Security Operations Center Pre-Assessment

Security Operations Center Pre-Assessment | CBROPS

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 position described in the job opportunity appears to be for a Tier 1, Triage Specialist within a Security Operations Center (SOC). The job involves monitoring and triaging security events and incidents, which is typically the responsibility of Tier 1 SOC analysts. They use a variety of tools and systems to filter and prioritize these events, forwarding them to more senior analysts when necessary.

SOC Manager typically has a more supervisory or managerial role within the SOC, overseeing the operations and team. Tier 3, Threat Hunters are senior-level analysts who proactively search for threats and vulnerabilities. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is an executive-level position responsible for an organization’s overall security strategy and governance, which is not reflected in the job description.

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 cybercriminal groups are:

State-affiliated: These are groups or individuals associated with nation-states that engage in cyberattacks for various purposes, including espionage, sabotage, or theft of intellectual property. Some well-known state-affiliated groups include APT28 (Fancy Bear) and APT29 (Cozy Bear), associated with Russia, and the Lazarus Group, associated with North Korea.
Organized crime: Organized criminal groups, often referred to as cybercrime syndicates, engage in cybercriminal activities for financial gain. They may be involved in activities such as ransomware attacks, data theft, and fraud. Examples of organized crime groups include the REvil ransomware gang and the DarkTequila banking Trojan group.

The other options, including religious organizations, private hackers disguised as nonprofit organizations, university students, and white hat hackers, do not typically fall into the category of widely known cybercriminal groups. Religious organizations are not typically associated with cybercrime, private hackers disguised as nonprofit organizations are not a commonly recognized category of cybercriminals, university students are not a cybercriminal group but may engage in hacking activities, and white hat hackers are ethical hackers who work to improve security, not engage in cybercrime.

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.”

Forensics in cybersecurity involves following established procedures to support legal proceedings in post-incident response. It includes the collection, preservation, and analysis of digital evidence to determine the cause of a security incident, track down perpetrators, and provide evidence that can be admitted in a court of law. Adhering to compliance and security standards is essential in this context to ensure that the evidence is collected and handled in a way that preserves its integrity and authenticity for use in legal proceedings.

The other options, such as malware mitigation, vulnerability testing, and penetration testing, involve proactive measures for identifying and addressing security threats and vulnerabilities but are not directly related to ensuring that evidence is admissible in court.

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:

When performing a quarantine action on a workstation infected with malware, you would work most closely with the NOC/IT team (Network Operations Center/Information Technology team). The NOC/IT team is responsible for network-related tasks, including device isolation and network quarantine procedures. They have the technical expertise to carry out the quarantine effectively and ensure that the infected workstation is separated from the network to prevent further damage or spreading of the malware.

In some cases, you may also need to coordinate with the legal team or management if there are legal or compliance issues related to the quarantine action, but your primary collaboration for the technical aspects of quarantine will be with the NOC/IT team. In most situations, HR approval is not required for network quarantine actions.

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
IT

Explanation & Hint:

When an incident response team in a SOC is preparing to publish a message discussing an incident to all employees, they will typically coordinate their efforts with the “human resources” (HR) department. The HR department plays a crucial role in internal communication related to incidents and can provide valuable assistance in crafting and distributing messages to employees. HR can also help ensure that the messaging aligns with company policies, procedures, and any legal or regulatory requirements related to employee communication during security incidents. Additionally, HR can provide guidance on how to address potential HR-related issues that may arise from the incident or its communication.

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 incident response phases (detect, respond, and recover). The incident response process is focused on effectively addressing and mitigating the impact of a security incident while following legal and ethical guidelines. Retaliation, which involves taking offensive or retaliatory actions against an adversary, is generally discouraged in incident response and can lead to legal and ethical complications. The primary steps in the incident response phases are typically:

Preparation: This phase involves setting up policies, procedures, and infrastructure to effectively respond to incidents when they occur.
Detection: Identifying and confirming the presence of a security incident.
Containment: Isolating and preventing the further spread of the incident within the network.
Eradication: Identifying and removing the root cause of the incident to prevent it from recurring.
Recovery: Restoring affected systems and services to normal operation.
Lessons Learned: This phase occurs after the incident is resolved and involves reviewing the incident response process to identify what worked well and what could be improved in the future.

