing and maintaining systems in a way that is secure and user-friendly.

Given that the candidate has a background in application development with a focus on software requirements and back-end performance, they might be a good fit for a role where development knowledge is key. If the SOC has a Yellow Team focused on developing and maintaining secure systems, that could be a suitable fit.

Which of the following is a true statement about the purple team?

It addresses deficiencies of the red team.
It addresses deficiencies of the blue team.
It addresses deficiencies of threat intelligence gathering.

It is a dynamic collaboration between the red team, the blue team, and cyber threat intelligence gathering.

Explanation & Hint:

The statement that is true about the purple team is:

It is a dynamic collaboration between the red team, the blue team, and cyber threat intelligence gathering.

The purple team is a concept in cybersecurity that promotes cooperation and collaboration between the red team (responsible for offensive security activities, including penetration testing and assessing vulnerabilities) and the blue team (responsible for defensive security operations, including monitoring, incident detection, and response). Additionally, it can involve the integration of threat intelligence gathering and sharing. The goal of the purple team is to improve overall security by combining the strengths of both red and blue teams and ensuring that the organization’s security measures are effective and resilient against threats.