ZTA utilizes which of the following to improve the network's security posture?
A. Micro-segmentation and encryption
B. Compliance analytics and network communication
C. Network communication and micro-segmentation
D. Encryption and compliance analytics
A
ZTA uses micro-segmentation to divide the network into smaller, isolated segments that can prevent
unauthorized access and contain lateral movement. ZTA also uses encryption to protect data in
transit and at rest from eavesdropping and tampering.
Scenario: A multinational org uses ZTA to enhance security. They
collaborate with third-party service providers for remote access to
specific resources. How can ZTA policies authenticate third-party
users and devices for accessing resources?
A. ZTA policies can implement robust encryption and secure access
controls to prevent access to services from stolen devices, ensuring
that only legitimate users can access mobile services.
B. ZTA policies should prioritize securing remote users through
technologies like virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and corporate
cloud workstation resources to reduce the risk of lateral movement via
compromised access controls.
C. ZTA policies can be configured to authenticate third-party users
and their devices, determining the necessary access privileges for
resources while concealing all other assets to minimize the attack
surface.
D. ZTA policies should primarily educate users about secure practices
and promote strong authentication for services accessed via mobile
devices to prevent data compromise.
C
ZTA is based on the principle of never trusting any user or device by default, regardless of their
location or ownership. ZTA policies can use various methods to verify the identity and context of
third-party users and devices, such as tokens, certificates, multifactor authentication, device posture
assessment, etc. ZTA policies can also enforce granular and dynamic access policies that grant the
minimum necessary privileges to third-party users and devices for accessing specific resources, while
hiding all other assets from their view. This reduces the attack surface and prevents unauthorized
access and lateral movement within the network.
Which ZT tenet is based on the notion that malicious actors reside
inside and outside the network?
A. Assume breach
B. Assume a hostile environment
C. Scrutinize explicitly
D. Requiring continuous monitoring
A
The ZT tenet of assume breach is based on the notion that malicious actors reside inside and outside
the network, and that any user, device, or service can be compromised at any time. Therefore, ZT
requires continuous verification and validation of all entities and transactions, and does not rely on
implicit trust or perimeter-based defenses
During ZT planning, which of the following determines the scope of
the target state definition? Select the best answer.
A. Risk appetite
B. Risk assessment
C. Service level agreements
D. Risk register
A
The scope of the target state definition in Zero Trust planning is significantly influenced by an
organization's risk appetite. This entails a strategic evaluation of the level of risk an organization is
willing to accept in pursuit of its objectives. Continuous authentication and authorization, integral to
Zero Trust, adapt to the dynamic state of threats and the organization's risk posture, ensuring that
authorization decisions align with the prevailing risk appetite and the changing security landscape.
Of the following options, which risk/threat does SDP mitigate by
mandating micro-segmentation and implementing least privilege?
A. Identification and authentication failures
B. Injection
C. Security logging and monitoring failures
D. Broken access control
D
SDP mitigates the risk of broken access control by mandating micro-segmentation and implementing
least privilege. Micro-segmentation divides the network into smaller, isolated segments that can
prevent unauthorized access and contain lateral movement. Least privilege grants the minimum
necessary access to users and devices for specific resources, while hiding all other assets from their
view. This reduces the attack surface and prevents attackers from exploiting weak or misconfigured
access controls
What should an organization's data and asset classification be based on?
A. Location of data
B. History of data
C. Sensitivity of data
D. Recovery of data
C
Data and asset classification should be based on the sensitivity of data, which is the degree to which
the data requires protection from unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure. Data sensitivity is
determined by the potential impact of data loss, theft, or corruption on the organization, its
customers, and its partners. Data sensitivity can also be influenced by legal, regulatory, and
contractual obligations.
Reference=
Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit
, page 10, section 2.1.1
Identify and protect sensitive business data with Zero Trust
, section 1
Secure data with Zero Trust
, section 1
SP 800-207, Zero Trust Architecture
, page 9, section 3.2.1
Which security tools or capabilities can be utilized to automate the
response to security events and incidents?
