350-201 Exam Topic: Process = 30%

Prioritize components in a cyber threat model

When creating a cyber threat model, it is important to prioritize components based on their criticality to the system and their potential impact in the event of a successful cyber attack. Here are some general guidelines for prioritizing components in a cyber threat model:

  1. Critical assets: Identify the most critical assets in your system, such as sensitive data, key infrastructure, and high-value resources. These are the assets that are most valuable to attackers, so they should be given the highest priority in your threat model.
  2. Attack surface: Evaluate the attack surface of your system, including all entry points and vulnerabilities. Prioritize the components with the highest risk of exploitation, such as internet-facing services, unpatched software, and weak authentication mechanisms.
  3. Threat actors: Consider the potential threat actors who may target your system, such as cybercriminals, nation-state actors, or insider threats. Prioritize components that are most likely to be targeted by these threat actors.
  4. Impact: Assess the potential impact of a successful attack on each component of your system, such as data loss, system downtime, or reputational damage. Prioritize components with the highest potential impact on your organization.
  5. Mitigation difficulty: Finally, consider the difficulty of mitigating the risks associated with each component. Prioritize components that are difficult to secure or that require significant resources to protect.

By following these guidelines, you can develop a prioritized list of components in your cyber threat model, which will help you focus your resources on the most critical areas of your system.

Determine the steps to investigate the common types of cyber cases

Investigating cyber cases can be a complex and challenging process, and the specific steps will depend on the type of cyber case you are investigating. However, here are some general steps you can follow to investigate common types of cyber cases:
  1. Identify the type of cyber case: The first step is to identify the type of cyber case you are investigating, such as data theft, malware infection, or phishing attack. This will help you determine the appropriate tools and techniques to use in your investigation.
  2. Preserve evidence: It is important to preserve any evidence related to the cyber case, such as log files, network traffic, or system images. This evidence will be critical in identifying the cause of the incident and any perpetrators.
  3. Analyze the evidence: Once you have preserved the evidence, you will need to analyze it to determine the cause and scope of the cyber incident. This may involve using forensic tools and techniques to identify malware, track network activity, or analyze system logs.
  4. Identify the attacker: If the cyber incident was caused by an external attacker, your next step is to identify the attacker’s identity and motive. This may involve tracing the source of the attack, analyzing the attacker’s tools and techniques, and gathering intelligence on potential suspects.
  5. Mitigate the damage: After identifying the cause and scope of the cyber incident, your next step is to mitigate the damage and prevent any further breaches. This may involve taking the affected systems offline, patching vulnerabilities, or implementing new security controls.
  6. Report the incident: Finally, it is important to report the cyber incident to the appropriate authorities, such as law enforcement or regulatory agencies. This will help ensure that any perpetrators are brought to justice and that similar incidents are prevented in the future.

By following these steps, you can effectively investigate common types of cyber cases and minimize the impact of any cyber incidents on your organization.

Apply the concepts and sequence of steps in the malware analysis process:

Malware analysis is the process of examining malicious software to understand its behavior and identify its functionality. Here are the general steps in the malware analysis process:
  1. Collection: The first step is to collect the malware sample. This can be done in a number of ways, such as through network monitoring, email analysis, or by capturing files from a compromised system.
  2. Static analysis: The second step is to conduct static analysis on the malware sample. This involves examining the code and structure of the malware to identify any suspicious behavior, such as the use of obfuscation or encryption techniques.
  3. Dynamic analysis: The third step is to conduct dynamic analysis on the malware sample. This involves running the malware in a controlled environment, such as a sandbox, and observing its behavior to identify its functionality, such as what files it accesses or what network traffic it generates.
  4. Code analysis: The fourth step is to conduct code analysis on the malware sample. This involves decompiling or disassembling the malware code to identify its function calls, system calls, and any anti-analysis techniques it may use.
  5. Data analysis: The fifth step is to conduct data analysis on any data generated by the malware. This can include network traffic, file system activity, and registry entries.
  6. Reporting: The final step is to report the findings of the malware analysis. This may include providing recommendations on how to detect and prevent similar malware in the future.

By following these steps in the malware analysis process, you can gain a deeper understanding of the behavior and functionality of malicious software and develop effective strategies for detecting and preventing malware infections.

3.3.a Extract and identify samples for analysis (for example, from packet capture or packet analysis tools) 3.3.b Perform reverse engineering 3.3.c Perform dynamic malware analysis using a sandbox environment 3.3.d Identify the need for additional static malware analysis 3.3.e Perform static malware analysis 3.3.f Summarize and share results

3.3.a Extract and identify samples for analysis (for example, from packet capture or packet analysis tools): The first step in malware analysis is to identify and extract the malware samples from the relevant source. For example, you can extract a malware sample from a packet capture or packet analysis tools. The sample should be collected in a way that preserves the integrity of the sample.

