Isaca Certified Cybersecurity Operations Analyst CCOA Exam Practice Test

Answer : A

To create a new case in Security Onion using the logs from the win-webserver01_logs.zip file, follow these detailed steps:

Step 1: Access Security Onion

Open a web browser and go to your Security Onion web interface.

URL: https://<security-onion-ip>/

Log in using your Security Onion credentials.

Step 2: Prepare the Log File

Navigate to the Desktop and open the Investigations folder.

Locate the file:

win-webserver01_logs.zip

Unzip the file to inspect its contents:

unzip ~/Desktop/Investigations/win-webserver01_logs.zip -d ~/Desktop/Investigations/win-webserver01_logs

Ensure that the extracted files, including System-logs.evtx, are accessible.

Step 3: Open the Hunt Interface in Security Onion

On the Security Onion dashboard, go to 'Hunt' (or 'Cases' depending on the version).

Click on 'Cases' to manage incident cases.

Step 4: Create a New Case

Click on 'New Case' to start a fresh investigation.

Case Details:

Title:

Windows Webserver Logs - CCOA New Case

TLP (Traffic Light Protocol):

Set to Green (indicating that the information can be shared freely).

Example Configuration:

Field Value

Title Windows Webserver Logs - CCOA New Case

TLP Green

Summary (Leave blank if not required)

Click 'Save' to create the case.

Step 5: Upload the Log Files

After creating the case, go to the 'Files' section of the new case.

Click on 'Upload' and select the unzipped log file:

~/Desktop/Investigations/win-webserver01_logs/System-logs.evtx

Once uploaded, the file will be associated with the case.

Step 6: Verify the Case Creation

Go back to the Cases dashboard.

Locate and verify that the case 'Windows Webserver Logs - CCOA New Case' exists with TLP: Green.

Check that the log file has been successfully uploaded.

Step 7: Document and Report

Document the case details:

Case Title: Windows Webserver Logs - CCOA New Case

TLP: Green

Log File: System-logs.evtx

Include any initial observations from the log analysis.

Example Answe r:

A new case titled 'Windows Webserver Logs - CCOA New Case' with TLP set to Green has been successfully created in Security Onion. The log file System-logs.evtx has been uploaded and linked to the case.

Step 8: Next Steps for Investigation

Analyze the log file: Start hunting for suspicious activities.

Create analysis tasks: Assign team members to investigate specific log entries.

Correlate with other data: Cross-reference with threat intelligence sources.

Answer : B

To maintain consistent management of supply chain risk, it is essential to periodically confirm that suppliers meet their contractual obligations.

Risk Assurance: Verifies that suppliers adhere to security standards and commitments.

Compliance Monitoring: Ensures that the agreed-upon controls and service levels are maintained.

Consistency: Regular checks prevent lapses in compliance and identify potential risks early.

Supplier Audits: Include reviewing security controls, data protection measures, and compliance with regulations.

Incorrect Options:

A . Seeking feedback from procurement: Useful but not directly related to risk management.

C . Counting incident tickets: Measures service performance, not risk consistency.

D . Informal meetings: Lacks formal assessment and verification of obligations.

Exact Extract from CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition:

Refer to Chapter 9, Section 'Supply Chain Risk Management,' Subsection 'Monitoring and Compliance' - Periodic verification of contractual compliance ensures continuous risk management.

Answer : C

A tree network topology provides better resilience and stability compared to a bus topology:

Fault Isolation: In a tree topology, a failure in one branch does not necessarily bring down the entire network.

Hierarchy Structure: If a single link fails, only a segment of the network is affected, not the whole system.

Easier Troubleshooting: The hierarchical layout allows for easier identification and isolation of faulty nodes.

Compared to Bus Topology: In a bus topology, a single cable failure can disrupt the entire network.

Incorrect Options:

A . Easier network expansion: True, but not primarily a security advantage.

B . Better performance: Depends on network design, not a security aspect.

D . Less susceptible to eavesdropping: Tree topology itself does not inherently reduce eavesdropping risks.

Exact Extract from CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition:

Refer to Chapter 5, Section 'Network Topologies,' Subsection 'Tree Topology Benefits' - The primary security advantage is increased fault tolerance and stability.

Answer : A

To decode the targets within the file pcap_artifact5.txt, follow these steps:

Step 1: Access the File

Log into the Analyst Desktop.

