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Which of the following statements best defines information security risk?
Information security risk, as defined by ISO/IEC 27005, is 'the potential that a threat will exploit a vulnerability of an asset or group of assets and thereby cause harm to the organization.' This definition emphasizes the interplay between threats (e.g., cyber attackers, natural disasters), vulnerabilities (e.g., weaknesses in software, inadequate security controls), and the potential impact or harm that could result from this exploitation. Therefore, option A is the most comprehensive and accurate description of information security risk. In contrast, option B describes a vulnerability, and option C focuses on the cause of an incident rather than defining risk itself. Option A aligns directly with the risk definition in ISO/IEC 27005.
Scenario 8: Biotide is a pharmaceutical company that produces medication for treating different kinds of diseases. The company was founded in 1997, and since then it has contributed in solving some of the most challenging healthcare issues.
As a pharmaceutical company, Biotide operates in an environment associated with complex risks. As such, the company focuses on risk management strategies that ensure the effective management of risks to develop high-quality medication. With the large amount of sensitive information generated from the company, managing information security risks is certainly an important part of the overall risk management process. Biotide utilizes a publicly available methodology for conducting risk assessment related to information assets. This methodology helps Biotide to perform risk assessment by taking into account its objectives and mission. Following this method, the risk management process is organized into four activity areas, each of them involving a set of activities, as provided below.
1. Activity area 1: The organization determines the criteria against which the effects of a risk occurring can be evaluated. In addition, the impacts of risks are also defined.
2. Activity area 2: The purpose of the second activity area is to create information asset profiles. The organization identifies critical information assets, their owners, as well as the security requirements for those assets. After determining the security requirements, the organization prioritizes them. In addition, the organization identifies the systems that store, transmit, or process information.
3. Activity area 3: The organization identifies the areas of concern which initiates the risk identification process. In addition, the organization analyzes and determines the probability of the occurrence of possible threat scenarios.
4. Activity area 4: The organization identifies and evaluates the risks. In addition, the criteria specified in activity area 1 is reviewed and the consequences of the areas of concerns are evaluated. Lastly, the level of identified risks is determined.
The table below provides an example of how Biotide assesses the risks related to its information assets following this methodology:
Based on the scenario above, answer the following question:
Which risk assessment methodology does Biotide use?
Biotide uses the OCTAVE Allegro methodology for risk assessment. This is determined based on the description of the activities mentioned in the scenario. OCTAVE Allegro is a streamlined approach specifically designed to help organizations perform risk assessments that are efficient and effective, particularly when handling information assets. The methodology focuses on a thorough examination of information assets, the threats they face, and the impact of those threats.
Activity Area 1: OCTAVE Allegro defines the criteria for evaluating the impact of risks, which is consistent with determining the risk effects' evaluation criteria in the scenario.
Activity Area 2: In OCTAVE Allegro, a critical step is creating profiles for information assets, identifying their owners, and determining security requirements. This aligns with the activity in which Biotide identifies critical assets, their owners, and their security needs.
Activity Area 3: Identifying areas of concern that initiate risk identification and analyzing threat scenarios is central to OCTAVE Allegro. This is reflected in the activity of identifying areas of concern and determining the likelihood of threats.
Activity Area 4: Evaluating the risks, reviewing criteria, and determining risk levels corresponds to the latter stages of OCTAVE Allegro, where risks are prioritized based on the likelihood and impact, and risk management strategies are formulated accordingly.
The steps outlined align with the OCTAVE Allegro approach, which focuses on understanding and addressing information security risks comprehensively and in line with organizational objectives. Hence, option A, OCTAVE Allegro, is the correct answer.
ISO/IEC 27005:2018 emphasizes the importance of using structured methodologies for information security risk management, like OCTAVE Allegro, to ensure that risks are consistently identified, assessed, and managed in accordance with organizational risk tolerance and objectives.
Scenario 5: Detika is a private cardiology clinic in Pennsylvania, the US. Detika has one of the most advanced healthcare systems for treating heart diseases. The clinic uses sophisticated apparatus that detects heart diseases in early stages. Since 2010, medical information of Detika's patients is stored on the organization's digital systems. Electronic health records (EHR), among others, include patients' diagnosis, treatment plan, and laboratory results.
Storing and accessing patient and other medical data digitally was a huge and a risky step for Detik
a. Considering the sensitivity of information stored in their systems, Detika conducts regular risk assessments to ensure that all information security risks are identified and managed. Last month, Detika conducted a risk assessment which was focused on the EHR system. During risk identification, the IT team found out that some employees were not updating the operating systems regularly. This could cause major problems such as a data breach or loss of software compatibility. In addition, the IT team tested the software and detected a flaw in one of the software modules used. Both issues were reported to the top management and they decided to implement appropriate controls for treating the identified risks. They decided to organize training sessions for all employees in order to make them aware of the importance of the system updates. In addition, the manager of the IT Department was appointed as the person responsible for ensuring that the software is regularly tested.
