CompTIA CASP+ CAS-004 Certification Guide

Develop CASP+ skills and learn all the key topics needed to prepare for the certification exam

Mark Birch

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2022
• Topic: Computer Science
• eBook ISBN:
  9781801814485
• Subtopic: Certification Guides in Computer Science
• Index: Computer Science

Master architecting and implementing advanced security strategies across complex enterprise networks with this hands-on guide

Key Features

• Learn how to apply industry best practices and earn the CASP+ certification
• Explore over 400 CASP+ questions to test your understanding of key concepts and help you prepare for the exam
• Discover over 300 illustrations and diagrams that will assist you in understanding advanced CASP+ concepts

Book Description

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) ensures that security practitioners stay on top of the ever-changing security landscape. The CompTIA CASP+ CAS-004 Certification Guide offers complete, up-to-date coverage of the CompTIA CAS-004 exam so you can take it with confidence, fully equipped to pass on the first attempt. Written in a clear, succinct way with self-assessment questions, exam tips, and mock exams with detailed explanations, this book covers security architecture, security operations, security engineering, cryptography, governance, risk, and compliance. You'll begin by developing the skills to architect, engineer, integrate, and implement secure solutions across complex environments to support a resilient enterprise. Moving on, you'll discover how to monitor and detect security incidents, implement incident response, and use automation to proactively support ongoing security operations. The book also shows you how to apply security practices in the cloud, on-premises, to endpoints, and to mobile infrastructure. Finally, you'll understand the impact of governance, risk, and compliance requirements throughout the enterprise. By the end of this CASP study guide, you'll have covered everything you need to pass the CompTIA CASP+ CAS-004 certification exam and have a handy reference guide.

What you will learn

• Understand Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and the FedRAMP programs
• Respond to Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) by deploying hunt teams
• Understand the Cyber Kill Chain framework as well as MITRE ATT&CK and Diamond Models
• Deploy advanced cryptographic solutions using the latest FIPS standards
• Understand compliance requirements for GDPR, PCI, DSS, and COPPA
• Secure Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial control systems (ICS), and SCADA
• Plan for incident response and digital forensics using advanced tools

Who this book is for

This CompTIA book is for CASP+ CAS-004 exam candidates who want to achieve CASP+ certification to advance their career. Security architects, senior security engineers, SOC managers, security analysts, IT cybersecurity specialists/INFOSEC specialists, and cyber risk analysts will benefit from this book. Experience in an IT technical role or CompTIA Security+ certification or equivalent is assumed.

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Section 1: Security Architecture

In this section, you will learn about the challenges that are faced by an enterprise when supporting a large, complex, hybrid network architecture. This section will take you through the design of traditional network architectures up to complex hybrid cloud models. You will also understand the importance of authentication and authorization strategies within complex environments.

This part of the book comprises the following chapters:

• Chapter 1, Designing a Secure Network Architecture
• Chapter 2, Integrating Software Applications into the Enterprise
• Chapter 3, Enterprise Data Security, Including Secure Cloud and Virtualization Solutions
• Chapter 4, Deploying Enterprise Authentication and Authorization Controls

Chapter 1: Designing a Secure Network Architecture

Security professionals need to analyze security requirements and objectives to ensure an appropriate, secure network architecture for a new or existing network and to provide the appropriate authentication and authorization controls.

Designing a modern enterprise network has many practical and security challenges. De-perimeterization means that access to information systems may be made from devices outside of the enterprise network. The types of devices can range from a handheld smartphone used to access a customer record to an Internet of Things (IoT) device transmitting telemetry data to a critical monitoring dashboard.

Regulatory or industry compliance may require strict network segmentation between processes and business units (BUs).

It is important to consider all the threat actors when you plan your network—think Defense in Depth (DiD).

This first chapter is an essential building block for the following chapters. It is the information systems on our networks that provide the data and services for an enterprise.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

• Physical and virtual network and security devices
• Application- and protocol-aware technologies
• Advanced network design
• Network management and monitoring tools
• Advanced configuration of network devices
• Security zones

Physical and virtual network and security devices

For the certification exam, it is important that you understand the strengths and weaknesses of all the proposed network devices/appliances, the correct placement of network devices for maximum effect, and the required security configuration.

OSI model

No introduction to networking would be complete without a brief introduction to the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) 7-layer model. As we move through the chapters, you will occasionally see references to layers. This has become a standard reference model and it allows for different vendors to implement services, protocols, and hardware using this reference model. Throughout the book, we will discuss applications, services, protocols, and appliances that sit at different layers within the model. Although the CompTIA Advanced Security Professional 004 (CASP 004) exam will not be testing your knowledge specifically (OSI is not a listed objective), it can be useful as a reference aid when we discuss networking subjects. The model is not actually defining a complete working network model—it is a conceptual model. For example, to fully understand the details of the Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP), you would need to gain access to Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments (RFC) documents. Imagine you are looking to manufacture network cables to meet Category 6 (CAT 6) standards—you could access International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC 11801) standards documentation. See the following screenshot for an overview of the OSI 7-layer model:

Figure 1.1 – OSI 7-layer model

Vulnerabilities may exist across multiple layers within the OSI model. For example, we may be vulnerable to Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks on our layer 2 switch. We will take a look at the many different threats that may impact an enterprise network throughout the book.

Unified threat management

A unified threat management (UTM) appliance offers firewall functionality and many additional security functions; it is deployed as a single security appliance or software solution. This security solution offers a comprehensive suite of security features all in a single package. While this is a good solution for small enterprises with limited resources (limited staff and limited budget), it does not offer the DiD required by enterprise customers.

UTMs may include a significant number of converged security features, but not necessarily all of the following:

• Network firewall
• Intrusion detection system (IDS)
• Intrusion prevention system (IPS)
• Deep packet inspection (DPI)
• Data loss prevention (DLP)
• Anti-virus capability...

Table of contents

• CompTIA CASP+ CAS-004 Certification Guide
• Contributors
• Preface
• Section 1: Security Architecture
• Chapter 1: Designing a Secure Network Architecture
• Chapter 2: Integrating Software Applications into the Enterprise
• Chapter 3: Enterprise Data Security, Including Secure Cloud and Virtualization Solutions
• Chapter 4: Deploying Enterprise Authentication and Authorization Controls
• Section 2: Security Operations
• Chapter 5: Threat and Vulnerability Management
• Chapter 6: Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing Methods and Tools
• Chapter 7: Risk Mitigation Controls
• Chapter 8: Implementing Incident Response and Forensics Procedures
• Section 3: Security Engineering and Cryptography
• Chapter 9: Enterprise Mobility and Endpoint Security Controls
• Chapter 10: Security Considerations Impacting Specific Sectors and Operational Technologies
• Chapter 11: Implementing Cryptographic Protocols and Algorithms
• Chapter 12: Implementing Appropriate PKI Solutions, Cryptographic Protocols, and Algorithms for Business Needs
• Section 4: Governance, Risk, and Compliance
• Chapter 13: Applying Appropriate Risk Strategies
• Chapter 14: Compliance Frameworks, Legal Considerations, and Their Organizational Impact
• Chapter 15: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Concepts
• Chapter 16: Mock Exam 1
• Chapter 17: Mock Exam 2
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