Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts the victim's data and demands a ransom for its decryption1. Ransomware attacks can cause significant damage to an organization's operations, reputation, and finances1. Therefore, it is important to mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks by implementing effective prevention and recovery strategies.
One of the best ways to mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks is to back up data frequently12345. Data backups are copies of the organization's data that are stored in a separate location or medium, such as an external hard drive, cloud storage, or tape2. Data backups can help the organization restore its data in case of a ransomware attack, without paying the ransom or losing valuable information2. Data backups should be performed regularly, preferably daily or weekly, depending on the criticality and volume of the data2. Data backups should also be tested periodically to ensure their integrity and usability2.
The other options are not as effective as backing up data frequently in mitigating the impact of ransomware attacks. Invoking the disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a reactive measure that can help the organization resume its operations after a ransomware attack, but it does not prevent or reduce the damage caused by the attack3.
Paying the ransom is not a recommended option, as it does not guarantee the decryption of the data or the deletion of the stolen data by the attackers. Paying the ransom also encourages further attacks and funds criminal activities14. Requiring password changes for administrative accounts is a good security practice, but it is not sufficient to prevent or recover from ransomware attacks. Ransomware attacks can exploit other vulnerabilities, such as phishing emails, outdated software, or weak network security15.
References: 1: How to Mitigate the Risk of Ransomware Attacks: The Definitive Guide 2: Mitigating malware and ransomware attacks - The National Cyber Security Centre 3: 3 steps to prevent and recover from ransomware 4: Ransomware Epidemic: Use these 8 Strategies to Mitigate Risk 5: Practical Steps to Mitigate Ransomware Attacks - ITSecurityWire

An audit universe is a comprehensive list of all the auditable entities, processes, and activities within an organization. It helps the IS auditor to identify the scope, objectives, and priorities of the audit plan, as well as the resources and methodologies required to conduct the audits. An audit universe can also help the IS auditor to ensure that all the key risks, controls, and regulations are covered by the audit plan, and that there are no gaps or overlaps in the audit coverage.
The first activity that the IS auditor should perform when preparing a plan for audits to be carried out over a specified period is to determine the audit universe. This involves defining the criteria and methods for identifying and categorizing the auditable units, such as by business function, process, system, location, or risk level. The IS auditor should also consult with the management and other stakeholders to obtain their input and expectations for the audit plan. The IS auditor should then document and validate the audit universe, and update it regularly to reflect any changes in the organization's structure, operations, or environment.
The other three activities are also important for preparing an audit plan, but they should be performed after determining the audit universe. Allocating audit resources involves assigning staff, time, budget, and tools to each audit based on their complexity, priority, and availability. Prioritizing risks involves assessing the likelihood and impact of each risk associated with each auditable unit, and ranking them according to their significance and urgency. Reviewing prior audit reports involves analyzing the findings, recommendations, and actions from previous audits related to each auditable unit, and evaluating their current status and relevance.
Therefore, determining the audit universe is the best answer.
References:
* Audit Universe - UPDATED 2022 - Examples, Templates & More!
* 01 February 2023 Audit universe - IIA

The most effective control to mitigate unintentional misuse of authorized access is security awareness training. This is because security awareness training can educate users on the proper use of their access rights, the potential consequences of misuse, and the best practices to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems. Security awareness training can also help users recognize and avoid common threats such as phishing, malware, and social engineering.
Annual sign-off of acceptable use policy, regular monitoring of user access logs, and formalized disciplinary action are not the most effective controls to mitigate unintentional misuse of authorized access. These controls may help deter or detect intentional misuse, but they do not address the root cause of unintentional misuse, which is often a lack of knowledge or awareness of security policies and procedures.

The design phase of the system development life cycle (SDLC) is where an IS auditor would expect to find that controls have been incorporated into system specifications, because this is where the system requirements are translated into detailed design specifications that include the technical, functional, and security aspects of the system34. The implementation phase is where the system is deployed and tested, the development phase is where the system is coded and unit tested, and the feasibility phase is where the system objectives and scope are defined. References: 3: CISA Review Manual (Digital Version), Chapter 4, Section 4.2.2 4: CISA Online Review Course, Module 4, Lesson 2

Information security governance is the subset of enterprise governance that provides strategic direction, ensures that objectives are achieved, manages risk appropriately, uses organizational resources responsibly, and monitors the success or failure of the enterprise security program. Information security governance is essential for ensuring that an organization's information assets are protected from internal and external threats, and that the organization complies with relevant laws and standards.
Demonstrated support from which of the following roles in an organization has the most influence over information security governance? The answer is C, the board of directors. The board of directors is the highest governing body of an organization, responsible for overseeing its strategic direction, performance, and accountability. The board of directors sets the tone at the top for information security governance by:
* Establishing a clear vision, mission, and values for information security
* Approving and reviewing information security policies and standards
* Allocating sufficient resources and budget for information security
* Appointing and empowering a chief information security officer (CISO) or equivalent role
* Holding management accountable for information security performance and compliance
* Communicating and promoting information security awareness and culture The board of directors has the most influence over information security governance because it has the ultimate authority and responsibility for ensuring that information security is aligned with the organization's business objectives, risks, and stakeholder expectations.
References:
* 10: What is Information Security Governance? - RiskOptics - Reciprocity
* 11: Information Security Governance and Risk Management | Moss Adams
* 12: ISO/IEC 27014:2020 - Information security, cybersecurity and privacy ...