CompTIA CAS-005 CompTIA SecurityX Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 10 Q135-150
Visit here for our full CompTIA CAS-005 exam dumps and practice test questions.
Question 136
A company wants to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data on removable media. Which solution provides the most effective protection without hindering workflow?
A) Allowing all removable media to be used freely
B) Implementing removable media encryption, access controls, and logging
C) Trusting employees to handle removable media securely
D) Disabling all removable media to eliminate risk
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Removable media such as USB drives, external hard drives, and SD cards present a significant risk for data loss, leakage, and malware introduction. Allowing all removable media to be used freely is highly risky. Any user can copy, move, or remove sensitive information, potentially exposing it to unauthorized parties or external attacks. This approach maximizes the attack surface and leaves sensitive data vulnerable to insider threats, theft, or accidental exposure. It also complicates auditing and accountability because there is no systematic tracking of data movement.
Trusting employees to handle removable media securely is insufficient. Even trained personnel may make mistakes, lose devices, or unintentionally expose data. Human behavior is unpredictable, and relying solely on employee diligence cannot enforce consistent security or prevent accidental or intentional data breaches. Insider threats, whether malicious or negligent, remain a serious risk without enforceable controls.
Disabling all removable media prevents risk but severely impacts productivity and workflow. Many business processes rely on removable media for transferring files, system backups, or offline work. Blocking all media may force employees to adopt unsanctioned methods, such as personal cloud storage or emailing sensitive information, increasing risk rather than reducing it.
Implementing removable media encryption, access controls, and logging provides the most effective protection. Encryption ensures that any data on removable devices is unreadable without proper credentials or keys, maintaining confidentiality even if the device is lost or stolen. Access controls enforce the principle of least privilege, allowing only authorized users to read or write sensitive information. Logging tracks media usage, file access, and data transfer, providing visibility, accountability, and support for compliance audits. Integration with Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and endpoint management systems further strengthens enforcement, allowing centralized monitoring and automated alerts for policy violations. This layered approach balances security and usability, ensuring that employees can continue to use removable media safely while protecting sensitive data. Encryption and access policies provide proactive protection, while logging and monitoring provide auditability and evidence for investigation if data is exposed. Centralized management ensures consistent enforcement, policy updates, and rapid response to incidents, making this solution scalable across large organizations with multiple endpoints.
The reasoning demonstrates that removable media encryption, access controls, and logging are proactive, enforceable, and scalable. Unrestricted use, reliance on employee behavior, or disabling media either exposes data or disrupts operations.
Question 137
A company wants to ensure secure management of privileged accounts to prevent misuse. Which solution provides the strongest protection without hindering operational efficiency?
A) Allowing unrestricted privileged account access
B) Implementing Privileged Access Management (PAM) with session monitoring and least privilege enforcement
C) Trusting administrators to manage privileged accounts securely
D) Disabling privileged accounts entirely to prevent misuse
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Privileged accounts, including system administrators and root users, provide elevated access to critical systems and data. Allowing unrestricted privileged account access is extremely risky. Any compromise of these accounts can result in full system access, data exfiltration, or unauthorized configuration changes. Unrestricted access violates the principle of least privilege, increases exposure to insider threats, and complicates accountability, auditing, and compliance.
Trusting administrators to manage privileged accounts securely is insufficient. Even highly trained personnel can make mistakes, misconfigure systems, or misuse access intentionally. Reliance solely on human vigilance cannot provide enforceable policies, monitoring, or accountability. Insider threats and human error are significant risks that require technical controls to mitigate.
Disabling privileged accounts entirely prevents access to critical functions and disrupts operations. Privileged accounts are necessary for system maintenance, updates, troubleshooting, and configuration management. Eliminating them is impractical and reduces organizational efficiency, potentially leading to shadow IT practices that increase risk.
Implementing Privileged Access Management with session monitoring and least privilege enforcement provides the strongest protection. PAM solutions enforce strict access controls, allowing users to perform only authorized actions. Session monitoring tracks all privileged activity in real time, capturing commands, changes, and access attempts, supporting auditing and compliance. Credential vaulting secures passwords and keys, reducing the risk of credential theft. Just-in-time access ensures that elevated privileges are granted only when needed and revoked automatically after completion. Integration with centralized identity and access management enables consistent policy enforcement across multiple systems and environments. Alerts and automated responses identify suspicious behavior, such as privilege escalation or abnormal usage patterns. This layered approach balances security and operational efficiency, allowing administrators to perform necessary functions while reducing risk. PAM solutions provide proactive enforcement, continuous monitoring, and auditability, ensuring that privileged accounts are used appropriately and reducing the potential for misuse or compromise.
