Which of the following is the MOST significant difference between a cloud risk management program and a traditional risk management program?
Virtualization of the IT landscape
Shared responsibility model
Risk management practices adopted by the cloud service provider
Hosting sensitive information in the cloud environment
The Answer Is:
BExplanation:
The most significant difference between a cloud risk management program and a traditional risk management program is the shared responsibility model. The shared responsibility model is the division of security and compliance responsibilities between the cloud service provider and the cloud service customer, depending on the type of cloud service model (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS). The shared responsibility model implies that both parties have to collaborate and coordinate to ensure that the cloud service meets the required level of security and compliance, as well as to identify and mitigate any risks that may arise from the cloud environment123.
Virtualization of the IT landscape (A) is a difference between a cloud risk management program and a traditional risk management program, but it is not the most significant one. Virtualization of the IT landscape refers to the abstraction of physical IT resources, such as servers, storage, network, or applications, into virtual ones that can be accessed and managed over the internet. Virtualization of the IT landscape enables the cloud service provider to offer scalable, flexible, and efficient cloud services to the cloud service customer. However, virtualization of the IT landscape also introduces new risks, such as data leakage, unauthorized access, misconfiguration, or performance degradation123.
Risk management practices adopted by the cloud service provider © are a difference between a cloud risk management program and a traditional risk management program, but they are not the most significant one. Risk management practices adopted by the cloud service provider refer to the methods or techniques that the cloud service provider uses to identify, assess, treat, monitor, and report on the risks that affect their cloud services. Risk management practices adopted by the cloud service provider may include policies, standards, procedures, controls, audits, certifications, or attestations that demonstrate their security and compliance posture. However, risk management practices adopted by the cloud service provider are not sufficient or reliable on their own, as they may not cover all aspects of cloud security and compliance, or may not align with the expectations or requirements of the cloud service customer123.
Hosting sensitive information in the cloud environment (D) is a difference between a cloud risk management program and a traditional risk management program, but it is not the most significant one. Hosting sensitive information in the cloud environment refers to storing or processing data that are confidential, personal, or valuable in the cloud infrastructure or platform that is owned and operated by the cloud service provider. Hosting sensitive information in the cloud environment can offer benefits such as cost savings, accessibility, availability, or backup. However, hosting sensitive information in the cloud environment also poses risks such as data breaches, privacy violations, compliance failures, or legal disputes123. References :=
Cloud Risk Management - ISACA
Cloud Risk Management: A Primer for Security Professionals - Infosec …
Cloud Risk Management: A Primer for Security Professionals - Infosec …
What does “The Egregious 11" refer to?
The OWASP Top 10 adapted to cloud computing
A list of top shortcomings of cloud computing
A list of top breaches in cloud computing
A list of top threats to cloud computing
The Answer Is:
DExplanation:
The Egregious 11 refers to a list of top threats to cloud computing, as published by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) in 2019. The CSA is a leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. The Egregious 11 report ranks the most critical and pressing cloud security issues, such as data breaches, misconfigurations, insufficient identity and access management, and account hijacking. The report also provides recommendations for security, compliance, risk and technology practitioners to mitigate these threats. The Egregious 11 is based on a survey of industry experts and a review of current literature and media reports. The report is intended to raise awareness of the risks and challenges associated with cloud computing and promote strong security practices.12 References := CCAK Study Guide, Chapter 5: Cloud Auditing, page 961; CSA Top Threats to Cloud Computing: Egregious 11
What type of termination occurs at the initiative of one party and without the fault of the other party?
Termination without the fault
Termination at the end of the term
Termination for cause
Termination for convenience
The Answer Is:
DExplanation:
Termination for convenience is a contractual provision that allows one party to unilaterally terminate the contract without the fault of the other party. This type of termination does not require the terminating party to prove that the other party has failed to meet their obligations or is at fault in any way. Instead, it is often used to end a contract when it is no longer in the best interest of the terminating party to continue, for reasons that may include changes in business strategy, financial considerations, or other external factors.
