Isaca Certification CISM Reddit Questions

Threat and vulnerability assessments are important primarily because they are the basis for setting control objectives. Control objectives are the desired outcomes of implementing security controls, and they should be aligned with the organization’s risk appetite and business objectives. Threat and vulnerability assessments help to identify the potential sources and impacts of security incidents, and to prioritize the mitigation actions based on the likelihood and severity of the risks. By conducting threat and vulnerability assessments, the organization can establish the appropriate level and type of security controls to protect its information assets and reduce the residual risk to an acceptable level. References = CISM Review Manual (Digital Version), Chapter 3: Information Security Risk Management, Section 3.1: Risk Identification, p. 115-1161. CISM Review Manual (Print Version), Chapter 3: Information Security Risk Management, Section 3.1: Risk Identification, p. 115-1162. CISM ITEM DEVELOPMENT GUIDE, Domain 3: Information Security Program Development and Management, Task Statement 3.1, p. 193.

Threat and vulnerability assessments are important PRIMARILY because they are the basis for setting control objectives. Control objectives are the desired outcomes or goals of implementing security controls in an information system. They are derived from the risk assessment process, which identifies and evaluates the threats and vulnerabilities that could affect the system’s confidentiality, integrity and availability. By conducting threat and vulnerability assessments, an organization can determine the level of risk it faces and establish the appropriate control objectives to mitigate those risks.

The primary objective of implementing standard security configurations is to control vulnerabilities and reduce threats from changed configurations. Standard security configurations are the baseline settings and parameters that define the desired security level and functionality of information systems and devices. By implementing standard security configurations, the organization can ensure that the information systems and devices are configured in a consistent and secure manner, and that any deviations or changes from the standard are detected and corrected. This can help to prevent or mitigate potential security incidents caused by misconfigurations, unauthorized modifications, or malicious attacks.

According to the CISM Review Manual, 15th Edition1, the information security manager is responsible for ensuring that the information security program supports the organization’s objectives and aligns with applicable laws and regulations. The information security manager is also responsible for overseeing the implementation and maintenance of effective IT controls, as well as monitoring and reporting on their performance.

References = 1: CISM Review Manual, 15th Edition, ISACA, 2016, Chapter 1, page 10.