The reasoning demonstrates that PAM with session monitoring and least privilege enforcement is proactive, enforceable, and scalable. Unrestricted access, reliance on human vigilance, or disabling accounts either exposes systems to misuse or hinders operations.
Question 138
A company wants to prevent data leakage from email attachments. Which solution provides the most effective protection without disrupting workflow?
A) Allowing all attachments without inspection
B) Implementing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) with email content inspection, attachment encryption, and policy enforcement
C) Trusting employees not to send sensitive attachments
D) Disabling attachments entirely to prevent risk
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Email attachments are a common method for transferring sensitive information both internally and externally. Allowing all attachments without inspection is extremely risky. Employees may unintentionally or deliberately send confidential files, intellectual property, or personal data outside the organization. Unmonitored attachments increase the likelihood of regulatory violations, insider threats, or data leaks. This lack of control also makes it difficult to detect and investigate incidents.
Trusting employees not to send sensitive attachments is insufficient. Human behavior is inconsistent, and even well-trained personnel may make errors, misunderstand policies, or deliberately bypass guidelines. Reliance solely on employee judgment cannot ensure protection or compliance.
Disabling attachments entirely reduces risk but disrupts workflow. Many business processes rely on attachments for contracts, technical documents, reports, and collaborative work. Blocking attachments may force users to adopt shadow IT solutions, such as cloud file sharing or personal email, which increase security exposure rather than mitigate it.
Implementing Data Loss Prevention with email content inspection, attachment encryption, and policy enforcement provides the most effective protection. DLP inspects the content of outgoing emails, detecting sensitive data such as financial information, personal identifiers, or confidential intellectual property. Attachment encryption ensures that files can only be accessed by authorized recipients, preserving confidentiality even if intercepted. Policy enforcement can block, quarantine, or alert on violations based on organizational rules. Centralized management allows administrators to define and apply consistent policies across all users and endpoints. Logging and monitoring provide visibility, accountability, and evidence for compliance audits or incident response. Integration with secure mail gateways and identity management enhances security while maintaining usability, ensuring employees can send necessary attachments safely. This layered approach proactively prevents data leaks, enforces policy, and maintains operational efficiency.
The reasoning demonstrates that DLP with content inspection, attachment encryption, and policy enforcement is proactive, enforceable, and scalable. Unrestricted attachments, reliance on employee behavior, or disabling attachments either expose sensitive data or disrupt workflow.
Question 139
A company wants to protect endpoints from unauthorized device installation. Which solution provides the strongest protection while maintaining operational efficiency?
A) Allowing users to install any device freely
B) Implementing device control policies, endpoint management, and whitelisting approved devices
C) Trusting employees not to install unauthorized devices
D) Disabling endpoint protection to reduce friction
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Unauthorized devices, including USB peripherals, external drives, or unapproved hardware, can introduce malware, exfiltrate data, or compromise system integrity. Allowing users to install devices freely is highly risky. Malicious devices can bypass software controls, inject malware, and expose sensitive systems. Unrestricted installation increases attack surfaces, reduces accountability, and introduces compliance risks.
Trusting employees not to install unauthorized devices is insufficient. Even trained personnel may unknowingly connect insecure or malicious hardware. Human behavior cannot enforce technical restrictions or provide continuous monitoring, leaving endpoints exposed.
Disabling endpoint protection reduces security while simplifying device installation. This approach removes critical safeguards against malware, unauthorized access, and policy violations. The temporary operational convenience does not justify the substantial security risk introduced.
Implementing device control policies, endpoint management, and whitelisting approved devices provides the strongest protection. Device control policies enforce rules on allowed hardware types, requiring authorization for installation. Whitelisting ensures that only pre-approved devices can connect, while endpoint management provides monitoring, reporting, and automated enforcement. Alerts notify administrators of unauthorized attempts, enabling rapid investigation and remediation. Integration with security policies ensures consistent enforcement across the organization. This layered approach balances security with usability, preventing unauthorized hardware installation while maintaining operational efficiency. Centralized management provides auditability, compliance reporting, and scalability, ensuring endpoints remain secure against device-based threats without disrupting legitimate workflows.
