Information Assurance - 6

Question 1

It refers to an incident in which an unauthorized party gains access to confidential, sensitive, or protected information or resources. Typically, it occurs when an intruder is able to bypass security mechanisms.

Answer 1

Security Breach

Question 2

Nature of Breaches

Answer 2

1. DATA THEFT
2. MALWARE ATTACK
3. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS

Question 3

Type of breach where unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive information, such as personal data, financial records, or intellectual property, with the intention of using it for malicious purposes or financial gain.

Answer 3

DATA THEFT

Question 4

when individuals or entities gain entry to a system, network, or application without proper authorization. This could involve exploiting weak passwords, bypassing authentication measures, or taking advantage of misconfigured permissions.

Answer 4

UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS

Question 5

• refers to software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Malware attacks can take many forms, such as viruses, worms, ransomware, or spyware.
• These attacks often exploit vulnerabilities in software or trick users into downloading infected files

Answer 5

MALWARE ATTACK

Question 6

occurs when individuals or entities gain entry to a system, network, or application without proper authorization. This could involve exploiting weak passwords, bypassing authentication measures, or taking advantage of misconfigured permissions.

Answer 6

UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS

Question 7

Common Vulnerabilities of Security Breach

Answer 7

1. Weak Authentication
2. Lack of Encryption
3. Unpatched Software
4. Misconfigured Systems
5. Vulnerable Third-party Software

Question 8

Different Platforms Affected by security breach

Answer 8

1. NETWORK INFRASTRACTURE
2. DATABASE SYSTEMS
3. APPLICATIONS AND SOFTWARE
4. CLOUD SERVICES
5. ENDPOINT DEVICES

Question 9

• This can lead to unauthorized access to internal systems and data, as well as interception of network traffic (Cisco, 2024).
• Breaches may target the organization’s network infrastructure, compromising routers, switches, firewalls, and other networking components.

Answer 9

NETWORK INFRASTRACTURE

Question 9

• Refers to any unauthorized access, disclosure, or manipulation of data stored within a database.
• occur due to various factors, including vulnerabilities in the database software, weak authentication mechanisms, misconfigurations, insider threats, or external cyber attacks.

Answer 9

DATABASE SYSTEMS

Question 10

Platforms affected by security breaches refer to computing environments or systems that have experienced unauthorized access, disclosure, or manipulation of data. This could include various types of platforms such as operating systems (e.g., Windows, Linux), cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), web hosting services, or even specific hardware platforms.

Answer 10

APPLICATIONS AND SOFTWARE

Question 11

Organizations increasingly rely on cloud services for storage, computing, and other business functions. Breaches targeting cloud services can compromise data stored in the cloud, affecting multiple users or organizations that share the same cloud infrastructure (Citrix).

Answer 11

CLOUD SERVICES

Question 12

• Breaches may target endpoint devices, such as desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets, either through malware infections, phishing attacks, or physical theft.
• Compromised endpoint devices can provide attackers with access to sensitive data and resources within the organization’s network. (TechTarget, 2023).

Answer 12

ENDPOINT DEVICES

Question 13

Causes of the Breach

Answer 13

1. WEAKNESSES IN SECURITY MEASURES
2. HUMAN ERROR / NEGLIGENCE
3. SOPHISTICATION OF THE ATTACK

Question 14

Weaknesses in security measures refer to gaps or vulnerabilities in the organization’s security infrastructure that could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access or compromise sensitive information.

Answer 14

WEAKNESSES IN SECURITY MEASURES

Question 15

attackers craft personalized and convincing emails to deceive specific individuals within the organization, can be an example of a sophisticated attack

Answer 15

SOPHISTICATION OF THE ATTACK

Question 16

Impacts of the Breach

Answer 16

1. DATA COMPROMISED
2. FINANCIAL LOSSES
3. REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE
4. LEGAL AND REGULATORY CONSEQUENCES

Question 17

refers to the unauthorized access, theft, or exposure of sensitive information, potentially leading to its misuse, manipulation, or disclosure to unauthorized parties.

Answer 17

DATA COMPROMISED

Question 18

result from the direct costs associated with mitigating the breach, recovering from its impacts, and potential revenue loss due to business disruption or loss of customer trust.

Answer 18

FINANCIAL LOSSES

Question 19

refers to the harm inflicted on an organization’s reputation and brand image as a result of a security breach, leading to loss of trust and credibility among customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Answer 19

REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE

Question 20

encompass the legal liabilities, fines, penalties, and compliance violations that organizations may face for failing to adequately protect sensitive data or adhere to relevant data protection laws and regulations.

Answer 20

LEGAL AND REGULATORY CONSEQUENCES

Question 21

Response to the Breach

Answer 21

1. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TAKEN
2. COMMUNICATION WITH AFFECTED PARTIES
3. STEPS TAKEN FOR PREVENTION

Question 21

refer to the initial response measures implemented by the organization immediately following the discovery of a security breach to contain the incident to minimize its impact.

Answer 21

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TAKEN

Question 22

involves notifying individuals, customers, employees, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders about the security breach, its impact, and the steps being taken to address the situation and protect their interests.

Answer 22

COMMUNICATION WITH AFFECTED PARTIES

Question 23

involve implementing remediation measures and security controls to prevent the recurrence of similar security incidents, strengthen security defenses, and safeguard against future threats.

Answer 23

STEPS TAKEN FOR PREVENTION

Question 24

Preventive Measures in security breach

Answer 24

1. Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
2. Strengthening Security Infrastructure
3. EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS
4. IMPLEMENTATION OF ENCRYPTION AND ACCESS CONTROLS

Question 25

cybersecurity tools used to monitor and protect computer networks. Firewalls regulate incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules, while IDS detect and alert on suspicious activities or potential security breaches within the network.

Answer 25

Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)

Question 26

regulate incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules

Answer 26

Firewalls

Question 27

detect and alert on suspicious activities or potential security breaches within the network.

Answer 27

Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)

Question 28

aim to educate staff members about cybersecurity risks, best practices, and their role in maintaining a secure work environment.

Answer 28

EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS

Question 29

involves enhancing the organization’s technological defenses and safeguards to protect against cybersecurity threats. It acts as the first line of defense against a variety of threats, safeguarding not just the immediate integrity of technology systems but also ensuring long-term business viability.

Answer 29

Strengthening Security Infrastructure

Question 30

involves safeguarding sensitive data by encrypting it during transmission and storage, and controlling access to data based on user permissions.

Answer 30

IMPLEMENTATION OF ENCRYPTION AND ACCESS CONTROLS