Free ISACA CCAK Practice Exams - Page 9 of 10

Question #81

In audit parlance, what is meant by "management representation"?

A . A person or group of persons representing executive management during audits
B . A mechanism to represent organizational structure
C . A project management technique to demonstrate management’s involvement in key project stages
D . Statements made by management in response to specific inquiries

Question #82

Regarding suppliers of a cloud service provider, it is MOST important for the auditor to be aware that the:

A . client organization does not need to worry about the provider’s suppliers, as this is the provider’s responsibility.
B . suppliers are accountable for the provider’s service that they are providing.
C . client organization and provider are both responsible for the provider’s suppliers.
D . client organization has a clear understanding of the provider’s suppliers.

Correct Answer: D
D

Explanation:

It is most important for the auditor to be aware that the client organization has a clear understanding of the provider’s suppliers. The provider’s suppliers are the third-party entities that provide services or products to the provider, such as infrastructure, software, hardware, or support. The provider’s suppliers may have a significant impact on the quality, security, reliability, and performance of the cloud services that the provider delivers to the client organization. Therefore, the auditor should ensure that the client organization knows who the provider’s suppliers are, what services or products they provide, what risks they pose, and what contractual or regulatory obligations they have123. The other options are not correct.

Option A, the client organization does not need to worry about the provider’s suppliers, as this is the provider’s responsibility, is incorrect because the client organization cannot rely solely on the provider to manage its suppliers. The client organization has to perform due diligence and oversight on the provider’s suppliers, as they may affect the client organization’s own security, compliance, and business objectives12.

Option B, the suppliers are accountable for the provider’s service that they are providing, is incorrect because the suppliers are not directly accountable to the client organization, but to the provider. The provider is ultimately accountable to the client organization for its service delivery and performance12.

Option C, the client organization and provider are both responsible for the provider’s suppliers, is incorrect because the responsibility for the provider’s suppliers depends on the shared responsibility model, which defines how the security and compliance tasks and obligations are divided between the provider and the client organization. The shared responsibility model may vary depending on the type and level of cloud service that the provider offers12.

Reference: = Cloud Computing: Auditing Challenges – ISACA1

Cloud Computing: Audit Considerations – ISACA2

Top 16 Cloud Computing Companies & Service Providers 2023 – Datamation

Question #83

When reviewing a third-party agreement with a cloud service provider, which of the following should be the GREATEST concern regarding customer data privacy?

A . Return or destruction of information
B . Data retention, backup, and recovery
C . Patch management process
D . Network intrusion detection

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Question #84

Which of the following MOST enhances the internal stakeholder decision-making process for the remediation of risks identified from an organization’s cloud compliance program?

A . Establishing ownership and accountability
B . Reporting emerging threats to senior stakeholders
C . Monitoring key risk indicators (KRIs) for multi-cloud environments
D . Automating risk monitoring and reporting processes

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Question #85

Which objective is MOST appropriate to measure the effectiveness of password policy?

A . The number of related incidents decreases.
B . Attempts to log with weak credentials increases.
C . The number of related incidents increases.
D . Newly created account credentials satisfy requirements.

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Question #86

Which of the following is MOST important to ensure effective operationalization of cloud security controls?

A . Identifying business requirements
B . Comparing different control frameworks
C . Assessing existing risks
D . Training and awareness

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Question #87

After finding a vulnerability in an Internet-facing server of an organization, a cybersecurity criminal is able to access an encrypted file system and successfully manages to overwrite parts of some files with random data.

In reference to the Top Threats Analysis methodology, how would the technical impact of this incident be categorized?

A . As an availability breach
B . As a control breach
C . As a confidentiality breach
D . As an integrity breach

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Correct Answer: D
D

Explanation:

The technical impact of this incident would be categorized as an integrity breach in reference to the Top Threats Analysis methodology. The Top Threats Analysis methodology is a process developed by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) to help organizations identify, analyze, and mitigate the top threats to cloud computing, as defined in the CSA Top Threats reports. The methodology consists of six steps: scope definition, threat identification, technical impact identification, business impact identification, risk assessment, and risk treatment. Each of these provides different insights and visibility into the organization’s security posture.1

The technical impact identification step involves determining the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information system caused by each threat. Confidentiality refers to the protection of data from unauthorized access or disclosure. Integrity refers to the protection of data from unauthorized modification or deletion. Availability refers to the protection of data and services from disruption or denial.2

An integrity breach occurs when a threat compromises the accuracy and consistency of the data or system. An integrity breach can result in data corruption, falsification, or manipulation, which can affect the reliability and trustworthiness of the data or system. An integrity breach can also have serious consequences for the business operations and decisions that depend on the data or system.3 In this case, the cybersecurity criminal was able to access an encrypted file system and overwrite parts of some files with random data. This means that the data in those files was altered without authorization and became unusable or invalid. This is a clear example of an integrity breach, as it violated the principle of ensuring that data is accurate and consistent throughout its lifecycle.4

Reference: = CCAK Study Guide, Chapter 4: A Threat Analysis Methodology for Cloud Using CCM, page 811; What is CIA Triad? Definition and Examples2; Data Integrity vs Data Security: What’s The Difference?3; Data Integrity: Definition & Examples

Question #88

A certification target helps in the formation of a continuous certification framework by incorporating:

A . the service level objective (SLO) and service qualitative objective (SQO).
B . the scope description and security attributes to be tested.
C . the frequency of evaluating security attributes.
D . CSA STAR level 2 attestation.