The reasoning demonstrates that device control, endpoint management, and whitelisting are proactive, enforceable, and scalable. Unrestricted installation, reliance on employee vigilance, or disabling protection either exposes systems to risk or reduces operational efficiency.
Question 140
A company wants to ensure the integrity of its backups to prevent ransomware from corrupting them. Which solution provides the most effective protection while maintaining availability?
A) Storing backups on endpoints connected to the network
B) Implementing immutable backups with off-site replication and verification
C) Trusting administrators to maintain backup integrity manually
D) Disabling backups to prevent corruption
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Backups are essential for disaster recovery and business continuity, particularly against ransomware attacks that encrypt or destroy primary data. Storing backups on endpoints connected to the network is highly risky. Malware or ransomware can propagate to connected devices, corrupting or encrypting backups. Network-accessible backups without protection increase attack surfaces and reduce recovery reliability.
Trusting administrators to maintain backup integrity manually is insufficient. Even experienced personnel may make errors in scheduling, verification, or storage, leaving backups incomplete or vulnerable. Manual processes cannot guarantee immutability, consistency, or timely verification, making this approach unreliable.
Disabling backups eliminates protection. While it prevents ransomware from corrupting non-existent backups, it also removes the organization’s ability to recover from system failures, data loss, or malicious attacks. The operational risk far outweighs any perceived protection benefit.
Implementing immutable backups with off-site replication and verification provides the most effective protection. Immutable backups cannot be altered, deleted, or encrypted once written, ensuring integrity against ransomware or malicious actions. Offsite replication protects against local disasters or network compromise, providing geographical redundancy. Verification processes confirm the integrity and recoverability of backups, ensuring that data can be restored accurately and promptly. Integration with centralized backup management, encryption, and access controls ensures confidentiality and accountability. Alerts and logging provide visibility into backup operations, supporting compliance and incident response. This layered approach balances security, integrity, and availability, ensuring that backups remain reliable even during attacks. Organizations can maintain continuous business operations, recover quickly from ransomware incidents, and ensure compliance with data protection regulations. Immutable, offsite, and verified backups provide proactive, enforceable, and scalable protection without disrupting operations.
The reasoning demonstrates that immutable backups with offsite replication and verification are proactive, enforceable, and scalable. Endpoint storage, reliance on manual oversight, or disabling backups either exposes data to corruption or removes recovery capability.
Question 141
A company wants to secure web applications against injection attacks, including SQL injection and command injection. Which solution provides the most effective protection while maintaining application performance?
A) Allowing all user inputs without validation
B) Implementing input validation, parameterized queries, and Web Application Firewalls (WAF)
C) Trusting developers to code securely without validation
D) Disabling web application access to prevent attacks
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Web applications are common targets for injection attacks, which exploit improper input handling to execute unauthorized commands or access sensitive data. Allowing all user inputs without validation is extremely risky. Attackers can inject SQL commands, scripts, or operating system instructions, potentially bypassing authentication, modifying databases, or executing arbitrary code. This exposes the application, backend systems, and sensitive data to severe compromise, including data leakage, system disruption, or full application takeover.
Trusting developers to code securely without validation is insufficient. Even skilled developers may overlook vulnerabilities, introduce errors, or fail to account for all input scenarios. Human behavior is fallible, and without technical safeguards, applications remain vulnerable to injection attacks.
Disabling web application access prevents risk but eliminates business functionality. Many business processes rely on web applications for collaboration, commerce, or internal operations. Blocking access disrupts workflow, reduces productivity, and may lead to shadow IT adoption, increasing security risks elsewhere.
Implementing input validation, parameterized queries, and Web Application Firewalls provides the most effective protection. Input validation ensures that user input adheres to expected formats, rejecting suspicious or unexpected data. Parameterized queries prevent attackers from manipulating SQL commands, safeguarding databases from injection. Web Application Firewalls provide an additional layer by inspecting traffic, detecting malicious patterns, and blocking suspicious requests before they reach the application. Logging and monitoring capture attack attempts for analysis and incident response. This layered approach balances security and usability, allowing legitimate user input while preventing injection attacks. Integration with secure coding practices, testing, and application monitoring further strengthens defenses, supporting compliance and proactive threat mitigation. Parameterized queries and input validation enforce technical security controls, while WAF adds operational resilience against evolving attack patterns. This combination is proactive, enforceable, and scalable across multiple web applications.
The reasoning demonstrates that input validation, parameterized queries, and WAF provide comprehensive protection. Allowing unchecked input, relying solely on developer vigilance, or disabling access either exposes applications or disrupts operations.