3.3.b Perform reverse engineering: The next step is to perform reverse engineering on the malware sample. This involves analyzing the code to identify its functionality and behavior. You can use tools like disassemblers or decompilers to reverse engineer the code and gain a better understanding of its structure.

3.3.c Perform dynamic malware analysis using a sandbox environment: Dynamic malware analysis involves running the malware in a controlled environment like a sandbox to observe its behavior. A sandbox provides an isolated environment where the malware can be executed without affecting the host system. The behavior of the malware can be monitored and recorded using tools like debuggers or virtual machines.

3.3.d Identify the need for additional static malware analysis: After conducting dynamic analysis, it may be necessary to perform additional static malware analysis. This may involve analyzing the code, the system calls, or the network traffic generated by the malware.

3.3.e Perform static malware analysis: Static analysis involves analyzing the code and structure of the malware without executing it. This can be done using tools like disassemblers, decompilers, or static analyzers to identify suspicious behavior or techniques used by the malware.

3.3.f Summarize and share results: Finally, the results of the malware analysis should be summarized and shared. This can include a report detailing the behavior and functionality of the malware, recommendations for detecting and preventing similar malware in the future, and any relevant findings or insights gained from the analysis. The results should be shared with relevant stakeholders such as security teams, incident response teams, or management.

Interpret the sequence of events during an attack based on analysis of traffic patterns

Analyzing traffic patterns is an important part of identifying and responding to cyber attacks. By examining the sequence of events during an attack, you can gain insight into the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by the attacker. Here are some general steps for interpreting the sequence of events during an attack based on traffic analysis:
  1. Identify anomalous traffic: The first step is to identify anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate an attack. This can include an unusual volume of traffic, traffic from unfamiliar sources, or traffic to unusual destinations.
  2. Analyze the traffic: Once anomalous traffic has been identified, the next step is to analyze the traffic in more detail. This may involve looking at the source and destination IP addresses, ports, protocols, and packet payloads to identify any suspicious activity.
  3. Reconstruct the attack: Based on the analysis of the traffic, the next step is to reconstruct the sequence of events during the attack. This can help you identify the entry point of the attack, the tools and techniques used by the attacker, and the scope of the attack.
  4. Identify the attacker’s goals: By understanding the sequence of events, you can gain insight into the attacker’s goals. For example, if the attacker was trying to steal data, you may see traffic patterns indicating data exfiltration.
  5. Mitigate the attack: Once the attack has been identified and understood, the next step is to mitigate the attack. This may involve taking affected systems offline, patching vulnerabilities, or implementing new security controls to prevent similar attacks in the future.
  6. Learn from the attack: Finally, it is important to learn from the attack and use the insights gained to improve your overall security posture. This may involve updating security policies and procedures, improving monitoring and detection capabilities, or providing additional training for staff.

By following these steps, you can effectively interpret the sequence of events during an attack based on traffic analysis and develop effective strategies for responding to and preventing future attacks.

Determine the steps to investigate potential endpoint intrusion across a variety of platform types (for example, desktop, laptop, IoT, mobile devices)

Investigating potential endpoint intrusion across a variety of platform types involves a structured approach that requires attention to detail and a deep understanding of the various endpoint platforms. Here are the steps to investigate potential endpoint intrusion across a variety of platform types:
  1. Identify the indicators of compromise (IoCs): The first step is to identify the IoCs, which can include anomalous network traffic, unusual system behavior, and suspicious file activity. IoCs are typically detected through network monitoring, endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, or other security tools.
  2. Isolate the affected endpoint: Once you have identified the IoCs, isolate the affected endpoint to prevent further damage or data exfiltration. This can involve disconnecting the endpoint from the network, shutting down the endpoint, or restricting user access to the endpoint.
  3. Collect endpoint data: Collecting endpoint data involves gathering information about the endpoint, such as the system logs, memory, and file system. This can be done using forensics tools and techniques, such as memory analysis, disk imaging, and network traffic analysis.
  4. Analyze endpoint data: Analyzing the endpoint data involves reviewing the collected data to identify the presence of any malware or suspicious behavior. This can involve using malware analysis tools, file analysis tools, and other security tools to detect any threats.
  5. Identify the source of the attack: Once you have identified the presence of a threat, your next step is to identify the source of the attack. This can involve analyzing the network traffic, reviewing user activity logs, and conducting other investigations to determine how the attacker gained access to the endpoint.
  6. Remediate the endpoint: After identifying the source of the attack, you need to remediate the endpoint to remove any threats and prevent further damage. This can involve removing malware, patching vulnerabilities, and implementing additional security controls to prevent future attacks.
  7. Report the incident: Finally, it is important to report the incident to the appropriate authorities, such as your organization’s security team, regulatory agencies, or law enforcement. This will help ensure that any perpetrators are brought to justice and that similar incidents are prevented in the future.

