[References: The CISM Review Manual 2023 states that “the information security manager is responsible for ensuring that the security configuration of information systems is in compliance with the security policies and standards of the organization” and that “the information security manager should establish and implement standard security configurations for information systems and devices, and monitor and review the security configuration on a regular basis and take corrective actions when deviations or violations are detected” (p. 138). The CISM Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual 2023 also provides the following rationale for this answer: “Control vulnerabilities and reduce threats from changed configurations is the correct answer because it is the primary objective of implementing standard security configurations, as it helps to maintain the security posture and functionality of information systems and devices, and to prevent or mitigate potential security incidents caused by misconfigurations, unauthorized modifications, or malicious attacks” (p. 63). Additionally, the article Standard Security Configurations from the ISACA Journal 2017 states that “standard security configurations are the baseline settings and parameters that define the desired security level and functionality of information systems and devices” and that “standard security configurations can help to control vulnerabilities and reduce threats from changed configurations by ensuring that the information systems and devices are configured in a consistent and secure manner, and that any deviations or changes from the standard are detected and corrected” (p. 1), , , , , , , , ]