Question 142
A company wants to protect its network from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Which solution provides the strongest protection while maintaining network availability?
A) Ignoring traffic anomalies and relying on ISP filtering
B) Implementing DDoS mitigation services with traffic scrubbing, rate limiting, and anomaly detection
C) Trusting internal monitoring alone to handle attacks
D) Disabling external access entirely to prevent attacks
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Distributed Denial of Service attacks flood network resources, servers, or applications, disrupting availability. Ignoring traffic anomalies and relying on ISP filtering is insufficient. While ISPs may block known malicious traffic, large-scale or sophisticated attacks can overwhelm bandwidth or bypass basic filtering. Relying solely on external mitigation without local enforcement lacks visibility, monitoring, and a tailored response for an organization’s specific needs.
Trusting internal monitoring alone is inconsistent. Monitoring may detect unusual traffic, but it does not inherently mitigate attacks. Without traffic scrubbing or automated mitigation, detected anomalies cannot prevent resource exhaustion or downtime. Human response is reactive and often too slow to prevent service disruption during high-volume attacks.
Disabling external access entirely prevents exposure but is impractical. Many business operations depend on external users, clients, and partners accessing services. Blocking access disrupts normal operations, reduces productivity, and forces alternative, less secure workflows.
Implementing DDoS mitigation services with traffic scrubbing, rate limiting, and anomaly detection provides the strongest protection. Traffic scrubbing filters malicious or suspicious traffic before it reaches critical infrastructure, allowing legitimate requests to pass through. Rate limiting controls the flow of requests from individual sources, preventing resource exhaustion. Anomaly detection identifies unusual patterns in traffic, enabling rapid response and adaptation to evolving attack strategies. Integration with cloud-based or on-premise mitigation services ensures scalability, high availability, and minimal latency. Monitoring, logging, and alerts provide visibility for incident response, forensic investigation, and compliance reporting. This layered approach balances protection and operational efficiency, maintaining availability even during large-scale attacks. Organizations can proactively prevent service disruptions, reduce downtime, and maintain client confidence. DDoS mitigation solutions are proactive, enforceable, and scalable, supporting continuous business operations without sacrificing usability or access.
The reasoning demonstrates that DDoS mitigation with traffic scrubbing, rate limiting, and anomaly detection provides comprehensive protection. Ignoring anomalies, relying solely on internal monitoring, or disabling access leaves networks vulnerable or disrupts services.
Question 143
A company wants to prevent unauthorized modification of sensitive configuration files on servers. Which solution provides the most effective protection while maintaining operational flexibility?
A) Allowing unrestricted file modification
B) Implementing file integrity monitoring (FIM) with access controls and alerts
C) Trusting administrators to protect files manually
D) Disabling server access to prevent modification
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Configuration files are critical for system operation, security, and service availability. Allowing unrestricted modification is extremely risky. Unauthorized changes can compromise security settings, introduce vulnerabilities, or disrupt services. Attackers exploiting misconfigured files may escalate privileges, exfiltrate data, or cause downtime.
Trusting administrators to protect files manually is insufficient. Even skilled personnel may make errors, overlook changes, or fail to detect malicious modifications. Human oversight cannot enforce continuous protection or auditing, leaving systems vulnerable to accidental or deliberate alterations.
Disabling server access entirely prevents modifications but is impractical. Administrators must maintain systems, deploy updates, and manage configurations. Blocking all access reduces operational efficiency and prevents necessary maintenance, leading to operational bottlenecks or shadow IT practices.
Implementing File Integrity Monitoring with access controls and alerts provides the most effective protection. FIM continuously monitors critical files for unauthorized or unexpected changes, generating alerts for immediate investigation. Access controls enforce the principle of least privilege, restricting modification rights to authorized personnel only. Integration with centralized monitoring and SIEM solutions allows correlation of events and automated response, supporting compliance and forensic analysis. Logging provides accountability, enabling administrators to track who modified files, when, and why. Alerts enable rapid remediation of unauthorized changes, reducing the risk of compromise or service disruption. This layered approach balances security, visibility, and operational flexibility, allowing legitimate administrative changes while preventing unauthorized modifications. FIM combined with access controls and alerts is proactive, enforceable, and scalable, ensuring configuration integrity while supporting operational efficiency.
The reasoning demonstrates that FIM with access controls and alerts provides comprehensive protection. Unrestricted modification, reliance on manual protection, or disabled access either exposes systems to risk or hinders operations.