References = The concept of termination for convenience is commonly found in various contractual agreements and is a standard clause in government contracts, allowing the government to terminate a contract when it is deemed to be in the public interest. While the search did not yield specific CCAK documents detailing this type of termination, it is a well-established principle in contract law and is likely covered under the broader topic of contract management within the CCAK curriculum.
A cloud service provider utilizes services of other service providers for its cloud service. Which of the following is the BEST approach for the auditor while performing the audit for the cloud service?
The auditor should review the service providers' security controls even more strictly, as they are further separated from the cloud customer.
The auditor should review the relationship between the cloud service provider and its service provider to help direct and estimate the level of effort and analysis the auditor should apply.
As the contract for the cloud service is between the cloud customer and the cloud service provider, there is no need for the auditor to review the services provided by the service providers.
As the relationship between the cloud service provider and its service providers is governed by separate contracts between them, there is no need for the auditor to review the services
The Answer Is:
BExplanation:
According to the ISACA Cloud Auditing Knowledge Certificate Study Guide, the auditor should review the relationship between the cloud service provider and its service provider to help direct and estimate the level of effort and analysis the auditor should apply1. The auditor should understand the nature and scope of the services provided by the service provider, the contractual obligations and service level agreements, the security and compliance requirements, and the monitoring and reporting mechanisms. The auditor should also assess the risks and controls associated with the service provider, and determine if additional audit procedures are needed to obtain sufficient assurance.
The other options are not the best approach for the auditor. Option A is too strict and might not be feasible or necessary, depending on the type and level of services provided by the service provider. Option C is too lax and might overlook significant risks and gaps in the cloud service. Option D is too narrow and might ignore the impact of the service provider on the cloud customer’s business context. References:
ISACA Cloud Auditing Knowledge Certificate Study Guide, page 13-14.
What legal documents should be provided to the auditors in relation to risk management?
Enterprise cloud strategy and policy
Contracts and service level agreements (SLAs) of cloud service providers
Policies and procedures established around third-party risk assessments
Inventory of third-party attestation reports
The Answer Is:
BExplanation:
Contracts and SLAs are legal documents that define the roles, responsibilities, expectations, and obligations of both the cloud service provider (CSP) and the cloud customer. They also specify the terms and conditions for service delivery, performance, availability, security, compliance, data protection, incident response, dispute resolution, liability, and termination. An auditor should review these documents to assess the alignment of the CSP’s services with the customer’s business requirements and risk appetite, as well as to identify any gaps or inconsistencies that may pose legal risks. References:
ISACA, Certificate of Cloud Auditing Knowledge (CCAK) Study Guide, 2021, p. 35-36
Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) v4.0, 2021, GRM-01: Contracts and SLAs
Which of the following is a good candidate for continuous auditing?
Procedures
Governance
Cryptography and authentication
Documentation quality
The Answer Is:
CExplanation:
Cryptography and authentication are good candidates for continuous auditing, as they are critical aspects of cloud security that require constant monitoring and verification. Cryptography and authentication refer to the methods and techniques that ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and communications in the cloud environment. Cryptography involves the use of encryption algorithms and keys to protect data from unauthorized access or modification. Authentication involves the use of credentials and tokens to verify the identity and access rights of users or devices. Continuous auditing can help to assess the effectiveness and compliance of cryptography and authentication controls, such as data encryption, key management, password policies, multifactor authentication, single sign-on, etc. Continuous auditing can also help to detect and alert any anomalies or issues that may compromise or affect cryptography and authentication, such as data breaches, key leakage, password cracking, unauthorized access, etc123.
Procedures (A) are not good candidates for continuous auditing, as they are not specific or measurable aspects of cloud security that can be easily automated or tested. Procedures refer to the steps or actions that are performed to achieve a certain objective or result in a specific domain or context. Procedures may vary depending on the type, nature, or complexity of the task or process involved. Continuous auditing requires a clear and consistent definition of the expected outcome or output, as well as the criteria or metrics to evaluate it. Procedures may not provide such a definition or criteria, and may require human judgment or interpretation to assess their effectiveness or compliance123.