Another risk identified during the risk assessment was the risk of a potential ransomware attack. This risk was defined as low because all their data was backed up daily. The IT team decided to accept the actual risk of ransomware attacks and concluded that additional measures were not required. This decision was documented in the risk treatment plan and communicated to the risk owner. The risk owner approved the risk treatment plan and documented the risk assessment results.
Following that, Detika initiated the implementation of new controls. In addition, one of the employees of the IT Department was assigned the responsibility for monitoring the implementation process and ensure the effectiveness of the security controls. The IT team, on the other hand, was responsible for allocating the resources needed to effectively implement the new controls.
Based on scenario 5, the decision to accept the risk of a potential ransomware attack was approved by the risk owner. Is this acceptable?
According to ISO/IEC 27005, the risk treatment plan should be approved by the risk owners, who are the individuals or entities responsible for managing specific risks. In the scenario, the risk owner approved the decision to accept the risk of a potential ransomware attack and documented it in the risk treatment plan. This is consistent with the guidelines, which state that risk owners are responsible for deciding on risk treatment and approving the associated plans. Thus, option C is the correct answer.
ISO/IEC 27005:2018, Clause 8.6, 'Risk Treatment,' which emphasizes that risk treatment plans should be approved by the risk owners.
Which statement regarding risks and opportunities is correct?
ISO standards, including ISO/IEC 27005, make a distinction between risks and opportunities. Risks are defined as the effect of uncertainty on objectives, which can result in negative consequences (such as financial loss, reputational damage, or operational disruption). Opportunities, on the other hand, are situations or conditions that have the potential to provide a positive impact on achieving objectives. Therefore, option B is correct, as it accurately reflects that risks are generally associated with negative impacts, while opportunities can lead to positive outcomes. Option A is incorrect because risks can have negative outcomes, not positive ones. Option C is incorrect because risks and opportunities have different meanings and implications and are not interchangeable.
Scenario 7: Adstry is a business growth agency that specializes in digital marketing strategies. Adstry helps organizations redefine the relationships with their customers through innovative solutions. Adstry is headquartered in San Francisco and recently opened two new offices in New York. The structure of the company is organized into teams which are led by project managers. The project manager has the full power in any decision related to projects. The team members, on the other hand, report the project's progress to project managers.
Considering that data breaches and ad fraud are common threats in the current business environment, managing risks is essential for Adstry. When planning new projects, each project manager is responsible for ensuring that risks related to a particular project have been identified, assessed, and mitigated. This means that project managers have also the role of the risk manager in Adstry. Taking into account that Adstry heavily relies on technology to complete their projects, their risk assessment certainly involves identification of risks associated with the use of information technology. At the earliest stages of each project, the project manager communicates the risk assessment results to its team members.
Adstry uses a risk management software which helps the project team to detect new potential risks during each phase of the project. This way, team members are informed in a timely manner for the new potential risks and are able to respond to them accordingly. The project managers are responsible for ensuring that the information provided to the team members is communicated using an appropriate language so it can be understood by all of them.
In addition, the project manager may include external interested parties affected by the project in the risk communication. If the project manager decides to include interested parties, the risk communication is thoroughly prepared. The project manager firstly identifies the interested parties that should be informed and takes into account their concerns and possible conflicts that may arise due to risk communication. The risks are communicated to the identified interested parties while taking into consideration the confidentiality of Adstry's information and determining the level of detail that should be included in the risk communication. The project managers use the same risk management software for risk communication with external interested parties since it provides a consistent view of risks. For each project, the project manager arranges regular meetings with relevant interested parties of the project, they discuss the detected risks, their prioritization, and determine appropriate treatment solutions. The information taken from the risk management software and the results of these meetings are documented and are used for decision-making processes. In addition, the company uses a computerized documented information management system for the acquisition, classification, storage, and archiving of its documents.
Based on scenario 7, which principle of efficient communication strategy Adstry's project managers follow when communicating risks to team members?
Adstry's project managers focus on ensuring that the information provided to team members is communicated using an appropriate language that can be understood by all. This approach reflects the principle of clarity, which is a key element of an effective communication strategy. Clear communication helps to ensure that all parties understand the risks, their implications, and the necessary actions to mitigate them. Option B (Credibility) relates to trustworthiness, which is not the primary focus here, and Option C (Responsiveness) involves timely reactions, which is also not the main point of emphasis in this context.
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