Information Technology Specialist (ITS) Cybersecurity Practice Exam

Which network intelligence organization maintains a risk assessment tool that assigns a numeric score to describe the severity of a vulnerability?

1. Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT)

2. Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST)

3. International Organization for Standards (ISO)

4. Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)

The correct answer is: Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST)

The correct answer pertains to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), which maintains a risk assessment tool known as the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS). This tool assigns a numeric score that evaluates the severity of vulnerabilities, helping organizations prioritize their responses based on the potential impact of the identified vulnerabilities. CVSS provides a standardized way for organizations to assess vulnerabilities, which is critical in the cybersecurity field where timely and effective responses to vulnerabilities are essential for maintaining security posture. The scoring system ranges from 0 to 10, with higher numbers indicating more severe vulnerabilities. This quantifiable approach enables informed decision-making regarding resource allocation for remediation efforts. In contrast, while CERT and ISO are influential organizations in the field of cybersecurity, their primary functions do not include maintaining a specific numeric risk assessment tool like CVSS. CERT focuses on incident response and readiness, while ISO develops international standards that guide best practices but does not directly provide a numeric scoring system for vulnerabilities. Likewise, ISACA is more oriented towards IT governance, risk management, and compliance, rather than vulnerability assessment specifically.