M23 Practice Quiz

#monitoring #alerts #SNMP #NetFlow

Question 1

  1. Which of the following activities involves regularly examining systems, networks, or applications to identify vulnerabilities, configuration issues, or other potential problems?

    Options:

    • Log Aggregation
    • Alerting
    • Scanning
    • Archiving

    Overall explanation:

    • Scanning in the context of alerting and monitoring activities involves the regular examination of systems, networks, or applications to identify potential problems. This could include vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, configuration issues that could impact system performance or security, or other potential problems.
    • This is different from log aggregation (which involves collecting and consolidating log data),
    • alerting (which involves setting up notifications for specific events or conditions),
    • and archiving (which involves storing data for long-term retention and future reference).

    Tags: Alerting and Monitoring Activities

Question 2

  1. What is the primary use of SNMP?

    Options:

    • To encrypt network data
    • To monitor and manage network devices
    • To create a virtual private network
    • To establish a firewall

    Overall explanation:

    • SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is primarily used to monitor and manage network devices. It provides a standardized framework for these devices to share information about their state, allowing network administrators to manage performance, find and solve network issues, and plan for network growth.
    • While SNMP can be used in conjunction with other technologies such as VPNs, firewalls, and encryption, its primary function is not to establish these services but to monitor and manage network devices.

    Tags: Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

Question 3

  1. Which of the following best describes the function of a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system?

    Options:

    • To detect and remove malware like an antivirus solution
    • To monitor, manage, and collect log data from network devices
    • To manage the physical components of a network infrastructure
    • To establish firewalls and VPNs on different networks

    Overall explanation:

    • A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system is a tool used in cybersecurity to provide real-time analysis of security alerts generated by applications and network hardware. It collects and aggregates log data generated throughout the organization's technology infrastructure, from host systems and applications to network and security devices such as firewalls and antivirus filters. This data is then analyzed to identify patterns that might indicate a security threat.
    • While SIEM systems can work in conjunction with firewalls, VPNs, and antivirus software, their primary function is not to establish these services or remove malware, but to monitor and analyze security-related data.

    Tags: Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Question 4

  1. Which of the following security tools generates data about potential data leaks and policy violations that can be sent to a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system?

    Options:

    • Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS)
    • Antivirus software
    • Data Loss Prevention (DLP) systems
    • Vulnerability scanners

    Overall explanation:

    • Data Loss Prevention (DLP) systems are designed to detect potential data breach or exfiltration transmissions by monitoring, detecting, and blocking sensitive data while in use, in motion, and at rest. DLP systems generate data about potential data leak incidents and policy violations.
    • This information can be sent to a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system to alert security teams to potential data leaks, enabling them to take corrective action.
    • Antivirus software, Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS), and Vulnerability scanners also generate valuable data that can be sent to a SIEM system, but they do not specifically focus on potential data leaks and policy violations.

    Tags: Data from Security Tools, SIEM

Question 5

  1. Which component of SCAP provides a list of entries with each one containing an identification number, a description, and at least one public reference for publicly known cybersecurity vulnerabilities?

    Options:

    • Common Configuration Enumeration (CCE)
    • Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS)
    • Asset Reporting Format (ARF)
    • Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)

    Overall explanation:

    • The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is a component of SCAP that provides a list of entries with each containing an identification number, a description, and at least one public reference for publicly known cybersecurity vulnerabilities. CVE's common identifiers enable data exchange between security products and provide a baseline index point for evaluating coverage of tools and services to make it easier for organizations to share data across separate vulnerability-related tools, speeding up vulnerability management, establishing the base for risk measurement, and enabling automation.
    • Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), Common Configuration Enumeration (CCE), and Asset Reporting Format (ARF) are components of SCAP that serve different purposes.
      • CVSS provides a framework for communicating the characteristics and impacts of IT vulnerabilities.
      • CCE provides unique identifiers to system configurations.
      • ARF expresses the transport format of information about assets.

    Tags: SCAP, CVE