Configuration Management Review

5 minutes 5 Questions

Configuration Management Review is the process of analyzing an organization's configuration management processes and verifying that the established policies and procedures are being followed effectively. This review ensures that system configurations are well managed, documented, and controlled throughout the entire system lifecycle. This is critical for maintaining a secure environment because configuration changes can introduce vulnerabilities and security issues. It involves reviewing and comparing the current configuration state with the approved baseline configurations and ensuring that any deviations are authorized and documented. This continuous monitoring of configurations helps in identifying any potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker and helps maintain system integrity and security.

Guide: Configuration Management Review

What is Configuration Management Review?
Configuration Management Review is a process that ensures all configurations of a system are recorded and evaluated regularly to maintain system integrity and security. It involves regular audits and assessments to identify and rectify any unauthorised changes that may pose a threat to the system.

Importance of Configuration Management Review
Configuration Management Review is crucial as it detects unauthorized changes that can impact the system's security posture. These could be changes that open security vulnerabilities or violate the established configuration and security policies.

How does Configuration Management Review work?
Configuration Management Review works through a series of steps that are usually cyclic: Define and record the configurations > Control the configurations > Status accounting > Review and audit. Any change detected is assessed for its impact and is either authorised or rolled back.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Configuration Management Review
When answering exam questions on Configuration Management Review, remember:
- Understand the purpose and process of Configuration Management Review.
- Be able to explain how regular reviews and audits can enhance system security.
- Identify the roles and responsibilities involved in Configuration Management Review.
- Recognize the potential consequences of improper configuration management, such as security vulnerabilities.
- Understand the steps to effectively implement and maintain Configuration Management Review.
Remember, every change in Configuration Management Review should be recorded and authorised to maintain the integrity and security of the system.

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Question 1

A system administrator has completed the implementation of a new software application. Internal personnel claim the application is exposing sensitive data to unauthorized parties. What should the system administrator do next as part of the Configuration Management Review process?

Reformat the server to remove any traces Disable the application without analyzing the issue Assume the application is secure and take no further action Initiate an incident response process and conduct a security review

Correct Answer: Initiate an incident response process and conduct a security review

The system administrator should initiate an incident response process, conduct a security review to determine if there's a data breach or vulnerability, and take appropriate actions to mitigate it.

Question 2

An organization has updated its firewall policies to improve the security posture. However, after a Configuration Management Review, they noticed increased dropped packets, and some business-critical services are no longer reachable. What action should the organization take?

Open all ports on the firewall to restore the services Replace the firewall hardware Roll back the changes and analyze the issue to identify the root cause Keep the new firewall policies without further investigation

Correct Answer: Roll back the changes and analyze the issue to identify the root cause

The organization should roll back the changes that caused the issue and analyze the problem to identify the root cause, then correct it before reapplying the updated firewall policies.

Question 3

An organization is implementing a DevOps practice to reduce inconsistencies. Which configuration management-related activity is likely to support this objective?

Deprioritizing baseline configurations Allowing staff to make ad-hoc changes without documentation Removing any formal documentation processes Establishing version control across development and production environments

Correct Answer: Establishing version control across development and production environments

Establishing version control across development and production environments ensures consistency, improves traceability, and reduces the risk of environmental inconsistencies. The other options can lead to disorganization, mismanagement, and potential security risks.

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