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:

In the context of a multinational organization with limited budget, experienced cybersecurity staff, and the need to adhere to multiple security standards while improving threat monitoring and analysis, a “hybrid” solution is often the most secure and practical choice.

A “hybrid” solution combines elements of different approaches to cybersecurity:

Threat-Centric: This approach focuses on actively identifying and responding to threats. While important, it may not be cost-effective for a multinational organization with a limited budget to rely solely on threat-centric solutions.
Standards-Based: This approach ensures that the organization complies with relevant security standards and regulations. While important for compliance, it may not be sufficient for addressing the organization’s specific threat monitoring and analysis challenges.
Operations-Based: This approach involves optimizing and streamlining security operations. In your case, the organization’s experienced cybersecurity staff can play a critical role in enhancing operations. However, a purely operations-based approach may not provide the necessary threat intelligence and monitoring capabilities.

By adopting a “hybrid” approach, the organization can leverage its experienced staff to improve operations, adhere to standards, and enhance threat monitoring and analysis, all within the constraints of a limited budget. This approach allows for a more comprehensive and balanced security solution that addresses multiple aspects of cybersecurity.

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 in the context of creating a dedicated SOC is:

“Does your company have offices in countries where state-sponsored attacks have been reported?”

While it’s important to consider the geographic locations of a company’s offices when assessing security risks, this question does not directly pertain to the establishment of a dedicated SOC. The primary focus in creating a SOC is on factors like the need for continuous monitoring and reporting, the availability of cybersecurity talent, and whether the organization’s risk analysis justifies the cost of a dedicated SOC. The location of offices in countries with reported state-sponsored attacks, while important for overall risk assessment, is not directly related to the decision to create a SOC.

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 potentially irrelevant in the context of using a virtual SOC is:

“What are your corporate forensic procedures?”

While it’s important to understand an organization’s forensic procedures and whether they align with the use of a virtual SOC, this question may not be as directly related to the decision to use a virtual SOC as the other questions. The other questions are more directly related to budget, corporate policy, and the organization’s expectations from a virtual SOC, including potential trade-offs regarding response times and resource dedication. Corporate forensic procedures can be important, but their relevance to the choice between a virtual SOC and other security monitoring options may vary based on the organization’s specific needs and priorities.

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 most organizations, the appropriate stakeholder to notify for performing an endpoint quarantine procedure is “the NOC manager.” The NOC manager is typically responsible for network operations and can coordinate the technical aspects of isolating the compromised endpoint from the network.

While the threat hunter may have expertise in identifying and investigating security incidents, and the SOC manager oversees the overall operations of the SOC, the NOC manager is specifically responsible for network-related tasks, including device isolation and quarantine procedures. They have the technical expertise and responsibility to perform the necessary actions to quarantine the compromised endpoint.

The CISO is responsible for the overall security strategy and governance of the organization but may not be directly involved in the technical aspects of endpoint quarantine.

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:

In this scenario, you should contact the “Tier 3 incident responder and threat hunter” to assist you in determining how many endpoints have been affected by the zero-day attack.

Tier 3 incident responders and threat hunters typically have a deep understanding of the incident and are skilled at investigating and analyzing complex security incidents. They can use their expertise to help assess the extent of the attack, identify affected endpoints, and determine the scope of the incident. The Tier 3 responder is well-suited for this task, as they are responsible for in-depth analysis and investigation.

While the SOC manager may be involved in the escalation of the case and the CISO is responsible for the overall security strategy, the Tier 3 responder is the most appropriate choice for this specific task. The triage specialist, while familiar with the incident, may not have the same level of expertise in in-depth incident analysis as the Tier 3 responder.