Question 144
A company wants to enforce secure remote access for employees working from home. Which solution provides the most effective protection while maintaining usability?
A) Allowing direct access to internal systems over the internet
B) Implementing VPN with MFA, endpoint posture checks, and access controls
C) Trusting employees to secure their home networks
D) Disabling remote access entirely
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Remote access is essential for distributed workforces but introduces risks, including credential theft, malware propagation, and unauthorized access. Allowing direct access to internal systems over the internet is highly risky. Without encryption, authentication, or monitoring, attackers can intercept traffic, exploit weak credentials, or compromise endpoints. Direct access increases exposure and reduces accountability.
Trusting employees to secure their home networks is insufficient. Home networks often lack enterprise-level protections, are vulnerable to compromise, and may be shared with others. Relying solely on employee diligence cannot enforce consistent security, leaving endpoints and corporate resources exposed.
Disabling remote access prevents risk but significantly reduces operational efficiency. Many employees rely on remote access for productivity, collaboration, and business continuity. Blocking access may lead to alternative, unsanctioned solutions that increase security exposure.
Implementing VPN with MFA, endpoint posture checks, and access controls provides the most effective protection. VPN encrypts traffic, preventing interception, while MFA ensures that only authorized users can authenticate. Endpoint posture checks verify device compliance with security policies, such as patch levels, antivirus status, and encryption, before granting access. Access controls enforce least privilege, restricting resources to those needed for job functions. Integration with centralized monitoring enables detection of anomalies, alerts for suspicious activity, and auditing for compliance purposes. This layered approach maintains usability, allowing employees to work remotely securely while enforcing corporate policies. Organizations achieve proactive security, operational efficiency, and compliance with regulatory requirements. VPN with MFA, endpoint posture checks, and access controls is proactive, enforceable, and scalable across a distributed workforce.
The reasoning demonstrates that a VPN with MFA, endpoint posture checks, and access controls provides comprehensive protection. Direct access, reliance on employee network security, or disabled remote access either exposes systems or disrupts operations.
Question 145
A company wants to prevent malware infections from removable media used by employees. Which solution provides the most effective protection while maintaining workflow?
A) Allowing any removable media to connect freely
B) Implementing endpoint device control with malware scanning, whitelisting, and access restrictions
C) Trusting employees not to connect infected devices
D) Disabling all removable media entirely
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Removable media is a common vector for malware, ransomware, and unauthorized data transfer. Allowing any device to connect freely is highly risky. Malicious devices can introduce malware, exfiltrate data, or compromise system integrity. Unrestricted media increases attack surfaces, exposes sensitive information, and complicates auditing or compliance efforts.
Trusting employees not to connect infected devices is insufficient. Human error, negligence, or social engineering can result in malware infection despite training. Relying solely on employee vigilance cannot enforce security policies or provide continuous protection.
Disabling all removable media eliminates risk but disrupts legitimate workflow. Employees often rely on removable media for offline work, data transfer, or backup. Blocking all devices reduces productivity and may encourage unsafe alternative methods, increasing overall risk.
Implementing endpoint device control with malware scanning, whitelisting, and access restrictions provides the most effective protection. Device control policies enforce rules on which devices can connect, restricting unauthorized or high-risk hardware. Whitelisting ensures only approved devices are allowed, while malware scanning inspects files for threats before access is granted. Access restrictions enforce least privilege, limiting what actions users can perform with connected devices. Logging and monitoring provide visibility and support incident response, while integration with endpoint management ensures consistent enforcement and reporting. This layered approach balances security and operational efficiency, allowing legitimate devices while preventing malware introduction. Endpoint device control with scanning and whitelisting is proactive, enforceable, and scalable, ensuring workplace safety without compromising productivity.
The reasoning demonstrates that endpoint device control with malware scanning, whitelisting, and access restrictions provides comprehensive protection. Unrestricted device use, reliance on employee vigilance, or disabling media either exposes systems to malware or hinders workflow.
Question 146
A company wants to secure access to cloud applications while minimizing the risk of credential compromise. Which solution provides the most effective protection without disrupting user productivity?
A) Allowing users to log in with only passwords
B) Implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and conditional access policies
C) Trusting users to create strong passwords and manage them securely
D) Disabling cloud access to prevent credential misuse
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Cloud applications often store sensitive business data and facilitate collaboration, making them a prime target for attackers seeking credentials. Allowing users to log in with only passwords is extremely risky. Passwords alone are vulnerable to phishing, brute-force attacks, credential stuffing, and reuse across multiple services. If an attacker gains access to a single password, they may compromise multiple accounts, leading to data breaches, operational disruption, or regulatory violations.