Governance (B) is not a good candidate for continuous auditing, as it is not a specific or measurable aspect of cloud security that can be easily automated or tested. Governance refers to the framework or system that defines the roles, responsibilities, policies, standards, procedures, and practices for managing and overseeing an organization or a domain. Governance may involve multiple stakeholders, such as management, board of directors, regulators, auditors, customers, etc., who have different interests, expectations, or perspectives. Continuous auditing requires a clear and consistent definition of the expected outcome or output, as well as the criteria or metrics to evaluate it. Governance may not provide such a definition or criteria, and may require human judgment or interpretation to assess its effectiveness or compliance123.
Documentation quality (D) is not a good candidate for continuous auditing, as it is not a specific or measurable aspect of cloud security that can be easily automated or tested. Documentation quality refers to the degree to which the documents that describe or support an organization or a domain are accurate, complete, consistent, relevant, and understandable. Documentation quality may depend on various factors, such as the purpose, audience, format, style, language, structure, content, etc., of the documents involved. Continuous auditing requires a clear and consistent definition of the expected outcome or output, as well as the criteria or metrics to evaluate it. Documentation quality may not provide such a definition or criteria, and may require human judgment or interpretation to assess its effectiveness or compliance123. References :=
Cloud Audits: A Guide for Cloud Service Providers - Cloud Standards …
Cloud Audits: A Guide for Cloud Service Customers - Cloud Standards …
Cloud Auditing Knowledge: Preparing for the CCAK Certificate Exam
The CSA STAR Certification is based on criteria outlined the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) in addition to:
GDPR CoC certification.
GB/T 22080-2008.
SOC 2 Type 1 or 2 reports.
ISO/IEC 27001 implementation.
The Answer Is:
DExplanation:
The CSA STAR Certification is based on criteria outlined in the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) in addition to ISO/IEC 27001 implementation. The CCM is a cybersecurity control framework for cloud computing that covers 17 domains and 197 control objectives that address all key aspects of cloud technology. ISO/IEC 27001 is a standard for information security management systems that specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system within the context of the organization. The CSA STAR Certification demonstrates that a cloud service provider conforms to the applicable requirements of ISO/IEC 27001, has addressed issues critical to cloud security as outlined in the CCM, and has been assessed against the STAR Capability Maturity Model for the management of activities in CCM control areas1. The CSA STAR Certification is a third-party independent assessment of the security of a cloud service provider and provides a high level of assurance and trust to customers2.
References:
CSA STAR Certification - Azure Compliance | Microsoft Learn
STAR | CSA
What areas should be reviewed when auditing a public cloud?
Identity and access management (IAM) and data protection
Source code reviews and hypervisor
Patching and configuration
Vulnerability management and cyber security reviews
The Answer Is:
AExplanation:
When auditing a public cloud, it is essential to review areas such as Identity and Access Management (IAM) and data protection. IAM involves ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to the cloud resources, and that their access is appropriately managed and monitored. This includes reviewing user authentication methods, access control policies, role-based access controls, and user activity monitoring1.
Data protection is another critical area to review. It involves ensuring that the data stored in the public cloud is secure from unauthorized access, breaches, and leaks. This includes reviewing data encryption methods, data backup and recovery processes, data privacy policies, and compliance with relevant data protection regulations1.
While the other options may also be relevant in certain contexts, they are not as universally applicable as IAM and data protection for auditing a public cloud. Source code reviews and hypervisor (option B), patching and configuration (option C), and vulnerability management and cybersecurity reviews (option D) are important but are more specific to certain types of cloud services or deployment models. References:
Cloud Computing — What IT Auditors Should Really Know - ISACA
Which of the following would be the MOST critical finding of an application security and DevOps audit?
Certifications with global security standards specific to cloud are not reviewed, and the impact of noted findings are not assessed.
Outsourced cloud service interruption, breach, or loss of stored data occurred at the cloud service provider.
The organization is not using a unified framework to integrate cloud compliance with regulatory requirements.
Application architecture and configurations did not consider security measures.
