TestOut - CompTIA CySA+ Practice Questions 4.1.9

A cloud operations engineer monitors and maintains visibility into the organization's serverless architecture. The engineer needs to ensure that the system is functioning optimally and efficiently. Which of the following actions would be MOST helpful for the engineer to achieve this goal? A. Implementing serverless architecture B. Monitoring system processes C. Conducting vulnerability assessments D. Implementing data backup and recovery solutions

B. Monitoring system processes Explanation Monitoring system processes is critical to maintaining operational visibility into serverless architecture. It enables the engineer to track and analyze the performance, resource utilization, and potential issues in the system. While implementing serverless architecture is a method for deploying applications, it does not specifically address maintaining operational visibility into the system. Vulnerability assessments focus on identifying potential security weaknesses in a system. While essential for maintaining security, they do not directly contribute to operational visibility within a serverless environment. Data backup and recovery solutions protect an organization's data from loss or corruption. However, they do not directly pertain to maintaining visibility into the operation of serverless architecture.

A support technician examines the Windows Registry for a host on a local area network (LAN). Which subkey should the technician use to find username information for accounts on the computer? A. SECURITY B. DEFAULT C. SYSTEM D. SAM

D. SAM Explanation The Windows Registry is a database for storing operating system, device, and software application configuration information. The support technician can use the Security Accounts Manager (SAM), which stores username information for accounts on the current computer. SECURITY does not store username information for accounts. Instead, SECURITY is the subkey that links to the security database of the domain the current user logged on to. DEFAULT is the subkey that contains settings for the LocalSystem account profile, not username information for accounts on the current computer. SYSTEM does not store username information for accounts. Instead, SYSTEM is the subkey that contains settings for drivers and file systems.

Which of the following is an essential network architecture security concept for the Windows Registry? A. Log rotation B. Centralized logging C. Secure Boot process D. System hardening

D. System hardening Explanation The Windows Registry is a critical component of the operating system containing configuration information for hardware, software, users, and preferences. System hardening involves securing the Registry by restricting access and preventing unauthorized modifications. The Secure Boot process is not an architecture concept, but a security feature that helps prevent unauthorized firmware or operating system modifications. Centralized logging is critical to security operations, but not directly related to system and network architecture concepts. Log rotation is critical to security operations but relates to the Windows Registry. It does not directly relate to system and network architecture concepts.

A company plans to upgrade its network infrastructure to enhance security and reduce the attack surface. The company has tasked the security analyst with identifying key areas to focus on while planning the upgrade. Which of the following areas should the security analyst prioritize to directly enhance security and minimize vulnerabilities? A. System hardening B. Hardware compatibility C. Configuration file management D. Log retention policies

A. System hardening Explanation System hardening involves applying security measures to reduce vulnerabilities and minimize the attack surface, which enhances the network infrastructure's security. Configuration file management is more important for troubleshooting and configuration management and does not directly contribute to enhancing security or minimizing vulnerabilities. Hardware compatibility refers to ensuring that different hardware components work together seamlessly. Although important for designing and implementing secure systems, it does not directly enhance security or minimize vulnerabilities. Log retention policies determine how long log data gets stored and maintained. While appropriate log retention is important for monitoring an incident response, it does not directly contribute to enhancing security or minimizing vulnerabilities.

A support technician conducts system hardening after provisioning a server. Why is system hardening such a vital practice? (Select three.) A. System hardening reduces the attack surface of a system. B. System hardening stores operating system configuration information. C. System hardening includes disabling unnecessary services. D. System hardening includes configuring security policies. E. System hardening involves patching the operating system. F. System hardening eliminates monitoring software. G. System hardening eliminates the need for employee security training.

A. System hardening reduces the attack surface of a system. C. System hardening includes disabling unnecessary services. E. System hardening involves patching the operating system. Explanation The purpose of system hardening is to reduce the attack surface of a system. Hardening involves enabling or disabling specific features and restricting access to sensitive areas of the system, such as protected operating system files, the Windows Registry, configuration files, and logs. System hardening includes making many changes to a system, such as disabling unnecessary services. Best-practice hardening configurations can be very complex. Patching the operating system is one of many procedures that can take place while hardening a system. System hardening does not eliminate monitoring software. Installing monitoring software to protect against malware and intrusions is a component of system hardening. The Windows Registry is a database for storing operating system, device, and software application configuration information. It is not a system hardening tool. Although system hardening does help with reducing network and device vulnerabilities, it does not replace the need for employee security training. System hardening does not normally include the task of configuring security policies for the network.

