CISSP: The Last Mile
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CISSP: The Last Mile

Your guide to the finish line

About the Book

Like his popular CISSP exam prep series on YouTube, "CISSP: The Last Mile" is designed as a consolidated reference that makes advanced exam topics accessible, bringing focus to important exam topics, revealing the "what and why" of key exam concepts without wasting time or space.

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    • Computer Security
    • Cloud Computing
    • Cryptography
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About the Author

Pete Zerger
Pete Zerger

Pete is a vCISO, cloud and cybersecurity strategist, security architect, and cyber educator, leading hundreds of thousands of users to cybersecurity certifications in more than 50 countries.

About the Contributors

Table of Contents

    • Preface (Read this first!)
      • Legend
      • Exam Prep Strategy
      • Exam Mindset
      • Time management
      • Evaluating Exam Answers (The READ Strategy)
      • Recommended Study Materials
        • Books
        • Practice Questions
        • Video Training
        • Flashcards
    • Chapter 1:Domain 1 - Security and Risk Management
      • 1.1 Understand, adhere to, and promote professional ethics
        • 1.1.1 ISC2 Code of Professional Ethics
        • 1.1.2 Organizational code of ethics
      • 1.2 Understand and apply security concepts
        • The CIA Triad
        • AAA Services
        • 1.2.1 Confidentiality, integrity, and availability, authenticity, and nonrepudiation (5 Pillars of Information Security)
      • 1.3 Evaluate and apply security governance principles
        • 1.3.1 Alignment of the security function to business strategy, goals, mission, and objectives
        • Important Terms and Concepts
        • 1.3.2 Organizational processes (e.g., acquisitions, divestitures, governance committees)
        • 1.3.3 Organizational roles and responsibilities
        • 1.3.4 Security Control Frameworks
        • 1.3.5 Due Care/Due Diligence
      • 1.4 Understand legal, regulatory, and compliance issues that pertain to information security in a holistic context
        • 1.4.1 Cybercrimes and data breaches
        • 1.4.2 Licensing and Intellectual Property requirements
        • 1.4.3 Import/export controls
        • 1.4.4 Transborder data flow
        • 1.4.5 Issues related to privacy
        • Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)
        • Cybersecurity Laws and Regulations
        • 1.4.6 Contractual, legal, industry standards, and regulatory requirements
      • 1.5 Understand requirements for investigation types (i.e., administrative, criminal, civil, regulatory, industry standards)
        • Branches of Law
        • Investigation Types
      • 1.6 Develop, document, and implement security policy, standards, procedures, and guidelines
        • Security Policy
        • Security Standard
        • Security Procedure
        • Security Guideline
      • 1.7 Identify, analyze, assess, prioritize, and implement Business Continuity (BC) requirements
        • 1.7.1 Business impact analysis (BIA)
        • 1.7.2 External dependencies
      • 1.8 Contribute to and enforce personnel security policies and procedures
        • 1.8.1 Candidate screening and hiring
        • 1.8.2 Employment agreements and policy driven requirements
        • 1.8.3 Onboarding, transfers, and termination processes
        • 1.8.4 Vendor, consultant, and contractor agreements and controls
      • 1.9 Understand and apply risk management concepts
        • 1.9.1 Threat and vulnerability identification
        • 1.9.2 Risk analysis, assessment, and scope
        • Risk Analysis Methodologies
        • Quantitative Risk Analysis Process
        • Quantitative Risk Analysis Formulas
        • Quantitative Risk Analysis Example
        • 1.9.3 Risk response and treatment (e.g., cybersecurity insurance)
        • Other important terms related to risk
        • 1.9.4 Applicable types of controls (e.g., preventive, detection, corrective)
        • Security Control Categories:
        • Security Control Types:
        • 1.9.5 Control assessments (e.g., security and privacy)
        • 1.9.6 Continuous monitoring and measurement
        • 1.9.7 Reporting (e.g., internal, external)
        • 1.9.8 Continuous improvement (e.g., risk maturity modeling)
        • 1.9.9 Risk frameworks
        • Security Control Frameworks
      • 1.10 Understand and apply threat modeling concepts and methodologies
        • Common Threat Modeling Methodologies
        • Principles of Social Engineering
