ISC CISSP Practice Test 24
Question 230
A previous security situation was: A video rights company shares pre-release screeners with distribution partners and needs traceable authorized use. Now the requirement changes: A regulator orders evidence preservation of one disputed screener distribution. Which NEW action BEST answers the changed need?
- Apply rights management, access expiry and individually attributable watermarking where suitable.
- Make the raw video link publicly accessible to avoid partner authentication delays.
- Partner tests verify expiration, permitted viewing and traceable watermark content.
- Place relevant access logs and copies under a documented legal hold.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Evidence preservation is additional to the normal content rights and expiry controls. The revised action is Place relevant access logs and copies under a documented legal hold.
Incorrect Answers
A:This is the appropriate response to the original situation: Usage enforcement and traceability complement encryption for distributed intellectual property. It does not directly meet the new condition.
B:This remains inappropriate: Public links remove identity accountability and increase uncontrolled copying.
C:This is a record of how the initial safeguard would be checked, not an action implementing the newly requested condition: Partner tests verify expiration, permitted viewing and traceable watermark content.
Question 231
An enterprise needs to monitor classified documents moving from sanctioned SaaS to unsanctioned services. What should the security manager recommend as the MOST appropriate response to the current requirement?
- Implement tenant- and classification-specific exception with approval and expiry.
- Provide approved controlled access or isolation with session-level copy and download restrictions.
- Use integrated CASB or SSE controls and classification-aware data loss policies across cloud flows.
- Rely on local antivirus scanning to classify the security of every cloud transfer.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Cloud service governance requires visibility into permitted destinations and sensitive transfers.
Incorrect Answers
A:This is appropriate for a later condition (The company later approves a supplier tenant for one specific data category.), but it does not directly resolve the initial need. Approved collaboration needs tightly scoped exceptions rather than disabling cloud controls globally.
B:This response addresses a different condition: A contractor accesses confidential service data in a browser from an unmanaged personal workstation. The present case requires the measure described by Use integrated CASB or SSE controls and classification-aware data loss policies across cloud flows.
D:Malware signatures do not evaluate confidentiality labels or permitted SaaS destinations. The proposal would not be defensible for this case.
Question 232
An enterprise needs to monitor classified documents moving from sanctioned SaaS to unsanctioned services. A designer proposes: Rely on local antivirus scanning to classify the security of every cloud transfer. What is the MOST significant security deficiency in this proposal?
- Approved collaboration needs tightly scoped exceptions rather than disabling cloud controls globally.
- Usage enforcement and traceability complement encryption for distributed intellectual property.
- Malware signatures do not evaluate confidentiality labels or permitted SaaS destinations.
- Public links remove identity accountability and increase uncontrolled copying.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Malware signatures do not evaluate confidentiality labels or permitted SaaS destinations. This is the direct weakness in the proposed action.
Incorrect Answers
A:This explains a later shift in requirements (The company later approves a supplier tenant for one specific data category.), not the failure of the current proposal.
B:This is an advantage of another design (Apply rights management, access expiry and individually attributable watermarking where suitable.), not the particular flaw of Rely on local antivirus scanning to classify the security of every cloud transfer.
D:This is a limitation elsewhere: A video rights company shares pre-release screeners with distribution partners and needs traceable authorized use. It does not explain the deficiency of the specified proposed approach.
Question 233
An enterprise needs to monitor classified documents moving from sanctioned SaaS to unsanctioned services. The organization has now implemented this response: Use integrated CASB or SSE controls and classification-aware data loss policies across cloud flows. Which observation would MOST directly demonstrate that the security objective was met?
- A test session cannot download prohibited data and security events are attributable.
- An approved change ticket for Use integrated CASB or SSE controls and classification-aware data loss policies across cloud flows. without a completed verification result.
- Policy tests log and block a restricted document sent to an unapproved tenant.
- An unauthorized bulk export is blocked and creates a reviewed alert.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Policy tests log and block a restricted document sent to an unapproved tenant. This validates that cloud service governance requires visibility into permitted destinations and sensitive transfers.
Incorrect Answers
A:This other observation is relevant to: A contractor accesses confidential service data in a browser from an unmanaged personal workstation.