Navigate to the Desktop and locate the file:

pcap_artifact5.txt

Open the file using a text editor:

On Windows:

nginx

notepad pcap_artifact5.txt

On Linux:

cat ~/Desktop/pcap_artifact5.txt

Step 2: Examine the File Contents

Analyze the contents to identify the encoding format. Common formats include:

Base64

Hexadecimal

URL Encoding

ROT13

Example Encoded Data (Base64):

makefile

MTBjYWwuY29tL2V4YW0K

Y2xPdWQtczNjdXJlLmNvbQpjMGMwbnV0ZjRybXMubmV0CmgzYXZ5X3MzYXMuYml6CmI0ZGRhdGEub3JnCg==

Step 3: Decode the Contents

Method 1: Using PowerShell (Windows)

Open PowerShell:

powershell

$encoded = Get-Content 'C:\Users\<Username>\Desktop\pcap_artifact5.txt'

[System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8.GetString([System.Convert]::FromBase64String($encoded))

This command will display the decoded targets.

Method 2: Using Linux

Use base64 decoding:

base64 -d ~/Desktop/pcap_artifact5.txt

If the content appears to be hexadecimal, use:

xxd -r -p ~/Desktop/pcap_artifact5.txt

For URL encoding, use:

echo -e $(cat ~/Desktop/pcap_artifact5.txt | sed 's/%/\\x/g')

Step 4: Analyze the Decoded Output

The decoded content should reveal domain names or URLs.

Check for valid domain structures, such as:

10cal.com/exam

clOud-s3cure.com

c0c0nutf4rms.net

h3avy_s3as.biz

b4ddata.org

Example Decoded Output:

10cal.com/exam

clOud-s3cure.com

c0c0nutf4rms.net

h3avy_s3as.biz

b4ddata.org

Step 5: Verify the Decoded Targets

Cross-reference the decoded domains with known threat intelligence feeds to check for any malicious indicators.

Use tools like VirusTotal or URLHaus to verify the domains.

10cal.com/exam

clOud-s3cure.com

c0c0nutf4rms.net

h3avy_s3as.biz

b4ddata.org

Step 6: Document the Finding

Decoded Targets:

10cal.com/exam

clOud-s3cure.com

c0c0nutf4rms.net

h3avy_s3as.biz

b4ddata.org

Source File: pcap_artifact5.txt

Decoding Method: Base64 (or the identified method)

Answer : C

A Security Operation Center (SOC) is tasked with monitoring and analyzing network traffic to detect anomalies and potential security threats.

Role: SOCs collect and analyze data from firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and other network monitoring tools.

Function: Analysts in the SOC identify unusual activity patterns that may indicate intrusions or malware.

Proactive Threat Detection: Uses log analysis and behavioral analytics to catch threats early.

Incorrect Options:

A . Web application firewall (WAF): Protects against web-based attacks but does not analyze network traffic in general.

B . Endpoint security: Focuses on individual devices, not network-wide monitoring.

D . Data loss prevention (DLP): Monitors data exfiltration rather than overall network activity.

Exact Extract from CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition:

Refer to Chapter 8, Section 'Security Monitoring and Threat Detection,' Subsection 'Role of the SOC' - SOCs are integral to identifying potential security threats through network traffic analysis.

Answer : A

The Command Line Interface (CLI) is most suitable for administrative tasks and automation because:

Scriptable and Automatable: CLI commands can be combined in scripts for automating repetitive tasks.

Direct System Access: Administrators can directly interact with the system to configure, manage, and troubleshoot.

Efficient Resource Usage: Consumes fewer system resources compared to graphical interfaces.

Customizability: Advanced users can chain commands and create complex workflows using shell scripting.

Other options analysis:

B . Integrated Development Environment (IDE): Primarily used for software development, not system administration.

C . System service dispatcher (SSO): Not relevant for administrative tasks.

D . Access control list (ACL): Manages permissions, not administrative automation.

CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition Reference:

Chapter 9: System Administration Best Practices: Highlights the role of CLI in administrative and automation tasks.

Chapter 7: Automation in Security Operations: Explains the efficiency of CLI-based automation.

Answer : D

The Network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model is responsible for:

Routing and Forwarding: Determines the best path for data to travel across multiple networks.

Logical Addressing: Uses IP addresses to uniquely identify hosts on a network.

Packet Switching: Breaks data into packets and routes them between nodes.

Traffic Control: Manages data flow and congestion control.

Protocols: Includes IP (Internet Protocol), ICMP, and routing protocols (like OSPF and BGP).

Other options analysis:

A . Communicating with applications: Application layer function (Layer 7).

B . Transmitting data segments: Transport layer function (Layer 4).

C . Translating data between a service and an application: Presentation layer function (Layer 6).

CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition Reference:

Chapter 4: Network Protocols and the OSI Model: Details the role of each OSI layer, focusing on routing and packet management for the network layer.

Chapter 7: Network Design Principles: Discusses the importance of routing and addressing.