Trusting users to create strong passwords and manage them securely is insufficient. Even well-trained employees are prone to using weak or reused passwords, forgetting credentials, or falling victim to social engineering attacks. Human behavior is inconsistent, and relying solely on employees does not provide enforceable security or centralized monitoring. Credential compromise remains a significant threat under this approach.
Disabling cloud access to prevent credential misuse eliminates risk but disrupts business operations. Employees depend on cloud applications for daily tasks such as collaboration, file sharing, customer relationship management, and productivity tools. Blocking access reduces productivity, creates workflow bottlenecks, and may lead to shadow IT solutions that introduce further security risks.
Implementing Single Sign-On with Multi-Factor Authentication and conditional access policies provides the most effective protection. SSO centralizes authentication, reducing the number of credentials users must remember, which decreases the likelihood of password reuse and simplifies management. MFA adds a layer of verification, requiring users to provide something they know (password) and something they have (device token, mobile app, or biometric factor), which significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Conditional access policies enforce access based on factors such as device compliance, location, time, or risk profile, ensuring that only trusted devices and users gain access to critical applications. Integration with identity management and monitoring systems allows security teams to detect suspicious behavior, revoke access, and audit events. This layered approach balances security, usability, and operational efficiency, protecting sensitive data while maintaining productivity. By combining SSO, MFA, and conditional access, organizations enforce enforceable and scalable protections against credential compromise without disrupting user workflow.
The reasoning demonstrates that SSO with MFA and conditional access is proactive, enforceable, and scalable. Password-only logins, reliance on employee vigilance, or disabling cloud access either expose systems to compromise or disrupt business operations.
Question 147
A company wants to ensure that all devices connecting to its network are secure and compliant. Which solution provides the most effective protection while maintaining usability?
A) Allowing all devices to connect without checks
B) Implementing Network Access Control (NAC) with endpoint compliance checks and quarantine
C) Trusting users to secure their devices
D) Disabling network access to prevent insecure devices
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Network security requires assurance that devices connecting to the network meet baseline security standards. Allowing all devices to connect without checks is extremely risky. Compromised or misconfigured devices may introduce malware, exploit vulnerabilities, or expose sensitive information. Unrestricted access increases attack surfaces and makes incident response more difficult.
Trusting users to secure their devices is insufficient. Users may lack technical knowledge, fail to apply patches, or inadvertently install insecure software. Human behavior is inconsistent, and relying solely on employee diligence cannot enforce security or compliance. This approach leaves endpoints unverified and increases the risk of breaches.
Disabling network access entirely prevents insecure devices from connecting, but disrupts productivity. Many business operations rely on network connectivity for communication, file access, and cloud services. Blocking access to all devices is impractical and may force users to find alternative, potentially insecure solutions.
Implementing Network Access Control with endpoint compliance checks and quarantine provides the most effective protection. NAC evaluates devices before granting access, checking factors such as operating system version, antivirus status, encryption, and patch levels. Non-compliant devices can be automatically placed in a quarantine network where they cannot access critical resources but can receive remediation updates. NAC integrates with identity and endpoint management, enabling continuous monitoring, logging, and enforcement of security policies. Alerts allow administrators to respond rapidly to threats or non-compliance. This layered approach balances security and usability, ensuring only trusted devices can access the network while maintaining operational efficiency. NAC solutions are scalable, enforceable, and adaptive, providing proactive protection against compromised or insecure endpoints without disrupting legitimate network access.
The reasoning demonstrates that NAC with compliance checks and quarantine provides comprehensive protection. Allowing all devices, relying solely on user vigilance, or disabling access either exposes the network or hinders operations.
Question 148
A company wants to protect sensitive data stored on endpoints from ransomware attacks. Which solution provides the most effective protection while maintaining usability?
A) Allowing unrestricted access to local files
B) Implementing endpoint protection with anti-ransomware, real-time monitoring, and backup integration
C) Trusting employees to avoid malware
D) Disabling file storage on endpoints entirely
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Endpoints are a primary target for ransomware attacks, which encrypt files and demand payment for decryption. Allowing unrestricted access to local files is highly risky. Malicious software can encrypt or exfiltrate data without detection, causing operational disruption, financial loss, and reputational damage.
