Highest Risk: Inadequate Data and System Ownership Policy Definition

C.

There is an increased risk without a policy defining who has the responsibility for granting access to specific data or systems, as one could gain system access without a justified business needs.

There is better chance that business objectives will be properly supported when there is appropriate ownership.

Incorrect Answers: A, B, D: These risks are not such significant as compared to unauthorized access.

Inadequate definition of data and system ownership can result in various risks, including the following:

A. User management coordination does not exist: This is a risk associated with inadequate policies that do not clearly define data and system ownership. It means that there may not be any coordinated effort to manage users' access to data and system resources. Without proper coordination, user accounts and access rights may be poorly managed, leading to increased security risks.

B. Audit recommendations may not be implemented: This is another risk associated with inadequate policies that do not clearly define data and system ownership. Inadequate policies may not provide clear guidelines on how to implement audit recommendations, which could result in the failure to address security vulnerabilities or comply with regulatory requirements.

C. Users may have unauthorized access to originate, modify, or delete data: Inadequate policies may not clearly define data ownership, which could result in users accessing, modifying, or deleting data without authorization. This could lead to data breaches, loss of critical data, or unauthorized changes to data that could affect the organization's operations and reputation.

D. Specific user accountability cannot be established: Inadequate policies that do not clearly define data and system ownership may result in a lack of specific user accountability. This means that it may be difficult to track user actions and identify who is responsible for specific actions within the organization's systems. This could lead to difficulty in investigating incidents and identifying the root cause of security breaches.

Of these risks, the highest risk associated with inadequate policies that do not clearly define data and system ownership is the risk that users may have unauthorized access to originate, modify, or delete data. This risk is significant because it could result in data breaches, loss of critical data, or unauthorized changes to data that could affect the organization's operations and reputation. Therefore, it is critical to have policies in place that clearly define data and system ownership, so that access to data and system resources can be properly managed and controlled.