A. Single packet authorization (SPA)
B. Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR)
C. Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
D. Security information and event management (SIEM)
B
SOAR is a collection of software programs developed to bolster an organization’s cybersecurity
posture. SOAR tools can automate the response to security events and incidents by executing
predefined workflows or playbooks, which can include tasks such as alert triage, threat detection,
containment, mitigation, and remediation. SOAR tools can also orchestrate the integration of various
security tools and data sources, and provide centralized dashboards and reporting for security
operations.
Reference=
Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit
, page 23, section 3.2.2
Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) - Gartner
Tools, Process and Best Practices - Cynet
, section “What are the different types
of security automation tools?”
Introduction to automation in Microsoft Sentinel
Network architects should consider__________ before selecting an SDP model.
Select the best answer.
A. leadership buy-in
B. gateways
C. their use case
D. cost
C
Different SDP deployment models have different advantages and disadvantages depending on the
organization’s use case, such as the type of resources to be protected, the location of the clients and
servers, the network topology, the scalability, the performance, and the security requirements.
Network architects should consider their use case before selecting an SDP model that best suits their
needs and goals.
Reference=
Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit
, page 21, section 3.1.2
6 SDP Deployment Models to Achieve Zero Trust | CSA
, section “Deployment Models Explained”
Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) and Zero Trust | CSA
, page 7, section 3.1
Why SDP Matters in Zero Trust | SonicWall
, section “SDP Deployment Models”
Which component in a ZTA is responsible for deciding whether to
grant access to a resource?
A. The policy enforcement point (PEP)
B. The policy administrator (PA)
C. The policy engine (PE)
D. The policy component
C
The policy engine (PE) is the component in a ZTA that is responsible for deciding whether to grant
access to a resource. The PE evaluates the policies and the contextual data collected from various
sources, such as the user identity, the device posture, the network location, the resource attributes,
and the environmental factors, and then generates an access decision. The PE communicates the
access decision to the policy enforcement point (PEP), which enforces the decision on the resource.
Reference=
Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit
, page 14, section 2.2.2
What Is Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)? - F5
, section “Policy Engine”
What is Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)? | NextLabs
, section “Core Components”
[SP 800-207, Zero Trust Architecture], page 11, section 3.3.1
What is the function of the rule-based security policies configured
on the policy decision point (PDP)?
A. Define rules that specify how information can flow
B. Define rules that specify multi-factor authentication (MFA)
requirements
C. Define rules that map roles to users
D. Define rules that control the entitlements to assets
A
The rule-based security policies configured on the Policy Decision Point (PDP) are designed to define
rules that specify how information can flow within an organization's network. These rules are
integral to implementing the principle of least privilege and ensuring that data is accessed only by
authorized entities under strict conditions. By controlling information flow, the PDP helps in
mitigating the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access, reinforcing the Zero Trust model's
emphasis on stringent access control and continuous verification of trust.
To respond quickly to changes while implementing ZT Strategy, an
organization requires a mindset and culture of
A. learning and growth.
B. continuous risk evaluation and policy adjustment.
C. continuous process improvement.
D. project governance.
B
To respond quickly to changes while implementing ZT Strategy, an organization requires a mindset
and culture of continuous risk evaluation and policy adjustment. This means that the organization
should constantly monitor the threat landscape, assess the security posture, and update the policies
and controls accordingly to maintain a high level of protection and resilience. The organization
should also embrace feedback, learning, and improvement as part of the ZT journey.
Reference=
Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit
, page 7, section 1.3
Cultivating a Zero Trust mindset - AWS Prescriptive Guidance
, section “Continuous learning and
improvement”
a paradigm shift in cybersecurity - PwC
, section “Continuous monitoring and
improvement”
What is one of the key purposes of leveraging visibility & analytics
capabilities in a ZTA?