By following these steps, you can effectively investigate potential endpoint intrusion across a variety of platform types and minimize the impact of any cyber incidents on your organization.

How to Determine known Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) and Indicators of Attack (IOAs), given a scenario

To determine known Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) and Indicators of Attack (IOAs) in a given scenario, follow these steps:
  1. Understand the scenario: Before you can identify IOCs and IOAs, you must have a deep understanding of the scenario. This includes understanding the type of system or network being targeted, the potential threat actors, and the potential attack vectors.
  2. Identify potential IOCs and IOAs: Based on the scenario, you can begin to identify potential IOCs and IOAs. IOCs are specific artifacts that indicate a security breach, such as IP addresses, domain names, file hashes, and other indicators. IOAs are more general patterns of suspicious behavior that may indicate an attack, such as unusual login attempts or network traffic.
  3. Gather threat intelligence: Once you have identified potential IOCs and IOAs, you can gather threat intelligence from a variety of sources. This can include threat feeds, security blogs, and other sources of information that provide details on known threats and attack patterns.
  4. Analyze the data: After gathering threat intelligence, you can analyze the data to identify any specific IOCs and IOAs that match the scenario. This may involve reviewing network traffic logs, system logs, or other sources of data to identify any suspicious behavior.
  5. Verify the IOCs and IOAs: Once you have identified potential IOCs and IOAs, it is important to verify the data to ensure that it is accurate and relevant. This may involve cross-referencing the data with other sources of threat intelligence or conducting additional investigations to confirm the presence of a threat.
  6. Respond to the threat: After identifying and verifying the IOCs and IOAs, it is important to respond to the threat. This may involve taking the affected systems offline, patching vulnerabilities, or implementing new security controls to prevent future attacks.

By following these steps, you can effectively determine known Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) and Indicators of Attack (IOAs) in a given scenario, and develop effective strategies for detecting and preventing cyber attacks.

Determine IOCs in a sandbox environment (includes generating complex indicators)

Identifying Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) in a sandbox environment involves analyzing the behavior and characteristics of suspicious files or software without putting your system at risk. Here are the steps to determine IOCs in a sandbox environment and generate complex indicators:
  1. Obtain the malware sample: The first step is to obtain the malware sample you want to analyze. This can be done by downloading a suspected file or by using a tool to extract malware from network traffic.
  2. Run the malware in a sandbox: The next step is to run the malware sample in a sandbox environment to observe its behavior. The sandbox provides an isolated environment where the malware can be executed without affecting the host system.
  3. Analyze the behavior: Once the malware is executed in the sandbox, observe its behavior and characteristics. This may involve analyzing the network traffic generated by the malware, examining system logs, or reviewing the file system for any changes made by the malware.
  4. Identify IOCs: Based on the behavior and characteristics of the malware, identify IOCs that can be used to detect the malware in the future. This can include IP addresses, domain names, file names, file hashes, and other indicators.
  5. Generate complex indicators: Complex indicators are IOCs that use a combination of attributes to identify a specific type of threat. For example, you can generate complex indicators by combining file names, file hashes, and network traffic characteristics to identify a specific type of malware. These indicators are more specific and can be used to detect more advanced threats.
  6. Share IOCs: Finally, share the IOCs and complex indicators with relevant stakeholders, such as other security professionals, threat intelligence feeds, and your organization’s security team. This will help others detect and respond to similar threats in the future.

By following these steps, you can effectively determine IOCs in a sandbox environment and generate complex indicators that can be used to detect more advanced threats. This approach can help organizations stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape and improve their overall security posture.

