iSACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certification Practice Exam

What constitutes an incident in cybersecurity?

1. Any IT system change

2. An adverse event impacting data confidentiality

3. A notable error within a network

4. A violation or imminent threat of security policy violations

The correct answer is: A violation or imminent threat of security policy violations

In cybersecurity, an incident is typically categorized as any event that significantly compromises the security of an organization's information systems. This includes violations of security policies as well as imminent threats that could lead to potential breaches. When considering the correct choice, a violation or imminent threat of security policy violations clearly embodies the essence of an incident. Security policies are established to protect data integrity, availability, and confidentiality, and any breach or threat against these policies indicates a critical issue that could lead to a security compromise. Such incidents require immediate attention to prevent further damage or data loss. In contrast, while an adverse event impacting data confidentiality does relate to incidents, it is too narrow in scope. Incidents can also pertain to availability and integrity of data, not just confidentiality. Additionally, the definition of an incident does not extend to merely any IT system change; many changes are routine and non-threatening. Similarly, a notable error within a network might not amount to an incident unless it escalates to a security breach or threat level. Thus, while these options contain elements relevant to cybersecurity incidents, they do not capture the full scope as effectively as the correct choice.