A. Automatically granting access to all requested applications and
data.
B. Ensuring device compatibility with legacy applications.
C. Enhancing network performance for faster data access.
D. Continually evaluating user behavior against a baseline to identify
unusual actions.
D
One of the key purposes of leveraging visibility & analytics capabilities in a ZTA is to continually
evaluate user behavior against a baseline to identify unusual actions. This helps to detect and
respond to potential threats, anomalies, and deviations from the normal patterns of user activity.
Visibility & analytics capabilities also enable the collection and analysis of telemetry data across all
the core pillars of ZTA, such as user, device, network, application, and data, and provide insights for
policy enforcement and improvement.
Reference=
Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit
, page 15, section 2.2.3
4 Steps You Need to Know
, section “Continuously verify trust
with visibility & analytics”
The role of visibility and analytics in zero trust architectures
, section “The basic NIST tenets of this
approach include”
What is Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)? | NextLabs
, section “With real-time access control, users are
reliably verified and authenticated before each session”
The following list describes the SDP onboarding process/procedure.
What is the third step? 1. SDP controllers are brought online first. 2.
Accepting hosts are enlisted as SDP gateways that connect to and
authenticate with the SDP controller. 3.
A. Initiating hosts are then onboarded and authenticated by the SDP
gateway
B. Clients on the initiating hosts are then onboarded and
authenticated by the SDP controller
C. SDP gateway is brought online
D. Finally, SDP controllers are then brought online
A
The third step in the SDP onboarding process is to onboard and authenticate the initiating hosts,
which are the clients that request access to the protected resources. The initiating hosts connect to
and authenticate with the SDP gateway, which acts as an accepting host and a proxy for the
protected resources. The SDP gateway verifies the identity and posture of the initiating hosts and
grants them access to the resources based on the policies defined by the SDP controller.
Reference=
Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit
, page 21, section 3.1.2
6 SDP Deployment Models to Achieve Zero Trust | CSA
, section “Deployment Models Explained”
Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) and Zero Trust | CSA
, page 7, section 3.1
Which of the following is a common activity in the scope, priority,
and business case steps of ZT planning?
A. Determine the organization's current state
B. Prioritize protect surfaces
O C. Develop a target architecture
D. Identify business and service owners
A
A common activity in the scope, priority, and business case steps of ZT planning is to determine the
organization’s current state. This involves assessing the existing security posture, architecture,
policies, processes, and capabilities of the organization, as well as identifying the key stakeholders,
business drivers, and goals for the ZT initiative. Determining the current state helps to establish a
baseline, identify gaps and risks, and define the scope and priority of the ZT transformation.
Reference=
Zero Trust Planning - Cloud Security Alliance
, section “Scope, Priority, & Business Case”
4 Phases of Implementation - SEI Blog
Prepare”
Within the context of risk management, what are the essential
components of an organization's ongoing risk analysis?
A. Gap analysis, security policies, and migration
B. Assessment frequency, metrics, and data
C. Log scoping, log sources, and anomalies
D. Incident management, change management, and compliance
B
The essential components of an organization’s ongoing risk analysis are assessment frequency,
metrics, and data. Assessment frequency refers to how often the organization conducts risk
assessments to monitor and measure the effectiveness of the zero trust architecture and policies.
Metrics refer to the quantitative and qualitative indicators that are used to evaluate the security
posture, performance, and compliance of the zero trust architecture. Data refers to the information
that is collected, analyzed, and reported from various sources, such as telemetry, logs, audits, and
feedback, to support risk analysis and decision making.
Reference=
Zero Trust Planning - Cloud Security Alliance
, section “Monitor & Measure”
How to improve risk management using Zero Trust architecture | Microsoft Security Blog
, section
“Monitoring and reporting”
Managing Risk with Cybersecurity Engineering and Adaptive Risk Assessment -
SEI Blog
, section “Continuous Monitoring and Improvement”