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 “IPS” (Intrusion Prevention System).

An IPS is a security device or software that is designed to monitor network traffic for suspicious or malicious activity and take action to block or report such activity. It can be configured to detect patterns or behaviors indicative of beaconing, which is the periodic communication between an infected host and a command-and-control server. When beaconing is detected, the IPS can generate alerts or take actions to block the communication, thus preventing the infected host from interacting with the botnet.

While a sandbox, vulnerability scan, and external router with a firewall can all be important components of a comprehensive security architecture, they may not be as directly involved in detecting and reporting on beaconing activity as an IPS. The IPS is specifically designed for real-time monitoring of network traffic for signs of malicious activity.

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 legal action following a security breach, the type of data that is typically collected for forensic purposes includes “full packet capture.”

Full packet capture refers to the collection and recording of the entire network traffic, including the actual packets of data exchanged between systems during a specific time frame. This data is essential for forensic analysis, as it allows investigators to reconstruct events, identify the source of the breach, analyze the methods used by the attackers, and provide evidence for legal proceedings.

Session data and transaction data are more focused on specific aspects of network activities and may not provide the same level of detail and context as full packet capture. External data, on the other hand, typically refers to data obtained from external sources, which may be relevant but is not specifically forensic data collected as part of an internal investigation.

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:

“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 of a SIEM system, which is to collect, store, and analyze security data to identify trends and threats.
“Splunk is an example of a widely used SIEM.” Splunk is indeed a widely used platform for collecting, indexing, and analyzing machine-generated data, including security-related data. While it’s not a traditional SIEM, it can serve SIEM-like functions and is often used in security monitoring and incident response.

The other statements are not accurate:

The first statement is not correct. A SIEM is not a Cisco proprietary appliance; it is a type of software solution used for security monitoring and analysis, and it is not limited to Cisco devices.
The statement about integrating file behavior analytics and automation is not a defining characteristic of SIEM; although some SIEM solutions may include these features, they are not universal to all SIEM systems.
The last statement describes a cloud-based security product with different functionality, but it’s not a standard SIEM definition.

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:

The tool that generates data packet captures and is appropriate for both threat hunting and forensic activities is “Wireshark.”

Wireshark is a widely used network protocol analyzer that allows users to capture and inspect data packets on a network. It provides detailed information about network traffic, making it valuable for both threat hunting (proactively searching for security threats) and forensic activities (investigating security incidents after they occur).

IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) logs, SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems, and Cisco Secure Malware Analytics can all play important roles in network security, but they do not generate data packet captures in the same way Wireshark does. Wireshark is specifically designed for packet-level analysis and is commonly used by security professionals for deep inspection of network traffic.

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:

The internal stakeholder with whom the SOC (Security Operations Center) team would work to maintain the organization’s security posture of its intellectual property is “governance, risk, and compliance.”

Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) teams are responsible for ensuring that the organization’s security policies and practices align with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and the organization’s internal governance policies. They play a crucial role in managing and mitigating risks related to intellectual property and other sensitive assets. They work closely with the SOC to establish and enforce security measures, monitor compliance, and assess the impact of security incidents on the organization’s overall risk profile.

While other stakeholders, such as the network operations center, human resources, and media relations, may have roles to play in various aspects of security and incident response, GRC teams specifically focus on maintaining the organization’s security posture and compliance, making them a primary collaborator for the SOC in protecting intellectual property.

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

Large-scale incident reporting agencies like US-CERT have access to a wider range of incident reports and data from various sources, including federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as private-sector organizations. This extensive data allows them to identify trends and indicators more effectively. They can analyze a larger volume of incident data, making it easier to spot patterns, emerging threats, and common attack techniques. This, in turn, enables them to provide more accurate and timely information to their constituents and the broader cybersecurity community, aiding in a more robust collective defense against cyber threats.

While a large agency may have more resources, it’s the ability to leverage a diverse range of incident data that provides a substantial advantage in identifying and responding to security incidents and trends.