        • Social Engineering Attacks
      • 1.11 Apply supply chain risk management (SCRM) concepts
        • 1.11.1 Risks associated with the acquisition of products and services from suppliers and providers (e.g., product tampering, counterfeits, implants)
        • 1.11.2 Risk mitigations (e.g., third-party assessment and monitoring, minimum security requirements, service level requirements, silicon root of trust, physically unclonable function, software bill of materials)
      • 1.12 Establish and maintain a security awareness, education, and training program
        • 1.12.1 Methods and techniques to increase awareness and training (e.g., social engineering, phishing, security champions, gamification)
        • 1.12.2 Periodic content reviews to include emerging technologies and trends (e.g., cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain)
        • 1.12.3 Program effectiveness evaluation
    • Chapter 2:Domain 2 - Asset Security
      • 2.1 Identify and classify information and assets
        • 2.1.1 Data classification
        • Data classification in government and public organizations
        • 2.1.2 Asset classification
      • 2.2 Establish information and asset handling requirements
      • 2.3 Provision information and assets securely
        • Security Control Baseline
        • 2.3.1 Information and asset ownership
        • 2.3.2 Asset inventory
        • 2.3.3 Asset Management
        • Asset Management Lifecycle
      • 2.4 Manage data lifecycle
        • 2.4.1 Data Roles
        • 2.4.2 Data Collection
        • 2.4.3 Data Location
        • 2.4.4 Data Maintenance
        • 2.4.5 Data Retention
        • 2.4.6 Data Remanence
        • 2.4.7 Data Destruction
      • 2.5 Ensure Appropriate Asset Retention (EOL, EOS)
      • 2.6 Determine Data Security Controls and Compliance Requirements
        • 2.6.1 Data States (In Use, In Transit, At Rest)
        • 2.6.2 Scoping and Tailoring
        • 2.6.3 Standards Selection
        • 2.6.4 Data Protection Methods (DRM, DLP, CASB)
    • Chapter 3:Domain 3 - Security Architecture and Engineering
      • 3.1 Research, implement, and manage engineering processes using secure design principles
        • 3.1.1 Threat modeling
        • 3.1.2 Least privilege
        • 3.1.3 Defense in depth
        • 3.1.4 Secure defaults
        • 3.1.5 Fail securely
        • 3.1.6 Segregation of Duties (SoD)
        • 3.1.7 Keep it simple and small
        • 3.1.8 Zero trust or trust but verify
        • 3.1.9 Privacy by design
        • 3.1.10 Shared responsibility
        • 3.1.11 Secure access service edge
      • 3.2 Understand the fundamental concepts of security models (e.g., Biba, Star Model, Bell-LaPadula)
      • 3.3 Select controls based upon systems security requirements
        • Common Criteria
      • 3.4 Understand security capabilities of information systems
      • 3.5 Assess and mitigate the vulnerabilities of security architectures, designs, and solution elements
        • 3.5.1 Client-based systems
        • Securing the boot process
        • Mobile Device Management (MDM)
        • Mobile Device Deployment Policies
        • 3.5.2 Server-based systems
        • 3.5.3 Database systems
        • Database Architecture
        • RDBMS Attacks
        • 3.5.4 Cryptographic Systems
        • Goals of Cryptography
        • 3.5.5 Operational Technology/Industrial control systems (ICS)
        • 3.5.6 Cloud-based systems (e.g., Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS))
        • What is cloud computing?
        • Cloud Service Models
        • Cloud Deployment Models
        • 3.5.7 Distributed systems
        • 3.5.8 Internet of Things (IoT)
        • 3.5.9 Microservices (e.g., application programming interface (API))
        • 3.5.10 Containerization
        • 3.5.11 Serverless
        • 3.5.12 Embedded systems
        • 3.5.13 High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems
        • 3.5.14 Edge computing systems
        • Edge Computing
        • Fog Computing
        • 3.5.15 Virtualized systems
      • 3.6 Select and determine cryptographic solutions
        • 3.6.1 Cryptographic life cycle
        • 3.6.2 Cryptographic methods (e.g., symmetric, asymmetric, elliptic curves, quantum)
        • Important Terms and Concepts
        • Symmetric Cryptography
        • Asymmetric Cryptography (Public Key Cryptography)
        • Hybrid Cryptography
        • Hash Functions
        • Types of Ciphers
        • Email Security
        • Post-Quantum Cryptography
        • 3.6.3 Public key infrastructure (PKI)
        • 3.6.4 Key management practices
