The answer is to implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with session recording. This is the most effective remediation because it directly addresses the root cause—the misconfigured logging system—by enforcing centralized, tamper-proof recording of all third-party remote access sessions. PAM vaults credentials and captures every keystroke and screen activity via RDP or SSH, ensuring that even if vendor credentials are stolen through phishing, the session traffic is logged and monitored in real time, providing a forensic audit trail that a standalone logging system failed to deliver. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of compensating controls within the Identity and Access Management domain, specifically how PAM session recording acts as a detective and preventive control for third-party breaches. A common trap is choosing a solution that only rotates credentials or improves logging configuration, but the key insight is that PAM session recording provides both credential vaulting and immutable session logs, closing the gap left by misconfigured tools. Memory tip: “PAM records what PAM vaults”—if you vault the access, you must record the session to prove it was used properly.
CISSP Security Assessment and Testing Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security assessment and testing. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A healthcare organization recently experienced a data breach. The incident response team traced the breach to a compromised third-party vendor that had remote access to the organization's network. The vendor's credentials were stolen via a phishing attack. The organization's security policy requires that all third-party remote access be monitored and logged. During the investigation, it was discovered that the vendor's session traffic was not logged because the logging system was misconfigured. The security team needs to prevent similar incidents in the future. Which of the following is the MOST effective remediation?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with session recording.
Option C is correct because a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution with session recording directly addresses the root cause: the logging system was misconfigured and failed to capture third-party remote access traffic. PAM enforces centralized control, vaulting credentials, and recording all sessions (e.g., via RDP, SSH) in a tamper-proof audit trail, ensuring that even if credentials are stolen, every keystroke and screen activity is logged and monitored. This provides the forensic evidence needed to detect and investigate unauthorized actions, closing the gap left by the misconfigured logging system.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Require multi-factor authentication for all third-party access.
Why it's wrong here
MFA reduces credential theft risk but does not provide session monitoring.
✗
Conduct regular phishing simulations for third-party vendors.
Why it's wrong here
Phishing simulations only address one aspect and do not improve monitoring or access control.
✓
Implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with session recording.
Why this is correct
PAM with session recording enforces least privilege and captures all activity for logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable all third-party remote access until a new vendor vetting process is established.
Why it's wrong here
This may severely impact business operations and is not the most balanced remediation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse authentication controls (MFA) with monitoring/logging controls, overlooking that the specific failure was a logging misconfiguration, not a lack of authentication strength.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A PAM solution like CyberArk or BeyondTrust typically uses a jump server or proxy to broker remote sessions, recording them in a video-like format (e.g., using the ITU-T H.264 codec for screen capture) and indexing metadata such as timestamps, usernames, and commands. Under the hood, session recording captures all input/output streams at the protocol level (e.g., RDP's Virtual Channels or SSH's channel data), ensuring that even encrypted traffic is decrypted and logged at the proxy. In a real-world scenario, a healthcare organization using PAM with session recording could replay a vendor's session to identify exactly which patient records were accessed, even if the vendor's credentials were later compromised.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Security Assessment and Testing — This question tests Security Assessment and Testing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution with session recording. — Option C is correct because a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution with session recording directly addresses the root cause: the logging system was misconfigured and failed to capture third-party remote access traffic. PAM enforces centralized control, vaulting credentials, and recording all sessions (e.g., via RDP, SSH) in a tamper-proof audit trail, ensuring that even if credentials are stolen, every keystroke and screen activity is logged and monitored. This provides the forensic evidence needed to detect and investigate unauthorized actions, closing the gap left by the misconfigured logging system.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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