Trusting employees to avoid malware is insufficient. Even well-trained personnel may inadvertently open malicious attachments, click phishing links, or connect compromised devices. Human behavior alone cannot enforce protection, and reliance on vigilance leaves endpoints exposed to ransomware.
Disabling file storage on endpoints prevents ransomware from encrypting data locally but severely disrupts operations. Employees require access to files for productivity, collaboration, and business functions. Blocking storage eliminates usability, forcing workarounds that may increase risk.
Implementing endpoint protection with anti-ransomware, real-time monitoring, and backup integration provides the most effective protection. Anti-ransomware tools detect and block encryption attempts and malicious processes before they compromise data. Real-time monitoring provides continuous threat detection, alerting administrators to suspicious activity and enabling rapid response. Backup integration ensures that files can be restored from secure copies if ransomware succeeds, reducing downtime and data loss. Centralized management allows policy enforcement, reporting, and compliance monitoring. This layered approach balances security and usability, preventing ransomware impact while maintaining productivity. Integration with endpoint management and network security enhances protection, providing enforceable and scalable defenses. Organizations achieve proactive protection, continuous monitoring, and rapid recovery without disrupting normal operations.
The reasoning demonstrates that endpoint protection with anti-ransomware, monitoring, and backups is proactive, enforceable, and scalable. Unrestricted access, reliance on employee vigilance, or disabling storage either exposes endpoints or prevents legitimate use.
Question 149
A company wants to secure sensitive databases from unauthorized access. Which solution provides the strongest protection while maintaining operational efficiency?
A) Allowing all users unrestricted database access
B) Implementing database access controls, encryption at rest, and auditing
C) Trusting administrators to manage access manually
D) Disabling database access to prevent misuse
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Databases store critical information, including personal data, financial records, and intellectual property. Allowing all users unrestricted access is extremely risky. Unauthorized users could read, modify, or delete data, potentially causing breaches, financial loss, or regulatory violations. Lack of access control increases exposure and reduces accountability.
Trusting administrators to manage access manually is insufficient. Even experienced personnel may make errors or fail to apply consistent policies. Manual management lacks enforceability, auditability, and scalability, leaving databases vulnerable to human error or malicious actions.
Disabling database access entirely can prevent unauthorized use or data misuse, but it introduces significant operational challenges that often outweigh the security benefits. Employees rely on database access for a wide range of critical tasks, including data analysis, reporting, application development, and day-to-day business operations. When access is removed, these essential activities are interrupted, creating workflow bottlenecks and slowing organizational productivity. Teams may be unable to complete tasks on time, delaying reporting cycles, business decision-making, or the deployment of applications that depend on real-time data.
Moreover, restricting access too severely can encourage employees to seek alternative methods to obtain or manipulate data. This often results in shadow IT practices, where individuals use personal devices, third-party tools, or unsecured databases to bypass restrictions. Such workarounds can introduce significant security risks, including unmonitored data storage, weak access controls, and potential data leakage. In effect, disabling access without implementing controlled alternatives may unintentionally increase exposure rather than reduce it.
A balanced approach is required to maintain both security and operational efficiency. Role-based access controls, least privilege principles, and monitoring tools allow organizations to grant employees the access necessary to perform their jobs while still enforcing policies that prevent misuse. Auditing, logging, and anomaly detection can provide visibility into database activity, ensuring that inappropriate actions are detected and addressed without halting legitimate workflows. By combining controlled access with monitoring, organizations can protect sensitive data while maintaining productivity and avoiding the risks associated with overly restrictive policies.
Completely disabling database access may reduce direct misuse, but it disrupts operations and encourages risky workarounds. Implementing managed, monitored access is a more effective strategy that balances security with operational needs.
Implementing database access controls, encryption at rest, and auditing provides the strongest protection. Access controls enforce least privilege, ensuring users can only access data necessary for their roles. Encryption at rest protects sensitive information even if the storage media is compromised. Auditing captures database activity, including read, write, and modification events, enabling accountability, incident response, and compliance reporting. Integration with centralized identity and access management enables dynamic policy enforcement, automated user provisioning, and rapid revocation of access. Alerts allow administrators to respond to suspicious activity promptly. This layered approach balances security, integrity, and operational efficiency. Organizations achieve proactive protection, continuous monitoring, and enforceable controls without disrupting business processes. Access controls, encryption, and auditing are scalable across multiple databases and environments.