        • 3.6.5 Digital signatures and certificates (e.g., non-repudiation, integrity)
      • 3.7 Understand methods of cryptanalytic attacks
        • 3.7.1 Brute force
        • 3.7.2 Ciphertext only
        • 3.7.3 Known plaintext
        • 3.7.4 Frequency analysis
        • 3.7.5 Chosen ciphertext
        • 3.7.6 Implementation attacks
        • 3.7.7 Side-channel
        • 3.7.8 Fault injection
        • 3.7.9 Timing
        • 3.7.10 Man-in-the-middle (MITM)
        • 3.7.11 Pass the hash
        • 3.7.12 Kerberos exploitation
        • Kerberos Attacks
        • 3.7.13 Ransomware
      • 3.8 Apply security principles to site and facility design
        • Site Selection
        • Facility Design
        • Disaster Recovery Metrics
        • Threats to Physical Security
        • Security Control Categories, Types, and Functional Order
      • 3.9 Design site and facility security controls
        • 3.9.1 Wiring closets/intermediate distribution frame
        • 3.9.2 Server rooms/data centers
      • Badges and Smartcards
        • 3.9.3 Media storage facilities
        • 3.9.4 Evidence storage
        • 3.9.5 Restricted and work area security
        • 3.9.6 Utilities and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
        • 3.9.7 Environmental issues (e.g., natural disasters, man-made)
        • 3.9.8 Fire prevention, detection, and suppression
        • Fire Detection
        • Fire Suppression
        • 3.9.9 Power (e.g., redundant, backup)
      • 3.10 Manage the information system lifecycle
        • 3.10.1 Stakeholders needs and requirements
        • 3.10.2 Requirements analysis
        • 3.10.3 Architectural design
        • 3.10.4 Development /implementation
        • 3.10.5 Integration
        • 3.10.6 Verification and validation
        • 3.10.7 Transition/deployment
        • 3.10.8 Operations and maintenance/sustainment
        • 3.10.9 Retirement/disposal
    • Chapter 4:Domain 4 - Communication and Network Security
      • 4.1 Apply secure design principles in network architectures
        • 4.1.1 Open System Interconnection (OSI) and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) models
        • Other Important TCP/IP Protocols
        • 4.1.2 Internet Protocol (IP) version 4 and 6 (IPv6) (e.g., unicast, broadcast, multicast, anycast)
        • Network Attacks
        • 4.1.3 Secure Protocols (e.g., IPSec, SSH, SSL/TLS)
        • Authentication Protocols
        • VPN Protocols
        • 4.1.4 Implications of multilayer protocols
        • 4.1.5 Converged protocols (e.g., iSCSI, VoIP, InfiniBand over Ethernet, Compute Express Link)
        • Voice Protocols: PBX, PSTN, VoIP
        • PBX and Voice-related Attacks
        • Communications Attacks
        • 4.1.6 Transport architecture (e.g., topology, data/control/management plane, cut-through/store-and-forward)
        • Types of Network Equipment
        • Network Topologies
        • Other Network Technologies and Concepts
        • 4.1.7 Performance metrics (e.g., bandwidth, latency, jitter, throughput, signal-to-noise ratio)
        • 4.1.8 Traffic flows (e.g., north-south, east-west)
        • 4.1.9 Physical segmentation (e.g., in-band, out-of-band, air-gapped)
        • 4.1.10 Logical segmentation (e.g., VLANs, VPNs, virtual routing and forwarding, virtual domain)
        • 4.1.11 Micro-segmentation (e.g., network overlays/encapsulation; distributed firewalls, routers, intrusion detection system (IDS)/intrusion prevention system (IPS), zero trust)
        • Perimeter Networks
        • 4.1.12 Edge networks (e.g., ingress/egress, peering)
        • 4.1.13 Wireless networks (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, satellite)
        • Bluetooth Attacks
        • Wi-fi
        • Wireless Coverage
        • Wireless Attacks
        • 4.1.14 Cellular/mobile networks (e.g., 4G, 5G)
        • 4.1.15 Content distribution networks (CDNs)
        • 4.1.16 Software defined networks (SDN) (e.g., application programming interface (API), Software-Defined Wide-Area Network (SD-WAN), network functions virtualization (NFV))
        • Software Defined Everything (SDx)
        • 4.1.17 Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)
        • 4.1.18 Monitoring and Management (e.g., network observability, traffic flow/shaping, capacity management, fault detection and handling)
      • 4.2 Secure network components
        • 4.2.1 Operation of infrastructure (e.g., redundant power, warranty, support)
        • 4.2.2 Transmission media (e.g., physical security of media, signal propagation quality)
        • 4.2.3 Network Access Control (NAC) systems (e.g., physical, and virtual solutions)
