Pass the Shared Assessments Third Party Risk Management CTPRP Questions and answers with CertsForce

 Security vulnerabilities and security defects are not synonymous, but rather different concepts that relate to the security of software products or services. A security vulnerability is a weakness or flaw in the software that can be exploited by an attacker to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the system or data12. A security defect is a mistake or error in the software code that causes the software to behave in an unexpected or incorrect way34. A security defect may or may not lead to a security vulnerability, depending on the context and impact of the defect. For example, a security defect that causes a buffer overflow may result in a security vulnerability that allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system. However, a security defect that causes a spelling error in the user interface may not pose a security risk at all.

Security vulnerabilities and security defects have different causes, consequences, and solutions. Security vulnerabilities are often caused by design flaws, logic errors, or insufficient security controls in the software12. Security defects are often caused by poor coding practices, lack of testing, or human mistakes in the software development process34. Security vulnerabilities can have severe consequences for the software users, providers, and stakeholders, such as data breaches, identity theft, fraud, or sabotage12. Security defects can have various consequences for the software functionality, performance, or usability, such as crashes, glitches, or bugs34. Security vulnerabilities require proactive and reactive measures to prevent, detect, and mitigate the potential attacks, such as security testing, patching, monitoring, and incident response12. Security defects require corrective and preventive measures to identify, resolve, and avoid the errors, such as code review, debugging, refactoring, and quality assurance34.

Therefore, the statement that security vulnerabilities and security defects are synonymous is FALSE. They are distinct but related aspects of software security that require different approaches and techniques to address them. References: 1: What is a Software Vulnerability? | Veracode 2: Software Security: differences between vulnerabilities and Defects 3: What is a Software Defect? - Definition from Techopedia 4: Are vulnerabilities discovered and resolved like other defects? - Springer

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an electronic authentication method that requires a user to present two or more pieces of evidence (or factors) to an authentication mechanism. The factors can be something the user knows (such as a password or a PIN), something the user has (such as a smartphone or a security token), or something the user is (such as a fingerprint or a facial recognition). MFA enhances the security of online accounts and applications by making it harder for attackers to gain access with stolen or guessed credentials. MFA is recommended as a best practice for third-party risk management, as it can reduce the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and identity theft. MFA is also a requirement for some regulatory standards and frameworks, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and NIST 800-63. References:

What is: Multifactor Authentication

Set up your Microsoft 365 sign-in for multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication - Wikipedia

Shared Assessments CTPRP Study Guide, page 19

Shared Assessments CTPRP Job Guide, page 14

Best Practices Guidance for Third Party Risk, page 9

The most important factor when scoping assessments of cloud-based third parties that access, process, and retain personal data is to identify the type of cloud hosting deployment or service model. This is because different cloud models have different implications for the allocation of security responsibilities between the third party and the cloud hosting provider. For example, in a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, the cloud provider is responsible for most of the security controls, while in an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model, the third party is responsible for securing its own data and applications. Therefore, it is essential to understand the type of cloud model and the corresponding security roles and responsibilities before conducting an assessment. This will help to avoid gaps, overlaps, or conflicts in security controls and expectations. References:

Guidance on Cloud Security Assessment and Authorization - ITSP.50.105, Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, May 2020, Section 2.1.1

The Importance of Properly Scoping Cloud Environments, PCI Security Standards Council and Cloud Security Alliance, August 2021

Third party and cloud: Regulatory challenges, KPMG, 2022, Section 2.1

Certified Third Party Risk Professional (CTPRP) Study Guide, Shared Assessments, 2021, Section 4.2.2

A Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is a process of determining the criticality of business activities and associated resource requirements to ensure operational resilience and continuity of operations during and after a business disruption1. A BIA is used to identify the potential impacts of disruptions on business processes, such as lost sales, delayed revenue, increased expenses, regulatory fines, or contractual penalties2. A BIA is not concerned with the probability or causes of disruptions, but rather with the effects and consequences of disruptions3. Therefore, a BIA typically does not include requiring vendor participation in testing, as this is a part of the business continuity and disaster recovery planning and implementation, not the impact analysis. Vendor participation in testing is important to validate the effectiveness and alignment of the vendor’s business continuity and disaster recovery plans with the organization’s objectives and expectations, but it is not a component of the BIA itself. References: 1: Using Business Impact Analysis to Inform Risk Prioritization and Response 2: Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Prepare for Anything [2024] • Asana 3: The Difference Between a Vendor’s BIA and Risk Analysis - Venminder : Best Practices Guidance for Third Party Risk

Continuous monitoring is a process of collecting and analyzing data on the performance and security of third-party vendors on an ongoing basis. Continuous monitoring helps to identify and mitigate potential risks, such as data breaches, credential exposures, insider fraud/theft, and other cyber incidents, that may affect the organization and its customers. Continuous monitoring can use various techniques, such as monitoring surface, vulnerabilities, passive and active indicators of compromise, and business intelligence.

Passive and active indicators of compromise are examples of continuous monitoring techniques that track the signs of malicious activity or compromise on the third-party vendor’s systems or networks. Passive indicators of compromise are data sources that do not require direct interaction with the target, such as threat intelligence feeds, dark web monitoring, or external scanning. Active indicators of compromise are data sources that require direct interaction with the target, such as penetration testing, malware analysis, or incident response. Both passive and active indicators of compromise can provide valuable information on the current state and potential threats of the third-party vendor’s environment.

