Free ISACA CCAK Practice Exams - Page 2 of 10

Question #11

The BEST method to report continuous assessment of a cloud provider’s services to the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) is through:

A . Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) assessment by a third-party auditor on a periodic basis.
B . tools selected by the third-party auditor.
C . SOC 2 Type 2 attestation.
D . a set of dedicated application programming interfaces (APIs).

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Correct Answer: D
D

Explanation:

The best method to report continuous assessment of a cloud provider’s services to the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) is through a set of dedicated application programming interfaces (APIs). According to the CSA website1, the STAR Continuous program is a component of the STAR certification that allows cloud service providers to validate their security posture on an ongoing basis. The STAR Continuous program leverages a set of APIs that can integrate with the cloud provider’s existing tools and processes, such as security information and event management (SIEM), governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC), or continuous monitoring systems. The APIs enable the cloud provider to collect, analyze, and report security-related data to the CSA STAR registry in near real-time. The APIs also allow the CSA to verify the data and provide feedback to the cloud provider and the customers. The STAR Continuous program aims to provide more transparency, assurance, and trust in the cloud ecosystem by enabling continuous visibility into the security performance of cloud services.

The other methods listed are not suitable for reporting continuous assessment of a cloud provider’s services to the CSA. The Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) assessment by a third-party auditor on a periodic basis is part of the STAR Certification Level 2 program, which provides a point-in-time validation of the cloud provider’s security controls. However, this method does not provide continuous assessment or reporting, as it only occurs once every 12 or 24 months2. The tools selected by the third-party auditor may vary depending on the scope, criteria, and methodology of the audit, and they may not be compatible or consistent with the CSA’s standards and frameworks.

Moreover, the tools may not be able to report the audit results to the CSA STAR registry automatically or frequently. The SOC 2 Type 2 attestation is an independent audit report that evaluates the cloud provider’s security controls based on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Trust Services Criteria. However, this report is not specific to cloud computing and does not cover all aspects of the CCM. Furthermore, this report is not intended to be shared publicly or reported to the CSA STAR registry3.

Reference: STAR Continuous | CSA

STAR Certification | CSA

SOC 2 vs CSA STAR: Which One Should You Choose?

Question #12

Which of the following is an example of reputational business impact?

A . While the breach was reported in a timely manner to the CEO, the CFO and CISO blamed each other in public, resulting in a loss of public confidence that led the board to replace all three.
B . The cloud provider fails to report a breach of customer personal data from an unsecured server, resulting in GDPR fines of 10 million euros.
C . A distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack renders the customer’s cloud inaccessible for 24 hours, resulting in millions in lost sales.
D . A hacker using a stolen administrator identity brings down the Software as a Service (SaaS) sales and marketing systems, resulting in the inability to process customer orders or manage customer relationships.

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Question #13

What is the MOST effective way to ensure a vendor is compliant with the agreed-upon cloud service?

A . Examine the cloud provider’s certifications and ensure the scope is appropriate.
B . Document the requirements and responsibilities within the customer contract
C . Interview the cloud security team and ensure compliance.
D . Pen test the cloud service provider to ensure compliance.

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Correct Answer: A
A

Explanation:

The most effective way to ensure a vendor is compliant with the agreed-upon cloud service is to examine the cloud provider’s certifications and ensure the scope is appropriate. Certifications are independent attestations of the cloud provider’s compliance with various standards, regulations, and best practices related to cloud security, privacy, and governance1. They provide assurance to customers that the cloud provider has implemented adequate controls and processes to meet their contractual obligations and expectations2. However, not all certifications are equally relevant or comprehensive, so customers need to verify that the certifications cover the specific cloud service, region, and data type that they are using3. Customers should also review the certification reports or audit evidence to understand the scope, methodology, and results of the assessment4.

The other options are not as effective as examining the cloud provider’s certifications. Documenting the requirements and responsibilities within the customer contract is an important step to establish the terms and conditions of the cloud service agreement, but it does not guarantee that the vendor will comply with them5. Customers need to monitor and verify the vendor’s performance and compliance on an ongoing basis. Interviewing the cloud security team may provide some insights into the vendor’s compliance practices, but it may not be sufficient or reliable without independent verification or documentation. Pen testing the cloud service provider may reveal some vulnerabilities or weaknesses in the vendor’s security posture, but it may not cover all aspects of compliance or be authorized by the vendor. Pen testing should be done with caution and consent, as it may cause disruption or damage to the cloud service or violate the terms of service.

Reference: Cloud Compliance: What You Need To Know – Linford & Company LLP1, section on Cloud Compliance Cloud Services Due Diligence Checklist | Trust Center2, section on Why Microsoft created the Cloud Services Due Diligence Checklist

The top cloud providers for government | ZDNET3, section on What is FedRAMP? Cloud Computing Security Considerations | Cyber.gov.au4, section on Certification

Cloud Audits and Compliance: What You Need To Know – Linford & Company LLP5, section on Cloud Compliance Management

Cloud Services Due Diligence Checklist | Trust Center, section on How to use the checklist Cloud Computing Security Considerations | Cyber.gov.au, section on Security governance The top cloud providers for government | ZDNET, section on Penetration testing Penetration Testing in AWS – Amazon Web Services (AWS), section on Introduction

Question #14

From an auditor perspective, which of the following BEST describes shadow IT?

A . An opportunity to diversify the cloud control approach
B . A weakness in the cloud compliance posture
C . A strength of disaster recovery (DR) planning
D . A risk that jeopardizes business continuity planning

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Question #15

What is below the waterline in the context of cloud operationalization?

A . The controls operated by the customer
B . The controls operated by both
C . The controls operated by the cloud access security broker (CASB)
D . The controls operated by the cloud service provider

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Question #16

Which of the following cloud environments should be a concern to an organization s cloud auditor?

A . The cloud service provider s data center is more than 100 miles away.
B . The technical team is trained on only one vendor Infrastructure as a Service (laaS) platform, but the organization has subscribed to another vendor’s laaS platform as an alternative.
C . The organization entirely depends on several proprietary Software as a Service (SaaS) applications.
D . The failover region of the cloud service provider is on another continent

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Question #17

Which of the following BEST describes the difference between a Type 1 and a Type 2 SOC report?

A . A Type 2 SOC report validates the operating effectiveness of controls, whereas a Type 1 SOC report validates the suitability of the design of the controls.
B . A Type 1 SOC report provides an attestation, whereas a Type 2 SOC report offers a certification.
C . A Type 2 SOC report validates the suitability of the control design, whereas a Type 1 SOC report validates the operating effectiveness of controls.
D . There is no difference between a Type 2 and a Type 1 SOC report.

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Question #18

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?

A . The auditor should review the service providers’ security controls even more strictly, as they are further separated from the cloud customer.
B . 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.
C . 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.
D . 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

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Question #19

Which of the following cloud service models creates a cloud version of a contract template?

A . Platform as a Service (PaaS)
B . Infrastructure as a Service (laaS)
C . Software as a Service (SaaS)
D . Security as a Service (SecaaS)

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Question #20

Which of the following methods can be used by a cloud service provider with a cloud customer that does not want to share security and control information?

A . Nondisclosure agreements (NDAs)
B . Independent auditor report
C . First-party audit
D . Industry certifications

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