CIPM Practice Questions

SCENARIO
Please use the following to answer the next question:

As the director of data protection for Consolidated Records Corporation, you are justifiably pleased with your accomplishments so far. Your hiring was precipitated by warnings from regulatory agencies following a series of relatively minor data breaches that could easily have been worse. However, you have not had a reportable incident for the three years that you have been with the company. In fact, you consider your program a model that others in the data storage industry may note in their own program development.

You started the program at Consolidated from a jumbled mix of policies and procedures and worked toward coherence across departments and throughout operations. You were aided along the way by the program’s sponsor, the vice president of operations, as well as by a Privacy Team that started from a clear understanding of the need for change.

Initially, your work was greeted with little confidence or enthusiasm by the company’s “old guard” among both the executive team and frontline personnel working with data and interfacing with clients.
Through the use of metrics that showed the costs not only of the breaches that had occurred, but also projections of the costs that easily could occur given the current state of operations, you soon had the leaders and key decision-makers largely on your side. Many of the other employees were more resistant, but face-to-face meetings with each department and the development of a baseline privacy training program achieved sufficient “buy-in” to begin putting the proper procedures into place.

Now, privacy protection is an accepted component of all current operations involving personal or protected data and must be part of the end product of any process of technological development. While your approach is not systematic, it is fairly effective.

You are left contemplating: What must be done to maintain the program and develop it beyond just a data breach prevention program? How can you build on your success? What are the next action steps?

What practice would afford the Director the most rigorous way to check on the program’s compliance with laws, regulations and industry best practices?

Under which circumstances would people who work in human resources be considered a secondary audience for privacy metrics?

SCENARIO
Please use the following to answer the next question:

Edufox has hosted an annual convention of users of its famous e-learning software platform, and over time, it has become a grand event. It fills one of the large downtown conference hotels and overflows into the others, with several thousand attendees enjoying three days of presentations, panel discussions and networking. The convention is the centerpiece of the company’s product rollout schedule and a great training opportunity for current users. The sales force also encourages prospective clients to attend to get a better sense of the ways in which the system can be customized to meet diverse needs and understand that when they buy into this system, they are joining a community that feels like family.

Deidre is a terrific employee with a strong track record. That’s why she’s been charged to deliver this rushed project. You’re sure she has the best interests of the company at heart, and you don’t doubt that she’s under pressure to meet a deadline that cannot be pushed back. However, you have concerns about the app’s handling of personal data and its security safeguards. Over lunch in the break room, you start to talk to her about it, but she quickly tries to reassure you, ‘Tm sure with your help we can fix any security issues if we have to, but I doubt there’ll be any. These people build apps for a living, and they know what they’re doing. You worry too much, but that’s why you’re so good at your job!”

You see evidence that company employees routinely circumvent the privacy officer in developing new initiatives. How can you best draw attention to the scope of this problem?

SCENARIO
Please use the following to answer the next question:

Paul Daniels, with years of experience as a CEO, is worried about his son Carlton’s successful venture, Gadgo. A technological innovator in the communication industry that quickly became profitable, Gadgo has moved beyond its startup phase. While it has retained its vibrant energy, Paul fears that under Carlton’s direction, the company may not be taking its risks or obligations as seriously as it needs to. Paul has hired you, a privacy Consultant, to assess the company and report to both father and son. “Carlton won’t listen to me,” Paul says, “but he may pay attention to an expert.”

Gadgo’s workplace is a clubhouse for innovation, with games, toys, snacks, espresso machines, giant fish tanks and even an iguana who regards you with little interest. Carlton, too, seems bored as he describes to you the company’s procedures and technologies for data protection. It’s a loose assemblage of controls, lacking consistency and with plenty of weaknesses. “This is a technology company,” Carlton says. “We create. We innovate. I don’t want unnecessary measures that will only slow people down and clutter their thoughts.”

The meeting lasts until early evening. Upon leaving, you walk through the office. It looks as if a strong windstorm has recently blown through, with papers scattered across desks and tables and even the floor. A “cleaning crew” of one teenager is emptying the trash bins. A few computers have been left on for the night; others are missing. Carlton takes note of your attention to this: “Most of my people take their laptops home with them, or use their own tablets or phones. I want them to use whatever helps them to think and be ready day or night for that great insight. It may only come once!”

What phase in the Privacy Maturity Model (PMM) does Gadgo’s privacy program best exhibit?

A data privacy manager is reviewing the company's process for vendor risk management. The current process involves a questionnaire sent at the start of the engagement. To enhance the program, the manager wants to implement ongoing monitoring. Which of the following would be the most effective method for continuous monitoring of a key data processor's privacy posture?

Which of the following indicates you have developed the right privacy framework for your organization?

Which is the best way to view an organization’s privacy framework?

Which statement is FALSE regarding the use of technical security controls?

In privacy protection, what is a “covered entity”?

SCENARIO
Please use the following to answer the next question:

For 15 years, Albert has worked at Treasure Box - a mail order company in the United States (U.S.) that used to sell decorative candles around the world, but has recently decided to limit its shipments to customers in the 48 contiguous states. Despite his years of experience, Albert is often overlooked for managerial positions. His frustration about not being promoted, coupled with his recent interest in issues of privacy protection, have motivated Albert to be an agent of positive change.

He will soon interview for a newly advertised position, and during the interview, Albert plans on making executives aware of lapses in the company’s privacy program. He feels certain he will be rewarded with a promotion for preventing negative consequences resulting from the company’s outdated policies and procedures.

For example, Albert has learned about the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountans)/CICA (Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants) Privacy Maturity Model (PMM). Albert thinks the model is a useful way to measure Treasure Box’s ability to protect personal data. Albert has noticed that Treasure Box fails to meet the requirements of the highest level of maturity of this model; at his interview, Albert will pledge to assist the company with meeting this level in order to provide customers with the most rigorous security available.

Albert does want to show a positive outlook during his interview. He intends to praise the company’s commitment to the security of customer and employee personal data against external threats.
However, Albert worries about the high turnover rate within the company, particularly in the area of direct phone marketing. He sees many unfamiliar faces every day who are hired to do the marketing, and he often hears complaints in the lunch room regarding long hours and low pay, as well as what seems to be flagrant disregard for company procedures.

In addition, Treasure Box has had two recent security incidents. The company has responded to the incidents with internal audits and updates to security safeguards. However, profits still seem to be affected and anecdotal evidence indicates that many people still harbor mistrust. Albert wants to help the company recover. He knows there is at least one incident the public in unaware of, although Albert does not know the details. He believes the company’s insistence on keeping the incident a secret could be a further detriment to its reputation. One further way that Albert wants to help Treasure Box regain its stature is by creating a toll-free number for customers, as well as a more efficient procedure for responding to customer concerns by postal mail.

In addition to his suggestions for improvement, Albert believes that his knowledge of the company’s recent business maneuvers will also impress the interviewers. For example, Albert is aware of the company’s intention to acquire a medical supply company in the coming weeks.

With his forward thinking, Albert hopes to convince the managers who will be interviewing him that he is right for the job.

In consideration of the company’s new initiatives, which of the following laws and regulations would be most appropriate for Albert to mention at the interview as a priority concern for the privacy team?