Explanation: A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure method to provide employees with remote access to a company's network. It encrypts data, protecting it from interception and ensuring secure communication between the user and the internal network. References: Security+ SY0-701 Course Content, Security+ SY0-601 Book.

Explanation: Tuning is the activity of adjusting the configuration or parameters of a security tool or system to optimize its performance and reduce false positives or false negatives. Tuning can help to filter out the normal or benign activity that is detected by the security tool or system, and focus on the malicious or anomalous activity that requires further investigation or response. Tuning can also help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the security operations center by reducing the workload and alert fatigue of the analysts. Tuning is different from aggregating, which is the activity of collecting and combining data from multiple sources or sensors to provide a comprehensive view of the security posture. Tuning is also different from quarantining, which is the activity of isolating a potentially infected or compromised device or system from the rest of the network to prevent further damage or spread. Tuning is also different from archiving, which is the activity of storing and preserving historical data or records for future reference or compliance. The act of ignoring detected activity in the future that is deemed normal by the security operations center is an example of tuning, as it involves modifying the settings or rules of the security tool or system to exclude the activity from the detection scope. Therefore, this is the best answer among the given options.
References = Security Alerting and Monitoring Concepts and Tools – CompTIA Security+ SY0-701: 4.3, video at 7:00; CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Certification Study Guide, page 191.

Explanation: Web-based administration is a feature that allows users to configure and manage routers through a web browser interface. While this feature can provide convenience and ease of use, it can also pose a security risk, especially if the web interface is exposed to the internet or uses weak authentication or encryption methods. Web-based administration can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to the router’s settings, firmware, or data, or to launch attacks such as cross-site scripting (XSS) or cross-site request forgery (CSRF). Therefore, disabling web-based administration is a good practice to harden the routers within the corporate network. Console access, routing protocols, and VLANs are other features that can be configured on routers, but they are not the most appropriate to disable for hardening purposes. Console access is a physical connection to the router that requires direct access to the device, which can be secured by locking the router in a cabinet or using a strong password. Routing protocols are essential for routers to exchange routing information and maintain network connectivity, and they can be secured by using authentication or encryption mechanisms. VLANs are logical segments of a network that can enhance network performance and security by isolating traffic and devices, and they can be secured by using VLAN access control lists (VACLs) or private VLANs (PVLANs). References: CCNA SEC: Router Hardening Your Router’s Security Stinks: Here’s How to Fix It

Explanation: Dumpster diving is an attack method where attackers search through physical waste, such as discarded documents and printouts, to find sensitive information that has not been properly disposed of. In the context of printing centers, this could involve attackers retrieving printed documents containing confidential data that were improperly discarded without shredding or other secure disposal methods. This emphasizes the importance of proper disposal and physical security measures in cyber hygiene practices.
References = CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Course Content: Domain 04 Security Operations. CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Study Guide: Chapter on Physical Security and Cyber Hygiene.

Explanation: A host-based firewall is a software application that runs on an individual endpoint and filters the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on a set of rules. A host-based firewall can help to mitigate the threat posed by suspicious connections between internal endpoints by blocking or allowing the traffic based on the source, destination, port, protocol, or application. A host-based firewall is different from a web application firewall, which is a type of firewall that protects web applications from common web-based attacks, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and session hijacking. A host-based firewall is also different from an access control list, which is a list of rules that control the access to network resources, such as files, folders, printers, or routers. A host- based firewall is also different from an application allow list, which is a list of applications that are authorized to run on an endpoint, preventing unauthorized or malicious applications from executing. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: Exam SY0-701, 9th Edition, page 254

Explanation: A disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a set of policies and procedures that aim to restore the normal operations of an organization in the event of a system failure, natural disaster, or other emergency. A DRP typically includes the following elements:
A risk assessment that identifies the potential threats and impacts to the organization’s critical assets and processes.
A business impact analysis that prioritizes the recovery of the most essential functions and data. A recovery strategy that defines the roles and responsibilities of the recovery team, the resources and tools needed, and the steps to follow to restore the system.
A testing and maintenance plan that ensures the DRP is updated and validated regularly. A DRP is required for an organization to properly manage its restore process in the event of system failure, as it provides a clear and structured framework for recovering from a disaster and minimizing the downtime and data loss.
References = CompTIA Security+ Study Guide (SY0-701), Chapter 7: Resilience and Recovery, page 325.

Explanation: Deploying a load balancer in the company's cloud environment primarily fulfills the fundamental security requirement of availability. A load balancer distributes incoming network traffic across multiple servers, ensuring that no single server becomes overwhelmed and that the service remains available even if some servers fail.
Availability: Ensures that services and resources are accessible when needed, which is directly supported by load balancing.
Privacy: Protects personal and sensitive information from unauthorized access but is not directly related to load balancing.
Integrity: Ensures that data is accurate and has not been tampered with, but load balancing is not primarily focused on data integrity.
Confidentiality: Ensures that information is accessible only to authorized individuals, which is not the primary concern of load balancing.
Reference: CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Exam Objectives, Domain 1.2 - Summarize fundamental security concepts (Availability).

Explanation: A nation-state is a threat actor that is sponsored by a government or a political entity to conduct cyberattacks against other countries or organizations. Nation- states have large financial resources, advanced technical skills, and strategic objectives that may target critical systems such as military, energy, or infrastructure. Nation-states are often motivated by espionage, sabotage, or warfare12. References = 1: CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Certification Study Guide, page 542: Threat Actors – CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 – 2.1, video by Professor Messer.

Explanation: The most likely access control causing the lack of access is role-based access control (RBAC). In RBAC, access to resources is determined by the roles assigned to users. Since the engineer's account was not moved to the new group's role, the engineer does not have the necessary permissions to access the new team's shared folders.
Role-based access control (RBAC): Assigns permissions based on the user's role within the organization. If the engineer's role does not include the new group's permissions, access will be denied.
Discretionary access control (DAC): Access is based on the discretion of the data owner, but it is not typically related to group membership changes.
Time of day: Restricts access based on the time but does not affect group memberships. Least privilege: Ensures users have the minimum necessary permissions, but the issue here is about group membership, not the principle of least privilege.
Reference: CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Exam Objectives, Domain 4.6 - Implement and maintain identity and access management (Role-based access control).

Explanation: The company should implement Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) to integrate the vendor's security tool with their existing user directory. SAML is an open standard that allows identity providers (IdP) to pass authorization credentials to service providers (SP), enabling Single Sign-On (SSO). This allows the company to use its existing directory services for authentication, avoiding the need to manage a separate set of user credentials for the new tool.
References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Course Content: Domain 4: Identity and Access Management, which includes SAML as a key identity federation standard for SSO. CompTIA Security+ Study Guide (SY0-601): Chapter 8, "Identity and Access Management," details the role of SAML in enabling SSO by utilizing an existing identity provider.