B:An approved change without an executed test cannot prove operating effectiveness. The needed evidence is Policy tests log and block a restricted document sent to an unapproved tenant.
D:This demonstrates controls in another circumstance: A manufacturing firm encrypts databases at rest but service operators can download entire plaintext exports to unmanaged laptops.
Question 234
A previous security situation was: An enterprise needs to monitor classified documents moving from sanctioned SaaS to unsanctioned services. Now the requirement changes: The company later approves a supplier tenant for one specific data category. Which NEW action BEST answers the changed need?
- Rely on local antivirus scanning to classify the security of every cloud transfer.
- Policy tests log and block a restricted document sent to an unapproved tenant.
- Implement tenant- and classification-specific exception with approval and expiry.
- Use integrated CASB or SSE controls and classification-aware data loss policies across cloud flows.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Approved collaboration needs tightly scoped exceptions rather than disabling cloud controls globally. The revised action is Implement tenant- and classification-specific exception with approval and expiry.
Incorrect Answers
A:This remains inappropriate: Malware signatures do not evaluate confidentiality labels or permitted SaaS destinations.
B:This is a record of how the initial safeguard would be checked, not an action implementing the newly requested condition: Policy tests log and block a restricted document sent to an unapproved tenant.
D:This is the appropriate response to the original situation: Cloud service governance requires visibility into permitted destinations and sensitive transfers. It does not directly meet the new condition.
Question 235
A policy enforcement service loses contact with its decision engine; sensitive admin requests arrive during the outage. Which recommendation should the security leader make FIRST to address the stated objective?
- Automatically grant administrator rights when the policy engine times out.
- Chaos testing shows denied unapproved requests and durable alerts when the policy engine is unavailable.
- Use time-bound audited break-glass access approved under a pre-established emergency policy.
- Fail closed for unapproved sensitive requests while maintaining controlled emergency procedures.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Fail-secure behavior avoids granting rights merely because the access-control dependency is unavailable. The scenario is: A policy enforcement service loses contact with its decision engine; sensitive admin requests arrive during the outage.
Incorrect Answers
A:Fail-open authorization converts a dependency outage into unauthorized privilege. The rejected action is: Automatically grant administrator rights when the policy engine times out.
B:This is useful evidence after implementation, rather than the FIRST recommended decision for this objective. Chaos testing shows denied unapproved requests and durable alerts when the policy engine is unavailable.
C:This addresses a distinct subsequent requirement: A life-safety system needs a narrowly authorized emergency-access path during a declared crisis. Controlled emergency access is an exception designed in advance, rather than indiscriminate fail-open behavior.
Question 236
A policy enforcement service loses contact with its decision engine; sensitive admin requests arrive during the outage. A colleague instead proposes: "Automatically grant administrator rights when the policy engine times out." Which finding BEST explains why the proposal should be rejected?
- Its only deficiency is a missing executive signature, even if the design still fails the stated requirement.
- It is inadequate only because of a different later condition: A life-safety system needs a narrowly authorized emergency-access path during a declared crisis.
- No evidence or governance records should be retained when evaluating this 3.1 decision.
- Fail-open authorization converts a dependency outage into unauthorized privilege.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Fail-open authorization converts a dependency outage into unauthorized privilege. This directly invalidates the proposed action: Automatically grant administrator rights when the policy engine times out.
Incorrect Answers
A:Approval alone cannot fix the specific weakness: Fail-open authorization converts a dependency outage into unauthorized privilege.
B:The subsequent circumstance is separate and does not explain why this proposed action fails the initial case. Controlled emergency access is an exception designed in advance, rather than indiscriminate fail-open behavior.
C:Destroying records would weaken oversight and cannot remedy the immediate technical or governance flaw: Fail-open authorization converts a dependency outage into unauthorized privilege.
Question 237
A policy enforcement service loses contact with its decision engine; sensitive admin requests arrive during the outage. After implementing "Fail closed for unapproved sensitive requests while maintaining controlled emergency procedures.", what evidence BEST demonstrates that the intended security outcome is functioning?
- A note proposing to test this exact 3.1 measure in a future quarter.
- A declaration that no incident has been reported, without exercising the relevant control.
- A meeting record that the alternate design "Use time-bound audited break-glass access approved under a pre-established emergency policy." was discussed but never tested.
