Mixed Deck — All CSI Topics Flashcards

Why is patch management crucial for system security?

Answer: To ensure that known vulnerabilities are fixed and prevent exploits

Patch management is critical for system security because it involves regularly applying updates and fixes to software and operating systems. These patches often address newly discovered security vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access or cause damage. By keeping systems updated, organizations significantly reduce their exposure to known threats and maintain a secure environment.

What is the role of firewalls in system security?

Answer: To block unauthorized access while allowing legitimate traffic

Firewalls are critical security devices that act as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, like the internet. They analyze incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules, effectively blocking malicious or unauthorized access attempts while permitting legitimate data flow. This selective filtering is essential for protecting systems from external threats.

Which change management metric measures the percentage of changes that cause unplanned outages or incidents?

Answer: Change failure rate (also called change-induced incident rate)

Change failure rate tracks how often changes introduce incidents, serving as a key DORA metric for deployment and change management maturity.

When integrating a new industrial controller into an existing SCADA network, which step should be performed FIRST?

Answer: Conduct a site survey and document existing network topology

A site survey and topology documentation ensures the integrator understands existing infrastructure before making any physical or logical changes.

Why is user training important during system integration?

Answer: It prepares users to operate the system effectively

User training is a critical component during system integration because it equips end-users with the necessary knowledge and skills to interact with the new or modified system confidently and effectively. Without proper training, users may struggle with new interfaces or processes, leading to frustration, errors, and reduced productivity. By preparing users, training ensures smooth adoption, maximizes the benefits of the integrated system, and minimizes resistance to change.

What is the role of encryption in system security?

Answer: To protect sensitive data by converting it into an unreadable format

Encryption plays a vital role in system security by transforming sensitive data into an unreadable, coded format. This process, known as ciphertext, ensures that even if unauthorized individuals gain access to the data, they cannot understand or use it without the correct decryption key. Thus, encryption is fundamental for maintaining data confidentiality and integrity.

A system integrator installs a new fieldbus segment and finds that devices randomly drop off the network. Checking the physical layer, the integrator should verify:

Answer: That the bus is properly terminated at both ends with the correct termination resistors

Missing or incorrect termination resistors cause signal reflections on fieldbus segments, leading to random communication errors and device dropouts.

In the context of security architecture & iam, what role does continuous professional development play for CSI practitioners?

Answer: It ensures practitioners remain current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuous professional development is essential in security architecture & iam because it ensures CSI practitioners remain current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices, maintaining competency throughout their careers.

What is a 'test harness' in the context of system integration testing?

Answer: A collection of stubs and drivers that simulate system components

A test harness is a framework of stubs and drivers used to simulate missing or unavailable components during integration testing.

A regression test suite is MOST important after:

Answer: Every code change or patch to a live integrated system

Regression testing after every change ensures that new updates have not broken previously working integration functionality.

After installing a new servo drive, the motor exhibits oscillation and overshoot during positioning moves. The first tuning parameter the integrator should adjust is:

Answer: Derivative (D) gain to increase damping

Oscillation and overshoot typically indicate insufficient damping; increasing derivative (D) gain suppresses overshoot before other loop parameters are adjusted.

In event-driven architecture, what does the term 'event sourcing' refer to?

Answer: Storing state changes as an immutable sequence of events rather than the current state only

Event sourcing persists each state change as an ordered, immutable event log, allowing system state to be reconstructed by replaying events from any point in time.

A technician installs a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) but the motor runs at incorrect speed. The most likely configuration issue is:

Answer: Incorrect base frequency or motor poles parameter

Base frequency and motor pole count directly determine the speed calculation; incorrect values cause the VFD to output the wrong synchronous speed.

In the context of data mapping & transformation, what role does continuous professional development play for CSI practitioners?

Answer: It ensures practitioners remain current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuous professional development is essential in data mapping & transformation because it ensures CSI practitioners remain current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices, maintaining competency throughout their careers.

How does configuration management affect system performance?

Answer: It helps ensure system stability and performance

Configuration management significantly affects system performance by ensuring that all components are correctly configured and consistently maintained. By tracking and controlling changes to system settings, software versions, and hardware configurations, it prevents conflicts and ensures optimal operational parameters. This meticulous approach leads to greater system stability, predictable performance, and reduced downtime, as inconsistencies that could degrade performance are minimized.

Why is user authentication critical for system security?

Answer: To ensure that only authorized users can access the system

User authentication is a cornerstone of system security because it verifies the identity of individuals attempting to access a system. By requiring credentials like passwords or biometrics, authentication mechanisms prevent unauthorized users from gaining entry, thereby protecting sensitive data and system resources. This control is essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the system.

When documenting activities related to performance benchmarking & tuning, which practice is considered essential for CSI certification holders?

Answer: Maintaining comprehensive records that include procedures, observations, results, and any anomalies

Comprehensive documentation that includes procedures, observations, results, and any anomalies is essential in performance benchmarking & tuning. This supports quality assurance, enables peer review, and satisfies regulatory and audit requirements.

A CSI is designing a privileged access management (PAM) solution. Which capability is MOST critical for reducing insider threat risk?

Answer: Session recording and just-in-time privilege elevation

Session recording provides audit trails of privileged activity, while just-in-time elevation minimizes the window of exposure by granting elevated rights only when needed.

In the context of it project governance, what role does continuous professional development play for CSI practitioners?

Answer: It ensures practitioners remain current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuous professional development is essential in it project governance because it ensures CSI practitioners remain current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices, maintaining competency throughout their careers.

What distinguishes attribute-based access control (ABAC) from role-based access control (RBAC)?

Answer: ABAC evaluates multiple contextual attributes at runtime while RBAC grants access based on predefined roles

ABAC makes access decisions by evaluating combinations of user, resource, and environmental attributes at runtime, enabling much finer-grained control than static RBAC role assignments.