The other options are not examples of continuous monitoring techniques that track breach, credential exposure and insider fraud/theft alerts. Monitoring surface is a technique that measures the size and complexity of the third-party vendor’s attack surface, such as the number and type of internet-facing assets, domains, and services. Vulnerabilities are a technique that identifies the weaknesses or flaws in the third-party vendor’s systems or applications that can be exploited by attackers, such as outdated software, misconfigurations, or unpatched bugs. Business intelligence is a technique that analyzes the business performance and reputation of the third-party vendor, such as financial stability, customer satisfaction, or regulatory compliance. References:

Guide: Continuous Monitoring for Third-Party Risk

Continuous Monitoring - Third Party Risk Management

12 Ongoing Monitoring Best Practices for Third-Party Risk Management

In the context of Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) requirements within the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), a process for data destruction and disposal is not typically considered a key component. The primary focus within SDLC in TPRM is on ensuring secure software development practices, which includes maintaining artifacts to prove that SDLC gates are executed, conducting software security testing, and having processes in place for fixing security defects. While data destruction and disposal are important security considerations, they are generally associated with data lifecycle management and information security management practices rather than being integral to the SDLC process itself.

References:

Best practices in secure software development, as outlined in frameworks like the Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) by NIST, emphasize the importance of secure coding, vulnerability testing, and remediation processes rather than data disposal practices.

The "Software Security Framework (SSF)" by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) provides guidance on integrating security practices into the SDLC, focusing on areas like threat modeling, secure coding, and security testing.

This statement does not reflect current practice in addressing fourth party risk or subcontracting risk because it is not sufficient to rely on external audit reports alone. Outsourcers should also perform their own due diligence and monitoring of the subcontractors, as well as ensure that the third party has a robust TPRM program in place. External audit reports may not cover all the relevant aspects of subcontracting risk, such as data security, compliance, performance, and quality. Moreover, external audit reports may not be timely, accurate, or consistent, and may not reflect the current state of the subcontractor’s operations. Therefore, outsourcers should adopt a more proactive and comprehensive approach to managing subcontracting risk, rather than relying on external audit reports. References:

Shared Assessments Program, page 13: “Outsourcers should not rely solely on external audit reports to address subcontracting risk. Outsourcers should also inspect the vendor’s TPRM program and require evidence of the assessments of subcontractors.”

Five Best Practices to Manage and Control Third-Party Risk, page 3: "Restricting privileged accounts

 A regulation is a rule of order having the force of law, prescribed by a superior or competent authority, relating to the actions of those under the authority’s control. Regulations are issued by various government departments and agencies to carry out the intent of legislation enacted by the legislature of the applicable jurisdiction. Regulations also function to ensure uniform application of the law. A standard is a guideline established generally by private-sector bodies and that are available for use by any person or organization, private or government. The term includes what are commonly referred to as ‘industry standards’ as well as ‘consensus standards’. Standards are developed through a voluntary process of collaboration and consensus among stakeholders, such as manufacturers, consumers, regulators, and experts. Standards may reflect best practices, technical specifications, performance criteria, or quality requirements. Standards do not have the force of law unless they are adopted or referenced by a regulation. Therefore, a regulation must be adhered to by all companies subject to its requirements, but companies can voluntarily choose to follow standards that are relevant and beneficial to their operations, products, or services. References:

The Difference Between Regulations and Standards

Regulations vs Standards: Clearing Up the Confusion - AEM

Standards vs. Regulations

Certified Third Party Risk Professional (CTPRP) Study Guide

Inherent risk refers to the level of risk that exists in the absence of any controls or mitigation measures. It represents the natural exposure to risk in operations, transactions, or activities without considering the effectiveness of any risk management practices. In the context of Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM), inherent risk assesses the potential for loss or adverse outcomes associated with a third-party relationship before any controls or risk treatments are applied. Understanding inherent risk is crucial for organizations to identify where controls are necessary and to prioritize risk management efforts based on the potential impact and likelihood of different risks. This concept is foundational in risk management frameworks and is used to guide the development and implementation of controls to reduce risk to an acceptable level, aligned with the organization's risk appetite and tolerance.

References:

Risk management standards such as ISO 31000 (Risk Management - Guidelines) provide a framework for assessing and managing inherent risks, emphasizing the importance of understanding the baseline level of risk in decision-making processes.

The "Third-Party Risk Management Guide" by ISACA outlines best practices for assessing inherent risks in third-party relationships, highlighting the need to evaluate the nature and scope of third-party engagements to determine the baseline risk exposure.

Threat modeling is a core element of the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) and a structured approach to identify, quantify, and address the security risks associated with an application12. Threat modeling helps to shape the application’s design, meet the security objectives, and reduce risk1. The best time to perform threat modeling analysis is before the application design and development activities begin, as this allows the application service provider to:

Communicate about the security design of their systems1.

Analyze the design for potential security issues using a proven methodology1.

Suggest and manage mitigations for security issues1.

Incorporate security requirements into the design2.

Avoid costly rework or redesign later in the SDLC2.

Identify the most critical and relevant threats to focus on2. References: 1: Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle Threat Modelling1 2: Threat Modeling Process | OWASP Foundation2