        • 4.2.4 Endpoint security (e.g., host-based)
      • 4.3 Implement secure communication channels
        • 4.3.1 Voice, video, collaboration (e.g., conferencing, Zoom rooms)
        • 4.3.2 Remote access (e.g., network administrative functions)
        • 4.3.3 Data communications (e.g., backhaul networks, satellite)
        • Virtual Circuits, PVCs, SVCs, and Related Concepts
        • 4.3.4 Third-party connectivity (e.g., telecom providers, hardware support)
    • Chapter 5:Domain 5 - Identity and Access Management (IAM)
      • 5.1 Control physical and logical access to assets
        • 5.1.1 Information
        • 5.1.2 Systems
        • 5.1.3 Devices
        • 5.1.4 Facilities
        • 5.1.5 Applications
        • 5.1.6 Services
      • 5.2 Design identification and authentication strategy (e.g., people, devices, and services)
        • 5.2.1 Groups and Roles
        • 5.2.2 Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (e.g., multi-factor authentication (MFA), password-less authentication)
        • 5.2.3 Session management
        • 5.2.4 Identity registration, proofing
        • 5.2.5 Federated Identity Management
        • 5.2.6 Credential management systems
        • 5.2.7 Single sign-on
        • Kerberos Components
        • Common Kerberos Attacks:
        • 5.2.8 Just-In-Time
      • 5.3 Federated identity with third-party service
        • 5.3.1 On-premises
        • 5.3.2 Cloud
        • 5.3.3 Hybrid
      • 5.4 Implement and manage authorization mechanisms
        • 5.4.1 Role-based access control (RBAC)
        • 5.4.2 Rule based access control
        • 5.4.3 Mandatory access control (MAC)
        • 5.4.4 Discretionary access control (DAC)
        • 5.4.5 Attribute-based access control (ABAC)
        • 5.4.6 Risk based access control
        • 5.4.7 Access policy enforcement (e.g., policy decision point, policy enforcement point)
      • 5.5 Manage identity and access provisioning lifecycle
        • 5.5.1 Account access review
        • 5.5.2 Provisioning and deprovisioning
        • 5.5.3 Role definition and transition
        • 5.5.4 Privilege escalation
        • 5.5.5 Service accounts management
      • 5.6 Implement authentication systems
        • Biometric Authentication
    • Chapter 6:Domain 6 - Security Assessment and Testing
      • 6.1 Design and validate assessment, test, and audit strategies
        • Assessment vs Audit: What’s the Difference?
        • 6.1.1 Internal (e.g., within organization control)
        • 6.1.2 External (e.g., outside organization control)
        • 6.1.3 Third-party Audits (e.g., outside of enterprise control)
        • 6.1.4 Location (e.g., on-premise, cloud, hybrid)
        • Right-to-Audit in the Cloud
      • 6.2 Conduct Security Controls Testing
        • 6.2.1 Vulnerability assessment
        • 6.2.2 Penetration testing (e.g., red, blue, and/or purple team exercises)
        • 6.2.3 Log reviews
        • 6.2.4 Synthetic transactions/benchmarks
        • 6.2.5 Code review and testing
        • 6.2.6 Misuse case testing
        • 6.2.7 Coverage analysis
        • 6.2.8 Interface testing (e.g., user interface, network interface, application programming interface (API))
        • 6.2.9 Breach attack simulations
      • 6.3 Collect security process data (e.g., technical, and administrative)
        • 6.3.1 Account management
        • 6.3.2 Management review and approval
        • 6.3.3 Key performance and risk indicators
        • 6.3.4 Backup verification data
        • 6.3.5 Training and awareness
        • 6.3.6 Disaster recovery (DR) and Business Continuity (BC)
      • 6.4 Analyze test output and generate report
        • 6.4.1 Remediation
        • 6.4.2 Exception handling
        • 6.4.3 Ethical disclosure
      • 6.5 Conduct or facilitate security audits
        • 6.5.1 Internal (e.g., within organization control)
        • 6.5.2 External (e.g., outside organization control)
        • 6.5.3 Third-party (e.g., outside of enterprise control)
        • 6.5.4 Location (e.g., on-premise, cloud, hybrid)
    • Chapter 7:Domain 7 - Security Operations
      • 7.1 Understand and comply with investigations
        • Six Categories of Computer Crime
        • Electronic Discovery (eDiscovery)
        • 7.1.1 Evidence collection and handling
        • 7.1.2 Reporting and documentation
        • 7.1.3 Investigative techniques
        • 7.1.4 Digital forensics
        • 7.1.5 Artifacts
      • 7.2 Conduct logging and monitoring activities
        • 7.2.1 Intrusion detection and prevention system (IDPS)
        • 7.2.2 Security information and event management (SIEM)