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:

As a threat hunter looking to obtain information and insights about a new day-zero attack, you would want to contact “other (peer) incident response teams” as your external stakeholders.

Peer incident response teams within your industry or related organizations can be valuable sources of information and experience sharing. They can provide insights into how they have handled or mitigated similar threats and may share best practices or lessons learned. Collaboration with other incident response teams can help you better understand the threat, its potential impact, and effective strategies for detection and response.

While consulting threat intelligence sites like Talos is a good start, direct communication with industry peers who have experienced the same threat can provide a more comprehensive view of the threat landscape and improve your organization’s ability to defend against it.

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” or a similar leadership role within the SOC team. The SOC manager is responsible for the overall operations and performance of the SOC, which includes measuring its effectiveness and reporting relevant metrics to the organization’s leadership, such as the CSO (Chief Security Officer) or CISO (Chief Information Security Officer).

While Tier 1 analysts and senior analysts may provide input and data for measurement, the SOC manager holds the primary responsibility for developing and implementing the metrics and reporting process. The CSO is responsible for the organization’s security strategy but may not be directly involved in the day-to-day management of the SOC. The network manager’s primary responsibilities are related to the network infrastructure, rather than measuring the SOC’s effectiveness.

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 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, correlates, and analyzes security event data from a wide range of sources, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), identity access and management systems, syslog servers, and more. It provides real-time reporting and analysis of security events, allowing security professionals to gain insights into potential threats, detect abnormal activities, and respond to incidents effectively. SIEM systems play a central role in aggregating and centralizing security event data to provide a comprehensive view of an organization’s security posture.

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 dwell time is: “It is the same as the time to detection.”

Dwell time refers to the duration that a cyber threat or attacker remains undetected within an organization’s network or systems. It starts from the moment the threat gains unauthorized access or breaches the network and continues until the time it is detected. Therefore, dwell time is specifically associated with the time it takes to detect the threat or breach. Reducing dwell time is an important goal in cybersecurity to minimize the potential damage an attacker can cause while unnoticed.

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 Security Operations Center (SOC) are:

Cybersecurity Incident Management: SOC teams are responsible for managing and responding to security incidents, which includes tasks such as incident detection, investigation, containment, eradication, and recovery.
Threat Intelligence and Hunting: SOC teams regularly monitor and analyze threat intelligence to proactively identify and respond to security threats. Threat hunting involves actively seeking out and investigating potential threats that may not be detected by automated systems.
Governance and Compliance Management: SOC teams often play a role in ensuring that the organization complies with relevant security standards, regulations, and internal governance policies. This includes monitoring and reporting on compliance-related activities and security controls.

“End-user passwords change management” and “business applications software life-cycle management” are typically not primary responsibilities of a SOC. The former is more related to IT support and identity management, while the latter involves the management of software development and application lifecycle, which is generally under the purview of IT and development teams.

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,” which stands for Trusted Automated Exchange of Indicator Information. TAXII is a protocol that enables organizations to share cyber threat information in a structured and standardized way. It facilitates the exchange of threat intelligence data between different entities, allowing for more effective cybersecurity collaboration 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): Integrating the SIEM with the SOC’s WMS allows for real-time monitoring and analysis of security events. It enhances the SOC’s ability to detect and respond to security incidents by providing a central platform for collecting, correlating, and analyzing security data.
Ticketing System: A ticketing system is crucial for tracking and managing security incidents and tasks within the SOC. Integration with the SOC’s WMS helps streamline incident response processes, assign tasks, and track the progress of investigations and remediation efforts.

The “password management system” and “enterprise resource planning system” are generally not directly integrated with the SOC’s WMS for security operations but may have their own specific purposes within an organization, such as managing passwords or handling business processes and resources.

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 to normalize incoming data from various types of flows and logs, I would recommend implementing a “SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) or SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) system.”

A SIEM is a central platform that collects, normalizes, correlates, and analyzes data from various security devices, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and endpoint detection and response systems. It provides a comprehensive view of an organization’s security posture and is crucial for threat detection, incident response, and threat hunting.