Which of the following is the most important reason to implement system hardening measures in a networked environment? A. To reduce the risk of data breaches B. To prevent denial-of-service attacks C. To ensure system performance remains optimal D. To secure data in transit between systems

A. To reduce the risk of data breaches Explanation System hardening measures like removing unnecessary software and services, disabling default accounts, and applying patches and updates help reduce the attack surface of a system and directly reduce the risk of data breaches. Measures such as rate limiting and filtering can help prevent and mitigate denial-of-service attacks but are not the most important reasons in the context of the question. Securing data in transit between systems is a valid reason to implement security measures, but it is not the most important reason in the context of the question. System hardening often involves disabling unnecessary services and features that can reduce system performance, but the tradeoff is increased security.

An engineer is studying the hardware architecture of a company's various systems. In which of the following items can the engineer can find the x86 architecture? (Select three.) A. Single-board computers B. Servers C. Desktops D. Laptops E. Tablets F. Wearable devices G. Smart phones

B. Servers C. Desktops D. Laptops Explanation Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) and x86 are common architectures. The x86 architecture dominates desktops, laptops, and server computers, while the ARM architecture dominates smartphones, tablets, and single-board computers. Laptops fall under the scope of x86 architecture. Different architectures emphasize different characteristics, such as scalability, raw processing power, power management, and other features. The engineer would also find that servers use the x86 hardware architecture. Tablets, smartphones, and single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi use the ARM architecture, not x86. Operating systems and applications run on a specific hardware architecture. Wearable devices, like smart watches, use operating systems such as Android, Android Wear, Tizen, and Linux.

A system engineer wants to harden a system as a precaution against malicious port scans and probes. Which type of malicious activity is the engineer likely concerned about? A. Zero-day B. Internal C. External D. Isolated

C. External Explanation Any vulnerability in an externally accessible system is hugely concerning, as the probability of an attacker quickly exploiting it is high. The engineer's concern is that malicious external scans are likely. Internal scans focus on the view of systems from within a private network like other internal system views from a trusted server or desktop computer. This scan is not a concern for the engineer. An isolated system is one not connected to a main network. The isolated system is still prone to exploits but is not a concern for the engineer. A zero-day is an exploitable vulnerability with no available patch, not a scan or probe. As such, this is not a concern for the engineer.

A company tasks a security analyst with mitigating the risk of a brute force attack that exploits weak passwords on systems. Which concepts would be most effective in defending against this attack methodology? (Select two.) A. Network segmentation B. Registry configuration C. User awareness training D. System hardening E. Multi-factor authentication

D. System hardening E. Multi-factor authentication Explanation System hardening includes measures such as enforcing strong password policies and directly addressing the risk of brute force attacks on systems with weak passwords. Implementing multifactor authentication (MFA) is an effective way to defend against brute force attacks exploiting weak passwords. MFA requires users to provide two or more forms of verification, making it significantly more challenging for attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems. Network segmentation isolates network segments to limit an attacker's movement but does not directly address the mitigation of weak passwords targeted by brute force attacks. Penetration testing is a proactive approach to identifying vulnerabilities in systems and networks, but it does not directly mitigate weak passwords targeted by brute force attacks. The Windows Registry is a database for storing operating system, device, and software application configuration information. It reflects efforts to configure a system against attacks. It does not help defend against attacks.

What is the benefit of hardening the operating system in the context of system and network architecture? A. To reduce the speed of system performance due to the extra security measures B. To increase the number of software applications that can be run on the system C. To improve the aesthetics of the graphical user interface (GUI) D. To decrease the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data

D. To decrease the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data Explanation Hardening the operating system is a security measure involving configuring the operating system to minimize security vulnerabilities. By implementing security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access control mechanisms, the user significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data. Hardening the operating system can decrease the number of software applications that the system can run due to stricter security settings. While extra security measures can slow down system performance, this is not always the case. Hardening the operating system does not improve the aesthetics of the GUI.