        • 7.2.3 Security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR)
        • 7.2.4 Continuous monitoring and tuning
        • 7.2.5 Egress monitoring
        • 7.2.6 Log management
        • 7.2.7 Threat intelligence (e.g., threat feeds, threat hunting)
        • 7.2.8 User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)
      • 7.3 Perform configuration management (e.g., provisioning, baselining, automation)
      • 7.4 Apply foundational security operations concepts
        • 7.4.1 Need-to-know/least privilege
        • 7.4.2 Segregation of Duties (SoD) and responsibilities
        • 7.4.3 Privileged account management
        • 7.4.4 Job rotation
        • 7.4.5 Service-level agreements (SLA)
      • 7.5 Applying resource protection
        • 7.5.1 Media management
        • 7.5.2 Media protection techniques
        • 7.5.3 Data at rest/data in transit
        • Protecting Data at Rest
        • Protecting Data in Transit
        • Protecting Data in Use
      • 7.6 Conduct incident management
        • 7.6.1 Detection
        • 7.6.2 Response
        • 7.6.3 Mitigation
        • 7.6.4 Reporting
        • 7.6.5 Recovery
        • 7.6.6 Remediation
        • 7.6.7 Lessons learned
      • 7.7 Operate and maintain detection and preventative measures
        • 7.7.1 Firewalls (e.g., next generation, web application, network)
        • 7.7.2 Intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS)
        • 7.7.3 Whitelisting/blacklisting
        • 7.7.4 Third-party security services
        • 7.7.5 Sandboxing
        • 7.7.6 Honeypots/honeynets
        • 7.7.7 Anti-malware
        • Malware Types and Propagation Techniques
        • 7.7.8 Machine learning and AI tools
      • 7.8 Implement and support patch and vulnerability management
      • 7.9 Understand and participate in change management processes
      • 7.10 Implement recovery strategies
        • 7.10.1 Backup storage strategies
        • 7.10.2 Recovery site strategies
        • 7.10.3 Multiple processing sites
        • 7.10.4 System resilience, high availability, QoS, fault tolerance
      • 7.11 Implement disaster recovery processes
        • 7.11.1 Response
        • 7.11.2 Personnel
        • 7.11.3 Communications
        • 7.11.4 Assessment
        • 7.11.5 Restoration
        • 7.11.6 Training and awareness
        • 7.11.7 Lessons learned
      • 7.12 Test disaster recovery plan (DRP)
        • 7.12.1 Read-through/tabletop
        • 7.12.2 Walkthrough
        • 7.12.3 Simulation
        • 7.12.4 Parallel
        • 7.12.5 Full interruption
        • 7.12.6 Communications
      • 7.13 Participate in Business Continuity (BC) planning and exercises
        • Phases of BCP
      • 7.14 Implement and manage physical security
        • 7.14.1 Perimeter Security Controls
        • 7.14.2 Internal Security Controls
        • 7.14 Addendum - Examples of Control Types
      • 7.15 Addressing personnel safety and security concerns
        • 7.15.1 Travel
        • 7.15.2 Security Training and Awareness
        • 7.15.3 Emergency Management
        • 7.15.4 Duress
    • Chapter 8:Domain 8 - Software Development Security
      • 8.1 Understand and integrate security in the SDLC
        • 8.1.1 Development methodologies
        • 8.1.2 Maturity models
        • 8.1.3 Operation and maintenance
        • 8.1.4 Change management
        • 8.1.5 Integrated Product Team
      • 8.2 Identify and apply security controls in software ecosystems
        • 8.2.1 Programming languages
        • 8.2.2 Libraries
        • 8.2.3 Tool sets
        • 8.2.4 Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
        • 8.2.5 Runtime
        • 8.2.6 Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
        • 8.2.7 Software Configuration Management (SCM)
        • 8.2.8 Code repositories
        • 8.2.9 Application security testing
      • 8.3 Assess effectiveness of software security
        • 8.3.1 Auditing and logging
        • 8.3.2 Risk analysis and mitigation
      • 8.4 Assess security impact of acquired software
        • 8.4.1 Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)
        • 8.4.2 Open source
        • 8.4.3 Third-party
        • 8.4.4 Managed services
        • 8.4.5 Cloud services
      • 8.5 Define and apply secure coding guidelines/standards
        • 8.5.1 Security weaknesses at source level
        • Application Attacks
        • 8.5.2 API security
        • 8.5.3 Secure coding practices
        • Secure Coding Practices by Language
        • 8.5.4 Software-defined security
        • What’s Next?

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