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Correct Answer: B
B

Explanation:

According to the blog article “Continuous Auditing and Continuous Certification” by the Cloud Security Alliance, a certification target helps in the formation of a continuous certification framework by incorporating the scope description and security attributes to be tested1 A certification target is a set of security objectives that a cloud service provider (CSP) defines and commits to fulfill as part of the continuous certification process1 Each security objective is associated with a policy that specifies the assessment frequency, such as every four hours, every day, or every week1 A certification target also includes a set of tools that are capable of verifying that the security objectives are met, such as automated scripts, APIs, or third-party services1

The other options are not correct because:

Option A is not correct because the service level objective (SLO) and service qualitative objective (SQO) are not part of the certification target, but rather part of the service level agreement (SLA) between the CSP and the cloud customer. An SLO is a measurable characteristic of the cloud service, such as availability, performance, or reliability. An SQO is a qualitative characteristic of the cloud service, such as security, privacy, or compliance2 The SLA defines the expected level of service and the consequences of not meeting it. The SLA may be used as an input for defining the certification target, but it is not equivalent or synonymous with it.

Option C is not correct because the frequency of evaluating security attributes is not the only component of the certification target, but rather one aspect of it. The frequency of evaluating security attributes is determined by the policy that is associated with each security objective in the certification target. The policy defines how often the security objective should be verified by the tools, such as every four hours, every day, or every week1 However, the frequency alone does not define the certification target, as it also depends on the scope description and the security attributes to be tested.

Option D is not correct because CSA STAR level 2 attestation is not a component of the certification target, but rather a prerequisite for it. CSA STAR level 2 attestation is a third-party independent assessment of the CSP’s security posture based on ISO/IEC 27001 and CSA Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM)3 CSA STAR level 2 attestation provides a baseline assurance level for the CSP before they can define and implement their certification target for continuous certification. CSA STAR level 2 attestation is also required for CSA STAR level 3 certification, which is based on continuous auditing and continuous certification3

Reference: 1: Continuous Auditing and Continuous Certification – Cloud Security Alliance 2: Service

Level Agreement | CSA 3: Open Certification Framework | CSA – Cloud Security Alliance

Question #89

Which of the following standards is designed to be used by organizations for cloud services that intend to select controls within the process of implementing an information security management system based on ISO/IEC 27001?

A . ISO/IEC 27002
B . Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM)
C . NISTSP 800-146
D . ISO/IEC 27017:2015

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Correct Answer: D
D

Explanation:

ISO/IEC 27017:2015 is a standard that provides guidelines for information security controls applicable to the provision and use of cloud services by providing additional implementation guidance for relevant controls specified in ISO/IEC 27002, as well as additional controls with implementation guidance that specifically relate to cloud services1. ISO/IEC 27017:2015 is designed to be used by organizations for cloud services that intend to select controls within the process of implementing an information security management system based on ISO/IEC 27001, which is the international standard for information security management systems1. ISO/IEC 27017:2015 can help organizations to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve their information security in the cloud environment, as well as to demonstrate compliance with contractual and legal obligations1.

ISO/IEC 27002 is a code of practice for information security controls that provides best practice recommendations on information security management for use by those who are responsible for initiating, implementing or maintaining information security management systems2. However, ISO/IEC 27002 does not provide specific guidance for cloud services, which is why ISO/IEC 27017:2015 was developed as an extension to ISO/IEC 27002 for cloud services1.

Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) is a set of security controls that provides organizations with a detailed understanding of security concepts and principles that are aligned to the cloud model. The CCM is not a standard, but rather a framework that can be used to assess the overall security risk of a cloud provider. The CCM can also be mapped to other standards, such as ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27017:2015, to facilitate compliance and assurance activities.

NIST SP 800-146 is a publication from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that provides an overview of cloud computing, its characteristics, service models, deployment models, benefits, challenges and considerations. NIST SP 800-146 is not a standard, but rather a reference document that can help organizations to understand the basics of cloud computing and its implications for information security. NIST SP 800-146 does not provide specific guidance or controls for cloud services, but rather refers to other standards and frameworks, such as ISO/IEC 27001 and CSA CCM, for more detailed information on cloud security.

Reference: =

ISO/IEC 27017:2015 – Information technology ― Security techniques … ISO/IEC 27017:2015(en), Information technology ? Security techniques … ISO 27017 Certification – Cloud Security Services | NQA An introduction to ISO/IEC 27017:2015 – 6clicks

ISO/IEC 27017:2015 – Information technology ― Security techniques … [Cloud Controls Matrix | Cloud Security Alliance]

[NIST Cloud Computing Synopsis and Recommendations]

Question #90

Which of the following should be an assurance requirement when an organization is migrating to a Software as a Service (SaaS) provider?

A . Location of data
B . Amount of server storage
C . Access controls
D . Type of network technology

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