The reasoning demonstrates that database access controls, encryption, and auditing provide proactive, enforceable, and scalable protection. Unrestricted access, reliance on manual administration, or disabling databases either exposes data or hinders productivity.
Question 150
A company wants to ensure the integrity and authenticity of software updates applied across all endpoints. Which solution provides the most effective protection while maintaining availability?
A) Installing updates from any source without verification
B) Implementing digitally signed updates, secure distribution channels, and automated verification
C) Trusting employees to manually verify updates
D) Disabling updates to avoid potential errors
Answer: B)
Explanation:
Software updates are critical for security, functionality, and performance. Installing updates from any source without verification is extremely risky. Malicious actors can distribute tampered or malicious updates, leading to compromise, malware infection, or data loss. Unverified updates create exposure and undermine system integrity.
Relying solely on employees to manually verify software updates is an inadequate approach to maintaining secure and reliable systems. While administrators or IT personnel may attempt to ensure that updates are authentic and properly applied, human verification is inherently error-prone and inconsistent. Even experienced staff can overlook subtle discrepancies, misread digital signatures, or inadvertently skip verification steps due to workload, distractions, or fatigue. Small mistakes in the update process can introduce significant vulnerabilities, such as installing tampered or incomplete software that attackers could exploit. Human error is unavoidable, and when manual verification is the primary security measure, it creates gaps that attackers can target, undermining the organization’s overall security posture.
Manual verification also lacks scalability. In large organizations with hundreds or thousands of endpoints, expecting staff to individually verify every update is impractical and time-consuming. The larger the infrastructure, the more likely mistakes or omissions will occur, leaving some systems unprotected or inconsistently updated. Attackers often exploit this variability, targeting systems that are overlooked or improperly verified. The lack of centralized, automated enforcement means that even a single unpatched or compromised endpoint can become a foothold for attackers, enabling them to move laterally across the network and escalate privileges. In this way, relying on human verification introduces systemic risk across the organization.
Furthermore, manual verification cannot provide continuous monitoring or real-time alerts. Updates may be released frequently, and vulnerabilities are often exploited quickly once publicly disclosed. Human verification processes are not capable of continuously ensuring that all endpoints are current or that updates have not been altered or corrupted. Without automated systems to validate update integrity, organizations have limited visibility into the status of software across their environment, making it difficult to detect anomalies or respond promptly to potential compromises. Delays or inconsistencies in verification increase the window of vulnerability, allowing attackers to exploit unpatched or maliciously altered software.
Automated, centralized update management provides a far more reliable and secure approach. Tools that enforce digital signature verification, apply updates consistently, and report compliance across all endpoints eliminate human error and ensure that only authentic, unaltered software is installed. These systems can scale to large infrastructures, provide real-time monitoring, and alert administrators to failures, tampering, or noncompliance, reducing risk and improving operational efficiency. By combining automated verification with human oversight for exceptional cases, organizations can ensure both security and reliability, while avoiding the limitations of manual processes.
Trusting employees to manually verify updates is insufficient because human error, inconsistency, and lack of scalability leave endpoints vulnerable. Manual processes cannot guarantee that all updates are authentic or correctly applied, and they fail to provide continuous monitoring and enforcement. Automated update management solutions are essential for maintaining the integrity, security, and reliability of systems across an organization, reducing risk, and ensuring timely protection against emerging threats.
Disabling updates avoids potential errors but severely reduces security. Unpatched software contains vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit, leading to breaches, ransomware, or system compromise. Blocking updates also prevents access to new features and performance improvements, reducing operational efficiency.
Implementing digitally signed updates, secure distribution channels, and automated verification provides the most effective protection. Digital signatures ensure authenticity and integrity, allowing endpoints to verify that updates are from trusted sources and have not been altered. Secure distribution channels, such as HTTPS or VPN, prevent interception or tampering during transit. Automated verification ensures all endpoints receive and apply updates correctly without human intervention. Integration with endpoint management systems enables centralized control, reporting, and compliance auditing. Alerts notify administrators of failed or unverified updates, supporting proactive response. This layered approach balances security, reliability, and operational efficiency, ensuring endpoints remain secure and functional. Organizations can maintain system integrity, reduce the risk of compromise, and enforce scalable, consistent update processes across all devices.
The reasoning demonstrates that digitally signed updates, secure distribution, and automated verification are proactive, enforceable, and scalable. Unverified updates, reliance on manual oversight, or disabled updates either expose systems or hinder operations.