Determine the steps to investigate potential data loss from a variety of vectors of modality (for example, cloud, endpoint, server, databases, application), given a scenario

Investigating potential data loss from a variety of vectors of modality involves a structured approach that requires attention to detail and a deep understanding of the different types of data loss vectors. Here are the steps to investigate potential data loss from a variety of vectors of modality:
  1. Identify the potential vector of data loss: The first step is to identify the potential vector of data loss, which could include cloud, endpoint, server, databases, or applications. This can be done through monitoring tools and incident reports.
  2. Gather evidence: Once you have identified the potential vector of data loss, the next step is to gather evidence. This may involve collecting logs, network traffic data, and any other relevant information from the affected system.
  3. Analyze the evidence: After gathering evidence, analyze it to identify the cause and scope of the data loss. This may involve using forensic tools and techniques to examine the data and identify the point of compromise.
  4. Identify the data that has been lost: Once you have identified the cause and scope of the data loss, the next step is to identify the specific data that has been lost. This can be done by reviewing file activity logs, database records, or other relevant sources of data.
  5. Remediate the data loss: After identifying the specific data that has been lost, the next step is to remediate the data loss. This may involve restoring data from backups, implementing new security controls, or taking other measures to prevent further data loss.
  6. Report the incident: Finally, it is important to report the incident to the appropriate authorities, such as your organization’s security team, regulatory agencies, or law enforcement. This will help ensure that any perpetrators are brought to justice and that similar incidents are prevented in the future.

By following these steps, you can effectively investigate potential data loss from a variety of vectors of modality and minimize the impact of any cyber incidents on your organization.

Recommend the general mitigation steps to address vulnerability issues

Addressing vulnerability issues requires a structured approach that involves identifying the vulnerabilities, assessing their impact, and taking steps to mitigate the risk. Here are the general mitigation steps to address vulnerability issues:

  1. Identify the vulnerabilities: The first step is to identify the vulnerabilities that exist within your system or network. This can be done through vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, or other security assessments.
  2. Assess the impact: Once you have identified the vulnerabilities, the next step is to assess their impact. This involves determining the likelihood and potential impact of an attack exploiting the vulnerabilities.
  3. Prioritize the vulnerabilities: Based on the assessment of the impact, prioritize the vulnerabilities to focus on those that pose the greatest risk to your organization.
  4. Develop a mitigation plan: After prioritizing the vulnerabilities, develop a mitigation plan that includes specific steps to address each vulnerability. This may involve patching vulnerabilities, implementing new security controls, or other measures to mitigate the risk.
  5. Implement the mitigation plan: Once the mitigation plan has been developed, implement the steps to address each vulnerability. This may involve updating software, configuring firewalls or other security devices, or providing additional training for staff.
  6. Test the effectiveness of the mitigation: After implementing the mitigation plan, test the effectiveness of the measures taken to ensure that they have been effective in addressing the vulnerabilities.
  7. Monitor and maintain security: Finally, it is important to monitor and maintain the security of your systems and network to ensure that vulnerabilities are not reintroduced. This may involve ongoing vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, or other security assessments.

By following these general mitigation steps, you can effectively address vulnerability issues and reduce the risk of cyber attacks on your organization.

Recommend the next steps for vulnerability triage and risk analysis using industry scoring systems (for example, CVSS) and other techniques

Vulnerability triage and risk analysis are critical steps in the vulnerability management process. These steps involve identifying and prioritizing vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact. Here are the recommended next steps for vulnerability triage and risk analysis using industry scoring systems like CVSS and other techniques:

  1. Collect vulnerability data: The first step is to collect vulnerability data from various sources, including vulnerability scanning tools, security advisories, and other sources of information. This data should include information about the severity, impact, and scope of each vulnerability.
  2. Prioritize the vulnerabilities: Based on the vulnerability data, prioritize the vulnerabilities based on their severity, impact, and exploitability. This can be done using industry scoring systems like the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) or other risk assessment frameworks.
  3. Evaluate the business impact: Once the vulnerabilities have been prioritized, evaluate their potential impact on the business. This may involve assessing the potential financial impact, reputation damage, or compliance violations that could result from a successful attack exploiting the vulnerability.
  4. Determine the appropriate response: Based on the prioritization and impact assessment, determine the appropriate response for each vulnerability. This may involve patching, disabling affected systems, or implementing additional security controls to mitigate the risk.
  5. Monitor for new threats: Once the vulnerabilities have been addressed, it is important to monitor for new threats that may exploit the same vulnerabilities. This can be done through ongoing vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, or other security assessments.
  6. Review and update vulnerability management program: Finally, it is important to review and update the vulnerability management program to incorporate lessons learned from the triage and risk analysis process. This may involve updating policies and procedures, providing additional training for staff, or implementing new security controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in the future.

By following these steps, you can effectively triage and analyze vulnerabilities using industry scoring systems like CVSS and other techniques, and develop effective strategies for addressing and mitigating the risk of cyber attacks on your organization.