- Chaos testing shows denied unapproved requests and durable alerts when the policy engine is unavailable.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Chaos testing shows denied unapproved requests and durable alerts when the policy engine is unavailable. This verifies the original requirement because fail-secure behavior avoids granting rights merely because the access-control dependency is unavailable.
Incorrect Answers
A:An unexecuted future plan does not prove current effectiveness for the stated 3.1 objective. The evidence should include: Chaos testing shows denied unapproved requests and durable alerts when the policy engine is unavailable.
B:Absence of reported incidents is not a controlled validation of the requirement. A stronger proof is: Chaos testing shows denied unapproved requests and durable alerts when the policy engine is unavailable.
C:Discussion of a different design does not demonstrate the deployed control. Controlled emergency access is an exception designed in advance, rather than indiscriminate fail-open behavior.
Question 238
The organization previously faced this problem: A policy enforcement service loses contact with its decision engine; sensitive admin requests arrive during the outage. Its requirement then changes: A life-safety system needs a narrowly authorized emergency-access path during a declared crisis. Which revised action BEST meets the new requirement?
- Fail closed for unapproved sensitive requests while maintaining controlled emergency procedures.
- Automatically grant administrator rights when the policy engine times out.
- Keep the original 3.1 policy unchanged, and defer the newly identified requirement without a risk decision.
- Use time-bound audited break-glass access approved under a pre-established emergency policy.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Controlled emergency access is an exception designed in advance, rather than indiscriminate fail-open behavior. The appropriate revised action is: Use time-bound audited break-glass access approved under a pre-established emergency policy.
Incorrect Answers
A:This addresses the original situation: Fail-secure behavior avoids granting rights merely because the access-control dependency is unavailable. It does not directly meet the changed requirement: A life-safety system needs a narrowly authorized emergency-access path during a declared crisis.
B:The earlier rejected approach remains inappropriate. Fail-open authorization converts a dependency outage into unauthorized privilege.
C:The new requirement needs an accountable response, not automatic deferral. Controlled emergency access is an exception designed in advance, rather than indiscriminate fail-open behavior.
Question 239
A high-value data service assumes all traffic within its office subnet is trustworthy and allows broad user access. What should the security manager recommend as the MOST appropriate response to the current requirement?
- Separate incompatible duties and require independently authorized approval.
- Adopt zero-trust evaluation with explicit identity, device and resource checks for each access request.
- Grant blanket access based on an internal IP address without resource authorization.
- Use a scoped noninteractive workload identity with tightly monitored service permissions.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Network location alone does not establish ongoing trust or least privilege. This directly addresses the stated situation.
Incorrect Answers
A:This response addresses a different condition: An operator can both create vendor payment profiles and approve payouts from those profiles. The present case requires the measure described by Adopt zero-trust evaluation with explicit identity, device and resource checks for each access request.
C:Compromised insiders and devices may move laterally when network origin is treated as entitlement.
D:This is appropriate for a later condition (A legacy process cannot supply interactive user identity but still needs a limited service integration.), but it does not directly resolve the initial need. Machine-to-machine identity requires purpose-bound controls rather than a broad internal-network exception.
Question 240
A high-value data service assumes all traffic within its office subnet is trustworthy and allows broad user access. A designer proposes: Grant blanket access based on an internal IP address without resource authorization. What is the MOST significant security deficiency in this proposal?
- Secure defaults minimize attack paths before users customize systems.
- Compromised insiders and devices may move laterally when network origin is treated as entitlement.
- Unneeded exposed functions expand risk and can bypass intended boundaries.
- Machine-to-machine identity requires purpose-bound controls rather than a broad internal-network exception.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Compromised insiders and devices may move laterally when network origin is treated as entitlement.
Incorrect Answers
A:This is an advantage of another design (Disable unnecessary functionality and apply secure configuration baselines at deployment.), not the particular flaw of Grant blanket access based on an internal IP address without resource authorization.
C:This is a limitation elsewhere: An internet-facing service exposes optional debug and administrative endpoints in production by default. It does not explain the deficiency of the specified proposed approach.
D:This explains a later shift in requirements (A legacy process cannot supply interactive user identity but still needs a limited service integration.), not the failure of the current proposal.