Which of the following should be a PRIMARY control objective when designing controls for system interfaces?
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A. B. C. D.B.
When designing controls for system interfaces, it is important to consider the primary control objectives that should be in place to ensure the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of the data being transferred. Among the given options, the most appropriate primary control objective for system interfaces is to ensure all data transferred through system interfaces is encrypted.
Option A: Ensure peer-to-peer data transfers are minimized This option is not the most appropriate primary control objective for system interfaces. While minimizing peer-to-peer data transfers can be a control objective, it is not specific to system interfaces. This objective may be more relevant to other aspects of the system design and may not necessarily be the most important control objective for system interfaces.
Option B: Ensure all data transferred through system interfaces is encrypted This option is the most appropriate primary control objective for system interfaces. Encrypting data during transfer ensures the confidentiality and integrity of the data being transmitted, making it difficult for unauthorized users to access or tamper with the information. This is particularly important when sensitive data is being transmitted across system interfaces, such as financial or personal information.
Option C: Ensure managed file transfer (MFT) systems have restart capability for interruptions This option is a control objective that can be important for system interfaces, particularly when large files are being transferred. However, it is not the primary control objective for system interfaces. The restart capability is a feature that allows the transfer process to resume from where it left off in the event of an interruption, rather than starting the entire transfer process from scratch. While this can help ensure data integrity, it does not address the confidentiality of the data being transferred.
Option D: Ensure data on the sending system is identical to the data on the receiving system This option is not the most appropriate primary control objective for system interfaces. While ensuring the data on the sending system is identical to the data on the receiving system is important for data integrity, it does not address the confidentiality or availability of the data being transferred. It is also possible for the data to be correct but still be intercepted by unauthorized parties, which can compromise the confidentiality of the information.
In conclusion, option B, "Ensure all data transferred through system interfaces is encrypted," is the most appropriate primary control objective when designing controls for system interfaces as it addresses the confidentiality and integrity of the data being transferred.