Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)Information Security Risk ManagementMedium
A CISO is evaluating the effectiveness of the organization's information security program. Recent internal audits indicate a high rate of compliance with security policies, but there is still concern about the overall security posture due to emerging threats. Which of the following actions would BEST help the CISO assess the true effectiveness of the program against real-world threats?
- ABenchmark the program against industry best practices and frameworks.
- BIncrease the frequency of internal and external compliance audits.
- CImplement a continuous monitoring program for critical assets and systems.
- DConduct a comprehensive review of all security policies and procedures.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Implement a continuous monitoring program for critical assets and systems.
While compliance audits check adherence to policies, continuous monitoring provides real-time visibility into the security state of critical assets, allowing for proactive detection and response to 'emerging threats' in a dynamic environment, thus assessing true effectiveness beyond mere compliance.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Benchmarking provides comparative insights but doesn't offer a direct, real-time assessment of the program's effectiveness in defending against current threats.
- B. Increasing compliance audits verifies adherence to policies but doesn't necessarily measure the program's effectiveness against actual, evolving threats.
- D. Reviewing policies ensures they are up-to-date but doesn't directly assess their effectiveness against active threats.
Continuous Monitoring
The ongoing process of maintaining awareness of information security vulnerabilities and threats to support organizational risk management decisions.
- Provides real-time visibility into security posture.
- Enables proactive threat detection and response.
- Goes beyond periodic audits for dynamic risk management.
Memory trick: Continuous monitoring catches current threats.