A SOAR system, while similar to a SIEM in some aspects, focuses on automating incident response processes. It can help streamline the threat hunting process by automating the response to known threats and enabling security teams to more efficiently manage and investigate security incidents.

Both SIEM and SOAR systems are essential tools for modern cybersecurity operations and are often recommended as cornerstones for effective threat detection and response. While threat intelligence platforms like Cisco SecureX with Cisco Talos can be valuable for threat intelligence, they are typically used in conjunction with SIEM or SOAR systems to enhance threat hunting and incident response capabilities.

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 true statements about penetration tests and vulnerability assessments are:

A penetration test is an intrusive test that attempts to exploit vulnerabilities: Penetration testing involves actively attempting to exploit vulnerabilities to assess the security of a system. It is a proactive and intrusive assessment.
A vulnerability assessment is a nonintrusive test that attempts to discover vulnerabilities: Vulnerability assessments are generally nonintrusive and focus on discovering vulnerabilities within a system or network without actively attempting to exploit them. It’s more about identifying weaknesses and potential issues.

The statement “No permission is required before conducting a vulnerability assessment and penetration test” is not true. Permission and proper authorization are usually required before conducting both vulnerability assessments and penetration tests to ensure that the activities are carried out in a legal, ethical, and controlled manner. Unauthorized testing can cause disruptions and be considered illegal in many cases.

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 of ensuring minimum resiliency for cybersecurity elements in a small organization with a single firewall, an example of a solution 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.”

This approach, often referred to as a High Availability (HA) configuration, involves deploying a redundant firewall and setting it up as a cluster. In an HA configuration, if one firewall fails, the other takes over seamlessly, ensuring continuous protection. This helps maintain resiliency in the organization’s network security, reducing the risk of downtime or vulnerabilities due to a single point of failure.

The other options mentioned, such as replacing the existing firewall with a larger model or providing VPN services for teleworkers, may enhance security in different ways but do not directly address the resiliency of the firewall itself in the event of a failure.

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.”

Blue team members are responsible for defending and securing an organization’s systems and networks. They focus on detection, prevention, and mitigation of security threats.

Red team members, on the other hand, take on the role of attackers in a controlled and ethical manner. Their primary responsibility is to simulate real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in an organization’s defenses. They may use various methods and tactics to compromise systems, but they do so for the purpose of improving security by exposing vulnerabilities.

While both teams aim to improve an organization’s security posture, their roles and approaches are fundamentally different, with the blue team focused on defense and the red team on offense.

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:

Given the candidate’s background with basic cybersecurity development knowledge and strong skills in application development, with a focus on optimizing customer experience and software requirements, the “blue team” would likely be the best fit for this candidate.

The “blue team” in cybersecurity is responsible for defensive and protective activities, which include maintaining and enhancing an organization’s security posture, as well as tasks related to security operations and incident response. Application development and optimization experience can be valuable on the blue team, particularly for securing and maintaining the security of applications and systems within the organization.

The “white team” typically focuses on oversight and compliance, while the “purple team” involves both red team (offensive) and blue team (defensive) activities. The “yellow team” is not a commonly recognized term in the context of cybersecurity teams.

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:

Sanija, working in the forensics group of a CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team), is typically responsible for the following two primary outputs:

Bit-by-bit copy of the compromised system’s hard drive: In digital forensics, creating a bit-by-bit copy, often referred to as a forensic image, of the compromised system’s hard drive is a critical task. This copy preserves the original data in an unaltered form for analysis and investigation.
Chain-of-custody report: Maintaining a chain of custody is essential in digital forensics. It documents the handling, transfer, and storage of evidence, ensuring that it remains secure and unaltered throughout the investigation process.

The other options, such as “threat assessment report,” “vulnerability assessment report,” and “SIEM log report,” are relevant to other aspects of cybersecurity and incident response but may not be primary outputs for a forensics specialist within a CSIRT.