The Answer Is:
DExplanation:
The most critical finding of an application security and DevOps audit would be that the application architecture and configurations did not consider security measures. This finding would indicate that the application is vulnerable to various threats and attacks, such as data breaches, unauthorized access, injection, cross-site scripting, denial-of-service, etc. This finding would also imply that the application does not comply with the security standards and best practices for cloud services, such as ISO/IEC 27017:20151, CSA Cloud Controls Matrix2, or NIST SP 800-1463. This finding would require immediate remediation and improvement of the application security posture, as well as the implementation of security controls and tests throughout the DevOps process.
Certifications with global security standards specific to cloud are not reviewed, and the impact of noted findings are not assessed (A) would be a significant finding of an application security and DevOps audit, but not the most critical one. This finding would indicate that the organization is not aware or informed of the security requirements and expectations for cloud services, as well as the gaps or issues that may affect their compliance or performance. This finding would require regular review and analysis of the certifications with global security standards specific to cloud, such as ISO/IEC 270014, CSA STAR Certification, or FedRAMP Authorization, as well as the assessment of the impact of noted findings on the organization’s risk profile and business objectives.
Outsourced cloud service interruption, breach, or loss of stored data occurred at the cloud service provider (B) would be a serious finding of an application security and DevOps audit, but not the most critical one. This finding would indicate that the cloud service provider failed to ensure the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of the cloud services and data that they provide to the organization. This finding would require investigation and resolution of the root cause and impact of the incident, as well as the implementation of preventive and corrective measures to avoid recurrence. This finding would also require review and verification of the contractual terms and conditions between the organization and the cloud service provider, as well as the service level agreements (SLAs) and recovery time objectives (RTOs) for the cloud services.
The organization is not using a unified framework to integrate cloud compliance with regulatory requirements © would be an important finding of an application security and DevOps audit, but not the most critical one. This finding would indicate that the organization is not following a consistent and systematic approach to manage and monitor its cloud compliance with regulatory requirements, such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, etc. This finding would require adoption and implementation of a unified framework to integrate cloud compliance with regulatory requirements, such as COBIT, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, or CIS Controls, as well as the alignment and integration of these frameworks with the DevOps process.
Which of the following BEST ensures adequate restriction on the number of people who can access the pipeline production environment?
Separation of production and development pipelines
Ensuring segregation of duties in the production and development pipelines
Role-based access controls in the production and development pipelines
Periodic review of the continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline audit logs to identify any access violations
The Answer Is:
CExplanation:
Role-based access controls (RBAC) are a method of restricting access to resources based on the roles of individual users within an organization. RBAC allows administrators to assign permissions to roles, rather than to specific users, and then assign users to those roles. This simplifies the management of access rights and reduces the risk of unauthorized or excessive access. RBAC is especially important for ensuring adequate restriction on the number of people who can access the pipeline production environment, which is the final stage of the continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) process where code is deployed to the end-users. Access to the production environment should be limited to only those who are responsible for deploying, monitoring, and maintaining the code, such as production engineers, release managers, or site reliability engineers. Developers, testers, or other stakeholders should not have access to the production environment, as this could compromise the security, quality, and performance of the code. RBAC can help enforce this separation of duties and responsibilities by defining different roles for different pipeline stages and granting appropriate permissions to each role. For example, developers may have permission to create, edit, and test code in the development pipeline, but not to deploy or modify code in the production pipeline. Conversely, production engineers may have permission to deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot code in the production pipeline, but not to create or edit code in the development pipeline. RBAC can also help implement the principle of least privilege, which states that users should only have the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks. This reduces the attack surface and minimizes the potential damage in case of a breach or misuse. RBAC can be configured at different levels of granularity, such as at the organization, project, or object level, depending on the needs and complexity of the organization. RBAC can also leverage existing identity and access management (IAM) solutions, such as Azure Active Directory or AWS IAM, to integrate with cloud services and applications.
References:
Set pipeline permissions - Azure Pipelines
Azure DevOps: Access, Roles and Permissions
Cloud Computing — What IT Auditors Should Really Know